So last chapter we found out Kim's mother has been cheating, and has even gone so far as to hire some male company! Here is the next chapter.
Still numbed from the situation, I rode, in no particular direction. Just in the direction I knew to take me away from our house. Soon La push faded away, but the ominous cloud of anxiety, and hurt stayed around me no matter how fast I rode.
Rolling into central forks, I glanced at the illuminated green numbers of my watch. 11:28. I was exhausted and soaked in sweat. I hadn't stopped once to look back, too eager to forget my situation.
Spotting a 24 hour fast food restaurant, I turned off the road I was on and into the parking lot. The smell of greasy food hit my nose when I entered. The restaurant was brightly lit, almost too bright for my tired, red, swollen eyes, and my hands were trembling. One glance from the lanky, pale boy with a crooked nose, and I collapsed into a booth. My hood was drawn up and I placed my head in the crook of my elbow.
Slowly, my shaking abated, and my appetite returned. Stumbling to the counter I ordered a number three burger and coke. The boy with the acne and crooked nose took my order before going back to his chore of cleaning. While I waited, I went into the bathroom to wash my sticky hands. I was glad it was a one room bathroom. Large ones with stalls always made my stomach turn. Watching my hands become sudsy, the cool water almost felt warm against my chilled hands.
Eating my burger, I watched as two incredibly tall men entered the building, wearing t shirts and shorts...What? I did a double take and watched as they both ordered copious amounts of food before settling in a booth on the other side of the restaurant. There hushed voices reached my ears in the quiet restaurant.
"...not your fault, it could have happened to anyone." The first one said.
"But what... never forgives me?"
"Sam, if the effects...are anything... as strong for you as they are... forgive you."
"I hope your right Jared." My head snapped up. Did he say Jared? Glancing from beneath my bangs and hood, I see the two talking men. One with their back to me, and the other hunched over. I hate to admit it, but I'd know that back anywhere, it was Jared. Except, not. Jared looked, to say it simply, bigger. His back muscles were prominently defined, something that they hadn't been before. I recognized the man with him as Sam Uley. He was only a few years older than Jared and I, maybe 21? But he looked to be at least 40. His face was dragging, and there were bags under his eyes. To be honest he looked devastated. Something must have happened.
As if sensing me staring at him, his eyes shot up to meet mine. I quickly looked away and tensed up. I could feel his eyes boring into me.
"Time to go Jared." He said clearly. They both got up, and Sam walked right by my table, glancing down at me and meeting my eyes once again. They seemed cold and lifeless. Just as they were about the leave Jared stopped, hesitant to walk through the door, as if he'd forgotten something back at their booth. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't turn to see me huddled in a booth, with red eyes and limp, wet hair. The moment passed and he too, walked out the door.
I stayed in the warm restaurant until 1:30, with my head in my elbow and hood up, trying not to cry. I left when the boy behind the counter told me 'unless you buy something, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.' Seeing as how nothing on the menu seemed appealing, I did exactly that.
Going outside my heart rate picked up as I anxiously looked around. Where was my bike? I let out an angry moan, and kicked a beer can on the side of the road. Someone stole my bike! Angrily I walked around the building, hoping to see it around each corner I took. About to reach the front of the building, I slipped on a piece of ice, landing on my butt. Tears pricked at my eyes and before I knew it I was full out crying. Pulling my knees into my chest I cried, because I was hurt, my bike was stolen, and because no one was coming to get me. I was alone.
Deciding I'd had enough of sitting and doing nothing, I got up as tears continued to fall down my face, and I walked. Aimlessly I marched through the town of forks and cried, internally begging for someone to find me and take me to a warm place with a soft bed and hot chocolate. I didn't cross paths with anyone. By 3:30a.m. I'd decided I'd had enough of the cold, and I turned to head back to the reservation. While home wasn't the place I wanted to be, at least it was shelter from the cold wind that had picked up. My tears finally stopped, replaced by the sound of my chattering teeth.
Sluggishly I walked, and walked, and walked. By 4:00, I'd made it halfway home, and the first vehicle I'd seen since I left last night drove by, headed into forks. They didn't get very far before slamming on the breaks. The red from the break lights the only kind of light for miles. If someone were to hurt me, I doubt I'd ever be found. My heart rate picked up as the blue truck turned around to drive beside me, on the wrong side of the road, might I add. My breathing was laboured, and a million thoughts flashed through my mind as the truck idled closer.
I kept my eyes glued to my feet, a my heart rate sped up. People in forks were generally nice, but you could never be too carful about running into a creep.
"Hey! Girl!" I picked up the pace, starting to run, at the sound of a mans voice. I was in trouble and i knew it. My shivering was now joined with nervous shakes.
"Kim, right?" I looked up at the sound of my name, to see Sam Uley, staring at me with tired eyes, and I nodded In relief, stopping and taking a deep, shuddering breath. My hands going to my face as the fear faded away, leaving adrenaline rushing through my veins.
"Sorry to scare you. Can-Can I give you a ride home?" He asked. I looked up for the first time in three hours, noticing where I was. I still had quite a ways to go before I reached my house. I nodded, and from the corner of my eye I saw a familiar object in the ditch.
"My bike!" I said surprised before glancing at Sam and running into the ditch to pull it out of a bush. I was shocked. How did it get all the way out here? Idiot teenagers.
"Do you want me to load it into the back?" Sam asked awkwardly from the window of his truck.
"Uh-" I cleared my hoarse throat. "No thanks. It's a piece of junk anyways." I said in a monotone voice, trying not to cry again.
Climbing back up the slope, I slipped and Sam jumped out to help me out and into his Truck. I sighed in relief, as the truck cab provided shelter from the wind. When Sam got back in, the temperature also rose. I gave him my address and then we settled into silence.
Ten minuted into the drive, he spoke again.
"You were in the burger joint earlier today."
"Erm-yeah. Yes, I was. I saw you there. You were with Jared Cameron."
"That's right. Did you happen to hear anything about our conversation." I was tempted to lie about eavesdropping, but I was trapped in this massive mans vehicle, and I didn't want to face his wrath if he found out I'd lied.
"I did, but most of it didn't make any sense."
"Well what exactly did you hear?"
"Sam, did someone close to you get hurt or something." Sam visibly relaxed, before tensing up again.
"Um, yeah, do you know Emily Young?" I nodded. I knew of her, but we'd never met.
"She was mauled by a bear the other day, and I'm afraid it was my fault. She is currently in the forks hospital. We were visiting her before you saw Jared and I getting food, that's actually where I was heading before I picked you up."
"Is she alright?" I said worriedly.
"Yeah, she'll be alright. I'm just worried she won't forgive me."
"Sam, you decided to pick up a strange girl from the side of the road because it's the middle of the night, because you, probably, thought it would be the right thing to do. You also sound like you're madly in love with Emily. If she can't see how much you care about her then she isn't worth your time, because someone would have to be super dense or stupid to not notice your compassion for her. Even I know you love her just from the way you talk about her, and what do I know of love? I've never even had a boyfriend!"
"Thanks Kim, you're a good kid. And if you ever need anything just let me know. Maybe next time you decide to wonder around late at night because of...?" He waited but I was unable to answer him. "Just, what ever is going on in your life, give me a call and I'll take you someplace safe, okay?"
I felt tears in my eyes again. "I really don't want to talk about why I was out so late, but thank you Sam, it means a lot that you care." He nodded in understanding before handing me a card with his phone number on it as we parked in my driveway.
I smiled at him before getting out into the cold night again.
"And Sam," he stopped to look at me. "I'm sure Emily will forgive you, and, although I don't know the nature of your relationship, she'd be a fool to turn you down." He smiled a genuine smile at me, his face lifting and for the first time that night, looking his age, before I slammed the door and I waved him good bye. Once he was gone I ran into the house, as leaving the warm truck cab and stepping into the cold had jump started my shivering, and reminded me of my numb fingers.
Stepping through the front door and into the kitchen, my eyes automatically scanned for the cash that had been on the table. It was gone. I also noticed that my mothers vehicle wasn't in the yard, but my Dads was.
Walking to go upstairs, I paused as an out of place light caught my eye. There was a fire in the fireplace! I didn't even know we had wood to burn.
I basically ran to the fire, my fingers numb and teeth still chattering. Pushing against every instinct I had, I took off my outer layer of clothes, so the heat of the dying fire would warm me faster. I fell asleep next to that fire, and for the first time in months, I was warm for the rest of the night.
Thanks for reading! Reviews make me super happy, so please leave one! What did you guys think of Sam and Kim having a one on one? I feel like there could be a really good friendship there in the future. Don't forget to R&R!
xCCx