Chapter 254: Graduation Party Part 1
Leah was livid. She wanted to take Claire far away from Quil. She hurriedly pushed Claire into her car, breaking their trance. Claire glanced at Leah with a confused expression while Emily kept on asking Leah what was wrong. Leah didn't respond to Emily's questions nor try to clear up the situation. I heard Quil whine painfully seeing his imprint being whisked away from him. Leah sped away as far as she could from us.
I was stunned. I heard a door opening, so I stated or like commanded, "Quil, stay in the car."
Quil was almost out of the truck with his foot out the door when I heard him whine, "but-but I just met her. I want to meet her, get to know her. She's what completes me. I know now what grandpa was telling me!"
I sighed, "I know..but if you go chase her down now, you are going to scare Claire away..I need to talk to Sam so we can figure with how to break it to Claire.."
Quil with trembling lips, closed the door. He was looking down, and I sighed once more. Once I got inside, he finally lifted his head and asked desperately, "do you know anything about her?"
As I was putting my seatbelt on and without looking at Quil, I said, "It seemed like Emily, Leah's cousin came down from Makah Reservation together with her niece Claire to visit Leah..Claire is still in high school, so I don't know..how this will work out for you Quil since y'all live in different reservations.."
I added hopefully, "we'll figure something out. "
Quil echoed with a dreaming look on his face, "she's Emily's niece..I think I need to go see Sam and figure what to do next."
I nodded, "okay.." I turned around and said with a small smile, "then, I see you tomorrow at the party."
Quil smiled genuinely, "see you!"
Quil got off from the truck and jogged deep into the forest until I no longer was able to see the back of his head. I dropped by the local grocery store to buy things to cook for the graduation party. Once I arrived home, I saw that Quil walking away from Sam.
They probably just finished talking already I assumed.
As I parked Sam's truck by the driveway, they both glanced toward my direction and Quil giving me a sad smile before walking away. I jumped off the truck and ran to greet Sam with a quick kiss on the lips. Sam nuzzled me gently by the cheek.
I said, trying to be comforting, "were y'all able to figure out what to do next?"
Sam hummed, "yeah..thanks for stopping Quil from making a bigger fool of himself."
I hugged Sam, "no problem. I did what I could."
It seemed like Sam has Quil's imprinting situation taken care of, so I didn't pry information out of Sam. If it was something really concerning, I know that Sam would tell me otherwise. With locked hands, Sam helped me with unloading groceries into our house.
Next Day
I woke up in Sam's arms as usual. He was snoring softly close to my ear that it felt ticklish. I gently pulled my head back to get a better look at him. It was so good to see Sam sleeping peacefully. When Victoria was still around, he constantly had dark bags under his eyes. Finally, they are gone. I caressed gently his face, trying not to disturb him. I carefully trace the outline of his dark long eye lashes and thick eyebrows. I noticed that his cropped black hair was getting longer, so it dropped down slightly his forehead. I let my hands go through his soft hair, memorized how attractive Sam is.
Times like this, I still can't believe that Sam is with me for life. I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice when Sam stopped snoring and started to lowly growl in satisfaction.
Sam purred lowly, "morning, love."
I gave him our morning kiss and replied, "morning, Sam."
I snuggled up closer to him as Sam pulled me closer to his chest with his hands resting dangerously low on my back. I sighed in content. I tried to pull out of Sam's embrace.
Sam grumbled, "can we stay in bed."
I giggled, "if we do that then we will be doing something else."
Sam growled lowly, "I have no problem with that idea."
I smiled knowingly, "I know, but if I don't get up now, then I won't be able to finish preparing for tonight on time."
Sam sighed in woefully, "fine. Because they are my pack brothers, they deserved the best."
I hummed in agreement, so Sam eventually let me out of his embrace. I quickly went to shower and got dressed. I went straight to the kitchen, and I saw that Sam was making a small breakfast for me. I hugged him from the behind and said, "thanks, hon."
Sam replied, "you would need your strength. I don't want you to work yourself to death and be too exhausted to even celebrate later on. Also, knowing you, you would just eat a granola bar and forget to eat an actual meal."
I opened my mouth to defend myself, but then I quickly closed. He does got a point. I was going to hurriedly eat an oatmeal because it was already late in the afternoon.
I said shyly, "heh…you caught me here."
He hummed knowingly and passed a plate to me. It was stacked with a lot of meats and egg. I jumped on the counter to eat as Sam watched silently with adoration in his eyes. At this point, I am not even creeped out with Sam watching me eat. I know it's an instinctual thing for shapeshifters to see their mate eat well. It brings them joy that they are being taken care of.
We finished eating out late brunch, and we got started on preparing for the party.
I was really looking forward to the party. I would be able to have fun without my leg brace. This happiness and confidence that I feel now that I am off the leg brace. I..don't know how long this feeling will last, so I want to take advantage it now. I don't want to be pessimistic with my mind set of becoming depressed later on, but I just want to enjoy what I am feeling now with Sam. I feel like I am really getting my life together and I can't wait on what else I would be able to do Maybe, I can take trips to Port Angeles with Kim or even Seattle.
Oh. I can even ask Jacob if I could use Bella's motorcycle and take night strolls with it. I don't know if Bella is ever going to use the motorcycle. Maybe I could buy it from her, but I don't know how to bring that up with her since the last time we spoke, we left on a bad note. Nevertheless, riding a motorcycle as my favorite thing to do back in Houston. To take a trip around the city lights, the peacefulness of an empty highways to zoom around freely to let my mind wander and the wind to blow my hair.
I was getting excited by the minute. I think Sam could sense that, so he let me be and stayed in a comfortable silence with me in the kitchen. Sam helped with making desserts while I focused on the main course which was spaghetti with meat sauce. Although the other elders and their wives are bringing something to feed the pack, the pack just eat so much.
Finally, we had prepared everything. Sam helped bring everything to the truck. Once he got on and turned on the truck, he saw that the tank was full. He smiled and gave a quick squeeze to my hand.
He said, "thanks, love for leaving me with a full tank."
I said with a beaming smile, "no problem."
Sam was getting better showing his affection through verbal praise. It brings me so much happiness that Sam is getting better with expressing himself to me besides physical touch. Not that I don't mind, but it is nice to be acknowledged with verbal praise here and there unexpectedly. It's not that I do it to seek attention, but it's something that I enjoy doing. Stuff like this, it shows me more of why I was chosen to be Sam's mate. The fact that I love serving others, it is a benefit for an Alpha's mate.
Once we arrive to the beach, everything was set up. There was a bonfire, and tables laid out. Everyone was there except for Leah, Jacob, Quil, and Embry. I guess Jacob, Quil, and Embry are going to be surprised with the party once everything is set. I am surprised to see Emily and Claire are here. If anything, I thought Leah would try to stop those two from coming to the party with Quil around.
Sam knelt to say to me privately, "Leah is still doing finals, so she is going to stop buy later for a bit to pick Emily and Claire back home, but I already spoken to Sue and Leah about their cousins."
I nodded in understanding. We placed what we bought next to all the foods that the elders have brought as well. It wasn't for long until I heard the howling from Quil and Embry. They greeted Paul and Jared with high fives and a smack on the shoulder. They were amazed with the decorations that the pack and the council have made. They were smiling so brightly even more when they saw the long rows of food that we all brought for the celebration. The pack even brought some beer and alcohol to really party after the council members leave out of respect for the elders.
The Elder's wives were lined up in gloves and aprons, ready to feed the pack. Quil and Embry started to take a plate, when I went up to them and asked, "where's Jake?"
Embry's expression fell and he said awkwardly, "uh..Charlie heard that there was going to be a graduation party here in La Push, so he persuaded Jake to bring Bella today. Jake's on his way to bring Bella here."
We all went silent. Oh..We did not expect that. It was going to be really awkward with her around, but ..it is also the guy's graduation too. It didn't settle well with me that Charlie is pushing Bella to join the pack's graduation..Even though she also graduated, we could've done something separate for her..Embry, Quil and Jake worked really hard to graduate. They deserved this grand of a celebration than Bella…
I felt Sam coming by my side and I heard him say, "Charlie and Chief Billy suggested for Bella to celebrate with the guys to help Bella reconnect with us…" I cringed, and Sam replied, noticing my expression, " I know..but, she is only going to be here for awhile because she has curfew and she wants to apologize formally to us.. After she leaves, we can do whatever she wants."
My face perked up when I heard Bella wanted to apologize to the pack. I didn't expect that from her. Huh, I guess she really did made some progress with her mental health. I am surprised, but at the same time, suspicious. Knowing Bella, she hides her real intentions when she does certain things like trick Jacob to tell her the tribal legends to know about the Cullens. No one changes that much within a short amount of time, especially someone like Bella. I think I would need to keep an eye on her. I shook my head from thinking further about Bella and focused on getting in line to get food. Once the pack got the first plate and sat down at the tables. Sam and I sat at the front of the table. Guys at one and the imprints at the other side that was when I heard a whistle from the distance.
Author's Note:
Enjoy!
