AN: Big thanks to teamjacob0729, Wolf Born Woman, and write more soon for reviewing, I love your feedback! I know, I hate seeing them suffer too, but this is sadly their story…although there might be a happily ever after in the distant future, maybe.
Read and review please!
Song suggestion: Everything has changed, Taylor Swift ft. Ed Sheeran.
Chapter Nine: School Run.
The rising sun peeking through the gap in the curtains disturbed us. I wanted to turn back over and sleep but Sam got up and I reasoned I should too. Today was supposed to be my first day back at school since dad died, but Billy had said I could call him if I wasn't up to it. But my dad wouldn't want me crying all day, hopelessly. He would want me getting an education and being focused on the happier things in life.
With that in mind, I swiped away tears and padded to the bathroom. Sam followed to point out where everything was before disappearing back into his room to get dressed. Looking at myself in the mirror I could almost hear my dad' voice; 'you look like you've been rode hard and put up wet'. My eyes were red, my face blotchy, and my hair as if birds were nesting in it. Sighing, I reached for the facecloth first.
Once I had finished in the bathroom, Sam switched with me, and I went to get dressed in my room. All was silent in Mrs Uley's room barring the occasional snore or the creaking noise a mattress made when someone shifted. She was supposed to be driving me to school in Forks. Even though I now lived in La Push, my elementary education was still going to remain in Forks until the end of the year, Billy ruling too much upheaval would be too much right now for me. Next year I would join Sam at the small Middle School in La Push.
After I had pulled on jeans and a sweater, I wandered downstairs to find Sam sweeping up the remains of a lamp. Nothing about this seemed to appear strange for Sam and I wondered if his mom's activities last night were frequent. Taking the dustpan, I helped him clean up the mess quietly. I was surprised to find a man's jacket abandoned on the floor next to the door. When I held it up and looked at Sam questioningly, he looked away and gathered up the pair of high heels strewn across the floor.
"Shall I make breakfast?" I offered as I hung up the coat.
"I'll do it." Sam declined and began searching the cupboards. As I watched, I was surprised to find very little stocked on the shelves. At home we used to have food stuffed into every nock and cranny, even if dad wasn't a brilliant cook, "Toast?" Pulling a loaf from one cupboard, he checked the date and loaded up the toaster.
As the bread cooked, Sam filled two glasses with water and I stood at the island, still puzzling over the lack of food. When he put down my glass, I looked around the cupboards pointedly and raised a brow at him. He didn't response to my unspoken question other than to raid a jar with a couple of ten dollar bills stuck inside.
"Do you normally do the shopping?" Back home, dad and I did the food shopping together. I'd steer him away from the bacon and he'd keep me away from the baking ingredients aisle. For Sam to do it alone seemed strange to me.
"No." He quickly answered back and pulled the hot toast from the machine, "Mom picks things up from the store on her way home from work."
"Oh, where does she work?" I asked as he handed me a slice of dry toast on a plate. Deciding it was best not to ask for butter or jelly, I bit into it.
"In a bar in Port Angeles." Shrugging, he bit into his toast too and pulled a subtle face, "You go to school in Forks, right?"
"Yeah, until the end of summer." Sam nodded at this and wandered over to the fridge. Eyeing a flyer for bus times he suddenly ran upstairs. Frowning, I listened to him moving between our rooms before racing back down again, "What's wrong?" Our bags swung from his arms as he skidded to a stop beside me.
"Get your shoes on!" He shoved my bag at me and I quickly hitched it on my back, "Come on, we're going to be late for the bus!" His frantic energy panicked me into action, slamming my shoes on and grabbing my coat.
Taking my hand, he dragged me out of the house and up the drive as I stumbled behind. I wanted to tell him to stop or slow down but refrained from doing so as he hurried us down the thin road leading to the main street.
"Sam? What's wrong? Can't your mom drive us? Or Billy?" Having never ridden the bus anywhere before, the thought of catching it now was worrisome. But Sam didn't answer as we tore down the tree lined track.
I tripped several times, each of which Sam pulled me back up. He'd check for injuries before pushing us on again. Even in physical education they didn't make us run this much and I was soon struggling behind, his hand the only thing keeping me going. His anxious behaviour didn't make sense until we reached the main road of La Push, panting and leaning on our knees. The bus was just drawing up to the stop.
"Here." He handed me some of the grocery money.
"But this is for food." I protested and he shook his head agitatedly.
"It doesn't matter; you need money to get to school. Get the same bus back tonight and I'll meet you here." To his instructions I nodded quickly and hopped onto the rumbling bus, "Bye Bella." He called after me.
"Bye." I said over my shoulder before handing the bus driver the ten dollar bill. He raised a brow at me, "Forks Elementary School please." He nodded and handed me my ticket and change, "Thanks." Tucking them away in my bag, I took a seat and looked out of the window at Sam. He smiled once he could see I was seated and okay, and we waved to each other as the bus set off again.