The Offering

News

The gravel crunching underfoot was music to her ears. Matilda Swan, or Tilly as she preferred, was walking home from the store, seeing how it was one of the few days this summer it hadn't rained. She always enjoyed a good walk and after her dad, Charlie, had gotten her an old van last year that she had completely fixed up and painted, he had expected her to drive it everywhere. So she did. Almost.

That van. It was a stereotypical van from the 70's, bad carpet in the back and everything. Charlie had bought it for a few hundred at a police auction in Seattle and brought it to Tilly with a smile. She had Jacob Black help her fix it, and in all her wisdom and humor, let Jacob paint it. He had painted it like those old 70's van with wizards on the sides. Of course Tilly thought it was hilarious, Charlie on the other hand, wasn't as amused.

With how the van looked, he didn't mind her not driving it everywhere. Charlie was happy that she did seem to like it though. She would never admit it, but Tilly actually grew to love it. She used it mainly to transport plants when she worked on the garden she made in the backyard when she was ten. The once small garden had blossomed into a giant space that took up half the yard filled with vegetable plants, berry bushes, and even a few fruit trees.

Tilly opened the front door to the house she shared with her father, kicking off her dirty work boots at the front entrance. She made her way into the kitchen and put up groceries with ease. Hearing the door unlock and open, she stopped what she was doing.

"Til, I'm home!" Charlie called, but there was no need. Tilly could hear his heavy footsteps coming towards the kitchen and continued putting up the groceries. "Hey honey, you didn't have to go shopping." Charlie kissed his daughter on the cheek in greeting, and begun helping her put things up. "I know I didn't have to." Tilly shrugged, not really wanting to tell her dad that she just wanted a little more time out of the house.

She didn't want him to take it the wrong way. He would never understand why the woods called to her. He already worries when she stays out all day and comes back with leaves all throughout her hair and dirt under her fingernails. He worries about her habits and quirks. Sure, he's accepted it, he's taken her to doctors that say she's normal, but what father doesn't worry about his daughter? It was endearing and all that when she was a little girl, but the older she gets, the more he feels the need to look out for her.

"I got some exciting news today." Charlie spoke up as they put up the last of the groceries. "Really? What was it?" Tilly responded, half listening, half getting things out for dinner. "Well Bella is coming to live with us for a while." He grinned, hardly able to contain his excitement anymore and bouncing in place.

Tilly stopped what she was doing, turning to face her dad, a grin of her own breaking out across her face. "That's great dad!" She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She knew he missed her sister. She did too. How could she not?

The twins were once close, and they still are, just not as close as they use to be. They use to be inseparable when together. They look similar, but they're not identical. Tilly's hair is darker, has more curl to it, her eyes are gray instead of the brown Bella has. Tilly was excited to see how different they are this time.

"When does she get here?" Tilly smiled, starting dinner. "The first day school starts." Charlie stated, leaning against the wall, knowing better than to get in his daughter's way when cooking. "So next Monday?" Tilly pointed out, thinking on it. "Yeah, you gonna help me get her room ready?" He asked, already knowingly she would. Tilly nodded, focusing fully on preparing dinner.

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Letting out a puff of breath, Tilly sat in the middle of the floor of the room that was to be Bella's bedroom. It had needed a new coat of paint so Tilly took it upon herself to do her sister's room. She had just finished painting and was about to start working on the furniture.

It was only three more days until Bella was to be there and Tilly had convinced their dad to let her stay home from school that day and get everything ready for her. She also needed to get extra school supplies before then.

With a groan and creaking of joints, Tilly pulled herself up out of the floor. Wiping her hands onto her jeans, she went into the kitchen. "Hey kiddo, taking a break?" Charlie asked from the livingroom couch. "Gotta let the paint dry dad!" Tilly grinned, grabbing herself a soda and going to sit on the couch beside him.

"I guess you're right." He shrugged, watching as she winced sitting down. "About to rain?" Charlie asked, a frown forming. Living with arthritis as a teenager wasn't easy, especially in a town where it only ever seemed to rain. "Yeah. I'll get the heating pad here in a bit, take some ibuprofen and I'll be fine." Tilly sighed, feeling to old in her body.

"At least your sister will be here soon." He attempted to take her mind off of it. "Yeah." Tilly smiled, hardly able to wait.