Driving back into this town wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. All the memories, good or bad, came rushing back. I passed the town sign that read, 'WELCOME TO FORKS, WA.' I remember when we were five, my best friend Leah Clearwater and me being photographed by our dads in front of that sign.
Leah and I were the closest of friends and still are. We first connected when our dads introduced us when I moved out here with my brothers. I was four, my brother Matt, eight, and my oldest brother Logan, was twelve. Me being adopted when I was a baby.
My parents divorced when I was two but my brothers and I lived out in Maine with my mother for the first two years of the divorce. But once she got her new boyfriend, kids just weren't in the cards for their relationship. So we moved out to be with our dad. Not that he minded, he wanted us from the start. So we moved out there and my dad always would bring us to the reservation not far from the house. Thats where most of his friends and their kids lived. Billy Black and Harry Clearwater were his closest of friends. I really connected to Harry's daughter Leah. We were completely different, but somehow it worked.
During high school Leah was the simple, natural beauty, that dressed in clothes that could easily be men's. I was more the preppy pretty girl. I straightened my hair and did my make up every day and wore clothes that were completely girly. We did everything together. Getting ready for school dances, had the same friends though most were my friends and just hung out with Leah because of me. And we did sports together every season of the year. Varsity every time. We were unbreakable the two of us. She helped me through a lot. And I helped her. She helped me through both my brothers leaving for the Army, and I helped her through her father dying. It was hard for her, but being Leah, she tried to take it all in stride in front everyone else except me. When it was just the two of us, she would break down like there was no tomorrow. But things got surprisingly better when she got her first and only boyfriend Sam Uley. They were the most amazing couple. I had my fair share of boyfriends, but none of them were as special to me as Sam was to Leah. And I truly knew Sam felt the same way towards Leah. He became my best friend as much as Leah. I really could talk to him about anything.
Though after graduation, we went our separate ways. More me away from them. Going to college back in Maine was the best the best thing I could've done for myself. The campus wasn't far from where my mom lived. About an hour. So I really got to reconnect with her. But after about two months, Leah called me and told me about Sam dumping her for her cousin Emily. I couldn't believe it. They were so in love it just shocked me to no end.
It was Christmas break of my first year in college that I finally got home to see her. She was wreck to say the least. As usual she broke down in front of me and me alone. There wasn't much I could do but comfort her. It didn't seem to help her any. She had changed. She was broken hearted. I saw Sam a few times and he seemed incredibly happy. Sad when I talked about Leah, but happy with Emily. I met her only once and that was brief. She was kind and I could see why Sam seemed to love her so much. What I didn't see, was why Sam left Leah for Her.
Now here I am. Driving back home to Forks, having graduated from college two years ago and started medical school right after. My dream of being a doctor was underway. Only two years left. But I decided that for my two week spring break, to take a trip home. Two weeks to relax and hangout with Leah and hopefully Sam. And the best part, my brother Logan's taking leave for a week to be home all of us together. Luckily Matt was stationed at Ft. Lewis thats 45 minutes out of Seattle, so he'll be home anyway. So This should be a good vacation.
I drove straight to the reservation wanting to see Leah first. As I pulled up to her house, she came running out with a smile on her face. She had her hair cut to her shoulders and was wearing shorts and a tank top. She had gotten extremely tall and may I say really muscular. Like she lifted weights. I pulled the lever into park, turned off the ignition and jumped out of the car.
"Reyan!" She yelled. That's always what people called me. I guess Reyanne was too long.
"Leah!" I yelled back and we hugged so tight. Tighter than I remembered! It's been a while considering I went to my mothers for Christmas. We pulled back with arms still encircled.
"Oh my god how are you!" She asked still sounding happy and excited. Her smile was huge.
"I'm great! And you?" I asked.
"Okay I guess. You know how it is." She said as we dropped our arms. She gave a sad smile that didn't reach her eyes. I adjusted a stray piece of hair that had fallen from behind her ear.
"Yeah? Well it only gets better with time hon." I said trying to give her a smile. She nodded while giving me the same sad smile.
"Yeah I know. Come on. Your dad and brother are inside." She said. We turned and walked into her house. Her little brother Seth met us at the door.
"Hey Reyan!" He said excitedly. He was now sixteen and he always had the biggest crush on me. I'll admit he was a cute kid but was way too young for me. I was 24 now.
"Hey Seth! How are ya bud?" I asked just as excitedly.
"Great! Glad your back!" He said smiling brightly. I laughed slightly.
"Seth don't you have somewhere to be?" Leah asked. She and Seth were typical brother and sister, always bickering.
"Nope. Just here annoying you Sis." He said. I laughed and walked between them. I heard Leah coming in behind me.
"By the way Rey, I love the new hair cut. Cute." She said stroking my hair. It was naturally a honey blond and I had never gotten highlights. My hair was always curly but I had cut it short so straightening it wasn't such a chore. It was now the same length a Leah's, to my shoulders.
"Thanks Lee." I said retaliating on the nickname she gave me. I rounded the kitchen that was always considered the meeting area because Leah's mom sue, loved to cook. My dad and Matt was there and I hugged them both tightly.
"Hey honey." My dad greeted.
"Hey Dad." I was never one to call my dad daddy. I had high respect for him and never felt daddy was appropriate for a full grown woman to call her father.
"Hey ReyRey!" My brother said excitedly. He was the only one who I let call me that. I loved Matt the most. We were so close. I told him everything.
"Matty!" I said hugging him just as tightly. I turned and saw three huge guys that were crowded around the table. They all got up t say hello.
"Hi, I'm Quil." The first greeted while waving.
"Embry." The second waved. The third just stared at me.
"I'm Reyan." I waved back with a smile. Leah looked to the third guy and glared. She sighed and turned to look at me.
"Reyan this is Paul." She said motioning to him. I smiled and waved.
"Hi, Paul." I said. He smiled a little and looked down.
"Hi." He said waving a little. I turned towards Leah.
"So, Um..." I said looking at my feet nervously.
"You want to go and see Sam don't you?" She asked. I gave a small smile. She knew me so well.
"Do you mind?" I asked. She smiled and waved it off.
"Nah, go ahead. I'll be here when you get back." She said. I hugged her and turned to Matt.
"You coming?" I asked. He nodded and hopped off his stool. We walked out the door and started over to Sam's on the side of the road.
"So, happy to be home?" He asked smiling. I looked over smiling and nodded.
"Like you wouldn't believe. I just hate being so far from everyone." I said. He nodded.
"Yeah. I know the feeling." He said. I knew he had had worse. Being to deployed to Afghanistan for a year twice had to be tough. After a moment of silence, I had an idea.
"Race ya." I said taking off running. As usual, I felt him pass me. Being in the military and running a six minute mile everyday had it's advantages I guess. I was still slower than him. After the short race and him slapping Sam's porch approximately 15 seconds before me, we caught our breath.
"Haha, and I'm still the champion." He said grinning and walking up the steps. Still huffing and puffing, I walked up after him.
"Yeah, yeah, you cheater." I said smiling. He laughed and knocked on the door. Emily answered and laughed at our appearance.
"Hey, Emily. Sam here?" Matt said nicely. She nodded and pushed the door opening wider for us to come in. We walked past her and into the living room. Sam was on the couch watching a football game.
"Hey Sam." Matt said.
"Hey man." Sam said not moving his head from the television.
"Hey Sam." I said. His head whirled around and saw me, then a big smile spread over his face.
"Reyan!" He said jumping up and coming to give me a hug.
"Hey!" I said hugging him around his shoulders. He hugged me tight and released after a minute.
"How are you!" He said happily.
"I'm great! You look good!" I said. He nodded.
"I am good. Come on in the kitchen and let's talk." He said showing us the way. We sat and talked with Sam for a while and had a good time catching up. But soon enough, it was time for us to go back to Sue's. We walked to the door and made plans to come over tomorrow for lunch.
"Well. That was fun." Matt said as we started our walk.
"Yeah. It's always good to catch up with Sam. I miss it here." I said sighing.
"Yeah. I miss it back in Maine. Moving so far away is really tough." He said. I nodded. Then another thought popped into my head.
"Hey, you know that guy at Sue's? Paul I think his name was?" I asked.
"Paul? Yeah, I know him. He's a good kid. Why?" He asked.
"I don't know. He looked at me funny." I said. "Like he was nervous around me or something." Guys were never nervous around me. I wasn't that type of girl. I was more the girl they either ask me out or are my friend. I'm not intimidating at all.
"Yeah, I caught that. I don't know. He's usually not like that." He said.
"Huh. Well what about Leah? She seeing any of them?" I asked thinking he might know. Being home enough.
"Leah? Dating? Not likely. She doesn't date much. And when I say much, I mean not at all." He said shoving his hands in the pockets of his A.C.U.'s.
"Oh. Well that's weird. Because from what I saw, they were pretty cute." I said. They were all remarkable handsome. Tall, dark, and handsome. A package deal in my book. But maybe their personalities were bad. I don't know. Matt laughed.
"Yeah well, they're nice guys. Respectful. I like them. They're all close with Sam I guess." He said. I nodded. Well, I guess this spring break should be fun.
