Chapter 2 La push
Stepping off the plane in Port Angeles I can tell that I underestimated how cold it would be. My sweatshirt and thick leggings were doing nothing for me right now. I am freezing my tits off, which would be shame as I have been blessed in that department. Walking off the tarmac and into the terminal we get blasted with heat from the heaters they had placed over the entry ways. After this I know I am going to have to go shopping for warmer clothes, I won't make it until our home goods get here if this is any indication of the weather to come.
Walking to baggage claim took a little longer than we had hoped. It's like every plane scheduled for today landed and unloaded at the same time. The foot traffic was asinine for such a little airport. As we approached the baggage terminal, they were just now unloading all of the bags. Waiting for all four of our bags, was a task in itself. It's like they purposely separate all of your bags. Thankfully, even with them separating all of belongings, it took about 10 mins for us to place all of belonging on the trolley my dad so cleverly grabbed for us. I began to wonder who all would be picking us up. I knew dad had called Uncle Billy, but after his accident leaving him in a wheelchair, I wasn't sure he'd be up for making such a long trip.
Walking towards the front doors of the airport we are stopped by someone yelling out my dads' name. Looking over to our left, I immediately saw 2 giant and I mean GIANT guys standing by the entrance wall with a petite woman and sure as shit… Uncle Billy. Smiling up at dad I ran up to Uncle Billy giving him a hug.
"Hey Ole' man didn't think you would make the trip!" Teasing my uncle is and always will be my favorite past time. There are very few people who can handle my attitude and sass. Thankfully, he is one of them.
"Don't make me run over your toes there little girl." He replies back laughing.
"What? No Hello for your favorite cousin?" Giant one interrupted.
"Well, I don't see my baby cousin anywhere around here. All I see are two giants. Soo no. No hello for him." I smirk back.
"Ouch! I'm wounded. Truly wounded. You don't even recognize this obviously super handsome man?" Giant 1 faked being wounded. I couldn't help but laugh at his antics.
"Mmmm nope. Because any one I know from the reservation wouldn't cut their hair. They claimed it was... how'd they say it? Oh! Yes, it was all they got all the bitches. All the power was in the hair." Laughing at the look on all of their faces especially the look on Giant One. He is outright blushing and sputtering as if I just made an outrageous accusation.
"Psh baby, with these muscles I have no need for the hair anymore. I can get any girl I want." He states all the while flexing his muscles and puffing out his chest.
"Well, not any girl." Giant 2 laughs as he shoves his companion.
"Alright, enough fucking around you two. I don't want to spend all night here. Jacob be a gentleman and grab your cousins' bags. Has your father taught you nothing?" My dad interrupts and sticks his tongue out at Uncle Billy. He starts to shove bags into the boy's arms. "We can continue playing patty cake in the car. Let's go eat, I'm famished." He proceeds to grumble as we all began making our way to the parking lot. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Jacob trying to punch his friend in his arm. Shaking my head at those two antics.
"Hi, I'm Emily! I have heard so much about from the boys." Startled, I jump a little as she comes up next to me. Last time I saw her she was standing next to Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare to you."
"No, it's ok I just didn't hear you come up to me. It's Emily? As in Seth and Leah's cousin Emily?" I took this time to truly get a good look at her. She was an average height if I had to guess I would say about 5"4'. She was very beautiful, even with the three long scars going down the right side of her face down her right arm to her wrist. From what I heard was she was attacked by a bear shortly after Sam and Leah broke up. Apparently, Emily went on a walk with Sam to try and talk to him about why he broke up with Leah and to try and convince him to go back to her, when a bear attacked them. Sam was able to scare off the bear but not before the bears paw made contact with Emily's face. Sam felt so bad that he spent pretty much his entire time by her side in the hospital. Shortly after she was released, they started dating. It torn Leah to pieces.
"Yup that's me!" She replies back smiling. "So Everly, you excited to be back in La Push?" She asked me softly.
"Nice to finally meet you Emily. Um, I am pretty excited actually. Not looking forward to not being able to surf all that often anymore but, other than that I'm looking forward to being around family. I know my dad is happy to be back, especially with everything that has happened with Uncle Billy. It tore him up that we couldn't be here for longer after everything." I reply back falling in step with her. After the accident that killed my Aunt Sarah and leaving my uncle paralyzed from the waist down, my dad was besides himself. We almost lost both my uncle and my aunt that night. My father and I got on the first flight home from England when we got the call.
"Oh yes, Jake mentioned you surfed! That's awesome, he's showed us videos of you surfing from when he went to visit you last summer." Emily says. As we approach, what I'm assuming was their car, our conversation ceased. When reached their car Emily unlocked the back so we were able to load all of our bags. How we are all going to fit in their care is beyond me. It is after all only a Jeep Grand Cherokee, from what I could see it only seats 5 people.
"Uhm, Emily? How are we all going to fit in this? It seats 5 and there's 6 of us. I mean I'm sure we can tie Jacob to the roof!" The last part I purposely say loudly enough to make sure Jake would hear me. I couldn't help but smile to myself, I have missed being able pick on people especially Jake.
"I heard that!" He yells from the front of the car.
"YOU WERE MEANT TOO!" I wink at Emily in return. She just smiles at me, shaking her head. Almost like how a mom looks at her children. Its endearing really.
"No, no one is going to be tied to the roof. Despite how funny it would be, that won't be necessary. We brought two vehicles, figured your dad and Billy can ride in one and us youngsters can ride in the other." Sam comes up behind me smiling, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Figured that way they can talk about what their hearts desire and we don't have to listen to them bitch about our taste in music." At the last part he winks at me. I couldn't help but bust into a fit of laughter. It was such a kid thing to say and never in my years of knowing Sam have I ever seen him so carefree. It was refreshing to see, he was jokey and carefree when he was with Leah, but he never had to mischief look to his eyes. Looking over at Emily I knew it had something to do with her.
"Well ok then, lets' get going please. I am freezing my ass off that I worked so hard to have."
"Hm, well you might want to work a little bit more on it. It is lacking." Jake laughs as he gets in the front seat.
"Bastard." I whisper as I climb into the back. I work out pretty much every day to be able to surf at the level that I am at. "So, guys what all have you been up to since I was last home? I mean obviously you've been hitting the gym Jake. You look like a body builder! You're going to have to give me your work outs." At the mention of Jakes appearance, the two men exchanged a look. Hmm very peculiar. Its Sam who replies first.
"Things have been good, busy but good. I started a group to help the community, it consists of teens who need help with resume building, tutoring, or need community service hours. Jake and a few other guys were friends with help keep them on track. Those of us who help run it also help run security details through the rez when Chief Swan isn't able to get down to the reservation. It has helped the community a ton." Oh... wow I was not expecting that.
"Sam, that's great! Wow, and how do the teens involve like it? I would love to help out, if you need it. I am mostly taking online college classes and only two classes at the high school. So I have plenty of time to help tutor if need be." To say I was impressed is an understatement. The fact that they started a teen outreach program is fantastic and something that our community needed greatly. "I can also print off resources that are available for students who are preparing to graduate. Especially those that can't afford to go to college, I will have to show you the website when we get back." To even be able to help out our community no matter how small would mean the world to me.
"That would be amazing Everly. As long as you don't get behind on what you need to be doing I would love for you to help. I've heard about your academic achievements and I think that you would be very beneficial to the program. Hell I know a few of the ones who help run the program who could use some tutoring." At the last part he gave Jake a look that could only mean Jake was one of the ones who needs help, and if I were to guess it is going to be in either math or English.
"Hey now! I got my grades up all with running extra patrols. The only grade I have yet to get up is my English grade. But you know Mrs. Lakota has it out for me." Jake huffs from the passenger seat. I can hear Emily trying to stifle her laugh from beside me.
Leaning forward and resting my hands on his shoulders. "It's ok Jakey, we get it. The mean old lady has it out for you." Laughing as he goes to hit me on the head. "Hey! You be nice to me. Otherwise I am going have Mrs. Lakota come after you." Leaning back into my seat shaking my head. After that all conversation seized. I could hear Jacob still grumbling in the front. Looking at the clock we still have about an hour left until we reach the rez. Laying my head against the window I let the passing trees lull me into a dreamless sleep. Knowing that when I wake up I will be back in my childhood home, for good this time.