Chapter 5: Collision Course and Unseen Sparks

### Chapter 5: Collision Course and Unseen Sparks

The bell rang shrill and sharp through the halls of Forks High School, signaling the end of another dreary day. Caspian Swan leaned against the lockers outside Bella's biology classroom, his arms crossed, his golden eyes scanning the stream of students spilling into the corridor. He'd kept his composure all day—played the part of the cool, easygoing older brother with a natural charm that disarmed the curious and deflected the nosy. But beneath the surface, his hybrid senses hummed, attuned to every shift in the air, every flicker of movement. The Cullens had been watching him; he'd felt their stares like pinpricks across his skin, though he hadn't given them the satisfaction of a reaction. Not yet.

Bella emerged from the classroom, her backpack slung over one shoulder, her brown hair falling in a messy curtain across her face. She looked tired—biology with Edward Cullen looming nearby would do that to anyone, he figured. Caspian pushed off the wall, falling into step beside her. "Survive the petri dish torture?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes sharp.

She gave a small, lopsided smile. "Barely. It's… weird in there. Everyone's so intense."

"Yeah, I bet," he muttered, his mind flicking to Edward. The vampire had been in her class, all brooding and golden-eyed, probably already sniffing around her like a bloodhound. Caspian's system pinged softly in his head—*"Alert: Edward Cullen Proximity. Mind-Reading Status: Nullified."* Good. Let the guy stew in silence. Bella didn't notice his tension; she was too busy adjusting her bag, her boots scuffing the linoleum as they headed for the exit.

Outside, the air was thick with the promise of rain, the sky a heavy gray that pressed down on the parking lot. Bella's truck sat like a rust-colored relic among the shinier cars, and Caspian smirked as they approached it. "Still can't believe Charlie let you keep this dinosaur," he said, tapping the hood.

"It's got character," she shot back, climbing into the driver's seat. He slid into the passenger side, the springs creaking under his weight, and they pulled out of the lot, merging into the slow crawl of students heading home. The radio crackled faintly, some old rock song Charlie probably loved, and Bella kept her eyes on the road, her hands gripping the wheel a little too tight.

Caspian leaned back, letting the rhythm of the drive settle his nerves. He'd spent the day gathering intel—small talk with classmates, sidelong glances at the Cullens, a mental map of who was who. The system had cataloged it all: *"Jessica Stanley—Gossip Source, Low Threat. Mike Newton—Potential Annoyance, Bella Admirer. Cullen Family—Supernatural, High Interest, Status TBD."* He didn't trust the vampires, soulmate nonsense or not, and Edward's presence in Bella's orbit set his teeth on edge. But for now, things were quiet. Too quiet.

They didn't make it far. Just a block from the school, Bella slowed to a stop at a four-way intersection, the truck idling as a line of cars trickled past. Caspian glanced out the window, his gaze catching on a black van—Tyler Crowley's, he recognized it from the lot—pulling up too fast behind them. His hybrid instincts flared, a prickle of heat racing down his spine. *"Something's wrong,"* he thought, his eyes narrowing. The system chimed: *"Alert: Imminent Collision Detected. Threat Level: Moderate."*

"Bella, move—" he started, but it was too late. The van hit a patch of ice, its tires squealing as it skidded out of control. Time seemed to slow, Caspian's senses sharpening to a razor's edge. He saw the van's trajectory—straight for Bella's side of the truck, a ton of metal hurtling toward her fragile human frame. His heart slammed against his ribs, and he lunged across the seat, one arm shoving Bella down, the other bracing against the dash.

A blur of motion cut through the chaos—Edward Cullen, faster than any human could be, slamming into the van's side with a sickening crunch. The impact jolted the truck, but the van stopped inches from Bella's door, Edward's hand leaving a dent in the metal like it was tinfoil. Caspian's eyes locked onto the vampire's for a split second—gold meeting gold, a flash of recognition and defiance—before he turned to Bella, his voice sharp. "You okay? Bella, talk to me!"

She nodded, dazed, her breath hitching as she pushed herself up. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine. What—how did—?"

"Stay put," Caspian snapped, already moving. He kicked his door open and rounded the truck, reaching Bella's side just as Edward stepped back, his expression a mix of alarm and frustration. The vampire's gaze flicked between them, but Caspian ignored him, pulling Bella out of the cab with a gentleness that belied the fire simmering in his chest. Her knees wobbled, and he steadied her, his arm around her shoulders. "Easy, Bells. I've got you."

The parking lot erupted into chaos—students shouting, tires screeching, Tyler scrambling out of the van with a panicked, "Oh my God, Bella, I'm so sorry!" Caspian shot him a glare that could've melted steel, his celestial aura flaring just enough to make Tyler flinch. *"Idiot,"* he thought, but he kept his composure, focusing on Bella. She was shaken, her face pale, but unhurt. That was what mattered.

Edward lingered nearby, his hands clenched at his sides, clearly wrestling with what he'd just done. Caspian met his stare again, a silent challenge in his ember-flecked eyes. *"You saved her, fine. But I'm here now, sparkle boy."* He didn't say it aloud—didn't need to. The tension crackled between them, thick and unspoken.

Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as an ambulance and Charlie's cruiser screeched into the lot. Caspian straightened, his grip on Bella tightening as their father barreled toward them, his face a thundercloud of fury and fear. Charlie's police jacket flapped as he ran, his boots pounding the pavement, and when he reached them, his voice was raw, echoing the exact words from Caspian's memory of *Twilight*.

"Bella! Are you okay? What the hell happened?" Charlie barked, his eyes darting from her to the crumpled van, then to Caspian. "Cas, you hurt? Talk to me!"

"She's okay, Dad," Caspian said quickly, his tone steady despite the adrenaline pumping through him. "I've got her. Van skidded—Tyler lost control. She's shaken up, but she's not hurt."

Charlie's gaze softened briefly as he took in Bella, then hardened again as he turned to the crowd. "Tyler, what the hell were you thinking?" he roared, his voice carrying over the murmurs. "You could've killed her!" He jabbed a finger at the boy, who shrank back, stammering apologies.

"Dad, I'm fine," Bella mumbled, her voice small but firm. "Really. It wasn't his fault—the ice—"

"Don't you start," Charlie cut her off, his tone gruff but laced with relief. "You're going to the hospital. Both of you. No arguments." He waved over the paramedics, who were already unloading a stretcher, and fixed Caspian with a look. "You're with me, Cas. I want you checked too."

Caspian nodded, his jaw tight. "Yeah, I'm with you, Dad." He didn't argue—Charlie was right to be pissed, and honestly, he was too. Tyler's recklessness had nearly taken Bella out, and if Edward hadn't jumped in… Caspian shoved the thought down, his phoenix heat flaring briefly under his skin. He didn't like owing anyone, especially not a Cullen, but he couldn't deny the vampire had acted fast.

The paramedics swarmed, guiding Bella onto the stretcher despite her protests—"I can walk, seriously!"—and Caspian followed, his eyes flicking to Edward one last time. The vampire had melted back into the crowd, joining his siblings by the Volvo, but Alice's gaze burned into him, bright and knowing. Rosalie stood rigid, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. *"Soulmate crap,"* Caspian thought, shoving it aside. He didn't have time for that now.

The ride to Forks Community Hospital was a blur of flashing lights and Charlie's muttered curses from the front of the cruiser. Caspian sat beside Bella in the ambulance, holding her hand as she stared at the ceiling, her brow furrowed. "Edward… he was there," she whispered, almost to herself. "He stopped it. How did he do that?"

Caspian's grip tightened slightly, his mind racing. "Don't worry about it, Bells," he said, keeping his voice calm. "He was quick, that's all. You're safe now." He wasn't about to spill the vampire secret—not yet. She'd figure it out soon enough, and he'd be there when she did.

At the hospital, Charlie stormed in ahead of them, barking orders at the staff as Bella was wheeled into an exam room. Caspian stayed close, his hybrid senses picking up the faint tang of antiseptic and the distant hum of the Cullens' presence—Edward must've followed, probably dragged along by Carlisle. Sure enough, as Caspian leaned against the wall outside Bella's room, Edward appeared down the hall, his face a mask of controlled unease.

"You didn't have to do that," Caspian said, his voice low, cutting through the sterile quiet. "I had her."

Edward's eyes narrowed, but his tone was even. "She was going to die. I didn't have a choice."

"There's always a choice," Caspian shot back, his aura flaring just enough to make the air shimmer. "But… thanks. She's my sister. That's all that matters."

Edward studied him, his head tilting slightly. "You're not like her," he said, more observation than question. "Or anyone else here."

Caspian smirked, leaning closer. "You have no idea." He didn't elaborate—didn't need to. Edward's gift was useless against him, and that was power enough for now.

Charlie emerged from Bella's room, his face still stormy but softened by relief. "She's fine," he said, clapping Caspian on the shoulder. "Bruised up, rattled, but fine. You too, Cas—doc says you're good to go. Damn miracle, that truck not crushing you both."

"Damn right," Caspian agreed, his voice firm. "Tyler's lucky I didn't crush *him*." He meant it, too—his telekinesis had twitched at the ready, only held back by Edward's interference.

Charlie grunted, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, well, he's gonna wish he'd stayed home today. I'm impounding that van 'til I figure out what happened." He paused, then added, quieter, "You did good, Cas. Keeping her steady."

"Always will," Caspian said, meeting his father's gaze. It felt real—this bond, this family. Charlie wasn't his by blood, not in his old life, but here, now, he was Dad. And Bella was his sister. That was worth fighting for.

As they waited for Bella's discharge papers, Caspian's system pinged again: *"Event Update: Bella Swan Survived Collision. Edward Cullen Exposure Risk Increased. Objective: Monitor Developments."* He smirked faintly. The game was shifting, and he was right in the middle of it—half angel, half phoenix, and wholly pissed at fate's meddling. Edward might've saved the day, but Caspian wasn't about to let the Cullens—or anyone—steal his thunder. Not when Bella's life was on the line.

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