Twilight The Stranger's Gaze

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The final bell rang, and with it, Nate stepped out of the school building. The afternoon air was cold and crisp, a stark contrast to the contained bustle inside the high school. He walked toward his car at a measured pace, keys already in hand, as if trying not to think too much about what was coming next.

While driving home, his mind remained silent for several minutes. The familiar road, flanked by perfectly aligned trees, felt alien to him—like the world didn't know he was hesitating. He had two hours before picking up Alice at the Cullen house, and though it was more than enough time, something inside him just couldn't relax.

He had been the one to ask her to come along. Was he doing the right thing? Part of him kept wondering. He had already tried to avoid her, tried to keep things cold and distant. But today, for a moment in class, he had felt comfortable around her. So much so that, for brief seconds… he forgot what she was.

And that worried him. Not because of her… but because of himself.

He stopped at a red light and looked out the window. A pair of children crossed the street with backpacks larger than their backs. Nate sighed.

It's just one afternoon. If I don't feel anything if I confirm there's nothing more than a pleasant conversation, then it'll be easier to move on, he told himself.

He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, as a joyless smile crossed his face.

He thought about Bella and Edward. At least she was ignorant of the danger she was getting into by getting so close. Nate, on the other hand, was heading right into it willingly, against all better judgment.

I guess that makes me a hypocrite, he thought.

The thought lingered, but it didn't torment him. He simply acknowledged it.

At home, he allowed himself a hot shower. He paused a moment in front of the mirror afterward, looking at his fogged-up reflection. He combed his hair with more care than usual and chose clothes that weren't just functional. He thought about what Alice had said in class… about fashion.

And though it annoyed him a little to admit it, she had planted a seed of doubt about his repeated shirts. Shaking off the thought, he gathered his things before heading out.

He grabbed his phone and typed:

"On my way."

The drive to the Cullen house felt longer than usual. Once there, he parked in front of the driveway and stepped out of the car, but didn't approach the house. It wasn't fear… it was instinct. Something inside told him getting too close wasn't a great idea. He respected their way of life, but he still couldn't ignore the natural tension he felt around them.

As he reflected on this, the front door opened.

Alice stepped out lightly, her serene smile in place, and her outfit — once again — completely different from the one she wore in class. Nate looked at her for a second and realized: he had never seen her repeat an outfit.

She greeted him with a calm expression.

"Hi. I didn't think you'd be this punctual."

Nate smiled before replying.

"So first I have a dangerous vibe, and now I'm rude too?" he replied with humor, walking to the passenger side to open the door for her. More than courtesy, it was a habit that, unintentionally, was beginning to form.

Alice raised her eyebrows slightly, a smile forming on her face.

"Maybe the rude part was a stretch," she said with a soft laugh as she climbed in.

Nate closed the door behind her but reflexively noticed something near the house entrance. Through the slightly ajar door, Edward peeked out, wearing an unreadable expression. And in one of the windows, another face caught his attention: Rosalie.

She watched him with a serious look, brow furrowed as if evaluating his presence. But her gaze didn't linger on him. It shifted to the car, eyes narrowing in focus as if she were examining it piece by piece.

Nate frowned slightly.

Alice, noticing the exchange, chuckled before explaining:

"Rosalie loves cars. She had her eye on yours for a while now."

Nate nodded, a bit surprised.

"Seemed like she was dissecting it."

"She probably was," Alice replied, amused. "It's what she does."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The road stretched clean before the windshield, glistening from recent rain. Nate kept one hand on the wheel. The radio played quietly, a popular song—one of those that plays everywhere even if you don't know who sings it.

Alice sat in the passenger seat, singing enthusiastically a few notes above the key. Not enough to be annoying… just enough to catch attention.

Nate glanced at her sideways. Rather than being annoyed, he found it amusing.

"Do you always sing like that, or are you extra enthusiastic today?" he asked with a faint smile.

Alice looked at him, finishing the last line before replying.

"I'm in a good mood," she said simply. Her voice was light, but her eyes sparkled. "It's refreshing to have a new model to dress. I've spent years handling my family's looks. A fresh perspective excites me."

Nate gave a short laugh.

"And here I thought you were doing me a favor."

Alice looked at him with a raised eyebrow, as if she already knew where he was going with that.

"But now that I've got the full picture…" Nate continued, pretending to think, "Maybe I should charge you for modeling."

Alice's laugh came instantly, clear as a bell.

"Even if that were the case, you'd be the one losing," she retorted smugly. "There's no price for what I do."

The atmosphere inside the car was… easy. Comfortable. Alice leaned back a little more, gracefully crossing her legs.

For a moment, she looked ahead and, as if lost in thought, let out a small laugh.

Nate, curious, raised a brow and asked, glancing sideways:

"What's so funny?"

Alice, as if her thought was a little ridiculous, commented:

"I just find it funny how, a few weeks ago, we were all worried about the 'dangerous-minded human'," she said in a playful, almost ironic tone. "And now here I am, driving around with him looking for the perfect prom outfit."

Nate slowed slightly as he entered a tight curve. His eyes stayed on the road, but his mind lingered on what Alice had just said.

And she was right.

He had been acting differently lately.

There were several reasons, he was sure. The "truce" until Bella discovered the truth… and, though he wouldn't admit it openly, the intrigue he felt when around Alice. With her, he didn't have to keep his guard up all the time. He didn't feel the need to analyze every word or gesture. He could speak — even joke — without it making him feel any less alert. In some way, it made him feel vulnerable again.

The silence didn't last long.

"It might sound funny," Nate said at last, dragging the words with mock arrogance, "but I think you're underestimating me."

She raised her eyebrows, amused.

"They're dancing in the palm of my hand," he added, so seriously that Alice tensed for just a second—until she caught the gleam in his eyes.

"I'm just a few smiles away from not only having you pick my suit but also having you pay for it."

Alice burst out laughing and gave him a sideways look, one eyebrow lifted. Her smile tilted playfully, but her answer came sharper than expected:

"I think you're overestimating yourself. You've got a nice face, I'll give you that, but not enough to fool a vampire."

Nate let out a soft, incredulous chuckle.

"That's kind of unfair, don't you think? You guys are built to be attractive. It's like judging me for losing a race against a Ferrari."

"I'd say you're more of a Mustang. Rebellious. Loud, attitude… but still needs polishing."

"How flattering," Nate murmured with an ironic smile. "But hey, I'm still seventeen. Maybe in a few years, with a bit of stubble, I'll be a better sight."

Alice grew thoughtful for a moment, and though she tried to hide it, her smile softened as she imagined it. Something in her expression turned distant, calm… almost nostalgic.

Nate noticed.

Not so much the gesture, but the void that came with it. That kind of look that wasn't really in the present.

He understood it too quickly.

"Aging must be a weird topic for you, huh?" he said, feigning lightness but choosing his words carefully. "I mean… talking about how my face might change in five years with you is like talking to a portrait."

Alice blinked, snapping out of her brief trance. She didn't seem upset, just… thoughtful.

"I guess so. You don't realize how fast the world moves… when you no longer do."

He was quiet a moment, then asked softly, as if he didn't want to push but couldn't help his curiosity.

"How old were you when… it happened?"

Alice looked forward as if calculating something.

"According to the records I found, I was nineteen," she said finally, without much emotion.

Nate glanced at her, slightly surprised. Her face didn't match that age. There was something about her appearance that seemed eternally adolescent — a carefully crafted fragility.

"Really?" he asked, openly surprised. "You don't look it. I'd say… sixteen, tops."

She laughed, this time with a more genuine tone.

"That's the old trick. Since we can't change, we adapt what we can. Hair, clothes, makeup… We learn to project whatever age helps us fit in."

"And right now? What age are you pretending to be?"

Alice shrugged, amused.

"Depends who's looking. To some, I'm a slightly precocious teen. To others, an eccentric college girl. You decide."

Nate turned his eyes back to the road, smiling unintentionally.

The rest of the drive passed surprisingly fast. Nate kept his hands steady on the wheel, focused on the road. Alice seemed calm beside him, looking out the window with a serene, almost pensive expression. There was something comforting about her silence — as if she didn't need to fill the space with words.

Before he realized it, they were descending one of the main avenues of Port Angeles. The low buildings, unlit lampposts, and shop windows reflected the overcast sky. It was still daytime, but the gray weather gave the city a suspended-in-time atmosphere.

Alice looked up and smiled.

"We've got plenty of time," she said. "And this place has some decent stores. I've been here before, so trust me."

Nate responded with a half-smile while searching for a parking spot.

"I'll leave it to you. Just don't put me in anything too flashy."

Alice let out a low laugh.

"I promise to restrain myself… a little."

Once inside the first store—elegant without being pretentious—Nate barely had time to take in the interior before Alice gently pushed him toward a small couch in front of a full-length mirror.

"Sit here for a second," she said decisively. "I'm going to find what you need."

He obeyed without argument, watching her disappear among the racks at impressive speed. Shortly after, she returned with a young clerk about her age, who followed her with a pile of hangers in her arms.

Alice moved through the store like she already knew every corner, picking out shirts, suits, and ties faster than the clerk could keep up. From time to time, she would approach Nate with a piece in hand.

"Stand up for a moment," she'd say bluntly.

He did, while Alice looked him over silently, eyes narrowed, evaluating every proportion. Then she'd pivot and vanish again in search of more options.

Nate simply watched her in the mirror, arms crossed and a faint smile slipping out without him meaning to. Seeing her so focused, so comfortable in the middle of the chaos, struck him as oddly fascinating. At that moment, Alice didn't seem like a supernatural creature at all. Or maybe she did—but not in the way he had imagined at first.

And so the hours passed, store after store. Alice seemed tireless, as if time had no effect on her. Nate, on the other hand, was beginning to feel worn out, even though his role had been limited to walking around, trying on clothes, and receiving Alice's critical glances every five minutes. The sky over Port Angeles was already completely dark when they walked into the last store.

The interior was softly lit with warm lamps that gave everything a cozy appearance. Nate collapsed into one of the chairs near the main mirror while Alice kept moving through the racks, still energized, scanning options with the same enthusiasm she'd had at the start. Nate let out a quiet exhale, half-laughing to himself: so they don't get tired.

As he discreetly massaged the bridge of his nose, he noticed one of the employees—a young girl, probably fresh out of high school, pretty and dressed to impress more than to sell—approaching him.

"Did they already abandon you here?" she asked with a tilted, playful smile.

Nate gave her a subtly surprised look. Usually, his serious expression was enough to keep conversations short, but this girl seemed immune to that signal.

"Not exactly," he replied politely, though his tone was more distant than warm.

She sat on the edge of the chair next to his, leaning slightly toward him.

"I'm Dana," she said softly. "My shift ends in a few minutes. Want to go for a walk after this?"

Nate blinked once. It wasn't that he didn't know what to say—he was just surprised by how direct she was. Studying her for a second, he noticed how her movements were carefully planned, her posture slightly curved toward him, and the way her eyes scanned his face waiting for a reaction. She was used to being told yes. She was confident in her looks.

"Thanks, but I don't think I can. I already have plans," he said kindly, without a hint of arrogance—just calm firmness.

Confusion flickered briefly across Dana's face. She was about to say something else—maybe to recover ground—when Alice appeared behind them, glowing with excitement.

"This is the one!" she announced, holding a neatly folded suit over her arm.

Dana turned to look at her, and Nate didn't miss the reaction: the way her eyes widened slightly, scanning Alice from head to toe.

"Oh," she murmured in a smaller voice, like someone who'd just been reminded of a hierarchy she didn't quite understand, but her body instinctively recognized.

Alice, unaware or simply indifferent to the moment, handed the suit to Dana with a light smile.

"Would you mind showing him to a fitting room, please?"

"Of course," the girl replied, with a smile that tried to remain professional, though the light in her eyes had dimmed. "This way."

Nate followed Dana to the fitting room. The suit was light blue, elegant but subtle, paired with a matching tie. The pants were slightly fitted but suited him well. In the mirror, he raised an eyebrow. Not bad. Maybe Alice was right after all.

When he stepped out of the fitting room, Alice was standing with her hands clasped in front of her. Upon seeing him, she clapped once, smiling.

"Perfect," she said brightly. "You couldn't look better."

Nate wasn't sure if he should smile or shrug—so he did both.

Dana sighed quietly, resigned, and with a small gesture, pointed toward the register.

"You can pay over here."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

They walked out of the store with the suit bag in hand. Nate noticed the clerk, Dana, watching them as they left. Once in the car, and as he started the engine, Nate broke the silence with a casual question.

"Mind if I stop to grab something to eat? I haven't had a bite since school."

Alice shook her head, settling elegantly into the seat.

"Of course not. Go ahead."

He drove a few blocks and stopped at a small stand that still had its lights on. He ordered a hot dog with everything, and as he took the first bite inside the car, Alice watched him in silence, elbow resting on the door, chin on her hand.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly.

"For what?" Nate asked between bites.

"I realized too late that the salesgirl was interested in you. I might've scared her off by accident."

Nate shrugged, brushing it off.

"It's fine. I wasn't interested anyway."

Alice tilted her head, intrigued.

"I remember you once said you liked sweet girls, but you never mentioned what kind of look you're into."

Nate frowned slightly as if he'd never seriously thought about it.

"I don't know. I guess, like everyone, I like a pretty girl… but there are hundreds of pretty girls. What matters is the connection, right?"

Alice smiled, amused.

"Then why don't you like Bella? She's pretty. And you definitely have a connection."

Nate laughed, wiping his mouth with a napkin, and murmured with a touch of humor:

"Honestly, Bella's cute and nice… but she's practically a carbon copy of her dad."

Alice burst out laughing, covering her mouth.

"That was cruel!"

"You say that because you don't have to deal with both of them," he replied with a grin.

She glanced sideways at him, still amused, and added playfully:

"But there must be some physical trait you like in girls."

Nate thought for a second.

"I guess I like girls with black hair."

Alice slowly turned her head toward the window, smiling to herself.

"But Bella has…" she began, then stopped. Her eyes were unfocused for a moment, the playful glint vanishing. Suddenly, they grew glassy.

Nate noticed instantly, his body tensing.

"What's wrong?"

Alice blinked quickly as if waking from a bad premonition. Her voice came out shaky, almost a whisper.

"It's Bella. She might be in danger."

She reached into her bag, searching frantically.

"I need to warn Edward…" she muttered, but her face twisted in frustration.

"Damn it… I forgot I left my phone at home."

Nate straightened in his seat, tossing the wrapper aside.

"Where is she? Is she far from here?"

Alice turned toward him, nodding quickly as she spoke fast:

"No. If I'm picking this upright, she's somewhere downtown… probably near the alley between the bookstore and that old record store."

"Then tell me how to get there," Nate said without hesitation, starting the engine with determination.

Alice looked him straight in the eyes, and for an instant, she seemed to weigh multiple thoughts. Then she nodded seriously.

"Drive. I'll guide you."