Chapter 17: The Calm Before the Storm
Bella was sitting at her desk, with the book she bought in Port Angeles open in front of her. The pages, filled with ancient legends, described creatures that fed on blood, immortal beings with cold, shiny skin. Each word made the memories of her encounters with Edward fit into the puzzle of who he was. Her mind revolved around one inevitable conclusion: Edward Cullen was a vampire
Her discovery left her surprised, but also gripped by a mixture of fear and fascination. There was something terrifying and yet captivating about the idea that the boy he was so curious about was an immortal creature. She decided that the next time she saw him she would confront him, although a part of her feared what might happen
The next day, as she walked through the school parking lot, her eyes met his. of Edward. The intensity of her gaze passed through her like an electric current. She didn't need to say a word; They both knew that the truth was about to be revealed. During the first class, the furtive glances between the two were full of tension. At the end of class, Edward approached and motioned for her to follow him.
Bella followed him out of the school, toward the edge of the forest. Edward, jaw set, looked into her eyes as they reached a clearing. "I know what you are," Bella said bluntly, her voice barely above a whisper. Edward watched her for a moment, with a mixture of surprise and resignation, before nodding slowly. "Are you afraid?" he asked quietly, as if she already knew the answer
"I should," Bella replied, but she wasn't. There was something about him that kept her calm, as if everything around her stopped mattering. Edward, with a mix of hesitation and confidence, decided to show her what was really hers. He climbed with her to the top of a nearby mountain, where the sun peeked through the clouds. In the sunlight, Edward's skin glowed as if it were covered in thousands of tiny diamonds. Bella watched him fascinated, feeling no fear at all.
When they got back to the ground, Edward admitted that he had tried to stay away from her because he didn't want to put her in danger. However, the attraction he felt for her was so strong that he could no longer deny it. Bella, in turn, confessed her own feelings, and they both let themselves be carried away by the emotion of the moment. They knew that, despite what they were, they wanted to be together, even if the future was uncertain
Meanwhile, in another part of Forks, Rosalie was walking through the forest, heading to the place where she had agreed to meet Ethan. . Their meetings on that rock that they both called "their island" had become their refuge, a space where they could be themselves without the pressure of their families or the conflict between their species.
When he arrived, Ethan was already there, sitting on the rock, looking at the horizon. Seeing her, he smiled and stood up to receive her. "How have you been?" she asked him.
"A little hungry," he joked. "With everything that's happened, I haven't had much time to rest...or eat." His voice became more serious as he mentioned the murder of Waylon Forge. "With that death in Mason County, and the murder near Forks I know that the nomadic vampires that have been roaming around are closer. I can't let any more people die."
Rosalie, noticing the genuine concern in Ethan , hugged him. "I'll help you any way I can," she promised. They spent the afternoon together, sharing moments of calm and laughter, despite the growing threat surrounding them
Days later, Bella was at her house, washing her truck when Edward showed up unexpectedly. They talked for a while, and Edward informed her that the next day he would take her to meet her family. Bella felt a mix of nerves and excitement. Just then, Edward tensed as he saw a car approaching down the street. He immediately said goodbye to Bella and left before Billy Black's car, with Jacob at his side, reached the entrance
As they met, Billy and Edward's gazes met for a brief moment. , full of tension. When Edward left, Billy got out of the car with a smile. "Hello, Bella," he greeted, followed by Jacob, who looked a little more uncomfortable. Soon, Charlie came out to meet them.
Billy and Charlie began chatting about the latest events in town. Billy asked if they had caught the culprit of the recent attacks yet, but Charlie shook his head. "Keep the boys out of the woods, Billy," she warned him
Billy nodded with a calm smile. "Don't worry, Charlie. The reservation is always well protected," he said in a carefree tone, although Bella could notice a tinge of seriousness in his words.
The next day, Bella got into Edward's car, who He led along a path that wound through the tall trees of the forest until he reached a modern, impeccably white house. The Cullen house. Bella was surprised by the elegance and style of the place. It was as if every detail had been designed with precision and taste.
Edward led her inside, and they soon reached the kitchen, where Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie were busy cooking. Edward frowned as he watched his sister cook, but upon hearing his thoughts, he let out a small laugh. The three stopped when they saw Bella and Edward enter. Esme was the first to approach, smiling warmly. "Bella, it's a pleasure to meet you. We decided to cook some for you. Rosalie insisted."
Bella smiled shyly, a little overwhelmed by the family's kindness. Edward quickly intervened. "She already ate, but thank you," he said with a smile. Rosalie, who was normally cool, made a sarcastic joke. "Well, more for me."
Intrigued, Bella couldn't help but ask, "I thought they didn't eat human food?"
Edward, amused, replied, "We don't, but it seems Rosalie has decided to cook for someone else."
Bella, surprised, continued: "For whom?"
Edward simply said: "Her boyfriend."
Bella went blank for a second . "Boyfriend? I thought you were single," she commented sincerely.
Rosalie blushed slightly, but before she could respond, Bella, with a mischievous smile, added, "Looks like Ethan isn't the only one interested in you." ."
The whole family burst into laughter, even Rosalie, although she was clearly a little uncomfortable. After the formal introductions with Emmet, Edythe, Alice and Jasper, Bella began to feel more at ease with the Cullens, although the tension in the air was still palpable. After a while, Edward continued the tour with Bella, leaving her even more impressed by the life the Cullens had built.
Meanwhile, Rosalie left the house with the food she had prepared, heading to her usual hangout. meeting with Ethan. When she arrived, he was already there, watching the sky. Seeing her with the tray of food, he raised an eyebrow in amusement. "And that?"
Rosalie smiled. "You said you haven't been eating well, so I thought I'd get you something."
Ethan smiled gratefully. "Thank you, but you didn't have to."
"Well, we took advantage of Bella coming to the house and cooked something, but she had already eaten," Rosalie explained as they sat down. Ethan looked up. "Is Bella dating Edward?"
Rosalie nodded. "Yeah, looks like they finally admitted it."
Ethan sighed and was silent for a moment. Rosalie watched him carefully. "Do you still have feelings for her?" she asked in a softer tone than he intended.
Ethan set the tray down next to her and looked directly into her eyes. "The only person I want, now and always, is you," he said firmly before moving in to kiss her
Her kiss was intense, charged with emotions. Rosalie reciprocated with the same passion, feeling the weight of her doubts lift away. When they separated, Ethan caressed her face. "I'm sorry if I ever made you doubt," he murmured. "It's just that... my brother, Jacob, has feelings for Bella. And sometimes I feel like I worry about things I shouldn't."
Rosalie smiled at him, calmer. "Don't worry. The important thing is that we're here now."
The two spent the rest of the afternoon together, enjoying a rare moment of peace, knowing that the calm wouldn't last much longer.