Katie would have to admit to herself that the reason she worked so hard to attend every tribal event in the last few weeks was not because she had re-established herself with her history. Or because she had wanted to become more of a figure in the community. She knew more than anything it was because of the chance that she got to see Sam. The younger man having completely clouded her everything. In the only way a true obsessive crush could generate. She knew it was bad, that acting this way about one person, one person she hadn't truly known on a personal level for that long probably was incredibly unhealthy. But she liked to think that perhaps this was what her twenties were for after all. Plus she could have found a lot worse of a person to become fixated upon. She could have picked a celebrity who was unattainable. She could have picked a known criminal. She could have picked someone fictional. 

Rather she had fallen for the younger man who seemed to be everything he should have been. Or at least she hoped he was. She hoped that there wasn't something big he was hiding from her. One which could completely change her perspective of him. He gave no indication of this, but it could never be known fully. 

Therefore, attending another bonfire was something Katie actually looked forward to. This time she intended to pay a little more attention to what was being shared. Maybe actually reacquaint herself with the histories and tales. Whatever they were picked upon this time, she knew that was down to the elders. She awarded herself for being early this time around, trying to make herself more punctual to most things in her life. Choosing to take a seat a little bit to the back, so that she was not clouding the view of any of the younger members. So that she wouldn't interrupt anyone if she were to get into conversation with someone. Or at least she hoped she would. 

But as the tales started Katie noted there was a large presence missing. For she remained seated alone. The person she had expected to come and join her nowhere near. It looked like for once she would be the one waiting on Sam rather than the other way around. And she was unsure whether this was something she liked or not. Before quickly deciding it was not. Though it was successful in making her feel a little guilty for every time he seemed to be waiting on her arrival. The feeling sucked. And therefore, with nothing else to focus on, which made her feel even worse, she turned her attention back to the words of Billy Black as he once led the recounting of the stories. 

"Is there anything you guys would like to hear tonight?" Billy asked the crowd something which did not happen ever if at all. And Katie found herself interested in what people around her would like to hear. And it would seem that being asked, had stumped most people. 

"The tale of the third wife." A small childlike voice called from somewhere in the front. The voice was of one of the younger girls in the tribe and Katie tried to pin just exactly who she was but came up a little confused. She had to pay more attention to her small community it would seem. She knew this one well, actually when Katie had been younger it had been her favourite. It had been something that reminded her of the true impact love had. The power it could bring to a person. And she had to admit that when she was younger she had wished for a love so strong that it could produce something like that. To bring in something so great. She had been inthralled by the whole story back then and she seemed to be the exact same now. 

For her attention remained fixed on the tale, to the point where she didn't notice the seat beside her no longer being vacant. As someone took a place beside her, her concentration remained unwavering. Only noting when she felt a warm presence on top of her own hand. Drawing her attention away Katie should have known it would only be one person. Or at least she had hoped it could only be one person. To find that Sam was already looking at her. Their eyes connecting as she gave him a smile. Finding herself feeling more comfortable in his presence. 

"Hi." She whispered out as she continued to half listen to the tale she knew so well. 

"Hi Katie, did I miss anything?" Sam's voice was a quiet as her own, a task of which seemed difficult for someone who's voice so easily bounced across the room. 

"Not really, just Billy asking us what we wanted to hear for once."

"As if I missed that." Sam sighed and Katie let out a giggle at his words too scared to laugh properly and distract anyone around them from the ongoing events. 

The pair would return to the serene silence, yet Katie noted he never once moved his hand from her own. Rather she took the initiative to slowly turn hers over, despite the weight of his hand upon her own. Moving to slot her fingers through his own. If he could start something, she could finish it. That much she knew. As soon as the crowd started to dissipate, Katie felt herself being tugged up by the linked hands. She would stand, easily the tug not being strong enough to majorly alter her centre of gravity. Unlike the previous bonfire Sam seemed to want to move away from the lingering crowd taking her in the direction of where he had parked his truck. Only to see his truck parked up next to her car. Clear as anything that he had been actively seeking her out upon his arrival, maybe. Or that he had something planned. 

They would stop between the two vehicles, and Katie looked at him again using the dim street lights to try and work out what was going on. Sam looked nervous, that was clear, from the way he stood to the way he used his spare hand to rub at his neck. She gave his hand that was laced with her own a little squeeze hoping to at least give him some support unsure of whether this would be useful or not. But knowing she needed to at least try. Only to not get any kind of response, Katie knew she needed to take the lead for this, otherwise she was unsure he would ever tell her what was clearly bothering him. 

"Is everything okay Sam?" She started with hoping that he would respond to her soon enough. 

"Yeah, well I um. I don't know how to say it." Sam stumbled across his words, for the first time she had ever heard. He hadn't stumbled when she had arrived to his place as a police officer. Yet this time he was, maybe it was the nerves. Maybe she didn't know him as well yet, but she wanted to keep getting to know him. To see every side of him including the nervous one. 

"Take your time." Katie gave him another little squeeze, only this time she got one back. 

"I want to ask Katie, will you." He paused and Katie hoped she gave him what she considered to be a comforting smile something to give him encouragement. "Would you like to um, go on a date." Katie felt her cheeks flush at his words. They were words she wanted to hear, and it was obvious to her that she wanted to say yes. She just hoped it was to him as well. 

"Yes I would love to Sam." She voiced aloud knowing that he probably would need a verbal agreement along with her frantic nodding of her head. 

"Saturday work for you?" Sam questioned and Katie immediately put any plans she had half made for the weekend to one side, knowing that his was much more important to her. 

"Yes, I'm free all day."

"3pm? I'll come to you." Katie agreed watching as he gave her one last smile, separating their hands and making the move to head into his own truck. It would be once he had driven away that she realised she had never given him her address. She wanted to call him back and ask just how he knew where she lived, before realising that it was probably something to do with the small size of the reservation. Completely blissfully aware of the real reason he knew.