Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Catharsis

By Mama4Dukes

Chapter 05:

On Sunday morning, Sam arrived at the Swan house, bright and early, at eight am. He rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. He was about to leave when an upstairs window opened, and Bella stuck her head out of it. “What are you doing here so early?”

“I thought we were going to the bookstore.”

“It’s not going to open until eleven. It’s Sunday.”

“Oh, yeah. I forgot it was Sunday. I’ll come back later.”

“No, don’t bother. Can you climb up here?”

“I can. Why?”

“So I don’t have to walk all the way downstairs, duh. I’m lazy!”

Sam shrugged his shoulders, scaled the side of the house, reached for a big tree limb to use as leverage, and then jumped in through her window. He was pretty proud of his impressive feat.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

Bella waved her hand dismissively. “No, why? Do I need to say anything?”

“Aren’t you impressed by how I scaled your house and got into your room?”

“Sam, if you’re a vampire killing wolf, I would expect that your agility and speed is at least as good, if not better than that of a vampire. Gee whiz, don’t they teach you anything in supernatural school?”

“You know, that’s what I love about you, Bella. You make me feel so normal.”

“You are normal. You just have some enhanced abilities that make you extraordinary,” she informed him as she gathered up some clothes to change into. “I’ll be right back.” She slipped into the bathroom to get ready and was out within five minutes. She grabbed an elastic tie off of her nightstand and pulled her hair into a ponytail.

“That was quick. I thought girls usually take forever to get ready.”

“I’m really low-maintenance. I hate fufu stuff.”

“Cool. I can relate to that.” He recalled Leah used to be extremely fufu, and her cousin Emily was even worse. She was fufu and meringue rolled into one. She was a nightmare-kind of like that Jessica Stanley girl. “I’m not fufu either.”

“I should hope not.” She grabbed a book from inside her closet and handed it to him. “We can start with this book. That’s how I figured out about vampires. Mind you, this was all based off of a story that Jake told me about how the Quileutes are descended from wolves. He must be freaking out now that he’s a wolf.”

“Jake is a wolf? When did that happen?”

“What? How come you don’t know? I thought you were alpha.”

“I am the alpha, but I’ve been given a reprieve by the elders so that I can finish high school. The other kids are all in school now except for Leah. She graduated on time a year ago.”

“Huh, interesting. Have you had breakfast yet?”

“No, not really. I was excited about the bookstore so I rushed over here as soon as I woke up.”

“I’ll make you something.” Sam followed Bella downstairs. She rummaged through the refrigerator, got out a half eaten tray of strata, and threw it in the microwave. She got some orange juice and two glasses out. “Can you grab two plates and a couple of forks?”

“Sure.” By now, Sam was used to the Swan’s kitchen, having eaten there several times already. He knew where everything was. “Hey, where’s your dad?”

“He’s out hunting with Uncle Harry.” Bella brought out the tray of strata and put it on the table. She served a slice for Sam and one for herself. “Trust me when I say that this tastes better the day after.”

Before Bella could have a second bite, Sam was done with his entire slice. He grabbed the serving spoon and dug in for more. He didn’t stand on ceremony with her or any of the Swans. He felt at home in their house. He found himself hanging out at their house often since he returned to school, and had stayed for dinner several times already. “This is really good, Bella. Who made it? Was it you or your dad?”

“My dad, of course. He’s like the strata king. I can make a mean spinach quiche, though.”

After the entire tray was devoured, and the jug of orange juice was emptied, the pair did the dishes. Bella completed her chores with Sam helping, and the two were out of the door in no time.

They arrived at the bookstore in Port Angeles and browsed the shelves, but neither was sure what they were looking for. After a few minutes, the owner, a Native American man in his late thirties, asked, “May I help you?” He took a look at Bella and nodded. “You’re the girl who was looking for books about the cold ones. Was the last book not enough?”

“The book was informative enough, but now we’re looking to further our research. We would now like a book on wolves.” She flashed a smile in his direction.

“What kind of wolves?” he asked suspiciously.

She cleared her throat, and with as straight a face as possible, replied, “Large wolves native to the Pacific Northwest. Wolves that threaten the Cold Ones.”

“That’s an interesting thing to research. You said that you were researching this for personal reasons?”

“Yes.” She nodded her head. She had no idea where the owner’s questions were leading, but they were becoming very strange.

The owner nodded his head. “We have books right here on werewolves. Werewolves are the natural enemy of the cold ones.”

“Uh, yes, but werewolves are native to Romania and parts of Louisiana. We’re looking for information on wolves in the Pacific Northwest.”

The owner suddenly went to the door, put the closed sign up, and locked it. He went further and shut the blinds. Instinctively, Sam stepped in front of Bella to shield her from danger.

“Hey! What are you doing? You can’t kidnap us! We’re just high school students!” Bella protested.

The owner turned to Sam, who was protectively standing in front of Bella.

“Why the hell are you telling a Hok’wat about our legends?”

“Hey, I resent that! You used Hok’wat with a nasty tone! That was completely uncalled for!”

“And you are an annoying, little girl, butting your nose in where you shouldn’t.” The owner turned back to Sam. “What’s your name, boy?”

“Don’t tell him!” Bella told him. “He doesn’t have a right to know.”

“Sam Uley-my name is Samuel Levi Uley,” he blurted. For some reason, this man compelled him to tell the truth.

“Aw, why did you tell him, Sam?”

“I don’t know! I couldn’t help it!” he admitted.

“Maybe he’s a vampire,” Bella whispered in his ear. “Maybe he used the power of allure on you and compelled you to tell the truth.”

“I’m not a vampire, you annoying girl! I’m a wolf!” the man blurted, and then slapped his hand over his mouth.

“Sam, maybe other tribes have wolves. Maybe he’s Makah?”

“Do I look Makah to you?”

“How should I know? I’ve never seen a Makah person! All I know is that Uncle Billy and Uncle Harry said that I’m not to date anyone who is Makah. They never really gave me a reason why.”

“At least you have sensible people in your life. I’m not Makah. I’m Quileute.”

“Quileute? Are you a new wolf?” Sam asked.

The man shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

“How long have you been a wolf?”

“Longer than you have.”

“Who are you? I know everyone on the reservation, and I’ve never seen you around.”

The man sighed. “My name is Levi Uley. I’ve been a wolf since 1936. Clearly, you were named after me.”

Stunned by what he’d heard, Sam slumped down onto the floor of the bookshop, bringing Bella along with him. He turned to her with a look of desperation. “I can’t take anymore, Bella. How many more surprises are going to be hurled at me? First I turn into a wolf, then I have to train a whole bunch of idiots in order to protect the res from vampires, my girlfriend and half-brother imprint on each other, I had to drop out of high school, and now my great-grandfather shows up from the dead! Can I be anymore of a freak?”

“Your great-grandfather? I thought wolves aged naturally.”

“We do age naturally, except while we continue to phase. I’m a complete freak!”

Bella turned Sam’s face so that his eyes met hers. “Listen to me. I already told you that you’re an extraordinary human being because of your wolf-ness. Second, so your ex and your brother are together now. Who cares? If they’re soulmates, then they’re meant to be together. Besides, from what you’ve told me about Leah, you weren’t exactly happy with her. Thirdly, the whole dropping out of school thing has been solved. You’re back in school now, you’re going to graduate, and you’re going to college. Look at it like you took a two-year hiatus because you needed it. And lastly, as for you meeting your great-grandpa, that isn’t a bad thing. Sure it’s a little shocking, but it’s actually the coolest thing in the world to make a connection to the past.”

“Why are you such a cool friend?”

“Because you make it easy to be your friend, Sam.” She gave him a hug and smiled at him.

Levi Uley eyed his great-grandson and the girl named Bella with curiosity. He wondered if she was his imprint by the way they seemed so connected. He would find out soon enough, he imagined.

“Come on, kids. Come upstairs and have some tea.”

They followed Levi upstairs. Sam held onto Bella’s hand for support. He planned on doing this a lot in the future. Her touch kept him grounded. They walked through a second door at the top of the stairs, which led to a cozy, yet surprisingly modern, living room.

“You two can kids can have a seat.” He motioned to a wraparound sofa located in front of them. Sam and Bella both sat down immediately. They took a look around the contemporary interior, which was done up in hues of gray and white, accentuated with natural wood. “Hey, Ellen, we have company!” he announced as he took a seat in a leather chair to the side of them.

“Ellen? As in my great-grandmother?” Sam asked.

“Of course. You didn’t think I was going to do this without her, did you? Besides, an imprint will not age as long as her wolf continues to phase. It’s part of the ancient magic.”

Sam stared open-mouthed at his grandfather. “Are there going to be anymore surprises?”

“What surprises?” A beautiful Quileute woman with smooth skin and long, jet-black hair walked in to the living room. “Who are our guests?” she asked, with a smile on her face.

“Ellen, I’d like for you to meet your great-grandson, Samuel Levi Uley, and his friend Bella. You should know that I haven’t officially been introduced to Bella yet. I just heard Samuel referring to her as Bella.”

“Great-grandson?” Ellen Uley stared at him in complete amazement. She approached Sam and trailed two fingers along his face. “Oh, he’s so beautiful.” Blinking away tears of joy, she turned to her husband. “How? How did you find out?”

“Well, we were just about to discuss the situation. Let’s begin by asking Bella what her full name is, and why she has a scar from a vampire on her right inner wrist.”

“Why do I have to start things off?”

“You are a very argumentative little girl!” Levi scolded. “Now, what is your full name?”

“It’s Isabella Marie Swan.”

“Any relation to Marie Swan?” Ellen asked.

“Yes, she was my great-grandmother.”

“I knew her. You have her beautiful eyes.”

“Thank you.”

“Now tell us your story? That scar didn’t just appear out of nowhere.”

Bella released the breath she had been holding with a big exhale. “I used to date Edward Cullen,” she admitted. “In March, three nomadic vampires came to Forks. One of them, James, decided to play a game of cat and mouse with me. The Cullens tried to protect me by taking me to Arizona, but James found me, and bit me. Edward Cullen saved me by drinking my blood through the puncture wound that James created. He drank until my blood was free of venom.” Bella paused. “Naturally, there’s more to my story, but that’s the abbreviated version.”

“Thank you for telling us your story. Can you tell us how the two of you became friends?” Levi Uley asked the pair.

“We met in our physics class. Bella is my lab partner.”

“And that’s how it came out that she dated a vampire and you’re a wolf?”

“No, she’s in all my classes and we got to talking.” Sam wasn’t sure how to explain how they became friends. Sure, he imprinted on her, but other than that, their friendship just developed naturally. “We’re best friends. She knows everything about me, and I know everything about her. I mean, how am I supposed to explain how a friendship progressed? It just did-naturally.”

“Okay, I’ll accept that information for the moment. What I’d like to know now is what the two of you were really researching in my store.”

Bella and Sam looked first at each other, and then at the grandparents.

“It’s just that… it’s just that I mentioned to Sam that Carlisle and Jasper are able to block their minds from Edward constantly probing them with his mental telepathy. We wanted to know if wolves could do the same when they’re phased because Sam hates it when his ex-girlfriend and his half-brother are always airing their business out in his mind.”

“Ah.”

“Well, can he? Is there a way to block their thoughts from coming into his brain?”

“Hmm… I’d have to look into that. You see, life was less complicated when I was a young wolf. We didn’t have pre-marital sex. Relationships were more or less arranged by parents. Times were simple. We had no Internet, no TV, and no smart phones complicating our lives. We had one job and one job only-to protect La Push. After the Cullens left, there was no need to phase together.”

“But you’re still a wolf,” Sam noted. “You had to keep phasing for you to still look the way you do.”

“You are, of course, correct. I still phase.”

“Why?”

Levi Uley shrugged his shoulders. “Because I enjoy life, boy. Being alive on this earth is the greatest thing ever! I was blessed with a beautiful imprint, too. I can’t imagine us ever dying. We were given the gift of immortality if we chose it. We chose it.”

“That’s just great, isn’t it?” Sam asked with a sarcastic lilt to his voice. “I’m glad that you chose immortality, but let me tell you, life has been difficult for us mere mortals-particularly for your line of Uleys. I know for a fact that you both disappeared after going on vacation right after your son Charles, my grandfather got married. Did you know that he spent years searching for you? He searched for you so much that he barely paid any attention to his own kids. And were you aware that your son Douglas was killed during the Vietnam War? My grandfather had three kids-Thomas, Joshua, and Ellen-two of them are in jail and one is dead. Uncle Thomas was a good guy, but he was killed by a drunk driver who had three times the legal limit of alcohol in her system. The drunk driver was his sister Ellen, who has been in and out of jail her entire adult life because she just can’t stay clean. But the worst was my father Joshua. He’s in jail, thank God! Do you know why?

His great-grandparents looked fearful of the answer they were about to hear. “He was sentenced to fifteen to twenty years on two counts of felony assault and battery along with endangering the life of a child. The two women he assaulted were the mothers of his children. One was my mom, who was married to him. He was cheating on her with a high school student from the Makah Reservation. He was a grown man fooling around with a teenager. When the girl found out she was pregnant and went to inform him, he beat her up for having kept the baby. My mom witnessed it, went to help, and was almost killed in the progress. I thank Taha Aki everyday that my father isn’t able to walk free on the streets.

Sam glared at his great-grandfather. “Did you know that there were no members of the Uley family for my mother to turn to? None of whom were able to help at least. It was Old Quil Ateara who made sure that my mother got the support she needed. You were alive! You could have helped her! So don’t you dare tell me how great life is because you both left the rest of us to clean up your mess for you.”

Sam stood up abruptly, and so did Bella. “Thank you, but no thank you. Have a great life.”

With that, he stood to leave with his imprint, pulling her along with him. His emotions were all over the place and he had nothing more to say. He stormed outside to his truck with Bella hot on his heels. She grabbed Sam’s keys before he could start the ignition.

“What the hell are you doing? I want to get out of here!”

“Sam, look at me!” Bella ordered. He turned to face her, and she cupped his chin between her fingers. “You cannot drive now. I understand you’re confused and angry-hell, I would be, too, but you can’t drive now. You’ll get us into an accident. Angry drivers can’t focus on the road.”

He nodded his head, tears dripping down his face, and he broke down and cried. For the first time since he was just a little boy, Sam Uley broke down and cried in his imprint’s arms. She held him and comforted him. She promised him that things would only get better, and that she wasn’t going anywhere-that she was going to stand by him like a rock.

“I am, you know. I’m going to stand by you like a rock.” Bella rubbed his back to comfort him. “Sam, I’ve never had a chance to thank you.”

“For what?” He wiped the tears away from his eyes.

“For being a true friend, for accepting me for who I am-mistakes and all-is what I have to thank you for. I’d be lost without you.”

“Yeah, well, I’d be lost without you, too.” He dropped his forehead down to meet hers before they both fell into each other arms to hug each other. “I’m not going anywhere either, Bella.”

“Good. Are you feeling better now?”

“I am. I’m not ready to drive yet, but let’s go for a walk and find a place to get lunch.”

“Sounds good to me. We can walk along the beach. The ocean always has a calming effect on me.”

Sam nodded his head. “I’m really sorry that I lost it, Bella.”

“You had a good reason to become irrational, and your temper wasn’t directed at me at all. I’m just glad I was able to stop you from driving.”

“Thanks, Bella.”

She took his hand in hers, and smiled. “You’re welcome, Sam.”