Garnetta completed her brief visit to the office, where she checked in with the school staff to confirm her return and settle any details for her re-enrollment. The small administrative tasks provided a momentary distraction from the thoughts swirling in her mind, but as she left the office and walked back into the hallway, her curiosity about the girl she had seen earlier returned with full force.
She decided to explore the school grounds, hoping to catch another glimpse of the mysterious girl. Garnetta wandered through the halls, her heightened senses picking up the subtle undercurrents of student life—the quiet gossip, the hurried footsteps, the occasional burst of laughter. It was all so familiar, yet she felt like an outsider, observing from a distance.
As she turned a corner, Garnetta spotted a group of students gathered near the entrance to the cafeteria. Among them, she saw the girl again, standing slightly apart from the others, her eyes scanning the crowd as if she were looking for someone. There was something solitary about her, despite being surrounded by people.
Garnetta felt a strange pull toward her, an inexplicable urge to introduce herself, to learn more about this girl who seemed to hold a piece of the puzzle Garnetta was trying to solve. But she hesitated, unsure of how to approach her without coming across as too forward. Instead, she kept her distance, content for now to observe.
As Garnetta watched, the girl's gaze shifted, and for a brief moment, their eyes met again. This time, the girl didn't look away immediately. Instead, she seemed to study Garnetta, her expression a mix of curiosity and something else—something Garnetta couldn't quite identify.
Before Garnetta could make a move, a familiar voice called out to the girl from across the hall. Garnetta turned to see Edward Cullen walking toward the group, his expression calm and composed, but with a hint of something more intense in his eyes as he approached the girl.
The girl smiled at Edward, and Garnetta could see the way her demeanor shifted—more relaxed, more comfortable. There was clearly a connection between them, though Garnetta could sense a certain tension as well, something unspoken that lingered in the air between them.
Edward greeted the girl warmly, and she responded in kind, their conversation easy and natural. Garnetta couldn't hear what they were saying from where she stood, but she could sense the familiarity between them, the way they seemed to understand each other without needing many words.
As she continued to observe, Garnetta felt a pang of something close to envy, though she couldn't quite understand why. There was no reason for her to feel this way—she barely knew either of them. Yet, there was an undeniable connection between the girl and Edward that intrigued her, made her want to understand it, even though she knew it was none of her business.
Just then, Alice Cullen appeared, joining Edward and the girl. Alice's presence seemed to brighten the mood, and Garnetta noticed how the girl's smile grew wider, more genuine. Alice had a way of bringing out the best in people, of making them feel at ease, and it was clear that the girl appreciated her company.
As Garnetta watched the three of them interact, she began to piece together a few details. The girl was clearly new to Forks, likely a recent transfer like Garnetta herself had once been. And from the way Edward and Alice were treating her, it was obvious that she was important to them, though Garnetta still didn't understand why.
Feeling a bit like an intruder, Garnetta decided it was time to leave. She turned and began to walk away, but before she could get far, Alice caught sight of her. With a bright smile, Alice waved Garnetta over, her enthusiasm impossible to resist.
Garnetta hesitated for a moment, then decided to join them. As she approached, Edward glanced at her with that unreadable expression of his, but there was a warmth in his eyes that put Garnetta at ease.
"Garnetta!" Alice exclaimed, her excitement palpable. "I'm so glad you're here! There's someone I want you to meet."
The girl turned to look at Garnetta, her expression curious but friendly. Up close, Garnetta could see the slight nervousness in her eyes, but there was also a quiet strength there, a resilience that Garnetta admired.
"This is Bella Swan," Alice introduced, gesturing toward the girl. "Bella, this is Garnetta Briars. She's been away for a bit, but she's just come back to Forks."
Bella smiled, a bit shyly but genuinely. "Nice to meet you, Garnetta," she said, her voice soft but steady.
Garnetta returned the smile, feeling an odd sense of relief at finally knowing the girl's name. "Nice to meet you too, Bella," she replied, her tone warm. "I hope Forks has been treating you well."
Bella nodded, her smile widening slightly. "It's been… interesting," she said with a small laugh, glancing at Edward and Alice. "But everyone's been really nice."
There was a moment of comfortable silence as the four of them stood together, and Garnetta felt a sense of calm settle over her. Whatever uncertainties she had felt earlier seemed to fade, replaced by a quiet assurance that this meeting, like so many other things in her life, was meant to happen.
As the bell rang, signaling the start of the next class, Edward and Alice exchanged a quick glance before turning back to Garnetta and Bella.
"We should get to class," Edward said, his tone light but firm. "But we'll catch up more later, Garnetta. Maybe you and Bella can get to know each other better."
Garnetta nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I'd like that," she agreed, her gaze lingering on Bella for a moment longer.
As they all parted ways and headed to their respective classes, Garnetta couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for what was to come. Meeting Bella had been unexpected, but it felt right, as if a new chapter in her life was about to begin.
And as she walked to her next class, Garnetta knew that whatever mysteries lay ahead, she was ready to face them, one step at a time.