Hey everyone! After many people saying I needed to reformat this first story and finding no other way than to rewrite it, I decided to get on that. There aren't too many revisions or rewrites from my initial sweep, but I am going back and redoing it a bit better. This story is about Bella's cousin Lily Swan, who comes in a little after New Moon begins, shortly after the Cullen's departure. Story is rated M for language, suggestive content (mainly in later chapters), and potential trigger warnings. This will have adult themes and subject matters. Please drop a review when you can! Constructive criticism is a great motivator!
I don't own Twilight!
Chapter 1
I never noticed how fleeting time is. Or how little I knew. Things change swifter than the blink of an eye, yet something this monumental doesn't happen in a blink- or does it?
My godfather Brian adopted me when I was just three years old. He was a good friend of my mother's- even being there when she developed leukemia. My father has never been in the picture. I don't remember much of it, but Uncle Brian always had a way of putting a lovely spin on things- and always made a point to tell the truth.
He does everything he can to make sure I remember everything good about her and told me what little he knew of my real uncle. My mother was a free spirited individual that didn't necessarily get along too well with my grandparents. She wasn't the partying type, but apparently she was very headstrong much like my grandmother and they butted heads often. She had a younger brother named Charlie, my uncle, who I am told was more reserved and 'willing to fall in line'. Things between them were strained at best, though not for my Uncle's lack of trying.
After she left home she never looked back. Uncle Brian likes to say this is why they made the best of friends; her outlook on life was to live without regrets and never look back even on what might've been. It was the best way to never let yourself be open to getting hurt. Uncle Charlie called here a few times when she first had me- once to let my mother know that her parents had passed, again asking her to attend his and someone named Rene's wedding, and finally when my cousin Bella was born. Uncle Brian remembers that my mother and he exchanged pictures then and had a long conversation about coming to visit. She got sick soon after. Uncle Charlie visited her a few times here in New York with Bella, and Uncle Brian would watch us.
As she got worse and he started having marital problems, he came less often. He was so wrapped up in the custody battle that he wasn't even there to say goodbye. He never contacted us again to my knowledge until one day when I came home after my part-time job at a call center nearby.
"She doesn't want to speak with you Charlie! You haven't been around for sixteen years and all of a sudden you ask me to allow you to speak with her about uproot all she's ever known to come live with you? Just because you think it would be good for your daughter? They don't even know each other." I could hear my Uncle Brian shouting from the stairs outside the loft. This can't be good.
Smoothing my platinum hair down to compose myself, I wandered into the apartment and spoke up: "Uncle Brian, if I may, is there something wrong?"
He slammed the phone down and sighed. "Your uncle wants you to come live with them for awhile. He's worried about Isabella. Apparently she's become withdrawn and he thinks she might hurt herself."
"That's not good. But why does this concern me? We aren't exactly friendly. We don't know each other enough to be anything- family ties aside. On top of that, even though I would like to get to know them both and learn more about my mom, saying he's made it hard is an understatement given how he's always too busy to really talk..."
"Honestly Lily, I have no idea. That's what's getting to me. I know he feels bad about keeping you at a distance. You're so much like Emalyn. Not just in looks, but in mannerisms as well. I strongly oppose this, but it's really up to you. I know that I didn't know your mother long enough to be able to tell you what you really want to know. And I know that deep down, you want to get to know them. No matter what you decide, I will support you all the way- and will be waiting here should you need me. Perhaps I reacted too strongly when it wasn't at all my place. I just don't want to see you get used or hurt."
I stared at him, calculating his words in my head and their outcomes. His features softened as he continued.
"I want to let you make your own choices. You're nineteen. And after last year, this just might be the fresh start you need. The flipside being what if it's worse for you? While a change of pace is good and leaving things behind here could help, I just really worry about you." His hazel eyes bore into my steel grey ones as he smoothed down my platinum hair with a soft smile, his hand lingering briefly on my cheek. I pondered a few moments more.
"No, you're right. I've been wanting to take a break from this for awhile. And being around family could be nice. Do you have a number for Uncle Charlie?".
And that is how I found myself on a plane heading to the place of little sun and vast greens. To be fair, Uncle Brian and Uncle Charlie had excellent points and cases. It felt right coming here. I knew Uncle Brian had also been concerned for me but I did need to finally put the past away. Maybe I could turn my grief into helping my cousin instead? With bated breath, I waited to exit into Port Angelas terminal to greet the man I have not seen since I was a toddler except in pictures. He stood near the luggage rack holding a sign with my name on it, and was taken aback when I stepped up to him.
"Lily, is that really you?" His expression was bewildered, almost as though he was seeing a ghost. His reaction was expected, given that there was no denying my genetics.
"Hello Uncle Charlie. Should we shake hands or bow or something?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect you to be the spitting image of Emalyn." He bent down to give me an awkward side hug, which I accepted stiffly before clearing my throat.
"And for the record, I am sorry about everything else. It is really good to see you. Bells wasn't feeling herself today, so she stayed home."
"From what little you said, it would seem she isn't herself more often than not these days. Perhaps this is her new self."
He made a noncommittal shrug that reminded me of a kicked puppy. Bella must have really been putting him through hell.
" I should call Uncle Brian to let him know I made it here safely. I know it may be the wrong time to ask, but is there a chance that we could get something on the way to your house? I'm starving."
We picked up some food at a local Italian villa just outside Forks and headed into the two story house with my luggage. I set my things into the attic and decided that I would eat with Bella in her room if she let me and try to gauge the situation. I knocked gently and she allowed me in with a gesture. Her room smelt of despair mixed with lavender, if such a scent could be described. There was purple everywhere.
"Long time no see Bella. Or is it Isabella now?"
She stared blankly at me for a moment before barely whispering "Just Bella."
" I see you take after Uncle Charlie." shrugging back, I assumed that was the only response I would get until I heard her ask "So did he ask you to come here to fix me?"
"Huh?"
"Charlie- did he ask you here to try and fix me?"
"Not that I am aware of- are you somehow broken?" a humorless smile met me then.
"It isn't like you to be social. We haven't seen each other since we were toddlers and haven't spoken but maybe once or twice since then?" She fixed her gaze on me, waiting for a response.
"I want to know more about my mom. Uncle Charlie wanted me here to get to know me and I figured it was the closest thing the universe would give me. Besides, sometimes we all need a fresh start in a new place. I had a rough time last year and it left me a bit shaken up." I shrugged and presented her with the pasta we had picked up.
"Uncle Charlie said you liked Chicken Parmesan as well; I hope you don't mind sharing". I then proceeded to get the plates from outside the door.
"Thanks... I'm really not hungry though. And I don't need food."
"Okay Bella cut the shit! If you don't want me to bother you, that's fine. But I really wanted to see you. I was hoping we could at least try to have fun together. I don't know what happened to make you act like a living corpse, and I really don't care. But I won't let you be miserable alone unless you tell me point blank to go away." She was admittedly taken aback by my outburst. She bit her lip.
With eyes downcast she said "I don't want you to leave. But I'm not much fun these days. Edward-" she sobbed briefly before continuing "I just.. He took the best part of me with him. I know it's stupid and it's not fair to Charlie. But no one understands how badly he hurt me. And then he just up and leaves- it's like I never mattered to him."
Wait. This is all over a breakup? Surely there HAS to be more to this story. She's not the best liar. "So your boyfriend left you?"
"Yes. In the middle of the forest and then left town left. Supposedly it was because his family was suddenly about to relocate due to his adopted father's new job offer. But it was just too sudden and out of the blue that I feel he lied to me. Especially after what happened at my birthday. He should've saved himself the trouble of saving me if I wasn't what he wanted." her words were bitter and sharp.
"I don't agree with that last part in the slightest. He sounds like a jerk. But really if it was because his family was moving and it was long distance, maybe he just wanted to tie up loose ends so you wouldn't hurt each other or feel obligated later. Guys are fickle like that. I can't really judge either way since I don't know him or the situation. You really should eat something." I pointed to her plate that was still full.
"You're right." Bella sighed and began to eat. When she was finished, she spoke again.
"You know Lily, maybe. Just maybe, if you want. I could- I'm not promising I will be good all the time, and there's better company here than me. But we could do this again sometime? Like tomorrow after school?" I couldn't help be smile as she bit her lip and curled her brunette hair around her finger.
"Certainly Bella, I'd love to."
