Chapter 4):

Ryan ran back to the house with a sad Meredith, he needed to make it up to her later when he fed her or take her down to La Push. Actually he decided to take the car today rather then his motorcycle, if Leah was so upset then they could talk at the beach.

"Come on girl, let's go to the beach." He said with a smile as he entered in from the garage rather then the front door.

Meredith's tail wagged in excitement over the fact that she was going to be going with him then staying home, she didn't make it to the beach much. Ryan grabbed the keys to his (technically his mothers) Audi Q7, Meredith went into the back as he opened it laying down like a good girl.

Ryan smiled as he took off out the garage, as he took off he saw that Alice was waving goodbye to him, he just shook his head but did it when she couldn't see him.

------

Ten minutes later he was pulling up in front of the Clearwater house, he didn't see Harry's truck but he did see Sue's car so at least she was there. Seth must have been looking out the window because he was the first to rush out the door, there was a smile on his face as Ryan got out the car with Meredith.

"Seth, how are you doing man." He said an actual smile growing on his face, half was from the fact that he was high the other because of his friend.

"Good, school sucked but you know it has been fine. When can we go surfing again? I really want to hit those waves again, and your boards are the best." Seth said with some excitement his eyes shinning as he played with Meredith.

Ryan laughed some, "Well we can go Sunday, how about that? For now though I need to go see your sister, she called me crying."

Seth's whole demeanor changed as he heard that, he was shaking with anger but he didn't shift since he hadn't gone through the change yet. "Yeah, that asshole Sam, he broke her heart! And of all the people he could have gotten with he got with our cousin Emily, they had to rush her to the hospital though, there was an accident."

Ryan sighed hearing that, he knew that it was most likely Sam not being able to control himself again which caused Emily to once again being hurt like in the books and movies.

"Okay, well I am going to go see her. Most likely I will be taking her to La Push to talk, do you want to join and take Meredith to the beach for me?" He asked as they walked towards the house, Meredith was hopping around them just happy to be somewhere away from the house.

"Yes!" Seth said with excitement, he loved hanging with Ryan since Ryan allowed him to do things that his mother or father tried to stop him from doing. Basically Ryan didn't treat him as a kid like everyone else.

"Alright man, make sure your homework and everything else is done, or you won't be joining us when we go." Ryan told him with a nod as they walked into the house.

Ryan followed behind Seth and Meredith was behind him, walking in he could smell some delicious food and humming from the kitchen. He smiled warmly at the thought of Sue Clearwater cooking, the woman invited him to eat with them any time that he was at their house so he tended to eat a lot of her cooking.

Though he was the better cook that didn't stop him from eating her cooking, it was a good home cooked meal after all.

"Hey Sue." He said pulling her into a hug as she put down a pot of food. Since he had been visiting for the past year she had insisted that he called her Sue rather then Mrs. Clearwater.

She turned to face him smiling, but he could tell she was a little down, "Hey there Ryan. Are you here for Leah," When he nodded she smiled some more, "Well good, that girl has been locked in her room since it all happened, maybe you can get her out of that funk."

"That is the plan." He said with a smile, they talked for another twenty minutes before she let him go back to Leah.

He walked to her door and unlike most girls it was just a plain door, there was nothing to show off that it was a girls room or anything. Ryan knew she was a bit of a tomboy but he also knew she had her sensitive side, it was a reason he thought she turned into a wolf.

Knocking he waited but heard nothing but the music that played beyond the door, "Hey Leah its me." He said calling out to her loud enough she would hear over the music, Meredith was with Seth so it was just him.

There was the sound of footsteps coming then her door was opened, no longer did she look like the confident girl he knew, but now depressed and sad with puffy eyes. She didn't waste a moment throwing herself into his arms, at five foot five she was small in his arms, he was looking forward to seeing how tall she would be.

Ryan could feel his shirt getting wet as she sobbed in his arms, her body rocked as she laid her head against his chest crying into it. Seeing as she was one off the few people in his life that he cared about he felt his heart breaking at her sobs, he sighed while holding her tight.

The door closed with a kick of his leg as he carried her to her bed, her room reflected her, instead of a girly room it was more like someone who loved classic rock. The giant poster of Freddy Mercury singing sitting right above her bed, the record player was actually playing 'Radio Ga Ga'.

Neither spoke as he held her, he was going to give her some time to calm a little in his presence before he actually talked to her. She seemed okay with it as she held him tighter, he didn't know what she was going through, but she was his best friend he wasn't going to let her go through it alone.

After another ten minutes she finally spoke, "He got with Emily! No warning or anything like that, I found them kissing. Rather then actually breaking up with me he, he cheated with her first letting me catch them."

Ryan sighed, there was nothing he could say to that.

"What's worse is that he lied before hand. I called him all last week and all he could tell me was that he was sick, the next thing I know I find them kissing, then Emily runs off only to be attacked by a bear in the woods. I know I am an awful person for not going to visit her, b-but I can't see either of them." She said shaking her head which didn't leave his chest, "Do you think less of me?"

He reached down and made her look at him, those hazel eyes were shinning with tears, "There is no way in hell that I would ever think less of you. You are my best friend Leah. If anything I want to kick his ass for even thinking of cheating on you."

Not that he would, one because of the anger, and two because at the moment Sam was way bigger then him.

She laughed a little, "Please, Ryan I love you like a brother but Sam would crush you."

Ryan smiled hearing her laugh, "Wow, thanks a lot there. I thought you were suppose to be my best friend, looks like I need to find a new one." All she did was wrap her arms around him holding him close, at least she wasn't crying like she was before, "How about we get out of here, we can hang out at La Push and I can get you really high."

She laughed again and his chest swelled with pride, he was glad that no matter the situation that he could get her to laugh like that, she nodded though, "Yeah let's do it."

Ryan stood smiling down at her, "Why don't you wipe your face first and," he sniffed the air but it smelled fine, though he felt like messing with her, "And take a shower you really stink."

He ran out the room fast as she threw a pillow at him, he heard her yelling but he also smiled as he walked into the living room, Meredith was sitting at Sue's feet who was reading in a chair. "How is she?" she asked noticing him walk in.

He sighed while shaking his head, "She will be fine, but it will take time. I am going to take her down to La Push, we will be back later tonight. Is it okay if I also take Seth with us, I know he wanted to play with Meredith more."

Sue smiled, "Of course. Just don't get my daughter to high please, I would like her to actually not giggle every thirty seconds, or eat everything in the house." she said the last part with a smile.

He laughed at that, "Well I can always get them something to eat before bringing them back."

She shook he head with a smile, "Nonsense, we both know she isn't letting you leave tonight. Go ahead and come back here the food will be waiting for you all when you get back, I made Lobster Gumbo."

Ryan almost drooled but held it in, "Will do."

"Alright I'm ready." Leah said walking into the room with a small smile, she was looking better but they could tell that she was still sad about everything. Ryan sighed on the inside looking at her.

"Seth! Come on if your coming or you will be left behind." Ryan called out as they began to go to the front door Meredith following them.

Seth came barreling around the corner while adjusting his flannel he was putting on, with his signature smile he called out, "You two better not leave me."