Rosalie's confession lingered in Bella's mind long after their encounter in the woods. "But I do." The vulnerability in those three words echoed like a bell, both soothing and unsettling. Bella could sense Rosalie's struggle, the push and pull of emotions that neither of them fully understood. And though Bella wanted nothing more than to bridge the gap between them, she knew she needed to tread carefully.
Her days fell into an uneasy rhythm. Rosalie kept her distance during school hours, avoiding prolonged interactions but never straying too far. Bella often caught fleeting glances from her, though Rosalie always looked away before Bella could meet her gaze.
Alice, on the other hand, had become a near-constant presence. Her cheerful demeanor masked something deeper, an unspoken awareness of the tension swirling between Bella and Rosalie. She would sit with Bella during lunch, chatting about everything from fashion to Forks' mundane gossip, but there was always an edge to her tone, as if she were waiting for something to happen.
Bella couldn't shake the feeling that everyone in the Cullen family knew more than they were letting on.
One evening, as Bella sat at the kitchen table pretending to focus on her homework, Charlie interrupted her thoughts.
"Thinking about heading out for a bit tomorrow," he said, grabbing a soda from the fridge. "Fishing trip with Harry Clearwater. You good on your own?"
Bella nodded absently. "Yeah, I'll be fine."
"Sure?" Charlie pressed, eyeing her with a flicker of concern. "You've been spending a lot of time cooped up in your room lately."
"I've just been adjusting," Bella replied, offering him a reassuring smile. "It's a big change."
Charlie seemed satisfied with her answer, though Bella could see the lingering worry in his eyes. She made a mental note to call Angela or Jessica soon—if only to give Charlie the illusion that she was settling into her new life.
The next morning, Bella decided to visit the forest again. Something about the quiet expanse of trees calmed her, grounding her when her thoughts became too chaotic.
She packed a small bag with water and a notebook, intending to sketch some of the flora she'd noticed on her last walk. Drawing was a skill she'd picked up in her previous life, and though she wasn't particularly talented, it gave her a sense of peace.
The forest was damp and cool, the air tinged with the earthy scent of moss and pine. Bella wandered for a while, finding a comfortable spot beneath a cluster of cedars. She pulled out her notebook and began to draw, losing herself in the rhythm of pencil strokes and the gentle rustling of leaves.
But the peace didn't last.
A sound—a soft snap of a twig—caught her attention. Bella froze, her senses sharpening as adrenaline surged through her veins. She glanced around, her eyes darting between the trees, but saw nothing.
"Who's there?" she called, her voice steady despite the unease curling in her chest.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a figure emerged from the shadows.
It wasn't Rosalie.
A tall man with wild, unkempt hair and a predatory gleam in his eyes stepped into view. His clothes were disheveled, his stance unnervingly relaxed for someone who had been lurking in the woods.
"Didn't mean to startle you," he said, his tone too smooth to be reassuring.
Bella stood slowly, her muscles tensing as her mind raced. She didn't recognize him, but something about him felt wrong—dangerous in a way that had nothing to do with human malice.
"Who are you?" Bella asked, her voice firmer than she felt.
The man tilted his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Just passing through. Didn't expect to find someone like you out here alone."
Bella's heart pounded in her chest. She took a cautious step back, her fingers tightening around her notebook. "I was just leaving."
The man's smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed sharper than they should have been. "Oh, I don't think so," he said, his tone dripping with menace.
Before Bella could react, he moved—fast, too fast for any human. She stumbled backward, her instincts screaming at her to run, but there was no time. The man closed the distance between them in a blur, his hand lashing out toward her.
And then he stopped.
A low growl, deep and guttural, echoed through the forest. The man's eyes widened in shock as a blur of golden hair and pale skin crashed into him, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Rosalie.
She stood between Bella and the man, her stance feral and protective. Her golden eyes burned with fury, and her lips pulled back in a snarl that revealed her sharp, gleaming teeth.
"You picked the wrong human to mess with," Rosalie hissed, her voice venomous.
The man pushed himself to his feet, his confident demeanor shattered. "I didn't know she was yours," he said, his eyes darting between Rosalie and Bella. "I'll go. No harm done."
Rosalie didn't move, her glare pinned on him like a predator sizing up its prey. "If you so much as look at her again, I'll tear you apart."
The man nodded slowly, his fear and unease palpable. Without another word, he turned and ran, disappearing into the trees with inhuman speed.
Bella stood frozen, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. Rosalie turned to her, her expression still fierce but tinged with something else—concern.
"Are you okay?" Rosalie asked, her voice softer now.
Bella nodded shakily. "I think so."
Rosalie's eyes scanned her, searching for any signs of injury. "He shouldn't have been here. I'll make sure he doesn't come back."
"Who and what was he?" Bella asked, her voice trembling.
"A vampire," Rosalie said grimly. "A nomad. They don't follow the same rules we do."
Bella turned to Rosalie and asked softly "Wich rules do you follow then?"
"We don't drink human blood..." Rosalie said. "I shouldn't have let you figure the supernatural out." she whispered.
Bella swallowed hard, the reality of the situation sinking in. "He could've killed me."
"But he didn't," Rosalie said firmly, her eyes locking onto Bella's. "I wouldn't have let him."
Bella's heart twisted at the intensity in Rosalie's gaze. "You were watching me?"
Rosalie hesitated, her expression flickering with something unreadable. "Yes."
"Why?"
Rosalie didn't answer immediately. She glanced away, her jaw tightening. "Because I promised myself I'd keep you safe," she said finally, her voice low.
Bella's breath caught in her throat, but before she could respond, Rosalie stepped back. "Go home, Bella. Stay out of the woods. It's not safe."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving Bella standing alone in the clearing, her heart pounding and her mind racing.