Bella barely remembered the walk back to Charlie's house. Her legs moved on autopilot, her mind spinning with the events in the forest. Rosalie's sudden appearance, the nomadic vampire's predatory presence, and Rosalie's words: I promised myself I'd keep you safe.
When she finally reached home, Bella locked the door behind her and leaned against it, her breath shaky. For all her memories of vampires and shifters from her previous life, she'd never truly felt their danger until today. The realization hit hard—Forks might be a small town, but it was teeming with secrets that could easily cost her her life.
Charlie returned home late that evening, his fishing gear in hand and a contented smile on his face. He greeted Bella warmly, recounting his day with Harry Clearwater and Billy Black. Bella nodded along, trying to mask her lingering unease.
"You okay, kiddo?" Charlie asked, his brows furrowing as he set his gear down. "You look a little pale."
"I'm fine," Bella said quickly. "Just tired. I went for a long walk earlier."
Charlie nodded but didn't press further. "Well, get some rest. We can talk more tomorrow."
Bella retreated to her room, her mind still racing. She couldn't stop thinking about the vampire Rosalie had chased off—or Rosalie herself. There was so much she didn't understand. Why had Rosalie been following her? And why was she so determined to keep her at a distance while simultaneously protecting her?
The next morning, Bella woke to the sound of rain drumming against her window. She dressed quickly and headed to school, determined to confront Rosalie—or at least find some answers.
The day passed slowly, each class dragging on as Bella's nerves grew taut. It wasn't until lunch that she spotted Rosalie, sitting with her usual group at the Cullen table. Rosalie's expression was unreadable, but Bella could feel her presence like a gravitational pull.
Alice was already waiting for Bella at her usual spot. "You're tense," Alice remarked as Bella sat down.
Bella glanced at her, debating whether to ask Alice directly about what had happened. But something told her that Alice wouldn't give her any straightforward answers.
Instead, Bella nodded toward the Cullen table. "Does Rosalie always act like this?"
Alice raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like she wants nothing to do with me but still shows up when it matters."
Alice chuckled softly, her golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "Rosalie is... complicated. She doesn't like getting attached to people. But when she does, it's for good."
"She's not attached to me," Bella muttered, her voice laced with doubt.
Alice didn't respond immediately. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, her expression turning serious. "You don't see it, do you?"
"See what?"
"Rosalie's drawn to you, Bella. She doesn't want to be, but she can't help it. That's why she's so conflicted."
Bella's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly shook her head. "If she's so drawn to me, why does she keep pushing me away?"
Alice smiled sadly. "Because she thinks it's the right thing to do."
Bella stared at her, trying to make sense of her words. But before she could press further, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
After school, Bella decided to take matters into her own hands. She waited by her truck, watching as the Cullens exited the building in their usual graceful formation. Rosalie was the last to leave, her golden eyes scanning the parking lot briefly before landing on Bella.
Bella stepped forward, her heart pounding. "Can we talk?"
Rosalie hesitated, her expression guarded. But then she nodded, motioning for Bella to follow her. They walked to a quiet corner of the lot, away from prying eyes and ears.
"What is it?" Rosalie asked, her tone clipped.
"I want to know what's going on," Bella said, her voice steady despite the nervous energy buzzing in her veins. "Why you were in the woods yesterday. Why you're keeping me at arm's length but still protecting me."
Rosalie's jaw tightened, her eyes flickering with something unreadable. "I told you—it's not safe for you to be out there alone."
"That's not what I mean, and you know it," Bella pressed. "Why do you care? Why do you keep saving me?"
For a long moment, Rosalie didn't answer. She looked away, her gaze distant as though searching for the right words. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "Because I don't want you to get hurt."
Bella took a step closer, her heart aching at the vulnerability in Rosalie's tone. "Why?"
Rosalie turned back to her, her golden eyes blazing with a mixture of frustration and something deeper—something Bella couldn't quite name. "Because you matter, Bella. More than you should."
The words hit Bella like a physical blow. She opened her mouth to respond, but Rosalie held up a hand, silencing her.
"But it doesn't change anything," Rosalie said firmly. "You deserve a normal life, a human life. And I can't be part of that."
"Maybe I don't want normal," Bella shot back, her voice rising despite herself. "Maybe I want to figure this out—whatever this is—without you deciding what's best for me."
Rosalie's expression softened, but the resolve in her eyes remained. "You don't understand what you're asking for."
"Then help me understand," Bella pleaded.
For a moment, it looked like Rosalie might relent. Her posture relaxed slightly, and the hardness in her gaze melted into something gentler. But then she shook her head, stepping back.
"I can't," she said, her voice heavy with finality. "I'm sorry."
And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving Bella standing alone in the parking lot, her chest tight with frustration and longing.
That night, Bella lay awake, her mind replaying their conversation over and over. Rosalie's words had given her a glimmer of hope, but they'd also deepened her confusion. What did Rosalie mean by you matter, more than you should? And why was she so determined to keep her distance?
As Bella drifted into an uneasy sleep, her dreams were filled with images of fire and gold, of forest shadows and piercing eyes. She woke before dawn, her heart heavy with unanswered questions and a determination to find the truth—no matter what it took.