Chapter 10 Grounded from the inside

We both had fallen asleep. It was five in the morning. I went to stretch and couldn't move. Sam was weighing me down. He stirred slightly, but didn't wake. I snuggled in closer, enjoying every minute we lay there. I knew this would be the last time for a long time. I was surprised no one had came looking for me yet. Then again.. They might not think to look here. I wiggled a bit trying to get more comfortable. Sam's eyes opened half way. "Emily?" he said half asleep. I smiled at him. He looked so much younger when he was asleep. I knew now the burden he carried, the weight on his shoulders that was making him old before his time. "I'm still here" I whispered. His eyes opened completely "I'm sorry…. I should have had you back over eight hours ago". He laid still before he sat up. "I might as well stay until daylight, its not going to matter now how late I was. Just remember how nice this was while it lasted". He laughed and rubbed his eyes. "Come on.. I'll take you upstairs.. You can sleep in my bed". He stood up and pulled me up by my hands.

Sam led me up the short stairs and down the hall to the room at the end. He pushed open the door to his room. It was different than the downstairs. His room was actually… nice. He had a huge king bed with a dark blue comforter and accessories, even more surprising than the linens matching was the fact the dresser, bed, and nightstand were all one set. There weren't clothes and cds thrown everywhere either. There was a tv on the wall in front of the bed, and a guitar in the corner. He saw what I had spotted and gave me a look that meant it was off limits. I was too tired to bug him to play it anyways.

I kicked my ballet flats off and pulled the blankets back on his bed, he was grabbing a pillow and throw blanket. I climbed into the bed, it felt good to lay out without being cramped. "Make sure I'm up by at least eight". I told him as I started squirming into a little ball. His sheets even smelled good, that same woodsy smell. Sam leaned down and kissed my cheek before he turned off the light and left. I heard him as he walked down the stairs. I rolled onto my side. Last week I wouldn't have believed I would have been here, laying in Sam Uley's bed. I wouldn't have believed I would have did something this bad to make my parents mad. We'd find a way to see each other. I knew I had to keep this sleepover to myself or Leah and the rest of town really would have something to talk about, even though Sam was the perfect gentleman. He knew when to stop without me telling him to. He knew not to try and sleep in his room with me.

I dozed off, wondering what story I was going to make up when I got home. I woke up groggily, something was making too much noise. It was a banging, beating sound. I t didn't go away after I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep. It stopped suddenly as I started to get out of the warm bed. I could hear voices downstairs talking heatedly.

"But I slept on the couch and--" Sam's words were cut off by a familiar voice. "I don't care where you slept, or where she slept, the matter at hand is this, I might understand what's happening to you, but she's my niece, and I love her and you're not going to do this again". I realized who it was. Harry. My mom must have called him. I stood at the bedroom door listening hard. Sam's voice spoke again, pleadingly it seemed, "We didn't do anything wrong, we were talking and fell asleep". Harry had a good laugh at that. "That's all that better have happened here, I won't lie for you two again you hear?" his voice was stern. Sam didn't say anything for a while "I know.. It was stupid. I shouldn't have went along with it, ". Harry scoffed at him "No you shouldn't have, and if you expect me to give you my blessing on this then I suggest you go upstairs and wake her up and tell her I'm here to take her home from staying the night with Leah since she was too tired to come back home after she spent the evening on the beach with her and Seth".

So Uncle Harry was well aware of where I was. I wondered how he'd figured it out. I stepped back when I heard Sam coming up the stairs. He knocked on the door before swinging it open. I held a finger to my lips and crossed over to him. Sam jerked his head downstairs and I nodded. He looped his arms around me, getting one last moment before I had to go home and probably not see him a for while. I breathed in his woodsy scent mixed with cologne as we hugged. "Stop whatever you're doing!" Harry ordered from the foot of the stairs. I giggled, not being able to help it. Sam smiled down at me. "Just remember, call me anytime

you can ok? And you can always show up here whenever you want". He kissed me softly, not like last night at all. "I'll be close enough to know that you're here". I nodded and ran my fingers over his short closely cropped hair. "I better get down there". Harry was starting to huff a little. Sam released me and took my hand as I followed him down the stairs. My uncle looked mad. Really mad. Probably madder than I had ever saw him in my life.

Uncle Harry glared at me "Its about time someone finally laid eyes on you after looking for hours now, you're lucky I got to the phone before Leah or your Aunt Sue did". He glanced at Sam "I take it you told her?". Sam nodded. "We fell asleep talking about everything." That seemed to pacify my Uncle. "Its about time, but don't think it helps the matter at hand".

We left Sam's house and headed towards mine on the Makah reservation. Uncle Harry was telling me the cover up story he'd told my mom. I pulled my hair back into a messy pony tail. "Thank you.." I told him sincerely. "Maybe it wont be so bad when I get there, I was honestly scared to come back home.". Uncle Harry laughed "It wont that bad, I promise'. He pulled up to my house "I'll see you soon". He waved bye as I walked into the house, I was bracing myself for what was going to meet me inside. I turned the knob and walked in. I put a smile on my face as I walked in "Morning". I walked over the coffee pot and poured myself a cup. "I was worried about you" My mom said in a controlled voice, not giving any emotions away.

I sipped my coffee and swallowed "Sorry… I thought Uncle Harry had called you and told you I would just stay the night". She nodded 'He said he forgot to". She cupped her head with both hands, not looking at me "I need to ask you something". I chewed my lip, I wasn't so sure I wanted her to. "Okay". Mom didn't pick her head up as she spoke "Were you with Sam Uley last night?". I froze, I didn't know whether to tell her the truth or not. Mom finally picked her up "I thought so'. She patted the chair next to her. "We need to talk then". I nodded and walked over to the table and sat across from her. Mom sighed and stirred her coffee around "I guess I know what you're feeling right now. I only hate it for Leah." I sighed "I didn't mean for it to happen mom, neither did he," . She nodded "I know sweetie, but she doesn't. I guess as long as your happy though…" her voice trailed off. I sipped my coffee, I wasn't sure where this conversation was headed yet. "I just want to make sure you understand its not acceptable for you to stay out at all hours of the night. You're still in school, and live under our roof".

"I'm not planning on making a habit out of it, I swear". This was going smoother than the yelling I pictured earlier. Mom nodded "Good.. Because I wanted to make sure you still understood about our talks about marriage? And what goes with it?". I rolled my eyes at her, trying to keep from blushing "I didn't sleep with him if that's what you want to know". I saw relief come across her face. "I just don't want you to get into the same situation as me and your father did". She touched my hand "I want you to be able to live your life while you're young enough to do it".

I smiled at her "So does this mean I can bring him to meet you and dad?". She laughed "I guess so. Maybe you can have him over for dinner this week." I got up and put my empty cup in the sink. "I'll have to see.. He works a lot you know.. At the garage in La Push.". I yawned "He's a mechanic there, " My mom nodded, she must have already known that " I met his mother last night".

Mom raised an eyebrow "You're that serious already?" I shrugged " I guess you could say we are". I grabbed a banana, try to show her that I was done now. She waved me off, "we'll finish this up later, go get some sleep sweetheart". I told her goodnight even though it was ten in the morning now.

I made it into my room and changed into pajamas. I wasn't even sure if I could sleep anymore. I was taking it all in. My mom knew about Sam and didn't care. Sam told me his secret. I stayed the night with him. And. I realized last night that he was right. He never would be able to leave me alone, whether I accepted his love or not.