Disclaimer: Still don't own Twilight. Anything you recognize, I'm just borrowing for a little bit!
"Dump him."
I roll my eyes at my sister before turning back to Leah. We'd been holed up in my room for the last hour, listening intently as Leah spilled the soap opera that her life had been the last two weeks. "That's a little drastic, Meg. I'm sure there is some kind of explanation. Maybe Sam just needs some ti-"
"You're joking, right?" Megan interrupts. Leah looks between us as my sister continues. "He disappeared for a week and a half, and isn't bothering to provide some kind of explanation? No. He has got. To. Go. Who does that anyway? Who vanishes and then comes back like nothing happened? Then gets upset when you want to know where he was? Excuse me for being concerned about your wellbeing, asshole."
"Exactly!" Leah exclaims, and she exchanges a high five with Megan. It was an awful idea to include Megan in this conversation. She only ever adds fuel to the fire, instead of trying to help Leah calm down. "Besides," Leah begins, turning her attention back to me, "you should be on my side!"
"Of course I'm on your side, but I just think you both are jumping the gun. Sam's a great guy and-"
"Oh, why don't you marry him then," Megan teases and Leah giggles. At least Megan is good at provoking a laugh from her. "Listen Lee, you have to make Sam understand that what he did was not okay! Because it wasn't. And if he's not forthcoming with answers to your questions, you need to tell him what is up! Personally, if it were me, and Nick pulled this, there would be an ultimatum throw down! Like...'Hey Sam, tell me where the hell you were or it's over!'"
"That's a wonderful idea," I interject sarcastically. "Are you really going to take advice from a girl that's worst problem with her significant other is that he didn't bring home the right kind of tampon?" Leah looks at me as if I have a point, so with that I turn to Megan to add, "I am pretty sure ultimatum's only work on Nick anyway." My jab earns me the middle finger from my older sister and I retaliate by sticking my tongue out at her.
"Emily's right. Right now Sam's not himself. I...I honestly think he would tell me it was over if I did that," Leah says quietly, as she studies her hands. She's the picture of a broken heart and I suddenly want to kick Sam's ass. I glance at Megan, and it's easy to see that in this moment my sentiments are shared. Sam is extremely lucky that he does not live close to us, or we would probably both be knocking down his door.
"Can I be honest with you Leah?" Megan asks, though she doesn't bother to wait on any consent from Leah, she just keeps on talking, "I like Sam, I do. When he's not being stupid, anyway. But you two together? I've never thought you made a good couple. You're both...I don't know, you're puzzle pieces that don't fit, hell, I don't even think you're from the same puzzle and-"
I throw a pillow at Megan's head. Right now is not the time for my sister to force her opinion on anyone. Especially now that Leah looks pissed off. Megan is not the first person to express an opinion like this, but it will only upset Leah more than she already is. I know how frustrating and hurtful it can be to be in a relationship it feels like everyone is rooting against. Megan wouldn't understand that though, seeing as she has been engaged since she was two.
A heavy sigh falls from Megan's lips, while she rolls her eyes and gets off of my bed. "I can see that my valuable opinion is not needed here." She makes her way toward the door, and right before she closes it behind her, she states once more that Leah should dump him, before sticking her tongue out. As the door closes, a pillow sails across the room. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that Megan is my older sister.
When I turn back to Leah, I can see her face is a war of emotions. She's trying to stay mad at Megan, I'm sure, but I know from experience that that is very difficult to do. There's also a trace of a smile etched across her lips, but the expression that's shining through Leah's eyes is nothing but hurt and anger. Leah is like my other sister and very much my best friend, and I hate to see her like this. Still, something is bothering me, something I didn't have the guts to bring up in front of Megan.
"Why didn't you call me when he left?" I question, unable to hold it in any longer. Since Leah's story began, the question bounced around in my head. I thought Leah came to me for everything, and while I know there are bigger fish to fry here than my feelings, I can't stop it from bothering me.
Leah doesn't look at me, instead she turns her head to look out the window. "I don't know. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I was a mess and I just felt it would be selfish to drag you into my misery and fear. On top of that, a few days after Sam disappeared my dad acted like it wasn't a big deal. It was all just...unusual. I mean, my dad and Sam have never been on good terms, but suddenly he's defending him? And acting like Sam isn't gone. But I knew he was because Sam's mom was just as concerned. She hadn't seen him and Sam lives with her and I just...God, I am so pathetic. Maybe Megan's right," Leah trails off, and her eyes start to water for the millionth time that evening.
Grabbing her hand, I give it a reassuring squeeze. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, okay? I bet whatever is going on with Sam is just overwhelming him. For all you know, he could have been kidnapped by aliens and they did all sorts of distasteful things to him as they ran tests on his unconscious body."
Leah lights up after I mention Sam's body, which I can't help but find a bit unusual. "I forgot the craziest part! Sam came back and he was not only acting different, but he looked different too! I mean, he had the craziest growth spurt and he is…I mean, Sam was in nice shape before but he is…well, he's rock solid now!"
"My alien theory isn't so farfetched then," I tease, but only earn a shove on my shoulder from Leah. She's up and moving toward my laptop and I'm suddenly very confused. "What are you doing?"
"Maybe his weird growth spurt has something to do with him being gone! Maybe he's had some medical issues and—" I give Leah a doubtful look and she huffs. "Emily, I'm serious. Call my mom, and she will tell you that Sam looks insanely different from the last time you saw him. I mean, he's been growing for the last month, it's been insane, but…" I've lost Leah now that my laptop is up and loaded. She is typing away, and I roll my eyes.
"Even if he did have a weird growth spurt, I highly doubt WebMD can explain anything for you. I mean, maybe Sam was just a late bloomer," I suggest, scooting up on my bed so I can rest my back against the wall. Leah's completely ignoring me now, in favor of whatever it is she is trying to research. She should be a private investigator, considering how much she loves to snoop.
Leah is absorbed in her research, legs folded Indian style, as she hunches over the laptop screen. The silence hangs in the air, though thankfully, it's not an uncomfortable one. It's more that I'm left alone with my thoughts, and I don't particularly care for the direction they are heading. Was Leah not confiding in me part of growing up? This is the last thing I need to fret over, but it's left a bad taste in my mouth. Are there other things Leah hadn't shared with me? My mom had told me that things would slowly start to change over the course of my senior year. I was in my final semester as a high school student, but I only just now started to reflect on the fact that she might have been right about this (among other things we won't bother going in to). Had other things changed and I just hadn't noticed?
Pushing myself out of bed, I inform Leah that I'm going to get a drink and ask if she needs anything. She mumbles a response, and armed with that information I head down stairs. I'm lost in my own thoughts, so I'm slightly surprised when I find the kitchen light already on when I'm finally downstairs.
My mom is in the kitchen setting things out for what she will need in the morning to make breakfast. She's slightly OCD and usually always has to prep the night before. It's later than her usual time, so she had probably been delayed on the phone with Aunt Sue. She offers me a small smile when she sees me come in. "Megan just left. She said Leah wasn't very receptive to her advice," the small smile grows, and I'm struck by how pretty my mom is. "On another note, shall I save the lecture on how we do not leave dirty rags on the counter? Or do you want it now?"
Listening to my mom, it hits me how glad I am that she's down here in the kitchen at this moment. Without really thinking about it, I'm propelled forward, my arms wrapping around her tiny frame. She seems shocked for a moment, but returns the hug after a few seconds. Her hand is rubbing small circles on my back, and I rest my head against her shoulder. This had been so much easier when I was smaller than she was, but despite how awkward I feel, I can't deny that this is what I needed. "You were right," I mumble, and her hand pauses for a moment.
"I usually am," she responds, and I can tell she's attempting to see if I rewarded her with a smile. I pull back to give her that smile and shake my head. "Tell me, what is it that you finally see the light on?" she questions.
"That things change," I fiddle with the hem of my shirt, and I can tell my mom is studying me intently. Silence falls between us, and I rest my hip against the counter as my mom goes back to setting up her prep. I'm getting lost in my thoughts once more, so I'm shocked when I hear what my mom says next.
"So Leah hadn't told you Sam had been missing?"
"You knew?" I inquire, looking up at her. She has a frown on her face that probably matches my own.
"Sue told me. She didn't think Leah had informed you."
"Why didn't you tell me then?" I question, unable to keep the petulance out of my voice. My mother gives me a sharp look, and I fold my arms across my chest in weak retaliation.
"Emily, you can't fix problems no one asked for your help on. If Leah had needed you, she would have called." My mother must realize she struck a nerve because she doesn't continue after her last sentence. She pulls me into another hug, and I stand there silently, mulling over what she said. "Just because you and Leah are at a point in your life where you don't share everything with each other, doesn't mean she loves you less."
I feel slightly ridiculous, but I can't shake the heavy feeling settling in my gut, despite my mom's attempt at a pep talk. It's funny how I've spent my whole life thinking my relationship with Leah was indestructible, but the cracks were finally starting to show.
Too bad I hadn't realized then that the cracks would be much preferable to the explosion of pieces it would be come summer.
Author Note: Sorry it took me so long to update. My computer had died, so the chapters I had written ahead of time went with it. Thank you so much to those that left reviews! I love getting feedback! Updates will hopefully come much faster.