Title: Life Changes Quickly

Rating: M

Summary: Bella, coming home from Phoenix for the first time in years, is escaping from a dark past. The imprint on her is a yet another life choice taken from her, and she is hesitant to accept it, but learns that grinning and bearing it will only help her in the long run. With the pack's protection, her dark past won't catch up to her. She just needs to stay away from Phil Dwyer, her step-dad and the man that made her life a living hell.

Disclaimer: I don't own Stephenie Meyer's universe. I just like touching it.

Warnings: Cursing, running away from home, incest, innuendos, breakups, imprinting, abuse, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, psychological abuse, teen pregnancy.

Spoilers: Not canon compliant. Takes place after Edward leaves in New Moon, and after Bella's senior year of high school.

Author's Notes: I'm ... just super sorry that this story hasn't been updated. Life has been crazy these last few ... months? (Read: Years) I make plans for upload schedules and writing schedules and just have things that get in the way. So this chapter has been in my docs for a while, but hasn't been uploaded purely because of time and forgetfulness. So enjoy, and I hope that it satisfies any anticipation! And, as always, leave a review to let me know what you think or would like to see!

~ Chapter 13: Hitchhiking ~

Her truck rolled along the road and she spotted a familiar figure walking along the street, in the direction of the same destination she was heading.

She rolled to a stop, her window coming down. "Hey, you need a ride, stranger?"

Sam glanced up suddenly, and she saw a grin appear briefly before he hid it away. "Oh… just walking home."

"I have a feeling we're heading in the same direction."

Sam smirked. "Yeah? Well… I'm not supposed to take a ride from strangers."

Bella glanced around the cab of her truck. "On second thought, I don't even know if you'll fit in here. I take the offer back."

"Well, now you've presented a challenge." She unlocked the door, reaching over to the tab, and he pulled it open, slipping inside. Before she could start the truck back up, he gave her a kiss in greeting. "What have you been up to all day? You smell of tears and ice cream. Break up with someone?"

Bella giggled, kissing his cheek before she kicked the truck into gear. "Nah, just watched some movies with Leah, shared a tub of ice cream, and talked… I just… feel really … weird about it, you know?"

"Yeah, but Leah's always pulled through with that stuff."

Bella supposed. "But the fact that she had sudden feelings for you, you know?"

"Well, I promise with all my heart not to ditch you for her."

Bella snorted. "No, I know that. It's just that she's my best girl friend. And her feelings matter to me too."

"Yeah, I know." But Sam gave her a smile. "It'll be all good." She trusted Sam. And she knew that Sam knew Leah better than even she did. If he believed that, then she would. "So, stranger, I believe you should introduce yourself so I can make sure I know what to tell the Forks Police if you try to kidnap me."

Bella laughed. "Well, just describe the truck. They'll know right away." She glanced to him briefly before looking back to the road. "Bella Swan, at your rescue."

"Sam Uley." He shrugged. "Resident werewolf and a great barbecuer if you need it."

"Ooo, barbecue. I'll take you up on it sometime."

Sam's house appeared out of the woods with only another mile, maybe less, and as Bella pulled in, he hopped out of the truck almost immediately, making his way to her door. He was going to open her doors too? It was sweet, very sweet, but someone else had done that for her too.

"Thanks."

"Anytime." He waited for her to lock her truck up before he threw his arm around her shoulder, tucking her into his side and pulling her with him to the front door. She got a good whiff of a subtle cologne and a faint wood smell. Like freshly chopped wood.

"You know, I might have to do a reverse Alpha Order and make you get rid of your shirts. Social standards are overrated."

"You just want to see me walking around half-naked."

She flushed. "Okay, maybe."

Once they got inside, Bella saw that it wasn't exactly empty. Paul was there, the tv onto some sports game. "Hey," Sam greeted. Paul grunted, resting a beer against his thigh and his arm changing the channel to something else. Bella didn't look to see what it was.

"Weren't you guys supposed to be at the diner?"

"Don't you have your own house?" Sam returned.

"Oh, that reminds me… Would you like to tell me what those guys were saying at the diner today?" Bella asked, cautiously. She didn't want to trigger any phasing or anything, because if it was Paul, he wouldn't have made it through that sentence, likely.

Sam raised an eyebrow at the question, the sudden direction being out of tune for their normal conversations. "I'm sorry?"

"Those drunk guys, by the door."

Sam cleared his throat. "They were being idiots. Why? Did they say something to you?"

Bella hesitated. "Not… exact… ly?" Sam glanced away towards Paul, the only occupant of the house, who was snickering slightly. Did he know? That dick, had he been indirectly influencing her to bring it up? Had she fallen into a trap set by Paul of all people? "I… sort of talked to them."

Sam groaned. "Why does that not sound good?"

"Well, they were rude, and really pissing Leah off. So you're lucky it was me and not Leah, to be completely honest. And … I punched one of them."

Sam glanced to her sharply. "What?"

"I… punched one of them. Jim, I think his name was. We didn't really exchange names. I felt like we were past that point in our conversation to really go back and ask-" Bella cut herself off and shrugged. "Anyway… yeah. Uh… That's the story. Nothing more to it. And I'm making sandwiches! Who wants one-?"

"Wait, you punched him?"

"He said I was the pack pet," Bella said as she walked away, opening the fridge and dug around, absently, to avoid looking at Sam. "I got mad. I punched him. I don't know where it came from, but Paul's a pretty good teacher." She glanced above the fridge door to Paul on the couch, looking like he was about to dissolve into a puddle of pride. "Thanks. Didn't even hurt."

"And did they hit back?" Sam asked, and his eyes were searching her face for any redness – her arms. Any ruffles in her shirt.

Bella glanced to Sam, and the look he was giving her was strange. "No? It was really just one punch, Sue intervened. They left. Leah got an extra tip. And off early. End of story. Let's move on. Sandwiches?"

"Why are you telling me this?"

Bella closed the fridge, confused. "Because with how much these guys gossip, you'd find out eventually… And … I kind of didn't want you to freak out."

"Freak out." Sam repeated slowly. "Why would I freak out?"

"Because … I punched someone?"

"I think it's kick ass."

Bella stared at him a moment, to determine if he was serious. He was. "Oh." He gave her a grin, and she relaxed slightly. And when he reached for her, pulled her into another warm hug, kissing her hair as he did so. "Leah said it was against pack rules to get in a fight."

"Yeah, for Paul or her. Because they pick the fights the most. I just didn't tell them it only applies to them-"

"I heard that!" Paul snapped.

"But I might have to put you under that order too." When she pulled away from him, frowning, Sam was grinning like he had just struck gold. "Getting in fights brings attention to us… And you don't have anything to worry about, but we all do." Bella gave him a sheepish smile.

"Sorry?"

"Don't be," Sam snorted. He ruffled up her hair as she went to make herself some food with the stuff she had pulled out of the fridge. "Why would you be sorry for defending yourself, or your friends?"

Bella shrugged. "I don't know. Jake would have thrown a fit that I got into a fight - blame it on you, probably, because you're an extremely awful influence. And Edward would have said I behaved childishly."

"Well, if you go around punching everyone, what do you need me for?" Sam returned, and there was a hint of humor in his voice.

Bella glanced up at him, surprised. "What?"

Sam shrugged, almost playfully. "What would you need me for?"

"A lot of things. Including keeping the dog house trained." Her eyes darted to Paul, still eavesdropping, and casually lounging out on the couch and even overlapping onto the coffee table. He looked like he was making an effort to take as much space as possible. Bella watched as his smirk turned into a glare at the dog joke. Paul took a drink from the beer with a jerking motion, and a roll of his shoulders. "I didn't know you let pets on the furniture."

"Every once in a while," Sam snorted.

Bella grabbed her sandwich, darting past him to the living room to sit at Paul's feet - well one of the feet propped up on the couch. "I also told them that we have threesomes with Leah all the time, and Sue might have overheard that, but it's cool."

Paul snorted almost immediately, and it seemed Sam didn't process what she had said quickly until she had already taken a bite. "What?"

Bella swallowed the bite with barely any chewing. She wouldn't have recommended doing so, looking back, as it made her eyes slightly water, and her throat hurt. "He was talking about how you're pretty unsatisfying. And I kept your dignity intact. Also mine and Leah's. I think he found it pretty hot to be honest. But that's in the past. Let's move on. This is a really great sandwich. You know, there's something about mayo and ham that just-"

"You told him what?" Sam repeated. And he looked pretty incredulous. "Are you feeling alright?"

Bella swallowed down the bite of sandwich she had just taken. "Leah thinks it's the hormones acting up. I'm agreeing because I never said anything I would say normally… I think I kind of scared myself a tad, actually… Also the cheese, you know, adds a lot of extra oompf-"

"Yeah… I'm definitely putting an executive no-fight order on you too." Bella flushed and rolled her eyes. "Otherwise the whole tribe will start to think that Jake has a third nipple if you get all worked up again."

Bella swallowed the bite of her sandwich almost completely whole. Again. "You think he does? You know, I always did, too-"

"Bella!" Sam cried.

Bella laughed quietly, pulling her feet up so that they were tucked into the couch and under Paul's warm leg. He huffed when he felt them, but didn't move. Likely knowing that Sam would have said something. "What time do you get off of patrols?"

Sam glanced at the clock. "Three. But I have all day tomorrow off." Bella chewed on her sandwich thoughtfully, and he seemed to notice, because he grew apprehensive. "Why?"

"I need to call Renee as soon as possible," Bella said quietly. "And tomorrow would be good. I think."

"Yeah," Sam said immediately, moving around the other couch and sitting down. "Yeah, just let me know when, I'll be available all day unless there's an emergency."

"Why does he need to be there?" Paul snorted. "To hold your hand?"

Bella shrugged. "Because I have a feeling Phil will answer instead of Renee. And between Sam and Leah, I won't lose my cool… Maybe. And there will be a back up if one of them loses their cool." She glanced to Paul. "So, sort of?"

He growled, glancing away from her. "Huh." He didn't say anything more.

"Yeah, tomorrow I'm free," Sam insisted.

She smiled. "Don't you have patrols you're late for?" Bella glanced to the clock, making a point. Sam jumped up quickly, and pulled her into a quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll call you."

Sam glanced to Paul. "Behave."

"Jesus Christ, you get out of here before I teach her things you'll wish I hadn't," Paul threatened.

Bella giggled and Sam gave him a hard look in warning, before he ducked back out of the front door. Once he was gone, there was only a moment of silence.

Paul broke it. "So, did you get him good?"

Bella found herself grinning. "I sure did."

"Good." Paul stretched so that his weight was more into the corner of the couch. "Movie?"

"Sure."

It was kind of a refreshing change, not being told off for sticking up for herself and others. And Sam even .. well, kind of liked it. If the look he was giving her said anything. Huh… Hormones weren't too bad, afterall.