Chapter 64

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The week passed without many complications.

Classes went by with that comfortable routine Nate was starting to appreciate: the teachers, the crowded hallways, the lunches shared with Alice or the guys.

Alice, more than once, brought up Bella again.

She seemed quieter than usual when she passed by.

Sometimes she looked at her with a mix of curiosity and nostalgia.

That, in Alice's words, "she seemed to miss him."

Nate had only replied with a simple, "I'll find a way to talk to her."

But he always added, "I'll do it later."

It wasn't for a lack of will.

It wasn't out of resentment.

It was because Nate wasn't used to failing.

He knew the whole problem with Bella had started because he let himself get carried away by his emotions, by that impulse to protect her, to control the situation, without realizing he had crossed lines he shouldn't have.

And now… he didn't know how to go back.

So he told himself he'd do it later.

After.

The week continued with that suspended feeling until Friday arrived.

Nate got up like any other day. He took a cold shower and got dressed in jeans, a gray t-shirt, and the dark jacket he had been wearing for classes lately. He grabbed his backpack and went downstairs intending to grab something quick before leaving.

But when he reached the bottom of the stairs, he stopped.

His grandmother was there, waiting for him in the middle of the living room, with a smile that held a mix of mystery and contained excitement.

Nate looked at her for a few seconds, raising an eyebrow, analyzing what could be causing that expression.

Before he could open his mouth, his grandmother took a couple of steps toward him and hugged him tightly.

Nate blinked, surprised, before returning the hug with a few gentle pats on her back.

"Oh, Nathaniel!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy, pulling back just enough to look him in the eyes. "You're all grown up! I'm so happy… to live long enough to see my grandson turn eighteen."

Nate fell silent for a moment.

It wasn't that he had forgotten his own birthday.

It's just… he didn't like thinking too much about that date.

Birthdays, for Nate, were intimate events.

His mother celebrated them religiously, baking his favorite cake while filling the house with that warm scent of vanilla and butter.

His father, even when busy with work, would take a moment to sit with him, share a slice of cake, and toss a ball around in the yard while they talked about everything and nothing.

They had been a close family.

And those memories… were etched into his soul.

His grandmother let go of the hug, her eyes shining with emotion as she tucked a strand of hair behind his ear with a caring gesture.

"Happy birthday, Nate!"

He smiled, genuinely, though with that tight knot in his chest that was impossible to ignore.

"Thank you, Grandma."

She patted his shoulder before moving away, carrying that quiet energy of someone with big plans.

"Tonight at sunset, I'll have a cake ready," she said enthusiastically. "I even… invited a few people to come join you."

Nate kept smiling, though he felt a small pang of worry in his stomach.

The only people his grandmother could have thought to invite in Forks were the Swans and the Blacks.

And Nate… had been avoiding both.

Bella.

Jacob.

Billy.

People who represented promises and mistakes he still didn't know how to fix.

But he took a deep breath, swallowing down that discomfort, before smiling at his grandmother again.

"Thank you, really," he said sincerely.

She ruffled his hair before heading toward the kitchen.

Nate stood there for a moment, adjusting the strap of his backpack, watching the cold morning light filter through the window.

Then he turned, opening the front door to leave for school, letting the crisp dawn air clear the knot in his throat a little.

The drive to school was quiet. Nate drove with the window slightly open, thinking a bit about his parents. He would have preferred the day to be a little more normal; he wasn't particularly excited about going to school.

He parked in his usual spot and, as he turned off the engine, noticed some eyes on him. He had gotten used to that. Ever since he started having lunch with Alice sometimes, there had been rumors going around, hallway speculations ranging from "they're friends" to "they're definitely dating."

Nate knew it wasn't true, but he didn't mind people thinking it.

He closed the car door and slung his backpack over his shoulder before crossing the parking lot. He was about to reach the stairs when a couple of girls he barely knew approached him with nervous smiles.

"Happy birthday, Nate!" one of them said, while the other shyly waved.

"Have a great day," the second added before they walked off, both of them giggling as they left.

Nate stood there for a second, blinking, not quite sure what to say.

How did they find out?

He shook his head and kept walking. He wasn't particularly popular; he knew he stood out, but he talked to few people and didn't try to draw attention. Someone knowing it was his birthday felt… strange.

He entered his first class with a slight frown, still thinking about it. He didn't have much time to dwell on it because as soon as he stepped into the room, Eric appeared in front of him with a huge smile and open arms.

"Happy birthday, bro!" Eric exclaimed, stepping closer with a clear intention to hug him.

Nate immediately raised his hands, taking a step back.

"Hey, I'm not a hugger, Eric."

But Eric ignored him, giving him a strong pat on the back before letting go.

"Seriously, Nate, you should have told us! Mike and I would have planned something. Pizza, I don't know, something to celebrate."

Nate let out a low laugh, still confused.

"Thanks, really… but… how did you find out?"

Eric shrugged like it was obvious.

"Jessica told me over the phone yesterday."

Nate raised an eyebrow.

"Jessica? And how did Jessica find out?"

Eric opened his mouth to answer, but then just laughed, shaking his head.

"Bro, girls have their ways. Better not to ask."

Nate arched an eyebrow but didn't press further. He was sure that sooner or later, he'd find out how Jessica had learned about his birthday. In a place as small as Forks, news traveled faster than anyone would like.

He noticed it throughout the rest of the classes. People whose names he barely remembered approached him in the hallways or stopped by his desk to wish him a "Happy Birthday" with shy smiles or curious glances. Nate responded with a "thank you" and a half-smile, feeling like he was walking inside a strange dream. It wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't something he liked either.

Perhaps what surprised him most was what happened in fourth period. He was packing his things when he felt a silent presence beside him. He looked up and found Edward Cullen standing there, hands in his pockets, with an expression that was hard to read: uncomfortable, but also… polite.

"Happy birthday, Nate," Edward said in a low voice, like he was fulfilling a duty he'd rather avoid.

Nate blinked, surprised. He looked at him for a moment before nodding.

"Thanks."

They didn't say anything else. Edward turned and walked away. For Nate, it was no less awkward. In the end, he just sighed, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and left the classroom as the bell rang, signaling lunchtime.

When he reached the cafeteria, the first thing he noticed was Alice.

She was at a table near the windows, with two trays of food in front of her. Her arms were crossed and her brow was slightly furrowed, her foot tapping impatiently under the table as she looked toward the entrance, as if she had been waiting for him for a while.

Nate paused for a moment, watching her, before walking over.

He sat across from Alice, setting his backpack down. As soon as he settled, he noticed something different about her.

Alice's lips were pressed into a thin line, and she was drumming her fingers on the tray, her eyes fixed on him. For Nate, this was new. Alice, with her cheerful energy and almost constant optimism, rarely showed signs of being upset.

"What's wrong?" Nate asked cautiously, raising an eyebrow.

Alice looked him straight in the eyes.

"I'm mad at you."

Nate blinked, surprised.

"At me? Why?"

"You could've mentioned it was your birthday, you know?" Alice said, her reproachful tone feeling warmer than it was angry.

Nate lowered his gaze, letting out a sigh as he played with the edge of his tray.

"I'm sorry," he said in a voice softer than usual. "It's just… it's not a date I like to celebrate."

He looked up, meeting Alice's golden eyes, and continued:

"It makes me think about everything that's changed since my last birthday. About the things I'll never get to do again."

Alice's expression softened as she reached across the table, placing her hand gently over his.

"I'm sorry, Nate. I didn't think about that…" she said, her voice filled with sincere empathy. They both knew he was thinking about his parents, about everything he had lost.

They sat in silence for a few seconds. Nate noticed Alice kept her hand on his longer than he expected before she seemed to realize it too. She cleared her throat softly and pulled her hand back, crossing her arms on the table as she looked to the side.

"If I had known, I would've planned something special," she said, trying to regain her cheerful tone. "It's not every day you turn eighteen."

Nate smiled, warmth lighting up his face.

"Maybe next year."

Alice returned the smile, this time sweeter, with that characteristic sparkle in her eyes.

At that moment, they felt a few glances as some people passed by their table. Nate looked up and saw Edward and Bella walking together with their trays, heading toward the Cullen table. Edward gave him a brief look, while Bella seemed to hesitate for a moment before continuing on.

Nate looked down and let out a sigh.

"My grandma… told me she invited some people over for tonight," he confessed in a low voice, twirling his fork between his fingers. "And, well, considering who she knows, it's pretty obvious who she invited."

Alice didn't need further explanation. She nodded slowly, immediately understanding, before leaning slightly across the table with a reassuring smile.

"You're going to be fine, Nate. I promise. And if things get uncomfortable… you can call me," she said, raising her eyebrows playfully. "I'll come up with an excuse to get you out of there."

Nate let out a small laugh, feeling, for a moment, lighter.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Alice played with a strand of her hair, trying to look casual, though Nate noticed the sparkle of excitement in her eyes.

"By the way… I only found out yesterday that today was your birthday," she said with a touch of fake nonchalance. "But… I have a present for you."

Nate raised an eyebrow.

"You don't have to get me anything, Alice."

"Too late," she replied with a playful smile. "It'll just have to wait until after the Blacks leave your house. You know, diplomatic reasons," she added with a small shrug and a tiny grimace.

Nate nodded. The Cullens avoided the Quileute, and there wasn't much he could do about it.

"All right," he said with a genuine smile. "Then, I'll be looking forward to whatever it is you're giving me."

Alice returned the smile, tilting her head slightly, her eyes glowing with warmth that, for a moment, made Nate forget all the complications of that day.