Bella stood in the middle of the small bedroom that was now hers. The faint smell of pine lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of old wood and fresh rain. A mix of emotions churned inside her as she scanned the space—the twin bed with its worn quilt, the desk pushed against the wall, and the single window that overlooked the damp, green forest.
It was exactly as she remembered from the stories.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and ran a hand through her hair, staring blankly at her suitcase, which Charlie had lugged up for her before retreating downstairs.
Her thoughts were a whirlwind. The knowledge from her previous life came with an acute awareness of how much danger surrounded her. Forks might appear dull and sleepy, but it was a hotspot for the supernatural. And she was standing in the center of it all.
She inhaled deeply, trying to calm the anxious thrum of her heartbeat. "Okay," she muttered under her breath. "You've got this. Just… one day at a time."
But that was easier said than done.
The Cullens were the immediate concern. Her previous life had taught her that they weren't inherently dangerous—not unless provoked—but being near them would be like walking a tightrope. She didn't know if their vampire senses could pick up her memories, her awareness. Would Edward hear her thoughts and expose her? Would Alice notice the divergence in her fate?
And then there was Rosalie.
Bella closed her eyes and leaned back, her head hitting the cool wooden wall. The image of Rosalie Hale flickered in her mind: golden eyes sharp and piercing, her beauty utterly ethereal, and her demeanor as unyielding as ice.
The thought of seeing her in person made Bella's pulse quicken. But Rosalie wasn't like Edward or Alice. She didn't tolerate humans. She'd hate Bella, just as she had in the original story.
Bella shook her head, trying to rid herself of the sinking feeling in her chest. It didn't matter what Rosalie thought of her. She wasn't here to chase an impossible connection. She was here to survive.
A soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts.
"Dinner's ready," Charlie said from the other side.
"Coming," Bella replied, forcing herself to stand.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Charlie was his usual awkward self, trying to make conversation while Bella nodded and gave short answers. She found herself observing him more than she had before, noticing the tired lines around his eyes and the way he seemed to hold himself like he wasn't sure what to do in his own home.
She resolved to make this easier for him. He didn't deserve her being distant, not when she knew how much he cared in his own quiet way.
After dinner, Bella cleaned up and retreated back to her room. The rain had started to pick up, tapping against the window in a steady rhythm.
She grabbed her journal—a plain notebook she'd brought from Phoenix—and opened to the first page. Writing might help her organize her thoughts.
Entry 1:
I'm Bella Swan, but I'm also… someone else. I don't know why I'm here or how I got here, but I know the rules of this world, and I know what's coming.
The Cullens are here. So are the Quileutes. Vampires and shifters. And me? I don't fit neatly into either category, but something tells me that's going to change.
And Rosalie… I don't even know how to explain what I feel when I think of her. It's like every part of me is drawn to her. But I don't think she'll ever feel the same.
For now, I'll stay out of the way. No matter what.
She set the pen down and stared at the words for a long moment before closing the notebook. Tomorrow was the first day of school. The first step into the world of the Cullens.
As she slipped into bed and pulled the quilt over her, Bella's thoughts circled back to Rosalie.
What would it feel like to meet her eyes for the first time?