Chapter 3: The Calm Before the Storm

The next morning, I wake up before the sun rises, still feeling the weight of the coming day. As I get dressed, I keep reminding myself that today is the day Bella Swan arrives. The day everything shifts. I pull on a clean shirt, taking a quick look at myself in the mirror. I look the same—or rather, Peter Parker looks the same—but something about my eyes feels different, sharper, more aware of what's coming.

"Peter! Breakfast is ready!" Aunt May calls from downstairs.

I groan softly. After yesterday's burnt egg and toast debacle, I'm tempted to skip breakfast, but I can't do that to her. Besides, I'll need the energy today. I jog downstairs to the kitchen, where Aunt May is setting the table.

"Morning," I say, flashing her a quick smile.

She smiles back, though there's a hint of concern in her eyes. "You're up early. Nervous about something?"

"Just a big day at school," I reply vaguely, grabbing a piece of toast. This time, it's not burnt. Small mercies.

Aunt May tilts her head, studying me for a moment. "You've really changed, Peter. You're more... confident." She pauses, her eyes searching mine. "I like it, but it feels like something's different. Are you sure everything's okay?"

I nod, trying to keep my expression light. "Yeah, everything's fine, Aunt May. Just trying to, you know, be a better version of myself."

She reaches over and ruffles my hair like she used to when I was younger. "Well, whatever it is, I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," I say, feeling a pang of guilt. She has no idea what's really going on—how different things are now. I finish my breakfast quickly, give her a kiss on the cheek, and head out the door, my mind already racing ahead to what the day will bring.

---

As I walk toward Midtown High, my enhanced senses pick up everything—the distant sounds of the city, the hum of traffic, the rhythm of footsteps from the students around me. But there's something else, too. Something new. A faint buzz at the edge of my awareness, like a thread waiting to be pulled. The system hasn't alerted me to anything yet, but I can feel it—Bella is close.

System, is Bella Swan already at school?

[Affirmative. Bella Swan has arrived at Midtown High and is currently in the administration office for her registration.]

I stop in my tracks, my heart pounding in my chest. She's here. The girl who triggers the beginning of everything is only a few steps away.

As I approach the school, the morning sunlight casts long shadows across the courtyard. Students mill about in groups, chatting, laughing, oblivious to the seismic shift that's about to occur. And then I see her.

Bella Swan stands near the entrance, clutching her backpack as she listens to the school secretary. Her brown hair falls loosely around her shoulders, and her face is as pale as I remember from the books—soft features, wide brown eyes, and a quiet, almost fragile demeanor. She looks out of place, like she's not sure how to fit into this world. But there's something else, too. Something... more.

I take a deep breath and approach. My heart races, not from nerves, but from the sense that I'm stepping into the unknown. Bella glances up as I get closer, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, the world seems to slow down.

She doesn't recognize me, of course. To her, I'm just another student. But to me, she's the key to everything.

"Hey," I say, keeping my tone casual. "You're new here, right?"

She looks slightly startled but offers a small smile. "Yeah. I just moved here from Washington."

Of course, she'd still be from Forks, but now she's here instead. The timeline really is merging. "I'm Peter Parker," I say, holding out my hand.

She hesitates for a second before shaking it. "Bella. Bella Swan."

"I know it can be tough, moving to a new place," I say, trying to keep the conversation going. "But Midtown High isn't so bad once you get used to it."

She nods, her eyes flicking around nervously as more students start to notice the new girl. "Thanks. I hope you're right."

Before I can say more, the bell rings, and students begin flooding into the building. I can feel the tension rising—every instinct telling me that today will be the start of something big.

---

The first few hours of school are uneventful, but my mind is constantly on edge. Bella is in my biology class, sitting just a few seats away from me. She seems quiet, blending into the background as the teacher drones on about cell structures. But I can't focus. My spider-sense is tingling lightly, warning me that something is off.

It's not just Bella. There's a strange presence in the air, something I can't quite place. Maybe it's the Cullens—if they're here, I haven't sensed them yet. But I can feel it building, like a storm on the horizon.

During lunch, I sit with Ned, who's still gushing about some new LEGO set he wants to get, but my eyes keep drifting over to Bella. She's sitting alone at a table near the windows, picking at her food. My enhanced hearing picks up snippets of conversations from other students, most of them whispering about the new girl. They have no idea what she's about to bring into their world.

I glance at the cafeteria doors, half-expecting to see a group of pale, otherworldly beautiful teenagers walk through them at any moment. But they don't. Not yet, anyway.

System, anything I should be aware of right now?

[No immediate threats detected. However, the presence of supernatural entities has been confirmed in the vicinity.]

So the Cullens are here. Somewhere. I just need to figure out how to approach them without tipping them off that I know more than I should. For now, though, I need to keep playing my role as Peter Parker.

"Yo, Pete," Ned says, nudging me. "You're staring at the new girl."

I blink and turn back to him, trying to act nonchalant. "What? No, I'm not."

"Dude, you totally are," he teases, grinning. "You got a thing for the new girl already?"

I laugh it off, shaking my head. "Nah, just... curious, I guess. She seems different."

"Yeah, well, you've been acting different too. Maybe you two are made for each other," Ned jokes, but his words hit closer to home than he realizes.

Made for each other. My mind flashes back to my second wish—to find my mate. Could Bella really be the one I've been destined to meet? Is that why I'm here, in this version of the world?

Before I can dwell on it, a chill runs down my spine. My spider-sense flares, sharp and sudden. I whip my head around, scanning the cafeteria for the source. My eyes land on a group of students entering through the back doors—students with pale skin, sharp features, and an otherworldly beauty that sets them apart from everyone else.

The Cullens have arrived.

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