AN: Thank you to Twin268 for your review, my updating is semi-regular-just when I have time-but I hope it's worth it.
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Song suggestion: I'm a mess, Ed Sheeran.
Chapter Seven: Changing.
It was raining again in Forks, Washington. That was no surprise. But it wasn't the rain that drizzled down my face. It was tears. A torrent of tears running down my face. And I wasn't the only one. Nearly everyone from Forks and La Push was stood out in the storm as dad's coffin was lowered into the ground. Billy had a comforting hand on my shoulder as I gripped Jacob's hand with my other hand.
Earlier in the week, Sarah's funeral had been held on the Reservation. It was a small and private ceremony. Only family and tribal members attended, as an extension of Black's family, I went too. Billy, as Chief, presided over it all, speaking in Quileute and lighting the pyre. We stood for a while, watching the smoking pyre down on First Beach, until Sue ushered us quietly away so Billy could be with his wife once more, alone.
There was a soft thud as the coffin landed into its resting place and a loud sob erupted from my chest. My knees crumpled beneath me, as I wept for the lost years my father and I should have had. My trousers squelched and my shoes squeaked when Jake sat beside me and pulled me into his arms.
The pitiful audience eventually drifted away. One by one, they shook hands with Billy and left. Soft words were exchanged, how lovely the service had been, how sorry they were for our loss, how the town had lost a gem…Murmurs meant to bring comfort to the listener but it only made me cry harder. We would all miss him so much. He shouldn't have died now, neither should have Sarah, it was far, far too soon.
"Bella." A feminine voice called beside me. Sniffling back my tears, I glanced up at the woman. Her appearance told me she was of Native American heritage, probably Quileute or from the neighbouring tribes. Black hair blew around her shoulders and her shirt suit was covered over by a black mac coat, "You remember me, don't you?" Realisation dawned on me and I blinked up at her, rain fell off her umbrella tips onto my face.
"Yes." I nodded, rubbing my hands over my drenched face, "You're Mrs Uley."
"Allison, dear, Allison." She corrected me with a small smile, "It's time to go."
"No…" I frowned and glanced at my dad's coffin.
"You're getting all wet, come on, time to get home and get warm." Her tanned hand wrapped around my wrist, long, black nails clicking together, "There we go." She hauled me to my feet gently and I stumbled slightly. Jake caught my elbow with a worried glance.
"I'm fine." I answered his unspoken question with a quivering lip. His hand came up to wipe a tear escaping my eye.
"Come on, home time." Allison Uley smiled at Billy, "I think it's a good idea if I get little Bella here home."
"Alright." Billy replied gruffly and looked at me sadly, "You take care of yourself and we'll come see you real soon."
"Thank you." I ran to give him a hug before doing the same to Jacob, "See you soon?"
"Yep." The 'p' popped on his lips cheekily and I wanted to giggle at the Jacob-ness of the expression. The rain never got my sunshine down long.
Waving at Rebecca and Rachel, I let Allison lead me away to a scruffy convertible. Why you would want one with our climate, I would never know, but she tapped the battered roof affectionate as we climbed in. Mrs Uley blabbered on and on about the future. My room is going to be lovely. Sam and I would be best friends in no time. I nodded along, not really processing her cheerful words. My heart was too heavy with grief to make pleasant small talk.
The Uley household was situated on the edge of the Reservation, as if they wanted to escape but were trapped. Paint was peeling off the wooden structure, the roof bowed, and porch collapsing. A solemn boy stood in the doorway, looking far too old for his years. Samuel Uley. He was only a year older than me but his expression and stance claimed he was many years aged. It made me wondered what made him that way.
"Head on in Bella, Sam's already unpacked for you." Allison waved me away as she dug around in her purse. Over the past few days, we'd been transferring my personal belongings from my home in Forks to here. Last trip, everything had been boxed up still, sitting around my tiny bedroom making it horribly cluttered.
"Hello." Sam smiled and motioned me in. I smiled weakly and stood awkwardly in the living room/kitchen area. He glanced back at the car and I noticed the smoke puffing out of the partially open window, "Come on."
Following Sam away from the door, we trudged up the stairs in companionable silence. Four doors stood cramped on the little landing and Sam pushed open one. My old quilt was folded on the bottom of the bed, my clothes peeking out the closet, and my books piled on the bedside table. It was like a familiar stranger. The contents recognisable but it looked too alien to be homely.
"Thank you." I murmured to Sam and nodded to my room, "You didn't have to."
"It's okay." He shrugged and the front door slammed shut. We listened to Allison's heels stamping around below us as she muttered to herself irritably. Sam sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. The telephone rang loudly but we ignored it as Mrs Uley clattered around, "I'm sorry about your dad."
"Yeah, me too." I sniffled and wiped at my tears as Allison's voice echoed up the stairs to us.
"Hey Riley…No, I'm not doing anything…okay, later." She giggled like a high school girl and Sam began counting under his breath. I frowned at his antics as Allison started bustling around again.
"I'm going out guys, I'll be back soon!" She called as the front door slammed and the car rumbled to life a minute later. Sam and I looked at each other sadly. And then there was just the two of us.