Chapter 66

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The door closed behind them with a soft click. Bella and Nate walked slowly along the gravel path, barely lit by the faint glow coming from the living room window, until they stopped by Nate's car.

They both leaned against the car, each on opposite sides of the passenger door, leaving a cautious space between them as their gazes got lost in the dark outline of the trees. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Only the distant chirping of a cricket and the gentle creaking of branches swaying in the breeze filled the air.

Bella lowered her gaze, fidgeting with the gift box in her hands, while Nate crossed his arms, taking a deep breath before letting it out in a white whisper under the cold light.

Finally, Nate broke the silence, his low tone blending into the stillness of the night.

"I… I've missed talking with you during P.E."

Bella looked up, a bit surprised at first, before a small, sincere smile appeared on her lips.

"I've missed it too," she replied softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I miss my first friend in this place."

Nate looked down for a moment, a faint smile on his face as his fingers tapped lightly on the car's surface.

"Bella, I…" he began, pausing for a second to gather his thoughts. He looked up at her, meeting those dark eyes that always seemed to look for more than he wanted to show. "I want to apologize."

Bella blinked, tilting her head slightly.

Nate took a deep breath before continuing.

"I thought I was doing the right thing… trying to keep you away from them, from the Cullens." He paused, searching for the right words. "But… I didn't really stop to consider everything. I had already figured out they weren't like other vampires, and even so… I looked for ways to keep Edward away from you."

Bella pressed her lips together slightly, not interrupting him.

"And now… after spending time with Alice… I feel kind of stupid, honestly." He let out a short, dry laugh, looking down at his boots. "Yeah, they can be dangerous… but so far, they've proven to be good people."

A small silence settled between them as Nate looked at her sincerely.

Bella sighed, setting the box down on the car's hood as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"It was wrong for you to try to decide for me," she said calmly, though her gaze wasn't harsh, just tired. "But… I understand why you did it. And I'm grateful that you cared about me."

She paused for a moment, looking at the warm lights of the house before turning back to him.

"I know what it feels like to be the one who has to take care of others, Nate." Her voice dropped, carrying a note of understanding. "I can't blame you for that. After all, anyone with common sense would have done the same."

She smiled faintly, a glint of sadness in her eyes.

"Even I… if I wasn't in love with Edward, and the situation was reversed… maybe I would have done the same."

The wind lightly stirred Bella's hair as her words faded into the cold air.

Nate looked down, a small smile on his face before looking back into her eyes.

"I don't know, Bella… I can't really imagine you doing that if the situation were reversed."

Bella raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, really?"

Nate shook his head, his smile widening.

"Most likely, you would have gone running off to stop the vampires… and tripped on your way there."

Bella blinked for a second before letting out a laugh, giving him a small punch on the arm.

"You're an idiot."

Nate laughed too, relieved by that shared laughter that dissolved the tension.

"But you get the point," Bella continued, this time with a bit more seriousness. "The important thing is that, in the end, we think the same. I just… hope there's a chance for you to spend time with Edward."

Nate made a small face but didn't say anything.

Bella looked at him with calm seriousness, interpreting his silence, before adding with eyes that sparkled with humor.

"Yeah, after all, he's your friend's boyfriend… and the brother of the girl you're in love with."

Nate's brows furrowed slightly, amused.

"I think you're getting ahead of yourself, Bella," he replied with a small smile. "Not everyone is like you and Edward."

Bella gave him a gentle nudge, shaking her head with an ironic smile.

"Yeah, sure."

There was a moment of pause as the cold air slipped between them. Nate took a deep breath before speaking, his tone lower, almost confiding.

"And… how are things with him?"

Bella looked down for a second before lifting her gaze with a calm expression, illuminated by genuine happiness.

"Really good," she said firmly. "I'm very happy with Edward. I met his family… they welcomed me with open arms, well, except for Rosalie, but…" She smiled with a small shrug. "I've never felt anything like what I feel for him."

Nate nodded silently, letting her words settle in the air.

"Enough…," he began carefully, "to become like them?"

Bella looked at him immediately, without hesitation.

"Yes."

Her answer was so clear and certain that it surprised Nate, who looked at her with half-narrowed eyes, understanding the weight of those words, though he decided not to comment.

Bella took a deep breath, lowering her voice a bit as she looked at the ground.

"I'm sure. But… I've talked about it with Edward, and he doesn't want that." She shrugged with a half-smile. "It's something we'll figure out later."

Nate watched her for a moment before giving her a sincere smile.

"From the bottom of my heart… I hope things work out for you, Bella."

She looked at him warmly, a glint of relief in her dark eyes.

"Thank you, Nate."

For a moment, they stayed in silence, the distant sounds of the forest wrapping them in a calm atmosphere. Bella tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before looking at him again with a smaller smile.

"And… how about Alice?"

Nate raised his eyebrows, surprised.

"Alice?"

Bella nodded.

"Edward hasn't told me anything. He just says Alice has been vague with her answers, just mentioning that… you two see each other a lot."

Nate looked down, a slow smile forming on his lips.

"Well… it's the same on my end," he admitted. "We're getting to know each other… but I think she's a special person."

Bella smiled as she heard that, a sincere warmth lighting up her features.

"Take your time," she said softly. "I know you're careful."

Nate let out a short laugh as they looked at each other, sharing a comforting calm in the cold night.

"I think… now's a good time to give you your gift," Bella said, picking up the small box she had set on the car before extending it to him with both hands.

Nate smiled as he carefully took the box, starting to open it and slowly removing the paper. Inside, he found a new pair of running shoes, dark colored with subtle details, clearly of good quality, and chosen with care.

Bella smiled, a bit nervous, as she crossed her arms.

"I hope they're useful for your morning runs," she explained lightly. "It was Charlie's idea… to give you something practical."

Nate held the shoes for a moment, surprised, before looking up with a genuine smile.

"Thank you, Bella… really."

Bella tilted her head with a calm smile.

"I'm glad…," she said, before looking him in the eyes. "I'm glad we're okay."

Nate nodded, feeling a part of the tension he had been carrying for weeks dissolve with that simple phrase, as the quiet night of Forks wrapped around them, letting the warmth of that reconciliation hold them in a small moment of peace.