I Loved You Like The Sun | Paul Lahote

𝐈.

Maisie steps off the bus. She looks around, slowly taking in the different atmosphere. She was now in Forks, Washington. The earthy scent of the rain was something Maisie was used to. Down in Tennessee, the rain was pretty common. Maisie closed her eyes, breathing through her nose and out her mouth. Being half across the country living with her cousin—who she has not seen in years—wasn't exactly a walk in the park. She knew no one here, and that fueled her anxiety more.

          She opened her eyes once again, looking around. The street wasn't too busy. Only a few people here and there, running around to avoid getting wet. She sat silently on the bus bench, the only noise being her music blasting in her ears. Her thoughts wandered back to her home in Tennessee. Her uncle had sent her off to live in Washington with urgency. She didn't have much time to pack, only bringing one suitcase. She wondered why. What caused him to send her out like this? What had scared him so badly? Was he alright?

"—isie?" A gruff voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Maisie looked up and was met with the tallest man ever. Her eyes widen as he took in his appearance. Dark brown eyes, tanned skin, and cropped black hair.
They did not look related at all.

why the fuck is he so tall. Maisie thought as she gapped at her cousin.

"Maisie? Hello?" The voice asked again. Once again, Maisie was snapped out of her thoughts. She pulled out her earbuds and quickly put her iPod back in her pocket.

"Sam? When the fuck did you get so tall. Holy fuck," Maisie spits out. He gives her a chuckle.

"You've missed quite a bit," he stared at her with a glint of playfulness in his eyes.

"Yeah, no shit," She laughs out with Sam joining her.

"You ready to go to the house?" Sam asked.

"God, yes," Maisie walked to the passenger door of the truck. She yanked the door opened and quickly situated herself in the car.

"Sitting on a bus seat for hours is really starting to catch up to me," she whined a bit. Sam only laughed before joining her in the truck. He messed around in his pocket for a bit, looking for the keys. Maisie paid no attention to him as they drove off.

"So, how's your uncle been doing?" Sam raised his eyebrow, focusing on the road. Maisie huffed before looking out the window.

"He's good, I guess. I mean he was when I left," Maisie pursed her lips. She fought the urge to look at Sam.

"I just don't understand. He was being all weird when I left," Maisie sighed, running her hand through her hair. "Do you know why I had to leave? We didn't exactly leave on the greatest note if you couldn't tell,"

Maisie looked away from the window to glance at Sam. He still had his eyes trained on the road, as he slightly furrowed his eyebrows and straighten out his lips.

"Great," Maisie muttered under her breath.

The remaining trip was driven in silence. Maisie grabbed her iPod out of her jacket pocket. She put the earphones in and resumed her song from earlier. Honestly, half of her was only putting them in just to be petty. The other half was because she didn't want to end her first day back on a bad note. Besides, either Sam or her uncle would tell her whenever they were ready. It's not like it's going to kill her if she knew.