For the Good of The Tribe: Bella found out she was ⅛ Quileute when she was 13. Discovering herself and gaining all of the information she could about Native American Culture, Bella was urged to return to La Push by the Apache Tribe she had grown close to. Now that she is in La Push, she finds herself trying to improve the tribe she knows to be home, and hopes to find her place among them. Bella/Leah
AN: This idea just wouldn't get out of my head! I wrote Tribal Relations and asked you guys for suggestions for a pairing. Leah was a popular pairing suggestion for Bella and I thought I would try to give it a go. This has slightly changed from the other version so please read carefully to see the differences. I hope you like it. If you don't like F/F don't read, and if someone wants to help out with writing, especially if you want explicit scenes, i'd love the help, PM me.
Bella POV
I was thirteen when Renee was on one of her new fads and this time she dragged me along. Normally I could escape with telling her I needed to balance the checkbook, clean something around the house, or make up a large meal, but this fad came out of nowhere. Renee was in for her yearly physical and had picked me up early from school so she didn't have to go alone. She only saw the cover of a science magazine about genetic testing and decided that is where we were going next. We got home at 8 at night and life continued as normal, minus the $422.78 from our budget that month.
Two weeks later my life changed. Renee and I found out I am a surprising ⅛ Native American on my dad's side. I called him up almost immediately to find out what he knew, after some grunting I finally got out of him that my great grandma Molly was Quil III first wife. Their oldest from their first marriage married someone off the reservation, at a young age. His eldest son had my dad with his wife at 18. He didn't really know much, but he told me he would get Old Quil's number from Billy when he talked to him next.
For the next month Renee went to every pow wow, museum, and Native American activity she could find in a two state radius. I joined her to everything she went, monitoring her money and making sure she came home with enough time to eat and sleep before work the next morning. I got seperated from her at one Apache pow wow and ended up wandering into a formal meeting. I apologise as quickly as I could and tried to backtrack and ended up slipping and hitting my head.
I woke up after midnight and Renee left without me, thinking I walked home without her. I stayed on the reservation for three days with the Medicine man, his wife, their 4 kids, their spouses, and their 5 grandchildren. Jan, the medicine man's wife, was upset that my mom would leave me, and urged her husband to bring me with him and show me around. I explained why my mom was on this new fad and explained everything we had seen so far. The whole family could see I was enraptured by the culture. A man from Native American Affairs was visiting the Apache tribe to try and encourage new businesses and speaking to the youth about the different grants available to them as Native Americans.
For three days I gathered as much information as I could. My camera was full of pictures from the pow wow and meetings that followed. When Renee came to pick me up, Jan had a few words with her. Instead of visiting Charlie, my dad, that summer, I went back to visit the medicine man and Jan's family. I developed a plan.
I started to take college courses as soon as I could, taking online and night classes from local colleges at the beginning of my freshman (9th grade) year. By the time I graduated high school at 18, I almost had completed two bachelor's degrees and started taking graduate level courses, was a published author twice over, and had some of my photos in magazines. Renee had found someone and married Phil last year. I encouraged her to travel with him, and stayed with Jan and her family when she was out of town for longer than a week. Jan talked to me about Charlie a lot. She even invited him to visit, since I hadn't seen him since I was twelve, but he could never get off the time.
When I got offered a position at National Geographic's for a short spread on Native American Tribes, I asked the Apache tribe for their blessing. My published works were based around their legends and tribal stories, so half of my profits when directly to the tribe, so I was surprised when they said no.
"Little Swan," the medicine man spoke, "we appreciate your love for this tribe, but to allow you to do this, would take you away from your tribe."
I sat confused, "My tribe? But Renee doesn't know which tribe she is a part of."
Jan wrapped her arm around me, "But your dad does know what tribe he is a part of."
Tears started to well up in my eyes, did they not want me?
"You are always welcome here, but the spirits have seen greater things for you." The Chief spoke, "We have already kept you too long."
"But college.. My degrees?" I was stalling, they knew it and I knew it.
"You can complete them anywhere." Jan rubbed her hand up and down my arm. "Go find your destiny."
Two weeks later I was gone. Renee and Phil had already sold the house and were waiting for me in Florida. When I said I wasn't going she cried and tried to guilt me into going. "I need to see Dad." My voice broke, I missed him, but I was terrified. We talked on the phone about every other week, but I knew he had a whole life without me. He talked about a kid, Embry, as if he was his own son. He had been in a relationship with a woman from the tribe for almost a 3 years now. He moved on, and part of me felt like I didn't have a home.
If the tribe I had been a part of for the last five years wanted me to move on, Renee was starting a new life, and Charlie had a family I wasn't a part of, where did I belong? When I called him asking if I could stay with him for a while, he sounded thrilled, thrown for a loop, but thrilled nonetheless. He asked me if I was okay, or if something happened to Renee, or if her new husband wasn't treating me right, but I did my best to reassure him.
When he picked me up from the airport a large Native Man was next to him. Charlie swung me up into a hug, quickly putting me down when his back cracked. "You okay?" My face must have shown my worry, the man and Charlie started to laugh.
"I'm good Bells." Charlie patted my back and went for my bag, but the man beat him too it.
"I'm Embry," the man, well Embry, smiled at me. His hazel eyes looked at me and he got a sort of crooked grin as he put my bag over his shoulder, "Ready for a brother?"
I shook my head a little, "What?"
"Oh crap. Nothing. Charlie is going to kill me." Embry looked panicked, bowing his head down and avoiding the glare coming from Charlie.
People started to stare, but I couldn't move. "What does he mean dad?"
"Let's get to the car," Charlie gruffled, "I'll explain on the way."
When we filed into the cruiser, Embry stuffed in back, Charlie started to explain. "I'm getting married Bells."
Embry and Charlie talked over one another the whole way. I have never heard Charlie talk so much in my life. Together they told me about almost everyone on the reservation, some names I recognized from when I talked to Grandpa Quil. I tried to take in information, but my mind was stuck on Charlie getting married to Tiffany Call. Embry and Charlie talked about his senior year in high school and how Embry was working with a group of boys on the Res. But that wasn't what was keeping my mind occupied, I couldn't focus. I knew we were going through Forks, but we had passed our house and kept going.
I tried to point out the fact that we missed the house, but figured we were going to drop Embry off. They pointed out the different family houses on the reservation, the Aleara General Store, even the school that had k-12. When we pulled up to a yellow two story house, a little bigger than Charlie's and looked like it had some recent work done. I turned to say goodbye to Embry, when he went and started to take my stuff out of the cruiser. I started to protest, but then Charlie surprised me again, "Welcome home Bells!"
He slipped out of the car and jogged to get ahead of Embry to hold the door open. My jaw was dropped as I watched as he embraced the woman I know from pictures to be Tiffany. I didn't move. I just watched them interact. Charlie waved me forwards and I slowly crept out of the car. We talk every other week. I knew he had been getting close to Tiffany, but this? I knew they were dating, but he moved. He moved and was engaged. Why didn't he tell me?
They were all watching me with different expressions. I could even see Embry standing in the livingroom watch me as I moved slowly closer to the house. I was trying to process my emotions, but I didn't know where to start. I was hugged by everyone, welcomed, told dinner was in a few hours, and Embry brought by suitcase to a room where my three boxes I mailed prior were waiting for me. I checked the address I sent them to, FORKS. I took a deep breath and sank down to the bed.
"Bella?" A tanned hand waved in front of my face.
"I'm actually tired from the flight." I looked him in the eyes and then moved over to the bed. I think I'm going to go to bed early.
"It's only five." He sounded like a wounded animal.
I nodded and swallowed. I shuffled over to the bed before kicking off my shoes and laying on the covers. I heard the door close and voiced outside the door, but I couldn't move. I felt numb.
"Bella?" Charlie's voice came from the now open door.
"Your engaged," my voice was monotone. He grunted the affirmative, and a female whisper was coming from the hallway, "You moved." Another grunt.
"Charlie!" I heard her whisper yell, "What haven't you told that girl?" He mumbled a responds, "She's your daughter-"
"I'm tired and I think I need a minute to process things." I blinked and waited for the door to close. I heard mumbling as the two moved down to where I picture the kitchen must be and laid there on the bed and started to question everything: Did I have a home? Was it my fault? Charlie never fought for me. He couldn't even take a week off of work to visit me. Even on the reservation back in Arizona I felt like an outsider. But here?
I woke up a little after 5 am, according to the alarm clock next to the bed. Fully dressed and not a thing unpacked, I woke up like a robot. Grabbing for my bag I took out the basic toiletries and my outfit for today. I found the bathroom with little difficulty and hurried through the process. After 20 minutes I was ready for the day. I put everything back in my suitcase; grabbed my phone, camera, and my three ring binder; and started to head outside. I pulled out my cell phone and found my way to Old Quil's place, juggling snapping pictures and the three-ring binder. I didn't even have to knock on the door, he was expecting me.
Old Quil and I had talked on the phone every week. He even read my book about the Apache Legends before I sent it off to the publisher. We talked about the Quileute as a tribe and about our legends. We talked about my great grandma Molly Swan and what she meant to him and how she married into the tribe. But today I had a surprise for him, "Hey Grandpa." I smiled and hugged him, the binder slipping from my hand and the camera laying on my chest, "Can we grab some tea and talk?"
He nodded at me and held the door open. We grabbed our tea together and I started to grab things out of my binder when a teenager ran down the steps, "I'll be back before supper. I got patrol with… Oh." He saw me and looked from Gramps to me, "Hi."
"This is your cousin, Isabella Swan," Old Quil rose one eyebrow at his grandson.
"Nice to meet you, Quil," I smiled and waved at him as he looked at me wide eyed.
"Hi." He said again and came over to shake my hand.
He stood there for a few minutes, looking like a kid who got caught sticking their hand in the cookie jar.
"Don't you have to go? Patrol?" I questioned him, my other hand firmly covering the information I pulled out of my binder.
"Yeah, later tonight, I'm going to Seth's right now," He smiled seeing I was giving him and out of this awkward situation, "Bye!" He shouted already out of the door.
I smiled back at Gramps, "He seems nice. So… at the Apache Tribe I was visiting in Arizona has done some amazing things over the last ten years. And I think the tribal council needs to look into some of this," I gestured at my documents spread across the table at this point.
Gramps started to look at the first document before he sighed, "Bella, I appreciate the thought you've put into this, but these projects aren't in the budget."
I was thrown, "Grampa, you only looked at one project. And I have applications for the funds…"
He cut me off, "We do not take handouts…."
It was my turn to cut him off, "It's not a hand-out. Its money they owe us, that when we don't apply for it, it goes back to the government!" And I was off. I went on a rampage about how our funds should be higher, how I filled out the documents with the information online, how much the Quileute qualify for as a tribe, and then I paused, "These plans aren't just flippant thoughts. You've told me about the tribe and I can help."
"Okay Little Swan," He smiled, "Let me hear them before we take them to the council."
"Okay," I smiled and grabbed our empty tea cups. As I refilled them I talked about one of my first ideas, "You told me about a man named Sam Uley, he does construction work for a company based in Port Angeles, but it sounds to me like enough of the boys work up there with them and they are undercutting them," I held out a few forms to him as I continued, "Sam should have his own company, right here in La Push!" I was beyond ecstatic. "I'm almost done with my Bachelors in Native American Affairs, and my Bachelors in Business just needs an internship, I want that internship to be here for the council. I've started taking Master's courses, but I need to get my Bachelors first." I explained everything Sam would have to do and what I need from the Tribe. Grampa was glowing. "And the best part is if they give back, and they should, to the community here in La Push, they can write off most of the work and be making a major profit over the first two years."
"That's wonderful News," Gramps eyes were shining with unshed tears.
"That's not all. The school needs to be updated, the clinic needs major work done, the community center should be moved to a safer area, and the tribe needs a library, even the old store need updates, and the government is supposed to be keeping most of those places up to date. If we get Sam's business started and filed before bringing in a N.A.A. agent, we can make sure the profits go right back into the tribe! And that's just Sam!"
"What do you mean, that's just Sam?" Old Quil looked at my binder, every document was spread out on the table in front of us.
"This is just my binder on Sam. You've told me all about this tribe. I have more ideas. His wife, Emily, you said she cooks for most of the boys already," I waited for him to react. When he gave me a grunt I continued, "She should open a Diner. Forks is the only Diner, and that is really more of a Cafe. The tribe needs a Daycare here in La Push and if we expand the community center most of it can be paid for by the government funds, the two in Forks are over crowded as it is, you mentioned a few women who could head that up. Leah wanted to follow in Sue's footsteps, but really she should be reaching farther. The clinic is understaffed, and we can get people here and paid well, once they have the facilities we deserve." I smiled at him again, putting all the documents away in the binder, "And that's just what we need to do before the end of the year. I have people waiting for me to submit these forms so we can rush them. It's getting close to September, we need to get the work started before school is back in session."
"Can I see the rest?" Gramps looked at me.
"Of course!" I jumped up to run back to the Call's place, but I paused halfway to the door. "Charlie didn't tell me he was engaged." I looked up to Old Quil, aware my whole demeanor changed, "Or that he moved." I paused, "And I don't know why." I took a deep breath. " I know I need to talk to him, but I just can't right now. He lied to me." I sighed, "He lied by omission."
He nodded at me in understanding, and I took off once more.
I ran into Tiffany and Embry's house, ignoring any of the looks I got from the living room where Charlie and Tiffany were cuddling on the couch. I took the stairs one at a time, for my own safety, but hurried to grab a large box full of three ring binders. On my way back down I slipped about halfway down and landed on my butt at the bottom of the stairs, the box spilling out on the floor. I'm positive my red face was glowing as I quickly put them all back in the box.
"Bells?" Charlie came over to help me up.
"What?" My voice cracked as I looked up at him.
"Can we talk?" He rubbed the back of his neck and avoided meeting me stare.
"Are you ready to talk?" I waited for him to answer, shuffling my box of plans from one hip to the other. After a minute of no answer I responded again, "Let me know when you're ready to talk." And I bolted out the door. I heard Tiffany talking to my dad, but I didn't stop when my name was called.
By the time I got back to Old Quil's house he had a few sandwiches set aside for us. We ate as I went through each plan. I was dark out before he stopped me. "Little Swan, I think that if the rest of the plans are like these, then we should go to the council. I'll put them on the next meetings list to address." He stood up and went to an old book on the bookcase. "Next Friday is an open meeting for new business. We can talk about your plans then."
"That sounds great!" I hugged him as he wrote, "Is there anyway we can have a closed meeting this week, to get Sam's plan off and running. We should really get the paperwork in before the end of this week."
Old Quil smiled at her and nodded, "I'll call Billy and set up the meeting for tonight. Why don't you start something for dinner. I need to see if Sam is available."
"How many people?"
"Make dinner for about twenty people. We only have six council members on the Res, including Sam, Fuller is visiting relatives, but it will all get eaten. Especially because Young Quil said he was gonna be home for dinner." Gramps smiled almost deviously.
In the kitchen I started to shuffle through the pots and pans as he called around to the council members homes. Pulling out a rough plan of fish, potatoes, vegetables, and two fruit pies for dessert, I got started. The pie's were ready for the oven, and the fish was minutes away from being finished when Quil V walked into the kitchen nose first, following the smells. "Mom?"
I laughed, seeing his eyes still closed, "Nope."
His eyes sprang open, "Hi Bella." He looked me in the eye as he snatched a glazed carrot from the bowl on the counter before my spoon could hit his hand. He smiled but his shoulders fell, seeing my glare. "Need help?"
I looked around me, what is there left to do? "Could you take out the trash?"
He snorted and got to work, "So when can I introduce you to my friends? You probably remember Jake from when you were kids, but the rest of them would like to meet you."
"I might be busy. I'm trying to intern for the counsel for my Bachelors in Business." my voice sounded shocked, I didn't notice he returned that quickly from taking out the trash..
"Aren't you still in High School?"
"No. I'm 18. I graduated in May."
"Oh. I would have thought Grandpa would have wanted to go with Charlie to your graduation."
"Charlie didn't go. It wasn't a big thing. He had to work and I'm already in college classes, so it wasn't that big of a deal." I shrugged off his worried look. "Mom and Phil had to fly out the next day anyways and it wasn't like I wanted a party." I gave him a horrified look.
"Why not? The money gifts? The food!"
"Being center of attention? No thanks." I looked at him like he asked me to go into a haunted house, "And I don't really need the money."
"Right, right, published author. So who are you all cooking for?" He snuck another carrot before I got to him. I glared, moving the bowl out of his reach.
"I asked for a council meeting. Grandpa is getting them all together now." I smiled.
He looked thrown, "What happened? Are you hurt? What can I do?" He was by my side in a second, checking me over, lifting my arms looking for wounds. A large man came barreling into the kitchen, eyes searching. He looked directly at Quil, then looked me over before relaxing.
"W-what?" I finally stuttered out, pulling myself out of his grip. "I'm fine."
They both looked at me, "So what is the meeting about?" the new man asked, his voice full of worry.
"Who are you?" What is going on here?
"I'm Sam Uley," He held out his hand across the counter that is the breakfast bar separating him from us.
"Bella," I reached my hand over the counter before a loud buzzer when off and scared me. Jumping into the air, my elbow connected with the hot stove. "Hisss…" I pushed Quil away, as he advanced towards me, flinging on the cold water I stuck my elbow under the water. After them asking me many times if I was okay, I finally got to answer. "It's just a kitchen burn, i'll be fine. Can you take the fish out Quil?" Quil started to move to the oven and Sam took out some frozen peas for me, "And to answer your question, the meeting is about Sam." They both froze. "Well and me."
"What?" They both asked.
"Let's wait for the rest of the council." I nodded deciding that was the best course of action.
"We're here," Billy Black called from his wheelchair as he came rolling into the kitchen.
They all started taking their seats at the kitchen table as I directed Quil and Sam on what was left to be done. The pies replaced the fish in the oven, and supper was served. We ate quite quickly, Quil sitting at the breakfast bar as I forgot he was going to be home. When we finished, Quil and Sam started to clean up when Billy started the meeting.
Billy began by introducing the members of the council. Himself, Old Quil, and Sue, who was running late. Then he introduced, John Cameron, Sam Uley, and Henry Littlesea. Normally a Lahote would also be on the council, but Paul has not been welcomed as a full council member yet, and Gabe Fuller was out of town with his family.
Sue came into the kitchen apologizing for being late.
Billy continued, "Isabella Swan has asked us here to address one of her plans to better the tribe." He motioned for me to start.
Being surrounded by the six council members, and Quil who I could see still listening on the stairs, I started to fidget. I took a deep breath and started to outline my plan for Sam, and what he could do for the tribe when he has his own company. I explained that I filled out the paperwork, and would like to continue to follow Sam's progress as an intern for the council. I explained how he would get the money for the start up and what he is entitled to as a member of this tribe from the government. I asked if I could submit pictures of the area for National Geographic and the tribe would get 50% of the proceeds.
Many of the first grunts, or side comments were the same as Grandpa earlier worried, so I shut them down quickly, "You all are entitled to many things that you just aren't getting right now." Grabbed my binder of pictures.
I opened up the first page and showed the council a picture of the Apache's school cafeteria. "That looks pretty good," Sam smiled.
"No Sam," I frowned and turned the page, "This looks pretty good." On the new page you can see the updated cafeteria, on the third page I had a list of changes that were made and what the government out-right paid for.
I showed them the rest of the pictures and how the changes could be made, but how much more it could benefit the tribe if Sam's company were to be the one to make the changes. "It may seem unrealistic to you right now, but I have people at the N.A.A. who will help me push this through." I looked at their faces, a mixture of disbelief and hope. "I'll get us pie."
Less than four minutes later the pie pans were empty and Quil V looked like he was licking the mashed potato pan.
"I should have made more pie." I mumbled as plates and forks scraped against each other.
Mr. Cameron and Billy were leaned back in there chairs rubbing their bellies as Sam admired the work done at the Apache tribe.
Mr. Littlesea was eyeing my box of binders in the corner, "What are those?" He gestures to the box and all eyes followers his movement.
"Those are the other plans." I blushed when they all turned toward me.
Sam's chair scraped back against the floor as he sprang to his feet. It looked like the dove for the box he was moving so quickly.
My eyes grew wide and my body stiffened until I saw Emily's binder in his hand. "Oh."
He started to shout out questions with excitement. The council members all started to sift through the box, and I tried to stop them. I couldn't answer the questions.
Grandpa called everyone's attention with a loud whistle. "We called a meeting to discuss Sam's plan, Isabella's internship, and Isabella's offer for 50% of the proceeds of her National Geographic shoot. Hand the binders to Isabella and Sam. We need to discuss these matters tonight. The other plans will be brought up at new business on Friday. Anything you need to add before we ask you to leave and we deliberate, Isabella? Sam?"
I started collecting the binders as Sam talked, "This could change the life of many of our young men and women. Our tribe deserves this. I would be honored to lead our tribe in this betterment." Sam bowed respectfully as he stood and made his way to the living room, still holding Emily's binder.
The council turned toward me, "I know I'm young, I turn 19 in September, but I'm passionate. I will be graduating with one Bachelor's in Native American Affairs in August, and with your help a Bachelor's in business, if you allow me this internship, next Spring. I don't work for the government, so I am unable to be an agent for this tribe on this, which means more outsiders will be coming with these changes. This is the first of many plans to help this tribe thrive the way it deserves, and I would be honored to help the members of this tribe reach their full potential. I know I'm asking a lot and change is hard, but please know, I will not be sacrificing the traditions of the Quileute nation, but bringing our culture to the forefront in this change." I figured from foot to foot, biting my lower lip wondering if I forgot anything as I shuffled to the door, "Oh, and thank you for the last minute meeting." I blushed red as they chuckled at me as I joined Sam and Quil V in the living room on the couch, their whispered conversation stopped as I took a seat.
Taking a huge breath I slumped onto the couch where both men sat. I could feel there eyes on me as the voices in the dining room started. Sam opened Emily's binder again and I looked over at the pages smiling.
"This is Emily's dream." Quil spoke to me.
"I know," I smiled at them as both boys looked at me, because in that moment they really did look like boys. "Grandpa told me all about the tribe. It's members, their lives, their dreams. He talked about how sad he is that the tribe is decaying before his very eyes." My eyes started to water. "I saw what he means on the way over."
They looked at me confused. Quil's head was tilted and Sam looked almost offended. "Tiffany has one of the most updated homes. Quil, your mom's kitchen is great, but look at the walls in here, the foundation… something's wrong." I ran a hand through my hair. "Mrs. Thompson's steps don't have a railing and it looks like her roof is caving in. Mr. Nelson's siding looks like it's molded through. And the Wolfe's are 9 people to a two bedroom home." I felt my eyes well up as I trailed off.
"You sure you've only been here two days?" Quil tried to lighten the mood.
I shrugged, thinking of the pictures I took earlier, "I'm observant sometimes."
I smiled at him as Sam closed Emily's binder. I heard chairs moving as Sue came to the ingress of the living room. "We're ready for you two now." Sue looked to Quil, "Why don't you help your mom close up the store."
Quil quickly left giving me a thumbs up. I followed Sam's lead and stood before the council.
Billy commanded the room effortlessly from his chair, " Isabella Marie Swan, we accept your offer to become a tribal council intern and your offer for 50% from your National Geographic photos. As your Grandfather is our official medicine man we have some requirements that you need to fulfill as your duty to your tribe." My face whipped up to look at Billy, "Yes, your tribe." He answered my unasked question. "As a 1/8th Quileute you are a member of our tribe. As Quil III great granddaughter you will need to learn our language and customs more carefully. Quil III has already agreed to this."
He turned this head just a fraction to face Sam, I tried to still my body from fidgeting, "Samuel Uley, as this matter pertained to your personal interests we asked you to sit out of the voting and discussion. The council has unanimously agreed to allow these plans to start immediately. As our tribe is suffering from high unemployment rates we are letting this go fourth with the promise from you to only employ members of the tribe and that all projects for the first year will take place on tribal land. Is that agreed?"
"Yes!" Sam blurred out before Billy even finished.
"The council will now come to a close to reconvene on Friday with the intention to hear more of Bella's plans. These papers will be submitted tomorrow and Bella," All eyes returned to me and I fidgeted some more.
"Yes?" My voice came out as a squeak.
"Sue will have you fill out the necessary paperwork for tribal membership." He went back to address the room. He quickly ended the meeting as I handed out a quick cheat sheet of my future plans for them to look over, just before Quil V and Joy came in the door.
They slowly filtered out as Grandpa Quil had to assure them they could ask me questions about my other plans on or after the meeting next Friday. I started for the kitchen and started the dishes when Joy came in and quietly joined.
"I left you some dinner and piece of pie in the fridge. Sorry for distorting your kitchen." I looked down in the soapy water, letting my hair become a curtain between me and Joy.
"Thank you, and you're welcome anytime. The old coot can't shut up about you. I'm glad you've finally come home." I looked through my hair to see Joy smiling at me.
I wanted to believe her, that this could be home, but I wasn't sure I knew what home was. What it even felt like to call some place home.
Joy was polite enough and made small talk with me, trying to ask about my life. I blushed repetitively and tried to divert her back onto herself. After a few tries I got her to talk about the store, and La Push from when she was younger while she helped me dry and put away the dishes.
I thanked her again, and she thanked me for the food, encouraging me to keep that a secret, my cooking, to myself as long as I could. I laughed as she has Quil V walk me back to Tiffany's place as it was well past ten, he juggled my box of binders and my camera hung heavy on my neck, and I probably looked dead on my feet. Quil told me about his friends and everyone he wanted to introduce me too as he walked me back. It was nice, he held the door open for me, and followed me inside to talk to Embry. I waved at a girl and two boys who were watching a movie with Embry in the living room as I trudged up the stairs.
I don't remember getting ready for bed, but I woke up in my pajamas and sheets tangled around my feet. Looked for my phone so I could figure out the time was a challenge, as my legs felt like dead weights. I saw the mocking time of 8:42 AM stared me in the face. I quickly grabbed my necessities from my still unpacked bag and found myself getting ready in the bathroom again before the sound of a wolf's howl broke me out of my sleepy stupor. My head whipped towards the window in the bathroom looking for the wolf who sounded so close only to see dense forest surrounding the backyard.