First Love

Date

Chapter 3

       Patience sighed as she sat down on the hotel's couch. Esme and Cody were already asleep. Cody woke up an hour after they started to drive and wouldn't stop talking since. Esme and Ruth changed seats and Esme entertained him with YouTube videos.

       "What a ride," Ruth said. "I'm surprised we didn't die."

       Patience smiled and rolled her eyes. "There's still tomorrow."

       "Ah, no thank you. I have a few cases to go over while you drive. I need to prove my client's innocents before I die."

       "Fine, I'll keep you alive."

       Patience and Ruth looked at each other and laughed.

       "This hotel has a bar, right?" Ruth asked. "Let's go down and get a drink?"

       "After that long drive?" Patience asked. "Yes!"

       Before they left the room, they made sure that Esme and Cody were asleep. As they went down the elevator, they couldn't help but stretch. Ruth didn't like to drive long distance, so Patience did all the driving.

       "So," Ruth said after they ordered their drink. "I heard you telling Esme your first love story."

       Patience nodded as their drinks were served. She waited for the bartender to walk away before looking back at Ruth.

       "Yeah, I'm telling her the story," Patience said.

       "How do you feel?" Ruth asked.

       Patience sighed and took a sip of her drink. "So far, I'm feeling okay."

       "It seems you were in the part where you still hated his guts." Ruth laughed.

       Patience smiled. "Yeah, I'm still in the beginning."

       Patience took another drink and looked at the counter in front of her. Ruth eyed her, she wasn't sure how she was really feeling.

       "Why?" Ruth asked.

       "Because she's going through something similar. She's deciding if she should go far away for college or stick around for Tanner."

       "Oh." Ruth said as she nodded, understanding.

       The situations were very similar. Ruth wouldn't blame Patience if she wanted to drink more. She knew that telling that story wasn't going to be an easy thing.

       "I'll be okay," Patience said, feeling Ruth's worry. "As long as it helps Esme, I'll do whatever I can."

       "That daughter of yours is truly special."

       "Of course, she is."

       After they had finished drinking, they went back to their room. Ruth laid down next to Cody while Patience laid down next to Esme. She was sleeping soundlessly. Patience smiled and stroked her long black hair. She would truly do anything for her.

       Patience looked in front of her. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She looked at Carlisle, he was smiling brightly at her. She stopped looking at him and looked back at the trail in front of her.

       "We're hiking?" Patience asked.

       "Yeah," Carlisle answered. "I'll take you to my favorite spot."