Let This Go

"I'll never let this go, but I can't find the words to tell you,

I don't want to be alone, but now I feel like I don't know you."-Paramore, Let This Go

"No, Leah," Sam says through gritted teeth. "I'm not leaving this time. Not until you prove to me you're alright."

"I'm fine!" I scream at him. "I don't need you anymore."

"Do you?" Sam asks. "I've seen your thoughts, Leah."

"That's bad enough!" I say. "I don't need you in my life, Sam."

"Well, that's too bad," Sam says. He is grinning now. He has one hand on each of my arms, pinning me to one of the trees in the forest, and his face is close to mine. "We're staying here until you tell me everything. I won't judge you, Leah."

"You've already heard everything. In my mind."

"I want you to actually tell it to me, not through someway that you don't want me to know."

"Will that get you off me?" I try to free myself from his grasp.

Sam rolls his eyes. "Leah, I'll get off you now if you promise not to run away."

"Alright, alright. I won't run away." Sam lets go of me and walks to the other end of the clearing. He stares at me with innocence in his eyes, and the look brings back memories I never wanted to think of anymore. The last night before Sam imprinted is the most vivid.

"My cousin Emily is coming to visit tomorrow," I quote our conversation, clenching my hands into fists.

"You have a cousin?" Sam continues, probably just to humor me.

"Well, she's actually my second cousin. She's amazing with recipes."

"I'm sure she's a great person. I know I'll love her. But not in the same way I love you, of course."

"You kept that part of the promise," I mumble, not quoting the conversation anymore.

"Do you think imprinting might just be a myth?" Sam asks.

"A myth?" I repeat.

"Yeah," Sam shrugs. "We had all heard the stories before, maybe when I started transforming, I just convinced myself I had imprinted. Emily does look a lot like you."

"You think imprinting isn't really possible?"

"I never said that. I asked if you thought that."

"Yes, but the hint was in there."

"Maybe I do think that. But there's only one way to find out." Sam closes the gap between us in three long strides, and before I can react, his mouth is on mine. Part of me tells me to push him away, but I don't. I don't kiss him back either, no matter how much I want to. I'm not risking getting my heart broken again. Sam pulls away from me, and says, "Leah, could you try being a little less stubborn?"

"You think I'm stubborn?" I ask. "Thanks, it means so much to me that you think that."

Sam grins at me. "I can never win with you, can I, Leah?" he says.

"Nope," I answer. "But losing isn't so bad is it?"

Sam leans down to kiss me again, and I kiss him back this time, but am still a little cautious. "As long as I'm with you, Leah, it doesn't matter whether I win or lose," he whispers.