Delilah had one game left of her entire volleyball season. Forks High School hadn't made it to the championships for volleyball since 1984, so a lot was riding on the game. Local people, including alumni, who didn't normally show up to their games had started showing up, which made things a little bit more tense for the team.
Embry hadn't exactly helped Delilah in the stress department, having invited his entire patrol team and their girlfriends to the game. He was prideful in her, and wanted everyone to see her in the competitive element, outside of the beach games that they'd played with her a handful of times. She was grateful for his admiration, though she didn't exactly know whether or not she deserved what seemed like unwavering, unlimited goodness from him.
Still, she was grateful for what she now had with Embry and she wondered every day that she spent more time with him if it was normal to feel so overwhelmed and passionate for someone that she hadn't known for all that long, really. Delilah wondered if anyone else had felt such mounting feelings, every day growing more and more attached to and enthralled with their partner. At least in the time frame that she had. And she wondered what Embry was feeling, if it was anything like she was. By the way he looked at her, the way he praised her, the way he touched her, she was inclined to say yes, it was likened to how she felt about him. Which was a relief to her, but it was also scary in a way, that much emotion existing between two people so quickly, and only growing by the day. By the hour. Maybe even the minute.
As she warmed up with her team, Delilah looked to the sidelines, where she found that Embry was standing. No one was allowed in the gym yet, so Delilah didn't know how he'd gotten in. Still, she wiped the sweat from her forehead in a feeble attempt to look somewhat presentable as she jogged over to him.
"I bought you this at the snack bar outside." He held out a lemon-lime Gatorade. She smiled at him, taking the cold beverage from him.
"My favorite." She said. He twisted her ponytail around lightly with his pointer finger as he stared at her, smiling.
"I know." He replied, embracing her and pressing his lips to the side of her head. She watched as Embry walked away, back out of the gym so he could wait in the ticket line. She looked at the sports drink as she made her way back to her team. He really was good to her. Always thinking of new ways to take care of her. And again, she wondered what she'd done to deserve it.
Delilah did the best she had the entire season that night, and they won the game. It was the most energetic they'd all been by her examination. Which made sense, considering it was the championships and none of them had made it that far before. Now that the game was over, Delilah sat on the bench by herself, chugging the rest of the drink that Embry had given her a few hours prior. She'd also never been as exhausted as she was right then all season.
"Delilah Coleman?" She suddenly heard a gruff voice. She looked up to see a somewhat heavy set man with sandy blonde hair and a short beard. He was wearing a navy suit and standing right in front of her.
"Yes, that's me?" Delilah responded, cocking an eyebrow in confusion. The man stuck his hand out. Delilah took it, shaking it cautiously.
"I'm Howard Riley, I'm a scout for Stanford University." Delilah was a bit stunned, considering the reputation Stanford had as a college. She hadn't even received straight A's in school, always a combination of A's and B's. She would've thought that was enough to keep her from being eligible to even walk onto Stanford's campus. Apparently she was wrong.
"I thought college applications were already due." Delilah brought up the point that had crossed her mind that least emphasized her feeling of unworthiness.
"After watching you tonight, I can say we're fully prepared to offer you a scholarship. How would you feel about touring the school within the next month?" Delilah was even more than stunned, now. She was startled. Delilah swallowed hard.
"I'm actually not interested in leaving for college right away." She said honestly. She knew that her friends, even her father would be absolutely horrified by Delilah's almost instant rejection of the scholarship to an Ivy league school. Nevertheless, she had to. Her father still needed her, and she wasn't exactly ready to leave and be on her own anyways.
"That's what your coach told us. It made Denver University back off, but not us." The man sat down next to her on the bench. After a lull of silence, Delilah watched him reach into his sports coat. He pulled out a white business card, pointing it at her.
"I can give you two months to change your mind. That's not the usual way we do things, but your talents are… extenuating circumstances. We're willing to make an exception." Delilah wasn't sure what to say, but she thought it would be impolite to refuse his business card. She didn't have to use it, obviously. She'd just take it so he'd be on his way.
The man nodded farewell, getting up from the bench and walking toward the back exit of the gym. Delilah blinked a few times, trying to clear her mind of the unexpected events that had just taken place.
"Delilah!" She heard her name called again. This was a familiar voice, that of Renesmee. She smiled, getting up from her spot on the bench and opening her arms to embrace the young girl. She crashed into her arms, squeezing her tightly.
"Everyone was cheering for you the whole time! Not just us. Most of the crowd!" Renesmee said, beaming up at her and still holding on to her. Delilah smiled back.
"This was my last game I'll ever play in high school. It's a good thing it went well." Delilah replied, looking up to see Embry and Jacob walking toward them. The others were clustered throughout the gym, talking among themselves. It was a bit wild, how big her group in the stands had gotten. She wondered if it looked obnoxious to other people. They'd all showed up to every game since she'd been allowed to play again. It was a good feeling, no doubt. So maybe she didn't care how it looked to the outside looking in.
Embry walked toward Delilah and Renesmee, standing right in front of her as he tipped her head up and kissed her.
"Delilah, I didn't realize you were that good." Delilah only stopped staring at Embry when she noticed Jared approach the group, along with the rest of his team and their girlfriends.
"What do you mean? She gives you boys a run for your money on the beach." Emily smiled at her, then looked to Jared and the rest of the boys for a reaction. They all scoffed, some feigning offense, some really seeming like they might've taken it to heart.
"Delilah, do you want to come with us to get something to eat? We want to start planning the bridal shower. Oh yeah, Emily, that means you can't come with us. Sorry." Kim winced slightly, looking at her friend. Emily looked at her, laughed, and shook her head.
"It's fine, I've been feeling sick lately anyway. Everything makes me nauseous." Sam took her into his arms, his hand seemed to instinctively resting on her lower stomach. He was bigger than the rest of the boys in stature, but his way with Emily was gentle. Delilah found it endearing to witness.
"Leah, do you want to come help us?" Delilah offered. This was one of the rare occasions where Delilah didn't think before she spoke, and she regretted it. Leah immediately clenched her jaw, looking between Delilah, Emily, and the other two girls, her eyes narrowed harshly. Leah opened her mouth as if she was going to reply back, only to let out a loud, frustrated sigh, then turning and walking away. Delilah didn't know what to say, but she felt terrible.
"I-I'm sorry." Delilah finally mustered the courage to stutter out the apology. The words were met with sympathetic looks from everyone from the reservation. She felt Embry's warm hand ghost up and down her arm as a way of comforting her.
"Don't be sorry. You only wanted to help." He mumbled in her ear. Delilah swallowed, feeling somewhat better that her true intentions were realized, but still guilty about Leah, who was long gone out of the room, angry and on her own.
"Come on, we'll take my car." Rachel offered, jutting a thumb toward the exit. Delilah looked to Embry, who shrugged. Delilah kissed him one more time before turning to the other two girls.
Delilah went to the Cullens and said her hellos and goodbyes to them before leaving with Rachel and Kim. Delilah promised Emmett that she'd go on another drive with him that weekend, not wanting her to lose the momentum that practice had given her. She was still uneasy, and definitely didn't like driving. But she knew she had to, and Emmett's demeanor made it easier than it probably would be with anyone else in the passenger seat. Emmett was the most easy going guy in the world, Delilah thought. If he couldn't teach her, nobody could.
"I dunno, I've never really planned more than a family birthday party. Should we be getting a caterer? Or should we get some of the guests to bring dishes?" Kim asked while eating a mozzarella stick. The cheese was stretching an obscene, less than polite amount, and Delilah tried not to laugh at the scene from across the table. Kim was less than graceful, from what Delilah had witnessed of her. She often tripped over her own feet and she snorted when she laughed. However, Delilah had found it sweet to watch Jared as he watched Kim. He looked at her in a way that it was impossible to deny how endeared he was to everything about her. That was actually something she'd noticed about all of the patrolmen and their girlfriends. They were all really good boyfriends. Including Embry. Delilah felt grateful, the more she thought about it.
"I have a friend who's a really good party planner." Delilah replied. The two girls looked at her excitedly. They clearly didn't know what they were doing and were happy that Delilah seemed to have an idea of where they should start. And Delilah was more than happy to help.
"Really? Does she go to school with you?" Rachel asked. Delilah, for the second time that night, felt like she'd said the wrong thing. And, again, she hadn't. Her goo -intentioned heart seemed to be getting the better of her as of late, Delilah mentally kicked herself, feeling as if she was turning into Shelby with her lack of thought before speaking.
"Oh, no. It's Alice Cullen." Delilah admitted simply. As she suspected, the energy at the table shifted. She watched as their mouth and eyes switched between multiple emotions. Like they were trying to fight the emotion they were actually feeling to put forth a different one for Delilah's benefit. Delilah bit her lip, again feeling as if there was something that she didn't know, and again thinking that it pertained to the relationship that the patrolmen, and maybe even reservation as a whole, had with the Cullens. She didn't know what it could be, though. After all, Jake and Seth were always at the Cullens by choice. So, the feeling wasn't spread completely across the board. It seemed pretty close to it though, from where Delilah stood.
"It's okay, we can figure it out." Kim tried to brush off the suggestion, quickly looking at her menu as if to indicate that she was done with the conversation. This wasn't the first time Kim had been sharp with the topic of the Cullens, and it wasn't the first time Delilah had noticed, either.
"Is there something wrong with the Cullens? I've noticed some… less than favorable reactions by you guys. And some of the boys." Delilah admitted. Truthfully, she wanted to tell Emily about the things she'd picked up on, not Kim and Rachel. But the opportunity presented itself, and she didn't know if she'd ever find the courage to ask again.
"There's nothing wrong with them. We'd love her help." Rachel smiled at Delilah before looking down at her menu the way Kim was. Delilah noticed Kim look at Rachel sharply, clearly not pleased with her response. Still Rachel's response seemed just as geared toward putting and end to the conversation. It gave Delilah pause.
"How about we get together with her on Sunday? I promise it'll be the best bridal shower we could possibly put together. Alice was basically Bella and Edward's wedding planner." Delilah tried to bring forth positive energy, hoping it would change the dynamic at the table. Rachel smiled at her again, and Kim's face eventually twisted into a forced smile. It was then that Delilah was sure that there was something, if not things she didn't know. And she was not just curious about those things, she was growing more and more impatient. All she hoped for was that Embry didn't know about whatever it was. Because if he did, he'd be a liar.
Hello! Thank you so much for reading once again. I'm excited to continue uploading. This story has been fun to write. As someone commented recently, this story is something of a slow burn, but I think the pay off will be worth it for you all, and I hope the ride is still enjoyable. Please continue to stay safe. I'm sending all of all all of the positive energy in the world.
-J