Flowers for Lilah (Seth Clearwater)

chapter one

"Lilah, would you mind bringing these brownies to the Clearwater's house? I just have too much to do right now." My grandma chimes in through the kitchen of our small, one-level house, where sure enough a steady scent of chocolate fudge was emerging. 

"W-what? Why me? What for?" I ask nervously, my heart pounding. She wanted me to walk across the neighborhood to complete strangers by myself, and talk to them? My face was starting to heat up at the mere thought of it. I nervously adjusted my jeans and thick, creme colored sweater.

"Their father has just past away last weekend, and Sue's such a dear woman. It's the least we can do for her." My grandma quips, entering the living room, setting the ceramic dish of brownies on the wooden table in from of me.

"Why can't Papa do it?" I say, looking at where my grandpa was lounging on the sofa, newspaper in hand.

"Because I'm old, and I'm sure they'd much rather see your pretty face than mine, Lil." My grandpa teases, looking over the headlines and sending me a wink.

This was a typical weekend afternoon for me since I had moved to La Push around a year ago, my grandparents becoming my legal guardian. Most weekends I spent curled up at home reading a book or doodling in my notebook, bracing myself from the chilly outdoors. My old house was in Phoenix, where I'd been spoiled by the warm weather for too long. Though I was a Quileute Indian through and through- my chocolate colored hair and tanned skin did nothing to hide the annoying red flush I got whenever I caught the chilly wind.

"I really don't want to, Nana." I whined quietly. My grandma was a loud, outspoken woman who knew everyone in this tiny town. I, however, was too nervous to even say hi to the grocery store clerk. I was cursed with shyness, my papa liked to tease me about it endlessly.

"No excuses, you've been cooped up in the house all weekend. You need to get some fresh air." My grandma exclaimed.

"What if I get to the door and choke?" This scenario had happened many times before.

"Lilah Katherine Black- Sue and Harry Clearwater made me dinner for a month after your parent's past away. Their kindness deserves return- do for them what they did for us." My grandma guilts me, knowing that it will work.

"Okay." I sigh, sitting up and making my way to the front door, my face already heating up. "I don't know what to say to them. I don't want to make a fool of myself. What if all those boys are over there and I have to talk to them- they're so big. They're scary Nana!"

My grandma hands me the plate of brownies and smiles wistfully, "Just tell them that you are sorry for their loss and that we send our love. Those boys have more reason to be afraid of you- you're smarter than half of the girls at your little school I see running around these days."

"Boy's don't care about how smart you are." I mumble, rolling my eyes.

This catches my papa's attention- always overprotective over me. "Stay away from those boys- I don't want you bringing any of them home. They're not good enough for you."

"Whatever you say, Papa." I chuckle, shutting the door behind me and stomping into the cool fall breeze.