Twilight The Stranger's Gaze

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The sunlight had already filtered through the curtains when Nate opened his eyes.

He didn't know exactly what time it was, but it was later than usual.

Even so, he didn't feel guilty. Or tired.

Just... light.

As if something had loosened in his chest during the night.

He had spent the night thinking.

Thinking.

Not replaying scenes or rehashing arguments like he usually did, but trying to understand.

Bella.

Alice.

And himself.

He realized how much he had clung to the idea of protecting, of anticipating, of staying strong through everything...

That he'd forgotten something as basic as simply being there.

Bella had been right.

He couldn't blame her for risking herself for someone when he did the same thing.

He couldn't ask her to keep her distance when he had refused to take a step back.

And now, with a clearer mind, he could admit it without flinching:

He wanted things to work out for Bella.

Truly.

Not out of resignation… but because she deserved it.

Because he had seen enough to understand that not everything unknown had to be feared.

And if it didn't work out... then he'd be there.

To help her.

To support her.

To act.

He got up without rushing. For the first time in days, his body wasn't on alert.

His jaw wasn't clenched. His shoulders weren't stiff from tension.

He made himself a simple breakfast and, while the coffee bubbled in the pot, he looked out the window.

His grandmother was already in the garden, watering the plants like every morning.

Despite everything, that hadn't changed.

He felt a small pang of guilt for not telling her he'd be missing school.

She was easygoing, yes, but that didn't mean indifferent.

He sat down to eat with the warm air of the kitchen wrapped around him, and for a moment, everything felt... normal.

As if the world hadn't twisted a bit in the dark the night before.

When he finished washing the dishes, he heard the back door open.

His grandmother came in, her boots still damp with soil.

She walked past him in silence until, just as she was leaving the kitchen, she gave him a soft pat on the shoulder.

"I called the school," she said calmly. "Told them you were sick. Just don't make a habit of it."

She chuckled a little, with that tone between maternal and conspiratorial she used when she didn't want to worry, but still did.

Nate smiled, genuinely grateful.

"Thanks," he murmured.

She continued down the hall, and he stayed staring at the floor for a few seconds. Then he took a deep breath.

He didn't want the day to just slip by.

If he wasn't going to be at school, he at least wanted to move.

Go out.

Breathe.

Stretch his legs and let that new mental clarity fully settle.

He went up to his room to change.

Comfortable clothes, sneakers, headphones.

But as he turned to grab the hoodie from the back of the chair, he saw it.

His phone.

Blinking with a notification.

Just one.

He picked it up without thinking too much.

The screen lit up.

A message.

"I know you don't want to talk to me. And I get it. I just… wanted to say I'm sorry. Really sorry."

Alice.

He stared at it for a few seconds, in silence.

Not because he didn't know what to say.

But because he didn't expect to feel... this.

He didn't feel angry.

Or afraid.

Not even that tension that had clung to him like a second skin the night before.

Just a kind of quiet understanding.

A silent acceptance.

Because he got it.

More than he would've liked to admit a few days ago.

Last night had been an emotional whirlwind.

The argument with Bella.

The flood of poorly managed thoughts.

And Alice.

With her eyes full of guilt.

With her body tense, on the edge.

With that impulse barely held back.

But she hadn't crossed the line.

And for someone like her, that said everything.

He had almost forgotten —while he was caught up processing everything with Bella— that Alice was a risk too.

That her presence always came with a quiet warning.

And yet, ever since they met, she had never put him in danger.

Until yesterday.

Or almost.

And even then… what he remembered wasn't fear.

It was the way she stopped.

The tremble in her lips.

The terror in her eyes.

Not for him.

But for what she knew she might have done.

He sat on the edge of the bed, still holding the phone in his hand.

And he thought.

About what they had shared.

The long conversations.

The half-smiles.

The sidelong glances.

The silence was full of complicity.

The day they almost kissed.

And how, after that, she pulled away.

And how he had felt the need to get close again.

Because, in some way, Alice made him feel different.

Less sad.

Less angry.

More… human.

And he liked feeling that way.

He took a deep breath.

It was time to try trusting.

To see beyond his judgment.

To risk something more.

He didn't want to be left with any regrets.

He picked up the phone again.

His fingers moved slowly, measuring the words.

But without hesitation.

It's okay, Alice. Really.

It wasn't your fault. I understand.

And if you want… we could eat together at school tomorrow.

Well, I eat. You stare at me weirdly. You know.

A smile escaped him.

Soft. Unexpected.

But sincere.

He read the message one more time.

It didn't offer excuses.

It didn't ask for explanations.

It just opened the door.

And if she wanted to walk through it, he'd be there.

He hit send.

And pulled on the hoodie.

He still had a whole day ahead of him.

And this time… he planned to live it without carrying so much weight.

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Author's Notes: I know the chapter looks weird visually, I wrote this particular chapter on my phone (I had a problem with my computer at the time), but don't worry, it's a one-time thing.