AN: Thank you to my loyal reviews; Guest, Wolf Born Woman, plainjanedee, teamjacob0729, write more soon, eliza6801, anony, CaliNative76, and Leppy99. I know it's been a while but I really struggled writing this chapter, so I hope you all enjoy it!
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Song suggestion: Never Let Me Go, Florence and the Machine.
Chapter Seventeen: Holding On.
I ended up stumbling over the last step, catching myself on the parting wall, and looking guiltily around the room. But then I remembered my purpose and straightened up, swallowing discreetly. I had to show I was serious. The Elders looked at me with raised brows and shocked expressions.
"Bella?" Billy prompted as I gathered my courage.
"Sam and I won't leave La Push." I stated simply, "Nor will we burden any of you with the responsibility of us."
"Bella…" Sighing deeply, Billy looked grave, "There is little solution for your situation."
"Let us stay where we are." I pleaded, "Sam and I are more than capable of running our own house."
"Bella, you are too young." Sue said gently.
"We've been taking care of ourselves for years." Sam suddenly appeared at the bottom of the stairs, "Why can't we continue?"
"You're barely in high school, Sam, neither of you are old enough."
"We've been running the house for years, mom was useless." Even my brows raised then. Sam was always adamant we kept Mrs Uley's complete lack of household skills and responsibility between us. Now he flaunted the fact to the Elders, who'd remained oblivious for years, "There's no reason we can't continue."
"The point still stands, you are too young." Billy smacked the arm of his chair in frustration, "Neither of you can legally take care of yourselves."
"Of course we can." Sam continued, "Mom hasn't put the house up for sale, we've been able to pay all the bills, and we can manage on our own."
"It's not so simple Sam." Mrs Clearwater explained sadly, "What if your mom decides to sell up? What about school, parents' evening? If the authorities found out you were alone-"
"What authority?" Sam snapped irritably, "You all know the police around here; they'll let it slide if you say so."
"And if something happens to you or Bella?"
"We'll be fine; we can take care of ourselves."
"We don't doubt that." Billy sighed, "It's clear that both of you can take care of yourselves, but it's the practicality, Sam. You need a responsible adult."
"We've not had one for years and we're fine." Sam scowled, "You can always vouch as our guardian if anyone asks. After all, you're tribal leader and you're responsible for everyone in this tribe."
"Sam-"
"I understand it is not conventional, nor convenient, but do you really want us to go into care? Haven't we lost enough of the tribe?" With many believing in science and not legends, people no longer celebrated their tribal heritage, turning away from their backgrounds. It was the sad truth of our modern day reality, "It is your responsibility to keep this tribe together."
There was a short pause as everyone glanced at one another. No one wanted to put us into Social Care, but they had no choice rationally. Sam and I could only appeal to their parental natures. They loved both of us like their own; could they truly allow us to be taken? I wasn't sure looking at each of the Elders.
"We could buy a house of our own." I finally murmured as the idea struck me. Everyone glanced my way and I stammered out my suggestion again, "There's the old house, east of the highway. The guys at school were saying it was haunted."
"Bella, we just don't have the money, honey." Billy sighed sadly, "If we did, maybe." Mrs Clearwater shot a sharp look at Billy. Clearly, she did not agree with us living alone.
"I do." I scratched my shoulder nervously, "My inheritance."
"B-" Surprisingly, Sam tried to interrupt me. But I wouldn't listen to him, we would not be separated, nor burden anyone here.
"Hush." I hissed, "I have my inheritance to spend how I like, and I want to spend it on this. There should be more than enough to get us on our feet."
"We couldn't possible-" Billy began but I cut him off.
"You can and will." I said quietly resolute, "It's my choice and I choose this. Sam's my brother and La Push is my home. I will do anything to stay."
Harry and Billy shared a look; I could tell I had submitted a valid argument in their eyes. This way, they could keep us home, just as they vowed to do. It was Mrs Clearwater who would most likely refuse, she had children our age, she would never allow them to do this and she wouldn't want us to either. Even Mr Ateara didn't voice a wise protest, though he was not a man of many words anyway. But I knew I must have made a decent argument, if even he could not think of something to say.
I glanced at Sam, to see his opinion. From just his facial expression, I knew so much he didn't say. He was reluctant take my inheritance but couldn't see any other way around it. Though he could see our saving grace, he could see that this was our perfect solution. Neither of us could contemplate moving away, separated, and under a strange adult's rule. We'd run ourselves for so long that it would be a disaster.
But could the Elders really leave the two of us to live like adults. Would they let us own a house and pay our own bills? Of course, they would aid us, Sam's meagre wage wouldn't cover us completely, and while I had been looking for a job, I had found none as of yet. I was sure we would still receive the care wage Mrs Uley got for having me, and as I added up our potential income, we could manage. The house would need work, but Sam and I could get it working for us, we didn't hold high standards for living, nothing of luxury, but we would make it work.
Our only qualm now was the Elders' decision. If they ruled against us, we would surely be given to Social Services. But this was our only chance, and we'd be damned not to take it.