The Stories of Leah Clearwater - (Book One)

Chapter 4 - The End of something good.

Emily had to head home. It was becoming late on Sunday evening. "Listen, you call me if you need to talk alright. I have class tomorrow morning. I will be home in the afternoon. I will make sure I come back down next weekend. I'm so sorry this happened."

I sighed and felt a tear slide down my cheek. She pulled me into a hug, resting her chin on my shoulder. "Emily I don't know what I did wrong."

She pulled back and looked at me, "Nothing. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Sam really threw away something great."

I nodded, "Have a safe trip home. I will talk to you later."

She smiled faintly got in her car and left. I sat down outside in one of the plastic lawn chairs we had.

My mom came out and wrapped a blanket around me. "How are you holding up? I know it's a stupid question."

I shrugged, "I don't understand what caused this sudden change. I know he still cares, but something's drastically different between us, I'm not sure what it is."

My mom rested her chin on top of my head, "That's love for you in a nutshell sweetie. Why don't you try and get some sleep. You have school in the morning."

I nodded, "Alright. Sweet dreams." She smiled and left me alone with my thoughts.

The school day passed, and I stayed quiet. My friends, Amanda, and Juliette sat there trying to get me to talk.

"I've never seen her so quiet in my life. It's kind of scary actually." Amanda whispered.

"I have to agree with you. Hey Leah want to go grab a bite to eat after school?" Juliette asked.

I quietly got up from the table, and left.

"I've never seen her like this before. Maybe we should tell her mom." Amanda suggested.

"Well they just broke up over the weekend. It's only Monday after all." Juliette said watching me leave.

"Let's give her a few weeks." Amanda said. Juliette nodded in agreement.

I walked home, wandering straight into my bedroom I dump my school bag by my desk. Nobody was home this afternoon. I left school early. I was only missing a study period so it wouldn't truly matter. If anyone asked, I would say I was sick. That they would buy, because I was never sick. So it wouldn't look suspicious. I pulled out my homework, and quietly worked on it. Darren came home, and flipped on the television in the living room. I just heard the dull sound of the voices coming from it. The phone rang and he answered it. He spoke for a few minutes then hung up. "Leah, mom wants you to turn the oven on to 375 at 5pm then put the lasagna in at 5:15pm. She said she'll be home to take it out. Got it?"

I didn't hear him at first. It took me a few minutes to put together what he'd said, "Yeah three whatever. Got it." I went back to my homework.

I'd just finished my homework when I saw the clock was reading 5:00pm. "Perfect timing." I put away my books and put the oven on. I set the table so I wouldn't have to do it later. I emptied the dishwasher waiting for the oven to heat up. I leaned against the counter waiting patiently. I looked over at the table and started to daydream. I would remember when Sam and I would sit there and do homework together. I remembered when we played cards together. The nights he came over for dinner. All the memories came flooding back. This choked sob escaped from my lips. I looked at the clock it read 5:13pm. I thought close enough. I put the lasagna in and went back to my room. I pulled out the picture of Sam and I. The last photo we took together. We were laughing, his arm was around me. We were happy. I sighed and shoved it away in my nightstand drawer. I hadn't the heart to throw it away, not yet.