Hearts Like Ours

by sleepingmoody

Sadie Clearwater has had a rough year. Her Dad dies, her mom falls apart, her sister turns bitter, and her twin brother simply doesn't have time for her. Despite everything Sadie is determined to hold onto what ever scrap of normalcy remains in her life. She may find that easier said than done as she discovers normal is rare in La Push.

1. Chapter 1

I had decided that I wasn't going to turn bitter. I was going to put on a brave face, I was going to smile and be the same Sadie I always was. Mom needed me now with Leah so bitter and Seth off God knows where with those muscle heads. I didn't blame my brother or sister really, everyone copes with death in their own way. And Leah was dealing with a lot, I mean your ex gets engaged to your cousin the day before your father has a heart attack, who wouldn't be bitter? It still hurts me to see her that way though. I remember the old Leah; my older sister who I looked up to. Now, she barely speaks to us, just mumbles under her breathe in angry tone and the takes off to go running. She is in the best shape of her life. Seth is on the other end of the spectrum; He just isn't home, ever. He comes by to eat, or grab a change of clothes and then he's off with his buddies. Ever since I came home from sleeping over at Kaylee's house and found out Dad had a heartache they both avoid me like the plague. And mom; well she is just mom. She cooks, or cleans, or does the laundry. She acts like everything is normal, like Leah isn't miserable, like Seth isn't probably part of some gang, like Dad isn't dead.

Needless to say the year since my father's death has been the hardest time of my life. Luckily, my two best friends, Kaylee and Kim, have been there for me. I haven't really opened up to them, or anyone for that matter, but they've never pushed me. Every once and a while I'll catch the sympathetic look in Kim's eyes, or Kaylee will look at me like I'm about to break; but the push it away quickly and for that I am eternally grateful. I know it isn't healthy to bottle up my emotions and sooner or later I'll have to deal with them, but right now all I want is maintain my sanity, my diminishing sense of normalcy.

So, in an act of preservation I had decided the day of my father's funeral that no one would see me cry. I would push it all down, I would hold my head high and I wouldn't let this change me. I wouldn't be mad at the world like Leah. I wouldn't fall of the face of the earth like Seth. I would be bubbly, friendly, Sadie. And no one would need to worry about me or pity me.