Chapter 68

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Nate woke to the soft gray light of Forks filtering through the window, illuminating the motes of dust floating in his room. It took him a moment to open his eyes fully, feeling the gentle weight of the silver necklace on his chest, the pendant cold against his skin. He held it between his fingers, the rings of his parents clinking softly together. It was a reminder that even here, he wasn't alone.

For the first time in weeks, he decided not to go for a run. He stayed lying down, listening to the rain softly tapping against the roof, letting the damp air fill the room with that wet forest scent he was starting to like.

He got up, stretching with a yawn before heading downstairs. His grandmother was in the kitchen, sitting with a cup of hot tea in her hands. She greeted him with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Nate," she said calmly, stirring her tea.

"Morning, Grandma," he replied, helping himself to some fruit and bread for a light breakfast.

She took a small sip from her cup before asking distractedly, "Any plans for today?"

Nate chewed thoughtfully before answering, "I'm going to visit some friends."

His grandmother raised an eyebrow, a sly smile on her lips. "Friends' house… or the house of the girl Bella mentioned yesterday?"

Nate just gave a small smile, internally a little impressed by his grandmother's sharpness.

"I should shower," he said, avoiding her gaze before heading back upstairs.

Steam filled the bathroom as the hot water washed away the morning chill. When he stepped out, he paused in front of the mirror, carefully combing his hair, and picking out clothes a bit nicer than usual: dark jeans, a gray shirt, and his black jacket. He even put on a bit of cologne, something he had almost forgotten in his routine.

As he adjusted the necklace again, his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

It was a message from Alice:

"Bella's here."

Nate paused for a second before exhaling with relief. If Bella was there, he wouldn't be the center of attention. He finished getting ready, headed downstairs, and gave his grandmother a quick hug before leaving.

"Take care, Nate," she called from the door.

"I will."

The drive to the Cullen house felt too short for his liking as if the Forks forest was gently pushing him toward a destination from which there was no turning back. When he stopped in front of the large windowed house, he took a deep breath before getting out, feeling the damp air wrapped around him.

As soon as he shut the car door, he saw a pale figure nimbly descend from a second-story window, landing softly in front of him.

Alice.

"Nate!" she greeted him with a slightly excited smile.

Before he could react, Alice linked her arm with his with surprising ease. She was small, yes, but the firmness with which she guided him reminded him that, no matter how delicate she seemed, there was a strength in her that didn't match her size.

For a moment, Nate felt like he was on a tour with a guide… a guide with golden eyes and a mischievous smile.

"I'll take the chance to show you around before Carlisle gets a hold of you," Alice said, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Gets a hold of me?" Nate repeated with a tilted smile.

Alice giggled as she led him toward the door.

"I'm sure it'll be a long talk."

The door opened, letting in the cold, clean scent of the house mixed with a hint of wood and something else harder to define, something he now recognized as "their" scent.

Inside, Rosalie and Emmett were on the couch, talking in low voices. Rosalie had her arms crossed and a clear frown, her gaze filled with evident annoyance as Emmett tried, unsuccessfully, to say something to make her smile. Neither of them noticed him.

Jasper stood with his back to them by a shelf, an open book in his hands. Nate caught a slight tightening of his shoulders, a small gesture betraying that he had noticed Nate's presence, though he didn't lift his eyes from the page.

It was Bella who broke the brief silence from the kitchen.

"Nate?" she called, confused, turning from where she was sitting with Edward and Esme at the counter.

Nate lifted a hand in a small wave, feeling every gaze begin to settle on him as the murmur of the rain filled the empty spaces.

"Just came to visit," he replied calmly, his voice steady even as he felt his pulse quicken slightly.

Alice gently squeezed his arm, a silent reminder that he wasn't alone.

"And I'll be his guide," she added with a glint of humor in her eyes, her smile somehow easing the small knot in Nate's stomach.

Bella approached with a mix of surprise and a small smile on her lips.

"I didn't think I'd see you so soon… and especially not here," she said, lowering her voice a bit when she mentioned "at the Cullen house."

Nate raised an eyebrow with amusement, giving a small shrug.

"I didn't have many options," he joked.

Alice let out a clear laugh, giving him a playful elbow to the arm.

The moment was interrupted as Rosalie and Emmett approached from the living room. Rosalie crossed her arms, her sharp gaze and barely hidden scowl clear on her lips.

"Great, another human in the house," she commented coldly, her icy tone filling the space for a second.

Nate watched her calmly, analyzing her posture, the tension in her jaw, and the way she glanced sideways at Bella with barely disguised disdain. It was obvious she didn't like either of them. However, Nate noticed something else: a quick flicker in Rosalie's eyes as they darted toward the window, where his car was parked.

Nate smiled a warm gesture that would have seemed charming to anyone.

"Good afternoon," he said politely, his voice calm. Then he gave a slight nod. "And sorry for the intrusion… it must be uncomfortable for you to have another human invading your space."

Rosalie blinked, her expression freezing for an instant, surprised by Nate's unexpectedly polite reaction.

Before she could reply, he added naturally:

"Alice told me you're into cars."

Rosalie tilted her head slightly, her posture easing a bit as her gaze softened, though her voice still held a distant edge.

"That's true," she replied simply.

Nate smiled.

"I'd love to show you mine," he said with a touch of humor, "but it's been giving me trouble when I accelerate lately."

Rosalie muttered almost to herself, narrowing her eyes slightly:

"Those models usually have that problem."

Nate feigned surprise with a small laugh.

"Really? I haven't been able to fix it, I've been trying to find the issue for weeks."

For a second, the silence in the house felt like a heartbeat. Rosalie lowered her gaze, and a tiny, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips before she extended her hand.

"Give me the keys," she said in a more neutral tone.

Nate took the keys from his pocket, and Rosalie snatched them from him in a swift motion.

"I'll be outside for a few minutes."

Nate nodded gratefully as he watched her head toward the door, the gray light illuminating her figure as she slipped outside with quiet agility.

Emmett looked at Nate with a broad, amused grin as he crossed his arms.

"Well, that's new," he commented with a deep chuckle before adding, "Hey, Nate! Haven't seen you since you made me eat that burger."

Nate let out a small laugh, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"To be fair, you could've done a better job pretending," he replied with humor.

Emmett burst into a deep, rumbling laugh, slapping his chest as he looked Nate up and down openly.

"You know," he said with a glint of amusement, "you're a solid guy. What sports do you play?"

Nate shrugged casually.

"Up until recently, swimming… and some boxing," he replied.

Emmett's eyes lit up with a nearly childlike enthusiasm as he smiled.

"Man, I was getting bored of the 'indoor' types in my family," he joked, clearly poking fun at Edward's and Jasper's leaner frames.

Nate raised an eyebrow with a crooked smile, crossing his arms.

"Hope you're not thinking about sparring," he teased.

Emmett's laughter boomed through the room, filling the air with life.

"Too easy!" he said, giving Nate a light punch on the shoulder that, while gentle, Nate still felt with firm weight beneath his skin. Emmett nodded approvingly before turning toward the door.

"I'm gonna help my wife with your car."

Emmett followed Rosalie outside with steady steps, leaving a soft echo before the door closed quietly behind him. The murmur of the rain once again filled the brief silence in the room.

Alice and Bella remained watching Nate, their expressions a little puzzled, as if they were trying to figure him out. Before they could say anything, light footsteps approached.

Esme appeared from the kitchen, Edward at her side, radiating that calm warmth that seemed to fill every space she touched.

"Hello," she greeted with a kind smile, her eyes curious. "Nathaniel, right? I believe this is the first time we've met. I'm Esme. I really appreciate you taking the time to come."

Nate returned the gesture, wearing that calm smile he used when he felt gently analyzed.

"It's no trouble at all," he replied sincerely, glancing around before adding, "Your home is beautiful. The modern design… I find it really interesting."

Esme's eyes lit up with genuine surprise and enthusiasm.

"Really? I designed it myself," she said, bringing a hand to her chest with a proud, yet humble smile.

"Seriously?" Nate raised an eyebrow with interest. "It's really well done, the way it uses natural light and the window placement to blend with the forest… it's impressive."

Esme's smile widened as they shared a few points about architecture, Edward watching silently with narrowed eyes.

"You must be hungry, right?" Esme said suddenly, with that gentle kindness that was impossible to refuse. "Would you like me to make you something?"

Nate lifted his hands slightly with a polite smile.

"I'm fine, really," he replied calmly.

"Oh, but I insist," Esme said, a playful twinkle in her smile. "It's fun for me to be back in the kitchen after so long… I think I may have forgotten a few things."

Nate let out a small laugh.

"In that case, if you'd like to try a particular recipe… I can help," he joked. "I know a bit about cooking."

Esme's expression turned delighted as she touched her cheek in surprise.

"That would be wonderful!" she exclaimed softly. "Let me find a recipe, it'll be fun to cook together," she said, heading back into the kitchen.

Alice and Bella exchanged a look before fixing their eyes on Nate, who stood with his hands in his pockets, calmly observing the rain-fogged windows.

"How did you do that?" Bella finally asked, tilting her head with curiosity. "I've been here a few times and I've never managed to get along that easily, let alone make Rosalie smile."

Alice narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she studied him.

"You seemed like a different person," she commented in that sharp tone she used when something intrigued her. "A bit more… charismatic. But it's clear you interact differently with me."

Nate tilted his head with a small smile, but before he could answer, Edward, standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, looked down before speaking, his voice low but clear.

"He was reading reactions," Edward said, his tone without judgment but with a hint of recognition. "He basically acted in response to the image he had of each of us and steered the conversation toward things Alice mentioned earlier… things we like."

Nate let out a soft laugh, the sound resonating gently in the room as he met Edward's gaze for a second.

"It's not polite to read other people's minds," he replied humorously, immediately clearing his mind, leaving a blank space where there had been activity before.

Edward's golden eyes lifted to meet his, blinking with a small exhale.

"That trick of yours is still annoying," Edward muttered in a resigned tone.

Before the moment could stretch on, Alice clicked her tongue and gave Nate's arm a gentle tug.

"Come on, I'll show you the rest of the house before Esme pulls you back into the kitchen," she said with a playful sparkle in her eyes.

Nate let her guide him, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Jasper, while everyone was distracted, quietly closed the book in his hands before disappearing silently into another room.