Chapter 3 (Continued): The Cullens Arrive

The moment the Cullens step into the cafeteria, time seems to slow. It's like they're walking through a different world, separate from the noisy, bustling lunch crowd. Even from a distance, I can see how they stand out. Pale skin, almost too perfect features, and an air of quiet confidence that sets them apart from the rest of us. It's like they're untouchable.

My spider-sense is buzzing at the back of my mind, not exactly warning me of danger but making me hyper-aware of them. It's as if my body knows they're something more than human, even if the system hasn't fully registered it yet.

They move together as a unit, seamlessly gliding through the crowd. There's something almost regal about them—like a family of predators pretending to be ordinary students. I recognize each of them instantly: Edward, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice, and Emmett. The Cullen family. They sit down at their usual table near the back, keeping to themselves, barely acknowledging the rest of the room.

And then there's Edward.

I've seen actors portray him before—brooding, mysterious, and attractive—but this is different. In real life, Edward's presence is overwhelming. His eyes sweep across the cafeteria, and for a split second, they lock with mine. My heart skips a beat, and I tense up, wondering if he's sensed something about me, like I've sensed about them.

He looks away quickly, uninterested. Good. For now, I'm just another face in the crowd to him. I need to keep it that way.

"Dude, they're so weird," Ned mutters beside me, oblivious to the storm brewing in my mind. "Like, why do they always sit by themselves? I've never seen them talk to anyone."

I shrug, trying to play it cool. "Maybe they just like their privacy."

Ned leans in, lowering his voice like he's about to share some big secret. "I heard they're all adopted by Dr. Cullen. Super rich and stuff, but still… something's off about them."

Yeah, no kidding. But I don't say that. Instead, I nod and force myself to look away from the Cullens. I can't afford to draw any more attention to them—or to myself—than I already have.

As I take a sip of my drink, I notice Bella watching the Cullens too, her curiosity clearly piqued. This is the moment, isn't it? The first time she sees Edward. I can almost feel the gears of fate grinding into place. But something's different now. I'm here. And that changes everything.

I glance over at Edward again. He's staring at Bella. Hard. His expression is unreadable, but there's something in his eyes—confusion, maybe even frustration. I can tell he's already struggling with whatever it is about her that draws him in. The attraction, the danger. It's all there, playing out just like in the books.

But then his gaze flickers, shifting from Bella to me.

My heart skips a beat again. For a split second, his eyes narrow ever so slightly, as if he's sensed something strange about me. I try to keep my expression neutral, but it feels like he's staring straight into my soul. This is bad. If Edward Cullen suspects anything about me before I'm ready to reveal it, I could be in real trouble.

Fortunately, he looks away, turning his attention back to Bella, but my mind is already racing. If Edward can sense something off about me, does that mean he can read my mind? I know he's a telepath—at least, he is in the books. But I haven't noticed any signs that he's reading my thoughts yet.

System, can Edward Cullen read my mind?

[Negative. The host's mental defenses are sufficient to block Edward Cullen's telepathy. However, the host's unique nature may still attract his attention.]

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Good. At least my thoughts are safe for now. But that doesn't mean I can relax. The Cullens are still a wildcard, and I have no idea how they'll react when they find out I'm not just another high school student.

---

The rest of the day passes in a blur of heightened senses and nerves. Every time I cross paths with Bella, my instincts scream at me to intervene, to do something to change the course of events. But I hold back. It's not time yet. I need to understand more about how this merged universe works before I make any moves.

By the time the final bell rings, I'm mentally exhausted. As I head out of the school, I catch sight of Bella walking toward the parking lot. She's alone, her head down, lost in thought. This is the moment from the book—the moment Edward will save her from the car crash. Except… there's no icy parking lot, no skidding van.

Yet something about the way Bella's moving, distracted, caught in her own world, puts me on edge. My spider-sense flares, sharp and sudden.

"Hey, Pete! You heading home?" Ned calls from behind me.

"Yeah," I say quickly, my focus still on Bella. "I'll catch up with you later."

I move faster now, pushing my way through the crowd of students, trying to get closer to Bella. The buzz of danger in the back of my mind intensifies with every step. Something's about to happen.

And then I see it.

A car, speeding around the corner of the parking lot way too fast. It's not skidding on ice—it's swerving like the driver lost control. And it's heading straight for Bella.

Everything slows down as my body moves on instinct. I leap forward, covering the distance between me and Bella in an instant. My hand shoots out, grabbing her by the arm, and I yank her out of the way just as the car barrels past us, missing her by inches.

We hit the ground hard, but I twist my body to take most of the impact, shielding her as we roll to a stop. Bella gasps, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.

"You okay?" I ask, my voice coming out steadier than I feel.

She nods, still dazed. "Y-yeah. What just happened?"

I stand up, offering her a hand. "Some idiot wasn't paying attention, I guess. Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine. Thanks to you." She looks up at me, her expression softening. "That was... really fast."

I shrug, trying to play it off, but I can tell she's still rattled. "Just lucky, I guess."

But as I help her to her feet, I sense something else—someone else. A few yards away, leaning casually against a tree, Edward Cullen is watching us. His expression is unreadable, but there's no mistaking the intensity in his eyes.

He knows.

I don't know how much he's figured out, but he knows I'm not just some ordinary student. And from the way he's looking at me, I can tell this is only the beginning.

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