Twilight The Stranger's Gaze

If you want to support (To continue with the chapters and improve the quality of the language)or read some advance chapters+7 please follow me on: patreon.com/Jayjayempi

The days passed.

With them, the weeks began to take shape, until two months had gone by since the incident with James.

During that time, Alice continued taking care of him, showing up every afternoon with a thermos of tea and a book under her arm. However, Nate began to notice a trace of sadness in her, something she tried to hide with soft smiles and sudden changes of subject whenever her eyes lingered on him for too long.

Nate, though aware, had his mind elsewhere.

At least one of his worries, Victoria, hadn't come near Forks again, not even close. Alice mentioned, with a forced calm, that she'd had a vision of Victoria fleeing, running toward Seattle, but it didn't seem like she had any intention of returning soon. Nate figured that whatever Victoria was planning, she wouldn't accomplish anything with the Cullens protecting Bella so closely.

Another thing that changed was that Nate recovered. He still occasionally felt a phantom pain in his ribs, a brief pull when he bent over too quickly or when he sneezed, but he could move without trouble now. He felt his recovery had been particularly quick, thanks to getting plenty of rest, but decided to take a few extra days before returning to school.

There were things he needed to think about. Decisions to make.

Once he was fully recovered, Alice stopped visiting his house, only after confirming Nate was truly okay. She did it suddenly, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, claiming that now that he didn't need her, she would use the time to meet with her family to discuss what to do about Victoria.

Nate noticed there was something else, a hidden undertone in her gaze before she left. An unspoken "goodbye." But he chose not to press her, not out of a lack of interest, but because he believed they were both thinking the same thing.

Although, fortunately, something would distract him from his own mind: the day of the Forks High School dance had arrived.

Remembering his promise, Nate made plans with Bella. They agreed he would pick her up that evening, and they would go together to the dance. Nate was surprised Bella didn't mention Edward, with whom she spent every day, every lunch, every free moment, glued to his side.

But he understood that, perhaps, Bella had her reasons.

That afternoon, he sat at the dining table, a cup of coffee in one hand while, under the table, he held his father's knife, sheathed, feeling the weight of what it meant. His gaze was lost on the window as the rain drummed steadily against the glass. His reflection returned a slightly disheveled image, with longer hair than before and eyes staring into nothing.

He was so deep in thought that he barely noticed when his grandmother sat down across from him, placing a warm hand on the table.

"What are you thinking about, Nathaniel?"

Nate discreetly hid the knife in his pocket, making sure his grandmother didn't see it, before answering,

"I'm thinking about the past… and a few things about the future," Nate replied with surprising honesty.

His grandmother, noticing the real weight in his words, shifted slightly, leaning in to listen closely.

"And which one worries you more?"

Nate focused his eyes on her, holding her gaze before continuing.

"I think both. I know the past can't be changed, and there's no point in clinging to it because it only distracts me from the future. But… I feel like I won't have a future until I get that weight off my shoulders. Even if I don't know where it will take me."

His grandmother smiled a little.

"That's pretty cryptic, son."

Nate smiled back, though a bit tiredly.

"I want to focus on what I have now. I think… I have something good, something worth it. But something inside me, my nature, keeps me from moving forward before I resolve what's bothering me."

Nate sighed deeply before asking,

"What do you think I should do?"

His grandmother thought for a few moments before replying calmly,

"One thing that has helped me in life is focusing on the future, on the good, on what I can change. I know it's ironic for someone my age not to live longing for the past, but… I believe in what tomorrow can bring."

She paused briefly before continuing, her voice touched with serenity.

"For a long time, I felt bad about how my relationship with my son cooled off. When he was little, we were so close… that was the past I missed. But the future brought me something good, Nate. It brought me my grandson. Maybe not under the circumstances I would have liked, but… it was something good."

Her gaze softened before concluding,

"But that's what worked for me. I think you already know the answer to your problem."

With a caring gesture, she ruffled his hair before calmly getting up to return to her tasks.

Nate remained at the table for a few minutes longer, silent, with the now-cold coffee cup in his hands, listening to the gentle patter of the rain on the window while reflecting on his grandmother's words.

............................................................

Nate prepared calmly for the dance, taking the time to smooth his hair in the mirror before putting on the blue suit Alice had chosen for him a while ago.

As he slid the jacket over his shoulders, a spark of amusement crossed his face as he remembered that day: Alice, with a determined glint in her eyes, sliding the tie into his hands while insisting the blue matched his eyes. He had been reluctant at the time, but deep down, he liked how he looked.

Once ready, he said goodbye to his grandmother, who stood in the doorway with crossed arms and a mischievous smile.

"Say hi to Alice for me, will you?" she said casually.

Nate stood still for a second, opening his mouth to say something, but before he could respond, his grandmother, almost as if ignoring him, turned around with a small wave of her hand and went back inside.

Nate took a deep breath, put the keys in his pocket, and got into his car, turning on the engine as the soft music filled the interior, giving him a moment of calm before what promised to be a long night.

He drove to Bella's house, parking by the curb with a small bouquet in hand, modest but pretty, wrapped with a white ribbon that contrasted with the blue of his suit.

He knocked, and Charlie opened the door, a warm smile on his face.

"Good to see you looking healthy, kid," he said with humor as he let him in. "I still don't fully get why you're taking her instead of Edward, but… between us, I like the idea better."

Nate let out a small laugh, shrugging.

"It's something we agreed on months ago," he explained.

Charlie nodded, adjusting his belt as his expression softened.

"Promises are important to keep."

He added with a conspiratorial gesture,

"Have fun."

Nate raised an eyebrow, an amused smile on his face.

"Aren't you going to tell me to take care of her, Chief Swan?"

Charlie chuckled, shaking his head.

"When you take care of her, someone always ends up getting hurt," he replied jokingly, earning a shared laugh before they both turned toward the stairs.

Bella came down carefully, lightly holding up her blue dress to avoid tripping. Seeing her, Nate chuckled softly, crossing his arms as he looked at her with a genuine smile.

"We almost look like we're matching," he commented, raising an eyebrow.

Bella rolled her eyes playfully, laughing.

"At least this way, people will think we're twins instead of a couple," she quipped, making Nate's smile widen.

Nate responded almost dryly,

"Twins creep me out a bit."

Bella let out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

They said goodbye to Charlie with a "take care" that sounded more fatherly than protective before heading out to the car.

As Nate drove toward the school, with Forks' lights flashing like intermittent glimmers through the rain-fogged windows, Bella adjusted the hem of her dress over her legs before turning toward him, hands clasped in her lap, shifting a little before speaking in that tone she used when she wasn't sure how to ask something.

"Can I ask you something… weird?"

Nate kept his eyes on the road, adjusting his grip on the wheel slightly.

"Depends on how weird it is."

Bella sighed, her expression curious but cautious.

"Why did you decide not to go with Alice in the end?"

The rhythm of the windshield wipers seemed to mark a slow heartbeat before Nate replied.

"Because I had already promised you," he answered calmly, not taking his eyes off the road. "Besides, Alice told me a while ago that she didn't plan on going to the dance."

Bella raised an eyebrow, a small smirk on her lips.

"Maybe she was just waiting for you to ask her."

A flicker of uncertainty passed through Nate's eyes, and he sighed before replying.

"Things have been… a little weird with her."

Bella tilted her head, frowning gently.

"You haven't been together long enough to have a fight, right?"

Nate simply answered in a low tone,

"We're not together."

Bella's eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you mean you're not? All this time… you've been together, Alice spent your entire recovery taking care of you, and… when we were in Phoenix, you two were basically holding hands the whole time."

Nate chuckled softly, a brief, tired sound.

"Things aren't that simple, Bella. There are things I need to resolve first."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the car grew heavier, as if both remembered how close they'd come to losing everything in Phoenix.

"At that moment… part of me considered the possibility of dying," Nate continued honestly.

Bella looked at him intently, her reflection trembling in the fogged-up window.

"That's exactly why, Nate. We almost died… and you don't know when it could happen again. Do you really want to live with that regret?"

Nate glanced at her sideways, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know what's up with all of you today, being wiser than usual."

Bella smiled slightly, stifling a laugh.

"Come on, you know you like it. Why not give it a shot?"

Nate kept his eyes on the road, the lights of the highway reflecting in his eyes as he pressed the accelerator gently.

Bella laughed, shaking her head.

"Who would've thought the same guy who killed a vampire with a knife to the head would be too shy to tell his best friend he likes a girl?"

Nate hummed dismissively.

"Who says you're my best friend?"

Bella feigned indignation, placing a hand on her chest.

"Who else could it be?"

Nate smirked.

"Obviously, my grandma."

Bella looked at him blankly for a second before blurting out,

"That would be pretty sad… coming from anyone else."

They both laughed, letting the atmosphere relax a little.

Bella turned to look out the window, letting the rain trace paths down the glass before speaking in a softer tone,

"Tell me something, Nate… do you regret coming to Forks?"

Nate was silent for a moment, the murmur of the engine and the patter of the rain filling the space. He thought about all the people he'd met, everything he'd lived through in that time, the laughter, the fights, the promises made.

The things he still wanted to protect.

"Not one bit," he finally replied, his tone low, almost intimate.

Bella smiled, satisfied, as she settled back in her seat.

"Whatever's holding you back… You can handle it. You can resolve whatever it is… and still be with the person you want."

Nate smiled in response, saying nothing else as the rain continued to fall.

They drove the rest of the way in silence, a momentary peace settling between them, until the lights of the school parking lot appeared ahead.

............................................................

Both got out of the car, feeling the cold Forks breeze slip between the folds of their clothes as they walked toward the illuminated entrance of the school.

Before going in, Nate pulled out his phone and sent a couple of quick messages, his fingers moving precisely across the screen.

Bella, curious, tilted her head while carefully holding up her dress.

"What's up?"

Nate shook his head, slipping the phone into the inside pocket of his jacket.

"Nothing important."

Bella raised an eyebrow, with that smile that said she didn't quite believe him, but chose not to push it.

Entering the gym, they were greeted by a sea of colorful lights, metallic balloons hanging from the ceiling, and music that was loud but pleasant, vibrating through the floor. Teenagers filled the space, some dancing awkwardly, others laughing by the punch table.

Eric and Mike, standing with their dates, spotted Nate as soon as he walked in and came over excitedly.

"Nate! Glad you recovered in time to come!" Eric exclaimed, raising his hand.

Nate watched them, noticing the genuine joy on their faces. He smiled back, raising his hand to high-five both of them, a gesture that caught them off guard but made them smile even more.

"Good to see you guys," Nate said sincerely.

Nearby, Angela and Jessica joined Bella, chatting excitedly about their dresses and the music, while the dance's atmosphere was filled with laughter and youthful energy.

The DJ switched to an upbeat song, and Eric, with a huge grin, took Angela's hand.

"Come on, it's time to dance!"

He started moving with a somewhat uncoordinated rhythm, but with so much energy it was impossible not to smile watching him. Angela, instead of feeling embarrassed, smiled and began dancing at a calmer pace beside him.

Soon, everyone joined in a small, improvised circle on the dance floor. Rather than dancing with their dates, it became a group where they laughed and gently bumped into each other while following the music.

Even Nate joined in, with calm but elegant steps, moving his shoulders easily while his shoes reflected the gym lights.

Bella, unsure of what to do, moved her feet and arms awkwardly, trying to imitate Jessica. Nate let out a soft laugh at the sight, causing the group to laugh as well, including Bella, who ended up shrugging as she continued to try to dance.

They stayed like that for a while, laughing and enjoying the music until Bella started to lose her breath a little, bringing a hand to her chest while laughing.

Nate approached, leaning in so she could hear him over the music.

"Want to grab something to drink?"

Bella nodded gratefully, and they headed to the punch table. Nate poured a glass for Bella before filling his own, bringing it to his lips as he distractedly glanced toward the entrance.

Bella, curiosity clear in her eyes, watched him as she drank.

"You've been looking at the door a lot… Are you waiting for someone?"

Nate lowered his glass, smiling as he shook his head.

"I'm having a good time," he said honestly. "It's almost perfect."

Bella raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Why 'almost'?"

Nate opened his mouth to answer, but at that moment, the DJ switched the song to a slow melody, inviting couples to the dance floor for an improvised waltz.

Bella lifted her wrist with a playful smile.

"So what now, Mister 'Almost Perfect'? Are we going to dance? Just remember, I warned you."

Nate chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"I thought about it… and I'd rather not risk it."

Bella frowned, confused.

Nate smiled, leaning in slightly.

"Don't worry… my replacement just arrived."

Before Bella could ask what he meant, Nate looked past her.

Bella turned just in time to see Edward entering the gym, dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit with a small bouquet in hand. Her face immediately lit up as she ran to hug him, the blue of her dress mixing with Edward's black suit in an embrace that felt inevitable.

Edward held her carefully, his gaze calm and affectionate, before lifting his eyes to Nate.

Nate, not wanting to intrude, raised a hand in a small wave.

"Take care of her, Edward," he said with a genuine smile.

Edward nodded before stepping closer, handing the bouquet to Nate.

Nate took it, raising an eyebrow, confused.

"And this…?"

Edward smiled slightly, a calm glint in his eyes.

"It's her favorite flower," he explained simply, before turning back to Bella, wishing her luck with a look.

Nate looked at the bouquet in his hand for a second, then let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

With one last glance at the dance floor, where Bella and Edward held hands to begin dancing to the slow music, Nate turned and started walking toward the exit, the bouquet in hand and a resolved expression on his face.