AN: Thank you to Guest, teamjacob0729, Wolf Lover, megan39, Anony, CaliNative76, write more soon, plainjanedee, and Wolf Born Woman for reviewing. I know my updating isn't always great but reviewers like you keep me going!
As for plainjanedee's question about Bella's schooling, I thought I'd clear this up. Bella used to go to Fork's school when she lived with her dad, but has since moved to the Reservation's school.
Read and Review Please!
Song suggestion: Stuttering, Fefe Dobson.
Chapter Sixteen: Council Meeting Crasher.
A heavy silence pressed the air as the adults sat in the living room. I wondered briefly if they knew I was listening and were purposely remaining quiet. But then I heard Billy clear his throat and his chair squeaked as he must have shifted.
"What's going on, Harry?" He asked quietly. Worry laced his deep tone and I could imagine his concerned expression. Greying eyebrows furrowed, frown lines marring his russet skin, and his usually smiling lips tilting down. Unplanned Council meetings were hardly ever called unless it was highly important.
"Allison Uley's gone." Harry announced gravely, "Apparently for weeks now."
"That can't be possible." Billy said disbelievingly, "Sam and Bella have been in school."
"Sam and Bella have still been living at the house." Sue explained, "But Bella says Allison has been gone for weeks."
"Weeks." Mr. Ateara sighed sadly, "How could we not have noticed?"
"The kids seem to have been running the house by themselves. It makes me wonder how long they have been running the household, themselves? When Allison was there, maybe?"
"That's not possible." Billy objected, "They're kids!"
"Exactly." Harry agreed.
"Bella was calculating the bills today." Sue pointed out, "And Sam's been applying for more hours of work for the past month."
"I saw Allison only the other week." Mr. Ateara tried to continue to deny the evidence in front of him. I couldn't blame him though. In his generation, such situations either didn't happen or were hushed up. None of these adults had ever heard of such a situation. Tribal life was 'perfect', nothing untoward ever happened. Until now, "She expressed no plans for leaving."
"She just abandoned the kids. How could she do such a thing?" The faint noise of a tissue being pulled from its box made me want to emerge. I wanted to comfort Sue and explain everything. But I knew I shouldn't, I had to remain an eavesdropper.
"We don't know." Harry sighed, "Did Bella not say anything? Or Sam?"
"No. Bella barely said anything, and Sam refuses to speak to any of us about this. It worries me that they're holding something back. What aren't they telling us?"
Upstairs, Seth's door opened, leaking out their laughter. I smiled; it was as if we were normal. Completely and utterly normal. But that was impossible. Thanks to Mrs Uley, Sam and I were not normal. Thanks to her, we grew up too quickly. And now, thanks to her irresponsibility, Sam and I were going to be split up.
Footsteps padded across to one of the other doors, and a moment later a door closed with a quiet click. I wondered briefly if they'd noticed my absence, before shaking it off. It didn't matter, now it was only what the adults were saying that did.
"It doesn't matter now. What matters is that we resolve this, today." Billy said sternly. As Tribal leader, it was his job to see to it that we were all cared for and comfortable in our lives. They were like an extended family, with Billy at the head of the table. His forward pointing thinking meant solutions were quick and ideal. However, I knew the only adequate solution he would draw a conclusion to would not be what Sam and I thought was best for us.
"What can we do, Billy?" Harry replied, "We had this problem four years ago with Bella, and now we have Sam too."
"I won't let those kids go into social care. We owe them a good life." He answered gruffly.
"But what can we do?" Sue reasoned, "No one can take them in, we all are already living to the brink. Sam and Bella deserve better than sleeping on a floor for the rest of their lives. We owe it to them to allow them to have a decent life. What other choice do we have?"
"I promised Charlie would keep Bella close, and I'll be damned if I let Sam go either."
They argued back and forth. No one able to come up with a viable solution, other than to give us away to the social services, where we'd most likely be separated. A lump in my throat swelled as I thought of that. I couldn't leave Sam or the Reservation. They'd been there all my life, how could I leave? But they had a point, who could take us in now?
Tears dampened my eyes as I continued to listen. I'd already lost both of my biological parents and the woman who was supposed to replace them, how could I live with another abandonment? Sam had been my rock through my grief for my father, the hopelessness of Mrs Uley, the abuse of Riley, and then we clung to one another when we were left alone. For the social services to snatch him away from me was breaking both of our hearts.
My thoughts were disturbed by a step creaking, and my head snapped up. Sam stood at the top, looking down at me in concern. Of course he'd know I would be listening in. It's exactly what he'd want to do too. We shared sympathetic looks, and I brushed away a tear threatening to slip down my cheek. I refused to be taken away from my home and him. I absolutely refused with all of my heart.
"Arguing is getting us nowhere." Mr. Ateara suddenly spoke up, "We need to decide."
I knew the Council was gazing at each other, just as Sam and I were doing. Wondering what could possibly be done? How could we possibly resolve this to benefit everyone? What was the best conclusion to draw? Looking at Sam, I knew what my decision was, and he could see that in my eyes. Reaching a hand, as if to stop me, he raised a brow as if to question whether it was worth it. Was my idea going to work? I didn't know, but I was going to give it a try.