First Imprint Sam's Story.

Chapter 10: Stay

Chapter 10 - Stay

Emily's POV

I stood by my hospital bed, packing up the few personal items I had with me. I'd been in here for two weeks and was ready to go. I managed to convince my parents that I wanted to return to La Push. They couldn't understand why I didn't want to come home and a small part of me wondered if I was crazy. It was after all the scene where I'd been brutally attacked by a wild bear.

I also knew returning would put me in a lose/lose situation. If I returned, I might see Sam and it would break my heart knowing I couldn't be with him because of Leah. If I did act on impulse and found a way back into his life after what I had said to him, it would kill Leah. The strange thing was that I didn't feel fear or worry that I would be attacked again.

I tried to think of what exactly had happened the day I got hurt. All I could remember was Sam holding me in his arms. He'd been shaking so badly that he'd been blurry. And because he was holding on to me, he had shaken me as well. The next thing I knew, there was something large and black in place of where Sam had been standing.

Whatever it was had looked more like a freakishly large wolf to me than a bear, but my memory was fuzzy. What I knew for sure was that one minute Sam was there and the next, a black wolf or bear was hitting me in the face. I didn't remember much after its nails dug into my skin except falling and then being on the ground. I could remember hearing male voices and my aunt's, but after that I didn't remember anything until I woke up in the hospital.

"Are you ready to go, honey?" I looked up as my Uncle Harry came through my hospital room door. He was taking me back to La Push as my parents had left for home a half hour before.

"Yes, I'm ready," I answered as I zipped up my bag.

We walked through the halls of the hospital and out to his car. I tried to ignore the gawking stares of complete strangers, but I cringed every time someone stared at me. A little girl pointed at me as I walked by her, but her mother looking up at my scarred face, quickly drew her child's hand down.

I pushed my long hair forward to cover my damaged cheek. I was thankful that my mom had brought me a long sleeved turtleneck to wear home even though it was the beginning of July and I was hot. The sleeves covered up a lot of my scars which helped me feel not as self-conscious. I wore it with a skirt that flowed to my knees in an attempt to feel cooler.

"Why don't you and I get a coffee before we go back to the rez," Uncle Harry offered as we pulled out of the hospital parking lot.

"Oh no, that's okay. I'm not thirsty," I answered, horrified by the idea of being out in public any longer than I had to be.

"Em, you can't hide away."

"I know that, but can't I have a little time?" I looked up at him, feeling tears at the back of my eyes.

"I love you like you were own child Em, but I'm not going to let you lock yourself away somewhere. If you start hiding now, you'll never stop," my uncle said, pulling into the only diner in Forks. It was mid-day so most people were at work, but I still cringed at the idea of strangers seeing me. I got out of the car, covering my face again with my hair.

My uncle and I walked into the diner and I quickly walked over to a booth without a window. I sat with my right side facing the wall so that my face wouldn't be as noticeable. A waitress came over to our table to take our order and did a double take when she saw me. Although the stitches were out, my skin was red and puckered looking. My uncle ordered a coffee and I ordered a Coke.

"So how you doing Em, really?" My uncle asked.

"Aside from feeling like I'm a freak show, just great," I said, sarcastically. "Look, I'm sorry Uncle Harry, I just don't want to be here right now."