I know, so short. It'll get longer - I think - as we go along. I'm still getting the hang of this story. It's different from my usual, as some of you may know.

Sam sighed as he slipped inside his house, shaking his head and then grimacing at the light dusting of dirt that fell from it. It discolored his body, was packed under his fingernails; closing the door behind himself, he headed straight down the hall for the bathroom.

He turned the water so that it was as cold as it could get and stepped under the spray, shuddering as it coasted down his bare skin. Steam rose as the cold moisture hit his blistering skin. Sam braced his hands in front of him on the shower wall, leaning into them and letting his head fall forward. The water continued to pound his back.

Another night of patrolling. It left him exhausted. He didn't like doing this alone. Didn't like doing this, being this, period. He'd turned down a scholarship to be... this. He'd had no choice, no say. It was all the Cullens' fault. Damn leeches.

Growling under his breath at the path his thoughts constantly turned to, he pushed away from the wall and shook his head sharply, sending droplets of water flying. He finished washing quickly, stepping out and not even shivering from the freezing water or cool air that was the norm of Washington. He snatched the towel off of the rail that held it, running it over his hair before wrapping it around his waist and moving down the hall to the kitchen. Dressing could wait - he was ravenous.

As he passed his house phone, he hit the button to play the messages recorded to the answering machine. The automated voice recited the usual at him as he opened the fridge, peering inside and pulling out a jug of orange juice, unscrewing the cap. His mother's voice echoed out from the machine, and he rolled his eyes as she complained about something or another. He chugged down some of the juice as the message ended.

Leah's voice came on next, making him pause and sigh. He put the juice back, leaning against the counter and frowning at the floor.

Leah couldn't know what he was now. But he loved her, he didn't want to give her up. It would hurt both of them to do that and never have a good reason why.

It wasn't easy keeping things like this from her. She was getting suspicious of why he was always gone or busy or too tired to hang out with her anymore, and he was irritated with her constant questioning.

She wanted him to come to her house this weekend; she had family visiting and wanted him to be there to meet them. Uncomfortably, Sam rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.

Food first, decide later, he mused, turning on the heat for the oven and returning to searching for food. He closed the fridge door and opened the freezer, pulling out a frozen pizza and popping it open. He shoved it into the inside oven and set the timer. After a moment, he sighed and pulled out another, leaving it sitting on the counter. Knowing his appetite these days, he would want it by the time he finished eating the first.

With a meal underway, Sam went down the hall to his room, dropping the towel to the floor and pulling on some shorts. Anything more left his body overheated.

The Elders made sure he was always doing well. He had little time for anything other than patrolling and protecting his people, which meant he was dependent on others for everything. It nagged at him, to not be self sufficient in any manner, but he had little choice.

After eating the two pizzas, Sam reluctantly picked up the phone and dialed Leah's number. She picked up on the third ring.

Their conversation was stiff and stilted at first, before gradually relaxing into some semblance of normal. He told her he'd work really hard to be there over the weekend, though he was careful not to promise her anything or say anything definite, and she hung up happy at the end of it all. Sam scrubbed his hands over his face briskly, sighing heavily.

He knew all the stories, all the legends regarding what he was. He'd heard of Imprints. No matter how hard he'd tried, how much he'd willed it, he hadn't fallen for Leah. Or perhaps he had and the stories were exaggerated. He was uncertain, worried, but still unable to admit his secrets to her. What he needed was a confidant, not one of the Elders, someone... else. Someone he could tell everything to.

Exhausted, with a full stomach, Sam stumbled into his room and fell face forward onto his bed. Within moments, he was fast asleep.

Emily Young grinned as she listened to her cousin Leah gush about her boyfriend over the phone.

"...And he said he'd do everything he could to show up this weekend. I can't wait for you to meet him. You're going to love him."

"He sounds amazing. I take it things are going easier between you two now?"

Leah was silent for a moment, making Emily frown lightly. Finally, Leah sighed. "Yeah. He's just busy. I... I don't know what's going on with him, and he won't tell me. But I can't just give up, right?"

Emily smiled slightly. "Right," she said quietly. She could hear how much Leah loved this man Sam, and hoped she wouldn't end up getting hurt. Though the whole situation sounded off to Emily, from what she'd heard from basically everyone, Sam Uley was a good guy. Distracted lately, but still good.

"I'll see you in a few days," Emily said, smiling as she could hear Leah's grin over the phone, and then hung up.

This was her first year on her own, and she wanted to show everyone how good she was doing. She was signed up to attend college in Seattle in the fall, and she had a small apartment she was going to share with her friend in the city. Though she was undeclared, Emily hoped to go into anthropology or literature. She wasn't sure, but she was eager, excited, to be out experiencing the world.

She called her best friend, Sarah, and they decided to watch movies at Emily's house for the night. Sarah came over, carrying a bag of junk food and chick flicks, and plopped down beside her.

"How are you holding up?" Sarah asked.

Two weeks ago, Emily had been dumped by her boyfriend since junior year of high school. He told her she'd just been too boring for him, too dull and plain and all those things boys said that hurt girls deep inside. Emily knew he was just a jerk, but it still stung. The what-if's had been plaguing her a lot lately, and it was Sarah who had been there to counter each one. What if Emily had been more spontaneous? Then the jerk would have said she was too crazy for him. What if she'd dressed up a little more often? Then she would have appeared clingy or something equally stupid.

What if she just wasn't good at relationships?

"It's always the guy's fault." Sarah had told her time and time again. "Almost always, at least. What matters isn't, however, who's at fault, but how they respond to it."

Emily smiled at her friend, coming out of her thoughts. "Fine. It's not as bad, anymore. Thank you."

Sarah grinned. "Maybe you'll meet a hot La Push guy, huh?" she joked, nudging Emily and making both of them laugh.

"Don't you wish?" Emily teased, making Sarah grin unrepentantly and shrug. "Absolutely. Any hot guy, actually. Instead of 'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth' it should be 'All I want for Christmas is a totally hot guy'."

Emily chuckled, shaking her head. "Just put the movie in, Miss. Horny."

Sarah winked and got up, slipping in the movie before plopping beside Emily on the couch.

"Seriously, though," she said after a moment. "If you find any interested hot La Push guys you don't want, send them my way."

Emily laughed.

Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.