Chapter Three

Strange Beginnings

Lilah sighed as she looked around at the boxes that sat on every flat surface of her new living room. Charlie had done a good enough job of getting the furniture set up, and she would bet anything that it was Bella that had alphabetized her books on the far shelf, but everything else was in disarray. Delilah always wanted to be the type of person who kept things just so. The type that believed there was a place for everything and everything should be in its place, but alas, in this she took after Renee. It wasn't that Lilah liked to be disorganized or cluttered, she just didn't usually have time for such things, so they were left to Vince or to lazy Sunday's when the mess became too much. Her eyes moved from the boxes on the floor to the front door opening.

Lilah's smile was instant and bright. "Belly-bear!" She practically cheered as she dodged a few boxes and jumped over a large one before pulling Bella into a tight hug.

"How come I didn't inherit any of that grace?" Bella half laughed as she wrapped her arms around Lilah.

"You've lost weight since last year." Delilah frowned as she held Bella's arms out and examined her. Charlie had warned her that Bella's boyfriend had dumped her several months prior, and that Bella had pretty much become a zombie. Now, apparently, the boy was back and so was Bella. "So… how's Edmund?"

"You know his name is Edward." Bella frowned. "I already put up with enough from Charlie. Please don't give me a hard time too." Bella frowned, crossing her arms as Lilah released them.

"All I'm saying, Bells, is that dad is a pretty good judge of character – he is a cop after all. Besides, I'm not going to like any guy that breaks my little sister's heart." Delilah said matter-of-factly.

"Well, why don't you come to dinner at his house tomorrow and judge for yourself? Dad will be there too."

Lilah smiled easily. She would love to give the little punk a once over. She'd bring her gun for good measure. "Sounds like a plan." She offered as the front door opened again.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow!" Bella called as she pushed past Paul, who seemed to give her a wide birth.

"Sorry didn't mean to interrupt." He offered her a lazy smile, one that made her go weak at the knees like some cliché harlequin protagonist.

Lilah shook her head, waving him off. She wasn't blind – certainly not stupid. Paul had grown up to be an attractive man, and if she were single, she might seriously consider muddying their once-friendship with a quick romp in her new bed. But she wasn't single, so friends they would remain. "No interruptions." She smiled lightly. "Bella was just inviting me to her boyfriend's house for dinner tomorrow."

Paul visibly tensed, which made Lilah raise a brow. Another person that didn't care for the Cullen's? Or maybe Paul had a thing for her baby sister? Why did that thought practically rub her raw? "You shouldn't go over there. The Cullen's… they can't be trusted." Lilah nearly sighed at that. So, it was the former.

"Trust me, Charlie has warned me plenty. He'll be there too, so at least I won't be totally alone against them. I want to check these people out for myself."

Paul's frown deepened. "I could come with you if you want. We can be catty together." He offered with a smile.

Lilah hummed in thought. It was a tempting offer, but how would Vince feel? It wasn't like it was a date. More like a stakeout. "You know what? Sure. From what I hear, they're loaded so we'll eat their fancy food and judge their white on white furniture."

He chuckled deeply. "Sounds like fun." His shoulders seemed to relax. "I actually came in here to tell you that you got a delivery a few days ago." He nodded towards the door that led to the garage. "You're lucky I was here and not Charlie." Paul flipped the light as they entered the simple concrete garage.

"Oh! My bike!" Lilah nearly squealed as she ran to the tarp, pulling it off the beauty. "Oh, she's just as pretty as I remember." Delilah cooed as she laid her face against the cool gas tank.

"She?" Paul crossed his arms, an amused smirk pulling at his lips. "Your bike is a she?"

"Yes!" Lilah smiled as she threw a leg over the seat, slowly gripping the handles. "Jasmine." She purred, looking to Paul with mischievous eyes. "Want to go for a ride?"

He looked torn – like he wanted to chastise her for riding a bike, but wanted to hop on at the same time. With a sigh, it seemed the excitement won out, and a large smile spread across his face. "I don't suppose I could drive?" Paul asked as he took the offered helmet.

"No way, Lahote. You're riding bitch." Lilah laughed and pulled her own helmet on, cranking the bike to life with a shiver of excitement.

Riding had always been a source of freedom for Lilah. Renee had bought Delilah her first bike at sixteen – hoping to buy her love. It had worked. There was nothing Lilah loved more than the feel of the open road and her bike humming between her legs as she took the turns just a little too deep, and just a little too quickly. Every time she fought with Renee, or broke up with a boyfriend. Every time she had a bad day, or just needed to shut the world out – Jasmine had been there for her. As Lilah leaned into the turn, she found herself wondering if the racing in her chest was because of the bike, or the wall of muscle pressed against her back. Instead of dwelling on it, Lilah pushed the bike harder, laughing as her worries melted away with the breeze.

Lilah's eyebrows shot up as she stepped out of the car, hardly noticing when Paul parked behind her. The Cullen house was massive – it was a mansion, really. When her father had told her that the Cullen's had money, he seriously downplayed just how much money they had. Delilah was a simple woman that enjoyed the charm of a rustic two-bedroom home, but even she could see the appeal in the Cullen home. It was all glass and class. She was sure she had never seen anything like it in Arizona.

"I hate the family, but their house is pretty sweet." Paul said simply as he came to stand beside her, hands buried in the pressed jeans he wore. His black sweater was rolled up to his elbows, the fabric looking almost heavy on him despite how thin it appeared to be. "Ready?" He smiled and nodded towards the house.

Lilah looked to Paul, her stomach dropping as they met eyes. How long had it been since she had had a crush that made her feel that way? Was that what it was? A crush? The term just seemed so… juvenile. An attraction? Yes – she was simply attracted to Paul. A crush indicated feelings, and she didn't know him well enough – or rather, remember him well enough to consider feelings. It was only when Paul's smile stretched wider that Lilah realized she was staring. "Yeah – yes…" She laughed lightly and shook her head. "Let's see if the inside is as nice as the outside."

Much to Delilah's dismay, the inside of the house (or what she could see of it from the entryway) was just as nice as the outside – if not nicer. She gave Paul a small, secret smile when she noticed that the décor was in fact white on white, but held her tongue. Though nothing in the house was what Lilah would consider ostentatious, it was obvious that the Cullen's preferred the finer things in life. Her deep brown eyes turned from the grand piano as Bella and Charlie greeted them, followed by the most beautiful family Lilah had ever seen.

The Cullen's were like moving wax figures of celebrities that might have existed before Delilah's time. Everything about them looked just as rich and well-put together as the house itself. Like a stage family put in these beautiful surroundings in order to raise the appeal of the house. Lilah looked between each of them with a critical eye, listening as Bella introduced each of them by name. They were… other worldly. The perfection the Cullen's radiated was almost… eerie. There was something so utterly unsettling about their very existence. Still, Lilah smiled politely and extended her hand, ignoring the way the hairs on the back of her neck seemed to stand on end along with Paul's ridged stance. "It's nice to finally meet you. Bella has told me how much she loves all of you." Lilah nearly hissed as Edward shook her hand, his eyes hard and calculating despite his smile.

"She's told us a lot about you as well. It's nice to finally put a face to the name." The patriarch – Carlisle – offered as he shook her hand next. Paul seemed to tense more and more as she slowly made her rounds.

They lulled into an awkward silence, still standing around the entryway. After a moment, Charlie cleared his throat. "So… dinner…"

"Oh, yes!" Esme smiled widely. "I hope you like lamb." She clapped and headed towards the dining room. Exchanging a look with Paul, Lilah followed.

AN: Sorry the beginning here is such a slow start. I'm still getting into the groove of feeling Lilah out as a character. I knew I wanted an older woman to avoid all that teenage drama and have a character that was sure of herself as a person. It should pick up a bit in the next few chapters. I'm also playing around with the third person point of view. I usually write in the first, but I feel like the third just gives it a more polished feel.