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A/N I had this idea and couldn't get it outta my head. So here you go.
I watched him walk a few steps at human speed and then he disappeared. Gone. No trace that he was even there except the echoes in my head. The words he spoke kept replaying: "I'm tired of pretending I'm something I'm not." No, you aren't human are you? You can really only pretend for so long. I started to stumble after him only to realize what a truly fruitless endeavor that is.
"You're no good for me." I guess heroine does bad things to your body, especially your own personal brand. Isn't that what he always called me? I sink down on a log and rest my elbows on my knees. Not wanting to think about his last words, I try to stare mindlessly into the forest.
"It'll be like I never existed." ARGH SHUT UP! I have to my mind straight before I can even think about attempting to go home and figure out how to continue my life! I glance around and realize that I have gone further than I thought. Charlie's backyard is no longer visible. All I can see are trees, ferns, stumps. But I don't panic. It somehow feels comfortable, like home. Not like the times I had been in here with him. He always made the forest out to be something unsafe, dangerous. Or maybe he was the one that was the real danger and I never really let myself see it. Huh, something to think on.
I'm not sure how long I sat there. Eventually my back began to hurt so I lay along the log and stared at the tree tops. I could see a small patch of sky through the canopy and it appeared to be getting darker. Just as I was contemplating getting up and trying to find my way back, I heard a rustle in the underbrush. I quickly sat up and spun towards the sound. There's a flash of silver fur and I hear a howl in the distance. Holy crow was that wolf's howl?! I can feel myself starting to panic. Breathe Bella, just breathe.
"BELLA!"
Someone is calling for me! Oh thank you thank you thank you! I don't have to try to find my way out of here! I turn back to the spot I saw the silver fur just in time to see a man walking towards me. I look up… and up… and up until finally meeting a vaguely familiar face. He was barefooted and shirtless. Really? It's September with cool evenings, especially in a dense forest. Some people just don't have any sense.
"Bella?" he asked. I just nod; my voice seems to have disappeared. "I'm Sam. Sam Uley. From La Push." That's it! I had seen him the one time I went to First Beach. "Your father got worried when you didn't return from your walk and has people searching for you. He contacted Billy Black and Billy called me and some friends to help find you. Everything ok?" All I could do was nod again. Yeah I was lying but I wasn't going to tell a complete stranger that a hole was developing in my chest because my vampire boyfriend left me. Totally believable right?
"We should head back to Charlie's, ok? Would you like me to carry you?" Another nod. Come on Bella, get it together! Sam sweeps me up bridal style and I follow my instincts allowing my arms to wrap around his neck. Wow is he hot! Not like handsome hot (which he is but not relevant in anyway right now) but temperature hot. I swear he has a fever. But it's a comforting warmth. I feel secure and protected, if only for a little while.
He carried my back to my father's house in record time. Charlie was outside pacing, cell phone stuck to his ear. Sam wasn't lying; he really had called out the troops. Super. Now the entire town will know poor little Bella got lost in the woods. Just what I need, more attention.
"Bella! I got your note but when you didn't return….." Charlie's voice faded as he took me in. I guess I looked pretty rough. Having your heart broken and getting lost in the woods would that to you! I kept my head on Sam's chest as he brought me inside. Charlie followed closely along with two unfamiliar guys. I didn't get more than a glance at them, but they seemed to be dressed in the same amount of clothes as my savior. Huh, maybe it's a rez thing?
Sam laid me down on the couch and I closed my eyes to the harsh glare of the lamp above my head. Immediately I missed the warmth and comfort I had in Sam's embrace. I heard whispers all around me. Charlie was speaking with Sam and the other two guys, shaking hands with them, and finally I hear the front door shut and silence engulfs the room. I feel Charlie come to squat down by my head and I slowly turn towards him. "What happened Bells?" His voice is rough with concern and his eyes. Oh his eyes, so much like my own. I see the tears there. I know he was scared. Scared he had lost me again. Why do I keep doing this to him?
I close my eyes so I don't have to look at him. The first tear slid down my face and into my hair quickly. I just let it go. There was nothing I could really do about it. "He's gone." That was all I could manage before the sobs started. Charlie just grabbed me and held me while I cried. I cried for a love lost, I cried for time wasted, I cried for everything that could have been. I cried until there was nothing left to cry, then I cried some more.