Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Harry Clearwater was dead. Charlie didn't have to say it, the look on his face was enough. He was waiting outside on the porch when Juliet pulled into the driveway. She hurried over to him, not even bothering to lock her truck, and straight into his arms. They didn't speak for a while.

"I'm so sorry, dad." Juliet said after nearly ten minutes.

"I am too." Charlie's voice sounded hollow and broken. "I should tell you..." She pulled back, seeing the apprehensiveness that had set in on his face. "Alice Cullen is here."

"What?" Juliet questioned. "What do you mean Alice Cullen is here? Like here as in Forks?"

"Here as in our living room." Charlie sighed lightly. "Bella invited her to stay."

"Why?" Juliet didn't care if she sounded rude.

"She wanted to check on Bella, I guess." He sighed. "They're sleeping in the living room." Juliet nodded, and finally made a move to head inside.

"Dad...I couldn't find Leah today." She looked back at him. "I looked everywhere, all our usual spots, and nothing."

"I'm sure she's just...dealing with things." He said. "Give her some time, let her breathe and think about things. She'll come to you when she's ready." Juliet nodded, her hand now resting on the doorknob.

"I love you dad."

"I love you too, Jules."

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A day without Leah was hard to imagine. Juliet had slept in late, which helped, finally pulling herself out of bed around ten. She walked downstairs and had begun to make herself breakfast, still barely even awake.

"Oh! You must be Juliet." Juliet looked up, seeing none other than Alice Cullen standing in the doorway. She was small-tiny, in fact-with too-big golden eyes and short brown hair. "I'm Alice, we met briefly last year in Phoenix."

"Yeah, I remember." Juliet nodded. "It's...nice to see you again."

"You as well." Alice gave a polite smile as she walked over the sink and set a few cups in it. Neither of them said anything further as Alice left the room, though Juliet thought she could hear Alice sniff as she passed her. She finished her breakfast quick before deciding to call the Clearwater house, hoping Leah would be home. It was answered after a few rings.

"Hello?" It was Sam.

"Sam, I couldn't find Leah yesterday." Juliet looked outside, displeased to see rain again. If Leah was out there, she didn't want her caught in this. "Please tell me you know where she is."

"I don't." Juliet groaned. "But I saw her. She's...she's fine, Jules. Just processing. She said she wanted to be left alone."

"Stop telling me that." She huffed. "I know it's not true. She'd want to see me. She'd want me with her!"

"She's grieving, Juliet." Sam's voice was quieter, but more firm than it had been before. "Let her grieve." Juliet huffed, hanging up the phone harshly. She leaned against the counter, putting her face in her hands. She was angry at Sam, sad about Harry, and worried about Leah. It was too much. Too many extremes at once.

"Juliet?" It was Bella, her voice was careful. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Juliet said through her hands.

"You've been crying in the kitchen for twenty minutes." Juliet finally peaked from behind her fingers, seeing Bella standing a few feet away with a pitying frown on her face. "Is it about Harry?"

"Part of it." Juliet sighed, her hands dropping as she crossed her arms over her chest. "But part of it's Sam. Fucking Sam. And then there's...Leah." The anger dropped from her voice. "I couldn't find her yesterday. Sam keeps saying she wants to be alone but I...I know she wouldn't want that. I know she'd want me to be with her, but I can't do that if she keeps disappearing!" Juliet sighed. "I went everywhere we always go, and nothing. I can't find her anywhere."

"Have you looked today?" Bella asked, and Juliet shook her head. "Maybe you should try. Go, get yourself cleaned up, and check again." Juliet sighed again nodding lightly.

"Yeah." She pushed off of the counter. "Okay. I'll do that."

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Nothing, absolutely nothing. Juliet came home after midnight, Bella and Alice already asleep in the living room and Charlie already in bed. She'd looked everywhere she could think of and then some. Even places she knew Leah hated, just in case. But nothing. She didn't see the grey wolf again, even though she went back into the woods where she'd seen it the night prior. Now, running on only four hours of sleep, Juliet was dressing for the funeral. She didn't have much in the way of formal clothing, but she was able to pull something presentable together. A simple black dress, a simple black cardigan, and simple black flats.

She didn't eat before she left, simply brewing herself some tea in a travel mug and gladly accepting a-slightly awkward-hug from Bella before she left. The drive to La Push was agonizingly long, and the drive through La Push to the cemetery was worse. She pulled into a spot, though didn't feel ready so she stayed in her truck. That was until she saw Sam heading straight for her.

"We need to talk." He said as soon as he reached her. "It's about Leah."

"What is it?" She asked quickly.

"Leah...isn't coming to the funeral." He said lightly. "She didn't explain why, she just made her choice." Juliet's eyebrows furrowed together.

"That doesn't make any sense, why wouldn't she come to the funeral?" Juliet frowned. "It's Harry, it's her dad, of course she'd come. What do mean she's not coming?" Juliet was only half aware of her raised voice, but she didn't care.

"Lower your voice, Juliet." Sam said, almost as if it was a command. "Be an adult, don't cause a scene like you used to."

"A-A scene?" She gawked, scoffing. "A scene! My best friend is as good as missing right now, and you're telling me not to cause a scene?"

"Juliet..."

"No, you don't get to tell that, Sam." She poked his chest. "You don't get to tell me to leave Leah alone. You're the one who broke her heart, remember? I was the one who picked up the pieces."

"Just take a breath, Juliet." Sam had remained calm the entire time, despite Juliet's growing anger. "After the funeral, you can go as crazy as you want. Go tear up the entire rez looking for her, fine. But for right now, you need to calm down. For Charlie, for Sue. Just take a breath. Leah will be fine on her own for a couple more hours."

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Juliet leaned against the bannister, her second cigarette already half gone. The funeral was slow, and the wake felt crushing. Everyone had crowded inside the Clearwater's home, but Juliet couldn't take it anymore. So, she'd come outside, sat on the stairs, and decided to smoke. Maybe Leah would just walk up, but Juliet doubted that. She heard the door open behind her, and when she glanced back, she saw Emily.

"Hi, Juliet." Her voice was careful as she sat down on the steps.

"Hi Emily." Juliet's voice was tight, and her eyes fixed to the slightly swaying trees in front of her. The last place she'd seen the grey wolf.

"Do you still want to find Leah?" Juliet felt like she could've laughed at the question.

"Of course I do." She nodded.

"I know where she is." Juliet turned quickly. "She's at Sam and I's house." Juliet hesitated before standing up.

"Thanks Emily." She hurried to her truck, and quickly tore out of the Clearwater's driveway. Sam and Emily lived on the other side of the rez, near First. She'd driven Seth out there a few times, so she knew her way enough to figure it out. Ten minutes later, Juliet stopped her truck in front of the small cottage. Leaving her keys in the car, Juliet rushed up to the door and pulled it open. Leah was sitting just inside, at a large dining table. She looked up, her eyes widening when she saw Juliet. Juliet's eyes widened too, taking in Leah's new appearance.

Her long hair had been cut short, just below her chin, and Juliet could see a large, fresh tattoo on her right shoulder.