Chapter Twelve: Quileute Nation
"You're uneasy, aren't you?" Sam whispers into my ear. I breathe and dip a discreet nod. Sam rubs my leg tenderly. "Try taking a few more bites, baby." He encourages me. I take a bite to pacify him.
There are other lite conversations floating around us for anyone to pay much attention to our sweet exchange specifying the Twilight fan that seems to be distracted by Jacob Black sitting across from us.
Libby has been real quiet since they have arrived at the Uley's.
"I'm almost done and we'll go outside." His lips brushes against my skin as he murmurs following a sweet kiss on my cheek patting my knee. I glance in his ardent coca eyes. He smiles at me before taking a bite. His lips are so beautiful.
It becomes a bit too warm. The heated blush courses thoroughly throughout my body. Though, that may be because I am sandwiched between Sam and Jared on the brown wide couch. The invisible steam oozes off their skin. I'm truly thankful I'm wearing a tank-top.
"Man! That's sweet." Jared said beside me.
It's also a bit loud too. We young folks are in the living room eating the Chili that Sam and I prepared together. Quil and Brady are sitting on the love seat while Collin sits in a chair beside the couch. Libby sits leaning all the way back into the couch between Jessie and Jacob across from us. And I have to say, I'm concerned.
"The problem is dad said I'd have to build a work shed. He doesn't want parts or a broken down car in the yard." Jacob replies.
My best friend has a bowl of Chili in her lap slowly stabbing her fork (not a spoon) into the dish eyeballing Jacob. He's not aware of this rude behavior that she manifests behind his back. However, her mood doesn't escape Jessie's attention. In an elusive manner, he peeks ever so often at her ritual of pitch forking the food instead of eating it. It's as if he's preparing himself to step in before she stabs Jacob with the utensil. The facial expressions that he gives to me frequently are very intense.
"Dude, I'll help you build it." Jessie suggests. He glances anxiously at Libby.
'Knock, Knock'
"Thanks Jess. That'll be cool." Jacob responds to the comradeship.
"You know I'll help, Jacob." Quil said as he jumps up to answer the side door revealing Embry.
Embry waves at all the greetings. He notices me immediately and walks over smiling sheepishly. "Sammie, Jacob said I had you to thank for inviting me. Thanks." Embry said politely sticking his hands in his jeans pocket.
"Embry, you'll always be welcome here when I cook." I say to him. "There's a bowl and a spoon with your name on it beside the pot on the stove. Your glass is there, too. The drinks are on the counter by the back door." I instructed. He smiles and nods shyly.
Right before my aunt and friends arrived; in a conversation with Jacob I learned that Embry's mother works the second shift at Quileute Quick Stop down the highway. In addition, Embry usually ate with Jacob and Billy. Therefore I had Jacob invite him over.
Embry's two friends follow him to the kitchen along with the twins for second helpings. Soon after, Sam is true to his word. Both he and I finish our drinks at the same time and he takes our dishes to the kitchen leaving me and my two best friends alone in the living room.
Jessie leans towards the space between us and murmurs, "Dudette is something wrong?" he asks worriedly.
Even though I'd regret it later, I shook my head no. I felt his scrutiny after I glance away and peer into the small opening in the fore wall not really seeing anything. Just that my poker face isn't Jessie proof. It would be a mistake to look in his eyes at this moment. My body language must have alerted him on how uncomfortable I was. Though I thought he was occupied with Libby's silence and movements to notice my uneasiness.
Sam walks back in. He bends down in front of me placing a hand on my leg and murmurs. "Sammie, Old Quil and Billy needs to speak with you outside." I look up over Sam's shoulder in time to see the two old gentlemen promenade into the living room and glance our way before proceeding through the side door.
I bite my lip trying to perceive Sam's unclear expression or underlying means to this meeting of sorts with the two men. As much as I wanted answers to this bizarre 'gift' and 'jolts' to my heart, literally I become frighten wringing my fingers. Startling, I stood up without a brain wave telling my body to do so.
"Sammie, we're coming with." Libby said coming up beside me and gripping onto my arm.
"No, Libby. We need to speak with Sammie alone." Sam responds in a firm voice taking my hand into his. He pauses to look at my best friend in such a way I didn't appreciate.
"Yes we are Sam. Whatever it is they have to say to her concerns me and Jessie, too." Libby replies sharply.
Clearly Sam is becoming impatient in this stand-off. His puff and expression states he's upset. He sighs shifting his weight leaning across my front side towards her. "Are you referring to the missing story Sammie told me about. You know the one where our legends are displayed for people to see?" he asks curtly.
Libby is blindsided by the question. She looks at me squeezing my arm. "You told him!" she accuses in a low sharp voice. I swallow and quickly explain.
"Wait. Let me clarify a misunderstanding before you jump to conclusions. Last Sunday I wasn't aware of the problems we're facing now. Hell, who'd believe that the Twilight story would disappear from the entire world and no one recalls it but the three of us, eh?" I said briskly pointing at three of us. I lean in to her ear and whisper, "So after I rudely hung up on you, I told him what happened to your books and movie memorabilia back home. He asked what it was about. I mentioned the wolves and vampires. That's it. That's all he knows." Libby's breathes a heavy sigh.
"Hey what's going on?" Brady said walking up to our tight-fitting group and stands next to Jessie.
We all look at Brady only to discover Jacob, Quil, Embry, and Collin standing by the entrance of the living room with perplex expressions holding their bowls. Sam looks at Jessie, Libby and then me. He breathes closing his eyes for merely a few seconds. He opens them and kisses my forehead.
"Libby, remain silent about that story. We-(he pointed at the four of us-) we'll discuss that among ourselves at a later time, okay?" He whispers to Libby. She agrees quickly by nodding.
"Alright, be right back." Sam said. He walked away from us in a sharp manner and went through the door briskly rubbing his chin seemingly heavy in thought and worried.
The five curious boys sat down eating their chili watching the three of us. My friends and I stood quietly on the side of the end table that sits in between the couches obviously anxious. I didn't know what to say or do. Apparently neither did my friends. We just stood there gazing at one another. In a way I felt bad because I hadn't told them anything about the inexplicable 'gift' or 'jolts' relating to the Quileute's.
"What's going on, Jessie?" Collin asks startling Libby and I. He's sitting by Jacob on the couch.
Jessie scratches his head looking at me before he looks at Collin to answer. "Your guess is good as mine, dude. But, you know, it's all cool." He responds in a normal voice.
Sam opens the door motioning with his finger for us to come outside. The saunter feels like a death march. Sam reaches for my hand as I approach and guides me out to where the two men are. We walk towards the back off to the side about fifty yards from the Uley's house into the woods. We enter a 20x20 homemade shelter. It's made of hard clear plastic walls with a tin roof and smells of tobacco and musty salt water.
Surprisingly, there are six old fashion lawn chairs spread out in a circle. Old Quil gestures with his hand for all of us sit. My friends and I do while Sam closes the shelter's ratty door. If it wasn't for him, I'd be completely frighten and refuse to stay in here. Sam sits beside me taking my hand both into his large very warm hands. The temperature has dropped since this morning. I shudder. But, I'm not sure if it's from the weather or environment. Sam puts an arm around my shoulder maintaining his hold on my right hand. Old Quil finally sits beside me turning his chair towards mine and Billy mobiles in between a chair next to Jessie's.
"Samantha. Libby. Jessie." Old Quil started.
The ratty door opens. Another Quileute enters closing the door apologizing for being late. Late? He's a tall gray-haired and pot-bellied gentleman. He takes a seat in the empty chair between Jessie and Billy in a huff all the while glaring at me.
"Samantha Huntley, I'm Chief William Black of the Olympic Peninsula Quileute's created from wolves by the Great Dokibatt." Billy spoke with true majesty and with authority in his voice. He enfolded his hands and placed them in his lap with his chin high. "You and your friends are now invited and participating in a secret tribal council meeting. The information we share with your friends shall be remain confidential." He looked at my friends for a nod in agreement which they did. "This is a very rare occurrence to allow nonmembers to hear or listen to such private affairs. However, Samuel Uley informs us of your great loyalty and devotion to the person that this high council considers …very important to our people. "He firmly nods to Old Quil.
Old Quil breathes straightening his frail shoulders. "Our tribe's stories have been passed down since the beginning of time itself." He began in a thin tenor voice. "My father, and his father, generations upon generations have shared a secret to be given to the first-born sons. There are signals we are to perceive that would eventually lead us through the right chosen path."
"One finally came in the form of Percival Lowell. He was an astronomer from flagstaff, Arizona you see. His relationship with the elders of our tribe was apparently in high regards soon after he bought a state home in Aberdeen under the guidance of James Swan. They are both my late wife's grandfathers. Molly Swan and I had one son Quil Joshua Atera the fourth. Molly had one brother, Charles Swan. He and his wife, Marie also has one son, Charlie Swan. Joshua and Charlie grew up together just as Billy and Harry Clearwater here had. All best friends throughout the years. Almost like brothers you could say. "
My bottom lip quivers. I shift uncomfortable in my seat. Sam's arm tightens around me and I shrank in to his side.
"Your mother and Charlie had been girlfriend and boyfriend throughout school. Joshua fell in love with her in the last year of high school." Old Quil continued. His voice appears to be sad and sympathetic. "A love triangle flared amongst them three." He breathes.
Libby and Jessie both breathe heavy sighs and shifts in their seats but remain composed holding hands. The glaring Harry removes his eyes away from me long enough to glance at my friends in annoyance.
"One night your mother and Joshua got carried away." Old Quil coughs nervously over his shoulder clearing his throats' thickness. "At the same time, Charlie met some girl from out-of-state on the beach. Not long after, Charlie married her when he learned of Joshua and your mother's discretion." He sighs.
"Couple months later, your mother was pregnant with you. She told my son she didn't know who the father was. (I close my eyes) Charlie's wife was pregnant too and unhappy. And he was very determined to make the marriage work it seems. So Joshua proposed to your mother regardless if you were his or not. They decided to wait a year after your birth. The wedding never came forth." He coughs.
Breathe. I open my eyes. Billy appears to have shivers. Harry is still glaring. What's his problem? My friends are the same as me, speechless. Old Quil drinks from a brown paper sack. He puts it down on the side of him and wipes his mouth and forehead.
"Samantha, when you were born, you were given the tribal name Suwannee Motkia. The birthmark on your left shoulder (Libby gasps) is the sign that all my generational fathers have waited for." He swallows hard before continuing. "A few weeks later, you and your mother both disappear. My son took the abandonment to heart. But life here went on even though it was difficult. Joshua finally met Joy and they had Quil. He was happy but you stayed in his heart nonetheless. His boat capsized during a storm and he drowned not long after the birth of his son." He pauses to catch his breath from the memory.
Tears stream on my face and drips off my chin. I don't bother to wipe them away. Sam tries to clear them but I politely brush him off as I continue to gaze in Old Quil's soft weary eyes.
Old Quil swipes at the few fallen tears and continues. "For many years I had hopes you would find your way back to La Push." He smiles clearing his throat. "Thursday evening Sam came to me about a teen girl in the hospital. It was then I learned you were Margret's niece. My heart swelled because Margret only has one niece. I'm sorry it was so early in the morning but, I needed to see you with my own eyes to believe that indeed our Suwannee came home." He cries.
I sat there blinking and sniffling at Old Quil flabbergasted from his truth. So I could no longer deny I did belong in the world of Twilight. It isn't a glitch that I am here. It's a glitch my mother had impossibly taken me out of. This supernatural vice must have led her to another world OR an inexplicable occurrence became knowledgeable of future events to the author. But were given inaccurate information and carelessly reveals to the entire world of its existence for me to find my way home?
Unexpectedly, Billy places his rough-skinned hand on mine that apparently Sam let go of. I don't recall him confiscating his hand away from mine or that Billy came so close to my chair. I wanted to snatch my hand from his touch and run as far I could from this shelter and the unfathomable truth.
'Thum, Thum, Thum.' The jolts from Chief Billy Black were so much stronger and revitalizing than …than the future wolves and Old Quil. Sam's had been just as strong… but yet a different vibe altogether.
"Suwannee, you feel that don't you?" Billy asks. I didn't have a chance to respond in a positive or negative manner.
"Really Sammie, this whole scenario is bullshit." Libby's said abruptly standing up. She crosses her arms in a huff glowering at me as if. "It's not in the books so therefore it's untrue. The glitch will fix itself. This isn't how the story goes." She stomps her foot. "Besides, you're not a character for crying out loud!" she screams at me.
My face burns from anger in mere seconds. Swiftly, I stand up quickly facing her. Jessie and Sam both jump out of their chairs placing their arms between us halting my mid-steps to Libby. Startled, I look at them both in annoyances. But, it's long enough to register my fluster and despicable hoisted fist intended for my dearest best friend. I step back tears dripping off my chin wringing my hands.
How did our life get so freaking messed up and tangled with a fictional story in such a short time?
Sam tries to embrace me but I push at his chest. "Don't." I said harshly pointing a finger into his meaty chest. "Leave me alone. I don't belong in your world and all this ends right the fuck now." I said through clenched teeth balling my hands into fist at my sides. "You belong to Emily, Sam. I no longer want to have anything to do with you, for now and always." I lie. I took a few steps back. "Stay completely away from me!" I shout at him.
Immediately, I turn away because I cannot stand looking at his distressing face. I breathe closing my eyes. As I reopen them, my gaze lands on the three elders who are in absolute disbelief. The fury within boils over and it's hard to restrain my emotions.
I straighten my shoulders sniffling. "You three listen to me. I don't care what your secret legend claims. I am not your gal. I have no such birthmark." I lie. "You've mistaken me for someone else. And let me make myself clear to everyone in this room. I regret the last thing I said to my mother. It was the first time I expressed my true feelings for putting her job before me." I swallowed clearing the thickness. "I told her I wished she loved me more and making her feel absolute guilty." I close my eyes brushing the tears from my eyelids and continue. "It was enough remorse that she set out for the store for something I needed that night. I never saw her again." I breathe. "Now I'm once again going to tell my true feelings in hopes the wolves and vampires disappear, too." I ignore their gasps continue. "I don't want to be involved in this Twilight Universe anymore. It is the worst mistake ever in moving here. Please do not contact me if I remain in this stupid godforsaken craziness." I said hastily.
Pumping with adrenaline, I turned on my heel walking briskly for the ratty door. There were two set of arms trying to stop me from escaping, but I did the rear elbow grab lock maneuver swinging around kicking them in the gut then I crossed my right index and middle fingers pushing straight into the others fleshy notch just above his collarbone and thrusting the heel of my palm in his throat. I broke free from his grasp running towards Tazzy. My blurry vision from the falling tears did not slow the fast sprint as I unclipped my keys. I have to get myself far away from here. It's not ethical to be in a world where fairy tales or for supernatural beings to exist. But could I be anywhere else without a Sam Uley?
~ o ~ O ~ C ~ O ~ o ~
Twenty minutes later Tazzy and I are parked idling across the street on Trillium Avenue. It's becoming dusk as I sit here staring at the small two-story house leaning on the door with my elbow propped on the handle biting at my finger nail. The living room light is on. His cruiser is parked in the drive-way.
These trapped feelings are not going to disappear. They will remain inside. It'll just eat at my core till there's nothing left but hate. Pandemonium and destructiveness is in my future if I don't make peace with my mother's past. Regardless of what I said back at the Uley's shelter, I believe in my heart and soul that this is my world and I do belong here. However, it doesn't change the fact that Emily Young is Sam's rightful soul mate in the books. If I deny Sam at least a chance to un-imprint on me and imprint on her, I wouldn't be Samantha Huntley.
My mother's word in the dream-state heaven haunts my soul. ""It doesn't make sense now, but it will, you'll see." My mother smiled. I didn't give Old Quil a chance to explain or why I was important to the Quileute's or the reason for unusual birthmark. It's on my left shoulder always hidden under the tank-tops strap. My mother had reminded me often to keep it hidden. To Society it would have appeared as though she may have had her daughter tattooed at a young age. The small and perfectly round symbol had a howling wolf to the moon in the center of it. My mother had said it was fitting to the dreams I had when I was younger. There were seventeen beautiful and magnificent massive wolves that always protected me from an army of an unknown dynamism. It's unidentifiable danger never starred in my dreams but the threat suffocated me nonetheless.
Those dreams and the tattoo led to the practical fascination into Wolf Ecology. A colleague of my mother's introduced me to the world of study into the beings I found captivating. So whether Libby comes to the conclusion that this world really is realistic and not a story to be followed as it is in the books, I had to admit my permanent role in the predicaments that are surely on the horizon.
The glitch in the system has reversed itself not the other way around as I assumed in the beginning.
Heaving a sigh, I turn off the engine off and open the car door stepping out. After closing the heavy door quietly, I walk in a brisk nervous gait to the front porch. My finger pushes the doorbell all the while wanting to flee.
Charlie Swan opens his front door. He pauses then scratches his head in an anxious stance. "Hello Samantha. What could I do for you?"
"Charlie." I paused to breathe sticking my forefingers in my back pockets. "I want you to know that your friends Billy, and Harry including your uncle told me about the past. I don't hold you accountable for anything. But it sucks to know that the decent man willing to step-up for his actions is no longer here to hold my hand through the tough and ugly times. Though, I apologize if my birth caused your marriage to sour. I was a baby so I didn't deserve your snub." I sigh.
Charlie Swan just stood there looking pale and loss for words. I continue. "Maybe you could set things straight though. Learn to communicate better starting with your daughter, Bella. Be compassionate to her needs. Don't hover. If there is a request for her to live with you in the future, do not deny her that chance to know you. Do anything to make her feel comfortable. Don't make the same mistake my mother chose to do in my life." I said composed.
Sighing, I went down the steps then turned back to add one more thing. "I will be changing my last name to Wells. You know, just for when Bella learns the truth somewhere and doesn't suspect me. Besides, its looks like I'm in this science fiction for the long haul anyway." I shrug at his speechlessness and hoof it to Tazzy without a backward glance.
To amuse myself and keep from crying like an emotional ass that I have become, it's not fun having a one-sided conversation. I do hope Bella is like Charlie. If she's not, the poor girl will be pulling out her hair just to get a response from him. Hmm, no wonder she falls for the controlling and overprotective Edward Cullen. Maybe even I should apply this reflection to my own life. I haven't treated Aunt Maggie with the respect she deserves as in conversationalist. Time to start communicating I pull out my cell phone to let her know I am safe and on my way home.
~ o ~ O ~ C ~ O ~ o ~
As I pull in to my aunt's drive-way I hit the brakes immediately. Closing my eyes I tell myself to breathe. This is so not cool. My life has been full of chaos all week. Can't I have a day to recuperate at least? Opening my eyes I hit the button for the garage door and proceed.
Stepping out of the car I am presented with a big tub of potted soil.
Tucker smiles brightly. "I know you had to leave all your tomato plants at home. I made these for you, sweets. Thou- hey," tears fall from my eyes as he puts the container down jumping over it pulling me into his arms swaying us and lightly rubbing my head-"Shh, sweets." I balled his shirt in my fist trying to remove all the grief and heartache that I had held in my chest in the last hour.
It was all way too much. My mom's death, the move, an assumed fictional world that does exist, the heart condition, Sam's imprinting, Tucker showing up, Libby and Jessie, and even how I was conceived and still not knowing really who my father was.
Charlie and Joshua have the same genetics and either way I'm related to both of them whether I'd liked it or not. It was pretty sick all the way around.
Sometimes the people living aren't the only ones who hurt us in life. It's the buried secrets that come to light after their departure. They cannot explain themselves which makes it more hurtful and desolate. Especially when there is nobody sane to pick up the pieces and put them back in order again as things were.
~ o ~ O ~ C ~ O ~ o ~
I feel Sammie's pain and heartbreak, don't you?
*Thank you for the ones whom left reviews.