Chapter 4

The crunch of car wheels on the dirt and rocks signaled that Aunt Rachel and Uncle Thomas and their two kids were here for their monthly visit. They probably could have visited more often, they only lived in Seattle after all, but Uncle Thomas was frequently busy with his job (businessmen!) and Sarah and Taylor didn't always want to take time out of their busy schedule to spend time with me on the boring old Rez. I heard my dad shout for me, so tugging at the pink shirt I'd put on especially for Sarah (she was always claiming that I wasn't feminine enough and she thought I was a vision in pink) I headed out of my room and towards the front door. Before I'd even gotten my both feet out the front door the door of the SUV swung open and Sarah was out, racing towards me in her heels. How did she even manage to run in those things? But I knew I must have been wearing that expression that was a mixture of terror and mystification because she was grinning that mischievous grin of hers as she charged towards me.

In a second I was caught up in a pair of arms and in high heels Sarah somehow managed to defy all logic and had me off my fight as she squeezed me to death. I really would like to know how she managed that because she's only 5'2" without the heels and in my comfortable tennis shoes I loomed over her at 5'8". As she spun around smiling and laughing I was shrieking, "Put me down! Put me down!"

Dad just laughed and passed us making his way towards Thomas and Taylor as Aunt Rebecca made her way over to Grandpa Billy. After a few more seconds of my shrieking and Sarah's giggling she put me down and relief coursed through me. "You're wearing make-up!" she cried ecstatically as she noticed that I'd bothered to apply some mascara, eyeshadow, and lip gloss this morning for her. It was hard to believe we were even related looking at her with her tank top, mini-skirt, high heels, perfectly applied make-up, and glossy black hair curled perfectly and then thrown into some bun sort of thing so it looked effortless and completely gorgeous at the same time. Next her I stood in my jeans, pink t-shirt (one of the few I owned), my make-up looking like the equivalent of that a seventh grader does when her mother tells her she can finally wear some, and my long black hair braided messily. As she grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back into the house I should have known she had something to tell me by the bounce in her step and the look in her eyes.

"Guess what?!?!?"

Nothing good ever came from that phrase. "What?"

"I'm staying an entire week!"

"What?"

"My parents, they said I could stay here with you, Uncle Jake, and Grandpa Billy."

"Is Taylor staying?"

"Nah, he's taking a few summer courses."

Of course he was. Now don't get me wrong, I love Sarah, but my idea of a good time was paling around with Caleb and Owen, not getting dressed up and shopping and flirting with guys. I couldn't see the appeal in that. Perhaps it was because I'd grown up with my grandfather and father who didn't see the appeal in that either. And that was when I noticed it, a ring on her left hand that sparkled when the light hit it just right. "What's that?"

Sarah's green eyes seemed to sparkle when I asked that question, like she'd been waiting for me to ask it. Probably had. She smiled at me and replied, "I'm engaged."

I was speechless for a second then I managed to find my voice. "WHAT?!?!?!? You're seventeen!"

"So? When it's right, stuff like that doesn't matter."

I crossed my arms unbelieving. How could she really think that? I know that she wasn't always the most intelligent girl, but I really expected more from her. How could you possibly know who you wanted to spend your life with at seventeen? "Is it Jamie?"

Sarah nodded only furthering my anger with her. How could she possibly know that he was right when he was the only guy she'd ever dated? Okay, so they had been dating since she was fourteen, but that still didn't excuse it. Fuming, I decided that it was better to walk away rather than fuel the fire between us. So I did the only thing that seemed logical, I turned, stomped to my room, and slammed the door shut leaving the rest of the family very confused as they all came squeezing through the front door.

Author's note: So originally Sarah was just going to have a cameo appearance, but turns out her part's bigger than I thought. It's still not gigantic, at least not in this story, but she is going to be a little more prominent than I originally imagined. In fact, I've liked her so much that you might keep an eye out for a story of her own. Granted, it'll probably be much shorter, but I'd really like to write it anyway. As for the ending on this chapter…I'm not so sure I like it, but it seemed like the best spot to end it.