Twilight The Stranger's Gaze

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The days in the hospital passed slowly, filled with medications that left him in a constant haze while the monitor marked each heartbeat as a reminder that he was still there. It was strange, getting used to existing again in a body full of pain, but with each morning, the pain grew a little less sharp, each breath a little less heavy.

Until, finally, they let him go.

Discharge came on a cloudy morning, with the nurse removing the IV lines while his grandmother packed his things with the same precision she used to organize the pantry at home. And Alice… well, Alice was there, quiet but present, holding his coat when he forgot to grab it, correcting each clumsy step with a smile.

They took a flight back to Forks that same afternoon, with his grandmother in the window seat, Nate in the middle, and Alice on the aisle, reading a book with such intense focus that Nate suspected she hadn't turned the page in half an hour. Every so often, she would slide her gaze toward him, as if checking to make sure he was still breathing.

The first days at home were… quiet. His grandmother didn't allow any visitors, "except for Alice," because, in her words:

"I didn't have the heart to send away a worried young lady."

Alice practically appointed herself his nurse. She visited every day after school and stayed a little past nightfall. She would just smile, bring him tea, adjust his pillows, and sit quietly reading while he slept. Nate noticed she was quieter than usual.

When he finally started spending more time awake, enough to hold a conversation without falling asleep in the middle of it, his grandmother agreed to allow visitors.

Mike and Eric came first, almost tripping over each other in their excitement to tell Nate about their recent progress with Jessica and Angela, respectively, with that pure teenage enthusiasm that made Nate laugh, even though it hurt his ribs to do so. They left as quickly as they arrived, leaving behind a bag of chips and a comic book that Eric insisted would save him from boredom.

The next day, Jessica and Angela showed up. Angela, with her shy smile, brought a basket of fruit, saying her mom swore fruit helped with recovery. Jessica, on the other hand, kept glancing around the room, inspecting every corner as if expecting to find a secret, though it was clear that Alice's constant presence in a corner of the room, quiet and watchful, made her uncomfortable.

After them came Charlie, Jake, and Billy, it was quite a sight to see Billy making his way up the stairs with the help of the other two, grumbling between breaths that he didn't need to be treated like an invalid while Charlie threw dry jokes that made Jake laugh.

Jake promised he would visit whenever he had a free moment, commenting behind his father's back that Nate should "enjoy the time with his nurse," giving him a light punch on the shoulder before leaving.

Charlie made a couple of jokes about how he knew it was a bad idea for everyone to go to Phoenix, but that he was glad the incident hadn't turned out worse. Still, Nate noticed a glint of doubt in his eyes, the look of someone who knew something didn't add up but chose not to say anything for now.

Billy, however, stayed silent, his eyes fixed on Nate as if trying to make sure he was truly okay. He didn't say much, and it was clear that Alice's presence in the room made him uneasy, his hand gripping the armrest of his wheelchair whenever she moved.

Finally, just when he thought there wouldn't be any more visitors for a while, Bella and Edward arrived.

Much to Nate's confusion.

They stayed in the doorway for a moment, Bella looking paler than usual, her hands intertwined with Edward's, who was staring at Nate with those unfathomable golden eyes, as if he could see through the bandages, through the broken ribs, through all the unspoken words.

For a moment, the room felt too small, the air heavy with things Bella seemed ready to say.

Bella took a breath, holding it as if it was hard to let go, before lifting her gaze to Nate.

"I wanted to apologize, Nate… for all of this. I've been thinking, and… I think your life would have been much simpler if we had never become friends."

Nate looked at her in silence for a moment before a tired smile crossed his face. He shook his head slightly, careful not to strain his ribs too much.

"I don't regret getting close to you, Bella." His voice was low but firm. "In fact, I don't regret anything that's happened."

His gaze flickered briefly toward Alice, who remained seated in the chair by the window, attentive to the conversation, her hands folded on her lap.

Bella took a deep breath, as if gathering courage.

"If the situation were ever reversed…" she murmured, "I would do whatever I could to help you."

Nate's smile softened, though his eyes darkened for a moment.

"I hope it never comes to that."

For a moment, the air in the room seemed to lighten. Bella allowed herself a small smile, her hands clasped in her lap.

"I hope you're recovered before the dance," she said, a hint of expectation in her voice.

Nate raised an eyebrow, letting out a small huff that turned into a low chuckle.

"I'm pretty sure I will be," he replied. "So… I'll take you to the dance, like I promised."

Bella smiled, but for a second her expression shifted to doubt as she glanced at Alice. Seeing that Alice was smiling too, a flash of relief crossed her face.

However, when she turned to Edward, her smile faded slightly.

Edward didn't look uncomfortable, but his gaze was distant, fixed on some point on the wall, as if he were miles away.

"Edward…" Bella murmured, squeezing his hand to pull him out of his daze.

He blinked, returning to himself, and gave her a small smile before shaking his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts.

"We should go," Bella said softly. "You need to rest."

Alice, who had remained silent throughout the visit, stood up, smoothing her dress with an automatic gesture before looking at Nate with a soft smile.

"I'll head out too," she said, dipping her head slightly toward him. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Nate held her gaze, feeling a strange warmth in his chest.

"Thank you, Alice."

She smiled at him, and for a moment Nate thought he saw a hint of melancholy in her expression before she walked toward the door with Bella.

But before they could cross the threshold, Edward stopped, raising a hand in a brief gesture.

"Could I… have a few minutes alone with Nate?"

Bella looked at him, confused, before exchanging a quick glance with Alice. Both of them nodded slowly.

"All right," Bella said.

Alice gave Nate one last soft look before taking Bella by the arm, guiding her out of the room.

The door closed with a quiet click, leaving Edward standing still as the dim afternoon light streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the white sheets.

Edward walked over to the window, his hands clenched at his sides, his body tense like a spring about to snap.

"Nate… I'm planning to leave Forks soon."

Nate looked up from the bed, his eyes fixed on Edward, reading the tension in every line of his face.

"Why?"

Edward clenched his teeth, looking down at the floor before letting out a breath in a hiss.

"Why," he repeated with a bitter laugh, then lifted his eyes, shining with barely contained fury. "Because all of this is a damn mistake! My presence… my decision to stay… it constantly puts Bella in danger!"

He ran his hands through his hair, pulling in frustration.

"This time we were lucky, Nate! But what about next time if I can't save her! If I don't get there in time!" His rage clouded his voice as he took a step forward, his eyes blazing. "I can't bear the thought of her dying because of me!"

Suddenly, he stopped, the tremor in his voice revealing the fear behind his anger.

"I'm asking you… When I leave, take care of her. Make sure Bella is safe."

Nate watched him calmly, breathing slowly before shifting on the bed, straightening his back slightly. His response was low, sharp.

"No."

The word dropped like a gunshot in the room.

Edward blinked, confused.

"What…?"

"No," Nate repeated, his voice quiet but firm as stone.

Edward's face twisted with disbelief and anger.

"How can you say that? After everything that's happened, I can't risk her anymore!"

Nate didn't blink.

"It's too late for that."

"No!" Edward shouted, taking another step forward, his golden eyes burning with anger and a pain so deep it looked like it was consuming him from the inside. "Victoria is still out there! If I leave now, I can hunt her down, eliminate her, and Bella will be safe! Once Victoria is gone, there will be no one left to hurt her!"

Edward's breathing grew faster, his body trembling with the urgency to escape, to act.

Nate shook his head, his calm voice resonating stronger than any yell.

"Even if you manage to catch her… you've already brought Bella into your world, Edward. It's no longer about what you want or what you think is best."

Edward opened his mouth to protest, but Nate raised a hand calmly, stopping him.

"Now it's about responsibility."

"You don't understand what it's like to carry that guilt!" Edward roared, his voice breaking. "You don't understand what it's like to live every second afraid of losing her!"

Nate looked at him, his expression so serene it was disconcerting.

"Do you really think I don't know what it's like to fear losing someone you love?"

Edward stopped, the tremor in his shoulders easing as his anger turned into painful confusion.

"You chose to be with her despite my warnings," Nate continued, lowering his voice slightly. "At this point… I can't blame you."

He leaned forward a little, locking eyes with Edward.

"But now it's up to you, and only you, to keep her safe."

Edward dropped into the nearby chair with a heavy thud, his trembling hands covering his face as silence spread.

"What if… staying close to her… only seals her fate faster…?" he whispered, barely audible.

Nate watched him for a moment, and a small, warm smile softened his tired face.

"Then you'll have to fight with everything you've got to stop it."

Edward slowly lowered his hands, breathing heavily, letting the words sink in. For the first time, the storm in his eyes seemed to calm, leaving behind only a profound exhaustion.

"At least…" his voice was a whisper, "at least I know with you around… it will be easier to protect her."

Nate looked at him for a long moment before turning his gaze toward the window, where the rain was beginning to patter softly against the glass.

"Remember the clearing?" he said quietly. "When you asked for my help to protect Bella from James."

Edward didn't respond, but he lifted his head, meeting Nate's eyes.

"I risked my life and kept my promise. I gave everything to keep Bella safe."

Nate took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second before opening them again. His voice, when he spoke, was so low that Edward had to lean in to hear.

"I need you to do me a favor, Edward."

Edward looked up, confused.

"What favor?"

Silence settled in the room, leaving Edward waiting for Nate to finish his request.

But Nate simply looked him in the eye, a spark of resolve in his gaze.