Twilight The Stranger's Gaze

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After Alice agreed to go with him, it was as if all the energy she had lost the previous week—while avoiding him—had suddenly been restored. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and although she tried to appear casual, Nate noticed how she smiled uncontrollably.

"So… see you there?" she asked, with a smile that aimed to sound nonchalant, but revealed a hint of anticipation.

He gently shook his head.

"I'd rather pick you up. Just text me what time."

Alice blinked, clearly surprised by his reply. For a moment, something vulnerable flickered across her face before she recovered with a sheepish smile.

"Got it, got it," she replied in a light tone, raising her hands as if surrendering. "I'll text you as soon as I can. Just don't take a week to confirm, okay?"

She said that last part with a mischievous smile, her eyes gleaming with that playful spark Nate was only just beginning to recognize.

He didn't answer with words, just a quiet smile that Alice seemed to understand. The bell rang then, and they both stood up almost at the same time.

"Well… see you later," she said, waving with a cheerful gesture, almost floating as she turned to leave. Her steps were light as if something inside her had been set free. Nate watched her walk away with a calm, almost thoughtful expression. He couldn't help but think that something in their conversation had brought her back to life as if she had regained a piece of herself that had been dimmed.

He adjusted his backpack over his shoulder and headed to his last class of the day: gym.

When he arrived at the gym, he was immediately greeted by Mike, who clapped him on the shoulder with an unusually wide grin.

"Hey, Nate!" he exclaimed, overflowing with enthusiasm. "What's up? You in for some basketball today?"

Nate raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled. Ever since their talk in La Push, Mike seemed like a different person. That constant tension was gone—the need to compete for every word, every look, every breath around Bella. Now, he just looked… happy.

"Sure," Nate replied, matching the gesture with a small smile. "Am I your opponent or your teammate today?"

"Teammate," Mike replied quickly as if he had already decided. "After last time's beating, I'm not ready to lose again."

They played for a while. Nate noticed that although Mike wasn't exactly an athletic prodigy, he had a genuine energy that made everything more fun. They were winning—not that it really mattered. The fun was in the game itself, not the score.

At one point, Nate stepped away from the group to grab some water. As he wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, he noticed Bella sitting on the side of the bleachers. Her head was down, elbows resting on her knees, and her expression seemed distant.

Without overthinking it, he walked over and sat beside her.

"Taking a break?" he asked softly, breaking the silence gently.

Bella looked up. She gave him a weak, almost automatic smile. "Something like that."

There was a pause. Not uncomfortable, but charged with something unspoken.

"You don't look like someone excited for a girls' afternoon in Port Angeles," Nate commented, staring ahead.

Bella let out a soft, ironic laugh. "I'm not really in the mood, but it's as good a time as any to go."

Nate glanced at her from the corner of his eye. It was obvious something was weighing on her. But instead of pressing, he chose kindness. He nudged her lightly with his shoulder, a playful little bump.

"If you get like this just because your boyfriend's gone for one day, I don't want to imagine what's going to happen if you end up in different colleges."

Bella let out a genuine laugh, though brief. "Technically, we're not even dating…"

And then, as if the comment had unlocked something more personal, her voice softened. Her words came out slower, more vulnerable.

"Nate… do you think I should stop pushing Edward to tell me the truth? I mean… what if I should just… I don't know, enjoy what we have?"

The question caught him off guard. He'd expected a complaint. Maybe a suspicion. But that… that was surrender dressed as acceptance.

He looked ahead, at the group of students shooting hoops. Then back at her.

"If you think you can live with that… go for it," he said honestly, without harshness. "But honestly, Bella… I don't think you're the kind of person who can stay calm without knowing."

She didn't respond right away. She frowned, thoughtful as if his words had touched a nerve she'd been avoiding for days. Then she sighed. Not hurt, just acknowledging a truth she had already suspected.

"You might be right," she murmured, with a faint but resolute smile.

They sat in silence for a few more seconds, comfortably. Then Bella glanced sideways at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey… speaking of Port Angeles… any chance you want to come with us today? Angela, Jessica, and I could use a guy's opinion. Plus, Jessica might help you pick out a suit. I'd offer to help too, but I'm hopeless in that department."

Nate chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Thanks, but I already have someone who's going to help me with that."

Bella looked at him, curious. "Oh yeah? Who?"

But before she could ask more, Nate's phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket and read the message.

Alice:

See you two hours after school.

P.S. I didn't take that long to confirm, did I?

A smile slowly crept across his face. The message struck him as absurdly funny—they had literally just talked.

Bella glanced at him, tilting her head with a perceptive smile.

"You look weirdly… happy."

Nate paused for a second. Was he happy?

"Just read something funny," he replied, slipping the phone back into his pocket and standing up to return to the game.