Chapter 65

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After talking with Alice, Nate felt more optimistic. There was something about the way Alice handled things that helped him breathe a little easier.

The next classes went by faster than he expected, filled with notes and yawns. There were a few more congratulations: some so enthusiastic they almost made him uncomfortable, like Mike's, who hugged him tightly while exclaiming, "Bro, there's no way we're not throwing a party for this!" Others were more neutral, like Jessica's, with a curious smile that Nate couldn't tell if it was genuine or just a front. And some, like Angela's, were kind and polite, with that quiet warmth Nate had always appreciated in her.

When the final bell of the day rang, Nate walked to the parking lot with his backpack slung over one shoulder. The cold Forks air greeted him as he settled into the driver's seat, letting out a long sigh before starting the engine.

When he arrived home, he found his grandmother in the kitchen. The scent of vanilla, butter, and spices filled the house with a warmth that, for a moment, made him smile with nostalgia.

Nate peeked through the kitchen door, smiling.

"Need any help with something, Grandma?"

She looked over her shoulder at him, a slightly nervous smile on her face as she whisked a mixture into a large bowl.

"This is my gift for you, Nate. So don't worry about it, and don't get in the way," she said, a sparkle in her eyes as she waved a hand to gently shoo him off.

Nate let out a soft laugh.

"All right, all right, I won't get in the way."

He dropped his backpack by the stairs and went up to his room. He flopped down on the bed with a sigh, staring at the ceiling while the smell of cake drifted up to his room.

He pulled out a book and read a few pages, though it was hard to fully concentrate. Now and then, his phone buzzed with a message from Alice, sending him updates about her day and some projects she had in mind. He replied with short but sincere messages, grateful for the distraction she offered so naturally.

Time passed faster than he expected, and soon, night arrived.

Nate got up to change, opting for a plaid shirt and jeans—something comfortable but decent. He looked at himself in the mirror as he ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for what was coming.

When he heard the doorbell ring, he went down the stairs, feeling a flutter of nerves in his stomach.

He opened the door.

Billy and Jacob were there.

Billy smiled from his wheelchair, with that calm, wise air that always surrounded him, while Jacob, standing next to him, raised a hand in a broad wave.

"Happy birthday, Nate!" Billy said firmly.

"Happy birthday, man," Jacob added with a genuine smile.

Nate held their gaze for a moment before smiling, feeling a mix of warmth and a knot of uncertainty tightening in his chest.

"Thanks… Come on in, please."

The Blacks came inside, leaving behind the cold breeze that slipped in for a second before Nate closed the door.

Billy pushed the wheels of his chair forward, taking in the warm air with a satisfied smile.

"Hmm, it smells amazing in here," he commented, with that calm voice that always seemed to hide a sharper remark underneath.

From the kitchen, Nate's grandmother poked her head out, holding a wooden spoon like it was a scepter.

"It better smell good," she said with a playful sparkle in her eyes. "Because if anyone complains about my food, I'll kick them out of here—wheelchair or not."

Billy let out a low laugh, shaking his head.

"Then I'll just say it's delicious ahead of time. I'm not taking any chances."

Grandma chuckled softly before heading back into the kitchen, muttering something about checking the oven. Billy followed slowly, eager to chat with her about recipes and spices.

Jacob took the chance to stay by Nate's side, crossing his arms and looking at him with a smile that was half teasing, half relieved.

"Man, you've been ignoring me, huh?" he said in a light but honest tone.

Nate gave a small, guilty smile.

"Yeah… I know. I've been a little busy lately."

Jacob rolled his eyes, letting out a snort of laughter.

"Yeah, yeah… busy. Whatever. But remember, you promised we'd work on your car. Don't go ghosting on me."

Nate laughed, grateful for Jacob's easygoing attitude.

"I know. I haven't forgotten, seriously."

Jacob raised an eyebrow, amused.

"You better not. Or I'll show up here every Saturday until you invite me to something."

Nate let out a short laugh. They shared a quick hug, giving each other a couple of pats on the back.

As they pulled apart, Jacob sighed, lowering his voice a bit as his smile tightened slightly at the corners. Nate noticed him hesitating before finally saying,

"You know… I didn't think Bella would get a boyfriend so fast."

Nate felt an uncomfortable tingle on the back of his neck, trying to find a way to keep the topic short.

"Well… she looks happy," he replied carefully.

Jacob's frown deepened slightly, that stubborn kid expression appearing for a moment.

"Yeah, but… I don't know. I thought maybe, with time, I'd get closer, you know?"

His voice trailed off before he added in a whisper, dripping with sarcasm,

"And on top of that, it's Cullen… always with that pale face and that permanent constipation expression."

Nate let out a low laugh, covering his mouth with his hand as he shook his head.

"Don't you think?" Jacob insisted, laughing too as if the simple joke lifted a weight off his shoulders. "Look closely next time, you'll see. Pale and tight."

Nate shook his head again, still laughing, silently thankful that Jacob always knew how to break the tension with a joke.

That was when the doorbell rang again, its soft echo filling the hallway, announcing something bigger than just another visit.

Nate took a deep breath, bracing himself for what he feared would be the most uncomfortable part of the night, as he walked toward the door with Jacob close behind, ready to welcome the Swans.

When he opened the door, Charlie was the first to step up, carrying that simple, honest energy that always defined him.

"Happy birthday, Nate!" he said, giving him a few hearty pats on the shoulder with a genuine smile.

"Thanks, Charlie," Nate replied with an equally genuine smile.

Behind Charlie, Bella stepped in more cautiously, clutching a small box wrapped in simple paper. Her dark eyes met Nate's, filled with words stuck in her throat, not knowing where to begin.

Before she could say anything, Charlie greeted Jacob with a friendly slap on the back.

"Jake, my boy, how's it going!"

"Hey, Charlie!" Jacob replied enthusiastically.

From the kitchen, Billy's voice boomed humorously,

"Hey, Charlie, now that you're here, come help me set the table before your stomach starts growling!"

Charlie let out a laugh, shaking his head, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"All right, all right, you stubborn old man!" he said before heading to the kitchen, leaving Bella standing in the hallway.

Bella took a deep breath, her gaze meeting Nate's again. There was a second of silence until Jacob stepped toward her with a wide, confident smile.

"Bella!" Jacob exclaimed, and Nate noticed him standing a little straighter. "Haven't seen you in a while, how's everything?"

Bella blinked, tearing her gaze away from Nate as she gave Jacob a small smile.

"Good… everything's good," she murmured, adjusting her sweater as Jake started chatting, telling her about an old car he was fixing up.

Nate stood to the side, hands in his pockets, watching as Jacob continued talking to Bella, who nodded quietly, occasionally throwing glances toward Nate, though he pretended not to notice.

The aroma of food began to fill the air when Nate's grandmother's voice called out from the kitchen,

"Time to eat, everyone! Come to the table before everything gets cold!"

Jake's eyes lit up at the sound.

"You heard the boss!" he said, winking at Bella before heading to the dining room.

Everyone gathered around the table, the warm scent of home wrapping around them as Nate's grandmother began serving generous portions of stew, freshly baked bread, and salad.

The conversation quickly sparked, with Charlie commenting as he grabbed a piece of bread,

"It's nice to get together for things like this, honestly. Feels good after a long week."

Billy shot him a teasing smile.

"Sure, sure… any event where you get good food, huh?"

Charlie laughed, carefree.

"Well, I'm not denying that," he said, shrugging as everyone chuckled softly.

Between the laughter, Nate's grandmother looked at her grandson with a mischievous smile as she served more stew.

"I'm glad everyone could come, though I'm a little disappointed… Since Nate's been in such a good mood lately, I was hoping he'd bring a girl home," she commented casually, though the playful sparkle in her eyes betrayed her teasing.

Jacob burst out laughing, giving Nate a friendly nudge with his elbow.

"That would explain why he's been so busy lately!"

Charlie's frown returned slightly as he added, playing with his food,

"Wouldn't be surprising, huh? Kids these days don't take long to find someone…"

His eyes subtly shifted toward Bella, who lowered her gaze to her plate, picking at a piece of bread as her cheeks turned slightly pink.

Nate's grandmother, quick to notice everything, narrowed her eyes curiously and asked naturally,

"And you, Bella, dear? Are you seeing anyone?"

Bella tensed slightly, lifting her dark eyes that shone with discomfort as she blinked, as if bracing herself to respond.

"Yes… I'm seeing someone."

A brief silence fell over the table, interrupted only by the clink of a fork dropping onto a plate. Charlie let out a sigh, leaning back in his chair with a hint of bitterness.

"Yeah, that boy… Edward Cullen."

Billy's face tightened, a shadow passing through his eyes as he carefully set down his glass. Jacob, sitting next to him, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, though for reasons different from his father's. He dropped his gaze to his plate as if it had suddenly become fascinating.

Nate's grandmother, unfazed by the sudden tension, made a casual remark as she adjusted in her chair,

"What a shame… would have been better if you were interested in my grandson."

Bella, unsure how to react, let out a small nervous laugh before replying playfully,

"I couldn't do that… it would make my dad way too happy."

Charlie, still frowning, looked away, hiding an ironic smile behind a sip of his drink. Bella lowered her voice a bit, glancing at Nate before adding in a near whisper,

"Besides… I think Nate's already interested in someone else."

Nate's grandmother raised an eyebrow, opening her mouth with a spark of curiosity to ask for more details, but Nate, maintaining a calm composure, stood up before she could.

"Since everyone's done eating… I'll go get the cake," he announced with a light smile, collecting the empty plates while his grandmother watched him, immediately realizing that her grandson was elegantly changing the subject.

When Nate returned with the cake, the lights went out, leaving the room illuminated only by the soft flicker of the candles. The warm aroma of freshly baked cake mixed with the scent of wax as everyone gathered, their faces lit by the trembling light.

His grandmother began singing "Happy Birthday" in a clear voice, and soon everyone joined in, filling the air with that family warmth that, for a moment, made Nate feel a bit of joy mixed with nostalgia. The voices blended, each note feeling like a hug.

When the song ended, Nate closed his eyes for a second, silently making a wish before blowing out the candles in a single breath, as applause filled the kitchen.

Amid the laughter, Charlie helped serve the cake, while Billy and Nate's grandmother exchanged jokes about who would get the biggest slice. Soon, everyone moved to the living room, settling into chairs and couches, chatting in a more relaxed atmosphere while eating cake.

Bella stayed quiet for a while, holding her plate as she watched Jacob get into a conversation with Charlie about a fish Mr. Clearwater had caught, while Billy told a story about an old fishing tournament. Nate's grandmother chuckled softly, enjoying every detail of the evening.

Seeing that everyone was entertained, Bella approached Nate, leaning in a little as she spoke quietly, her expression serious but with a hint of nervousness in her dark eyes.

"Nate… would you mind if we stepped outside for a bit? I'd like to… talk to you."

Nate held her gaze for a second, feeling how the warmth of the room contrasted with the slight chill running down his back at the thought of the conversation ahead. But he nodded, setting his empty plate aside before standing up.

"Sure," he said softly.

Bella stood up, picking up the gift she had brought before following Nate.

Together, they walked toward the door, leaving behind the warm murmur of the living room, stepping into the cold Forks air as the quiet night welcomed them, the soft scent of pine filling the air around them.