HEARTBLOOD - Paul Lahote

THREE

Mrs. Cameron and I caught up for a good hour before breakfast was ready. I helped her cook, and we set out the food for the boys.

I look at Jared, "How are you going to eat all of this food? It looks like it was made for 20 people," I sign. He shakes his head. I could see Paul caught a few words.

"Trust me, this isn't enough to feed us all," Jared laughs. Sam smacks Jared, and I look at them, confused. Why would Sam smack him? What was up with Sam? The whole Leah thing, and now he keeps looking at Paul and Jared to not say things.

Jared shakes his head at me. I nod as I sit down and eat my food. He wasn't kidding when he said it wasn't gonna be enough.

Paul watches me and Jared interacting; he smiles, seeing me having some conversation with him. I could see Paul out of the corner of my eye. He looks at the food and nods as he watches the pack dig into the food, eating like they were starving, which technically they were. He catches my confused look and looks at me, his smile turning more into a grin as he sees my look of confusion.

I felt like I was missing out on something, like an inside joke. We finished up the food, and I didn't want to intrude any longer, so I was gonna head home.

Paul notices that you're leaving and grabs your wrist gently. "where are you going?" He asks quietly, not to get any of the other's attention.

"Home," I sign. He looks at me, confused. I mouth it to him, and he repeats the sign as he says it.

"Home?" He signs. I nod yes.

He frowns at your answer. "why? Why don't you stay and hang out with the pack for a while?" he asks.

'The pack?'. I mouth in confusion. What's the pack? Suddenly, Sam comes up.

He sees my confused look, and he can tell from it that I don't know what the pack is, he looks up at Sam as he comes up to the two of us. "she doesn't know what the pack is," he said quietly to sam so only the three of us could hear.

I pull on Paul's sleeve. He looks down at me. "What? What am I missing?" I ask.

Paul sees my confused look again and sighs lightly, knowing he has to explain it to me now. He pulls me so you're standing closer to him and Sam. "Do you remember the stories your dad used to tell you about the myths and legends from La Push?"

I nod. I remember them vividly. I remember having dreams about the wolves they talked about and the Cold Ones. I was terrified for weeks after as a little girl.

Sam then butts in, "I don't think this is the time and place to tell her." His voice was demanding. Sam never was demanding.

Paul sighs irritably when Sam buts in, "and why not, she needs to know sooner or later," he said, keeping his voice down still. "True," Jared yells from the couch.

Paul's anger was rising. I remember his anger from when we were little kids. He would throw things or hit something. I felt like a little kid right now, and the adults were talking.

"See, even Jared agrees," Paul muttered. He took a deep breath to control his temper, not wanting to freak me out. He hated when Sam tried to make him back down and boss him around.

"Jared, can you take Nicky home?" Same says. I look at him rudely. I smack his arm.

"Why can't I know? Why are you hiding secrets from me? You never did that when we were little," I sign in frustration. Jared immediately interprets as he knows they don't understand me.

"It's for your good to keep you safe," Sam says. Paul sighs and tries not to say anything to backtalk Sam.

I shake my head and turn to Jared. "Take me home," I sign, not looking at the others. I was frustrated that they wouldn't tell me anything.