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Once Nate stepped inside his house, he closed the door softly behind him and decided to relax for a bit before classes ended. He made his way to the desk and flipped through his father's journal once more: he found no classic vampire weaknesses (garlic, crosses, stakes), but he reviewed the Quileute legends, reminded of the power of the community that protected him. It hadn't been a waste of time.
When it was time to pick up Bella, he dressed carefully: a comfortable gray T‑shirt and dark jeans. Before leaving, he took one last look in the mirror, straightened his collar, and made sure he looked presentable. "Ready," he murmured and stepped out.
The drive to the school felt incredibly short. He arrived a few minutes before the final bell, parked near the main entrance, and leaned his back against the car, arms crossed. Around him, the air was thick with murmurs: muffled laughter, whispers rising like waves.
Suddenly, he heard:
"That's Nate Winter, isn't it?"
"They say he knocked Mike out with one punch just for getting close to Bella."
"I don't know what they see in Bella, honestly…"
Nate fixed his gaze on the horizon, unfazed. Let them talk, he thought. People swallow any rumor. He took a sip of coffee from his thermos and smiled with the calm of someone who doesn't care about public opinion.
The final bell rang—a metallic crash that unleashed the crowd. Students poured out in torrents, vibrant flashes of backpacks and jackets. Nate remained still, scanning every face.
Through the sea of teenagers, he spotted Bella. She walked with steady steps, but not alone: beside her was Edward Cullen. He leaned in to whisper something in her ear, one hand barely brushing Bella's arm. Their proximity was obvious, almost deliberate.
A spark of warning flashed through Nate's mind: Looks like he's made up his mind. He's not conflicted like before; now he's determined to get close to her.
Nate gave a bright, friendly smile as if lit from within. He straightened his shirt and, noticing Edward glance his way, raised a hand in a friendly wave as he walked forward with measured steps.
"Bella!" he called warmly when he was close enough. "I hope you're hungry—I haven't eaten anything since this morning."
She finally registered his presence, gave a small smile, and replied, "I could eat, you know the food here leaves something to be desired. Thanks for coming to get me. I hope Charlie doesn't mind sending someone for my truck."
Nate laughed softly, noticing how dreamy Bella looked with Edward by her side, though he pretended not to:
"Not at all. I called him before I came, and he sounded happy. After yesterday, he wasn't thrilled about you driving—well, you know, you can crash into cars without being behind the wheel."
Bella let out a light giggle and squinted at Nate in playful accusation. Then, as if only just aware of him, Nate turned to Edward and extended his hand in a casual gesture, his face open:
"Edward, good morning. You look in good spirits. Did school treat you well today?"
Edward hesitated, glanced at Bella for a moment, then took Nate's hand with a cold, brief grip:
"It's been a pleasant morning, thank you."
Inside, Nate muttered loud enough for Edward to "hear": Are you keeping your lunch company, monster? Want to head into the woods so she can see what you are? You seem to enjoy playing with your food. But outside, his smile remained unchanged:
"I'm glad to hear it. Bella and I are going for a walk and grabbing a bite to eat. Why don't you join us? You look… hungry."
Edward frowned, clearly uncomfortable, almost annoyed, and took a step back:
"Ah… no, thanks. I really… must be going."
He said it tensely, looking at Bella with a mixture of apology and urgency:
"I'm sorry, Bella. See you tomorrow." With a nearly imperceptible movement, he walked away, casting one last look at Nate before melting into the crowd.
Nate watched him go, then turned back to Bella with an innocently curious expression:
"Did I say something wrong? He didn't seem too happy to see me." His voice was soft, almost confidential.
Bella shook her head, thoughtful:
"No… he just… got weird. We were talking so animatedly until a moment ago; I don't know what happened."
"Well, that's strange," Nate said, furrowing his brow briefly—just enough for Bella to notice. Then he returned to his slightly awkward smile:
"Maybe he doesn't like me much."
Bella looked at him for a few seconds and placed her hand on his arm in a reassuring gesture:
"I don't think so, Nate. Edward is very kind; maybe he just needs to get to know you better. I have a feeling you two could become great friends."
Nate nodded as they headed back toward the car:
"I hope so. I'll try talking more with him. If he ever becomes your boyfriend, I shouldn't make a bad impression." He added the last part in a teasing tone.
Bella blushed and gave him a light punch on the arm:
"Shut up, Nate! We're just friends. He said he hoped we'd get along… also, if you keep getting close to his sister, it'd be smart to win over the rest of his family, right?"
Nate simply smiled, neither confirming nor denying anything. Just as they were about to get into the car, a melodious voice called out:
"Nate, wait a moment, please!"
Almost as if summoned, Alice Cullen appeared behind them, her hand raised to stop them and concern etched across her face.