PART TWO: SEPARATION

Leah's Last Summer

Some day in August

Leah Clearwater slapped her cousin clean across the face so hard the crack reverberated throughout the living room.

"Ouch!" screamed Emily.

"Ouch is right!" screeched Leah.

"Why on earth would you do that?"

"You slapped me awake first!" Leah pointed to her own reddened cheek.

"Only because the bucket of ice water didn't work!" Emily kicked the bucket across the room in a childish manner that didn't quite suit her.

Leah glared at her.

The two girls burst into laughter, the kind that left your abs sore. After a few minutes, Leah rolled off the Youngs' lumpy couch and squinted at the bright light streaming in from the bay windows. "Nooo, it's too early. Why'd you have to get me up?"

The familiar clack of heels and clang of tableware told Leah that Emily was getting breakfast together in the kitchen. "Because I didn't want my parents to come in and find you passed out drunk. Aren't you already on your dad's ish list?"

Leah rolled her eyes at her cousin's avoidance of swear words but answered, "You know as well as anybody I don't drink anymore. I'm just sleepy. I've been writing my college admittance essay all night."

"Really? Do you know what day it is?" Emily said incredulously.

"June...something," Leah answered.

"It's August."

"August something."

"Don't you think 'August something' is a bit early to write an admissions essay?"

"That's not what the experts say."

Emily shrugged. "I guess."

Leah all but fell into her seat at the kitchen table. "What's that look for?"

"I'm kind of surprised. You've never really talked about school. I thought you'd be staying at La Push."

"For what?" Leah scoffed.

"Get married, start a family, you know, the plans you've had since you could talk," Emily said.

"Oh, please. My mom is going to kill me if I don't at least try to get a...career of some sort. We've got plenty of time for that whole mess."

"Whole mess? Whole mess?! Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?" Emily teased.

"I guess I sound a little silly," Leah relented.

"Not exactly. But don't forget, you've got one of the best-looking guys on the whole rez looking to put a ring on your finger. Forget the career, girl," Emily grinned.

Leah was not in the mood for talking about this. She had turned down Sam's proposal last month. They were in love, she was sure of that. But she wasn't in a rush to marry a man keeping a huge (wolfy) secret from her. So when someone mentioned Sam or marriage, her hands shook a little and her muscles tensed. She needed to confront him before she accepted him. No way was she going to sit on her hands and let life just happen to her, only to tie herself to a man who didn't trust her.

But Leah was in enough danger as it was, knowing these things. She would not put Emily in the same kind of danger. "Shut up. We all can't be as lucky as you," she laughed lightly.

"And don't you forget it," Emily winked. Emily had the kind of parents that made sure she got what she wanted, free of charge. Mr. Young, back when he was alive, had gained a lot of clout in Neah Bay by owning the local supermarket and one of the biggest gas stations. After Emily graduated high school last month, her mom got her a decent job as an assistant art teacher at the local elementary school. The district was willing to overlook Emily's lack of experience, certifications, and higher education. Leah knew Emily felt guilty enough about it to take any teasing that came out of it.

The two girls dug into their breakfast, chatting easily about everything from school to their families to their friends. For Leah, the last two weeks were some of the best of her summer - long days at the beach, goofing around at the supermarket, and taking advantage of nearly every deal at the thrift store. Going home was beginning to seem like more and more of a chore.

When they were done, Emily washed the dishes (how she managed to do that in under five minutes was a wonder) and Leah wiped the table.

"How long do you think you'll stay?" asked Emily. She clipped her long bangs away from her forehead and began to tidy up the rest of the kitchen. Leah smiled, remembering when they got matching haircuts in ninth grade. Seth came up with many nicknames for their twin futuristic-looking bobs.

"It depends," Leah responded.

"On?"

"On whether or not Sam stops being a doofus." Leah hadn't told her all the details, obviously, but Emily wasn't one to push.

"I'm sure he's nothing compared to Richard." Emily didn't date much but when she did, it was the self-absorbed idiot type. Richard wasn't the worst of them - he truly seemed to care about Emily, but he could be immature.

"You've got to stop letting people take advantage of your sweet and unassuming nature. Do. You. Hear. Me. You. Stupid. Cupcake?" Leah punctuated each word with a poke to Emily's forehead.

"I hate when you say that!" Emily laughed and swatted away her cousin's hand. "Okay. I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"And if he's still acting like a jerk?"

"Don't call him that."

"And if he's still acting like a jerk?" Leah repeated, crossing her arms.

"I'll kick his sorry A - S - S to the curb," Emily said, eyes on the ground. A giggle escaped her, though.

"There we go. Now, where to first?" Leah said, striding for the door.

"Smoothies and movies! Whoo!" Emily hollered.

"Okay, okay, chill, don't hurt yourself."

Saturday, August 7, 2004

Leah rounded the corner after corner, not slowing by second. Her long hair fanned out behind her. Sweat dripped from her forehead and stung her eyes. The athletic sneakers her parents bought her two years ago, the only pair she owned, were wearing out due to months of running. They were getting too tight anyway. Great. Just what she needed, another growth spurt. Didn't Mother Nature know how much it was costing her parents to keep Seth clothed as it was?

"You still out runnin', girl?" A neighbor called from his porch. Mr. Beaker was a snide old man who cared for nothing else but gossip and liquor.

"Eat my dust, Mr. Beaker!" Leah snarked back goodnaturedly.

"Gonna drop dead, running like that. End up spare parts, like me!" The old man cackled hysterically until his laughter turned into a coughing fit. He'd always seemed a bit off.

A couple of blocks later, Leah crossed paths with a group of younger guys. They stared at her in awe. Stupid freshmen. Leah was proud of her appearance (and even secretly delighted in being known as "one of the hottest girls in La Push", but no one but Emily knew that). However, being openly ogled was never pleasant in her eyes.

"You'll catch flies with your mouth open like that," she spat, flying past them.

One of the boys called after her, "Hey, my friend Jared, here, wants your number!"

"Shut up, Paul!"

Leah didn't pause for breath until she was on First Beach, at which point she collapsed on her back. The water tickled her left hand, cooling her down a little. This was nice. An afternoon without a cloud in sight, yet the sun wasn't overdoing the whole heat thing today. Perfection.

She heard someone approaching but didn't bother opening your eyes. The steps stopped right a foot away from her head. When no one spoke, she said, "I know you're there Sam, your feet stink."

"You're late," Sam said.

"Am I? I guess I lost track of time."

"But when you say you're going to be somewhere and you don't show up it worries me."

"It worries you when I say 'Let's meet at one" and I come at what? One oh five?"

"It's one-thirty." He tapped his watch. "You need to be more reliable."

"Okay, I screwed up. You should be happy, now, you're not the only one who messes up now!"

"Leah," he said in his disapproving teacher-tone. "If you're still upset about our talk last month, then say so."

"Damn straight, I'm upset. You can't just spring a proposal on me like that."

Sam growled in frustration. "I can't propose to my own girlfriend? When, for the past two years, we've been discussing what's supposed to be our future?"

He had her there. So she chose to ignore him.

Sam crouched down and grabbed her hand. "Leah, what's wrong?"

She stared straight into the distance, watching the waves. "What's wrong, Sam, is that I'm seventeen years old and I'm still waiting for my life to begin. I'm stuck on this stupid little reservation that my father doesn't trust me to leave." She paused, careful not to reveal too much. "Since according to him, I'm so "rebellious and disrespectful". I don't want to go straight into being a wife and mother without even making a life for myself. I'll become bitter and I'll blame you and myself and our kids. I know it."

"You're not cruel, Leah."

"I know myself," she said, more to herself than to him.

"If it upset you that badly...we can wait until after you go to college."

He radiated so much sincerity and hope that he was almost like his old self again. Once again, he was the guy who could barely get the words out when he asked her to be his girlfriend, not the swaggering meathead who lied to her. She wanted to ask him for his honesty, to share who he was and what had happened last year. But she was afraid of pushing just a little too much and popping the bubble of happiness they were encased in. These moments were far and few between these days.

Leah reached up to touch his face. "And you'll come, too? You'll apply, I mean?"

Sam frowned. He wasn't even certain about trade school or community college anymore. After graduation, he'd said he wanted to take some time to figure out what he wanted to do. She thought that meant a real job, not spending all of his time as an errand boy for the tribal council. It was admirable, getting involved in the community, but Sam had once shared dreams of becoming a lawyer and opening up a firm here on the reservation. Still, he was working, and that was something to give thanks for, she supposed.

Finally, he answered, "I'll apply. But there's no guarantee I'll even get in."

Leah threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Yes, yes, yes, yes! Thank you!"

He laughed, seeming lighter than he had in weeks. "Your wish is my command."