Chapter 2

The rain had eased into a thin mist by morning, fine enough to turn the air silver. Forks looked half-asleep, the streets quiet except for the occasional car rolling through puddles.

I was awake before Bella knocked on my door."We're going to be late," she said.

I pulled on a dark tee, black jeans, and my favorite denim jacket. "Impossible," I replied, "time bends for us."

She gave me an unimpressed look and headed for the stairs.

The truck grumbled awake like it had been roused from a good nap. The heater's breath was slow to warm the cab, so we rode in silence, our breath misting faintly on the windows.

Forks High was busier than yesterday, kids lingering near their cars, voices rising in bursts before being swallowed by the mist. Bella moved quickly toward the steps; I took my time. Jessica intercepted us, bright as ever.

"Big day," she said, smiling at Bella. "Biology with Mr. Banner. You'll like him. He's... very science."

I arched an eyebrow. "You sound thrilled."

Jessica laughed and waved Bella along. She glanced at me. "You're with me in trig, right?"

"I'll try not to break math," I told her.

The morning was a series of faces, names, and classrooms that all smelled faintly of damp paper. My first two classes passed without incident, though I caught myself checking the air more than once for that strange cold scent from yesterday. Nothing yet.

Near midday, I cut through the hall that led past Bella's Biology class. She was hesitating at the doorway, scanning for an empty seat.

The only one open was beside Edward Cullen.

He sat perfectly still, his pale profile turned toward the window. As Bella stepped past the ceiling fan, the movement of air carried her scent across the room. His head turned fractionally, his expression tightening almost imperceptibly. The change was small, but my instincts caught it like a spark in the dark.

Bella slid into the seat. Edward shifted away from her, not dramatically, but as if the space between them had suddenly grown sharp.

Mr. Banner greeted the class and began his lecture. Bella spoke quietly when they reached the microscope, her voice steady. I couldn't hear his response, but I saw the subtle set of his jaw.

When the bell rang, Edward stood and left quickly, his movements precise. Bella followed more slowly, her brows drawn together.

I stepped into her path. "You okay?"

She shrugged. "He didn't say a word."

"Some people think silence is a personality," I said, keeping my tone light. "Doesn't mean it's about you."

Her mouth twitched, but she didn't answer.

We walked to the office together so she could check her schedule. Edward was already there, speaking quietly to the receptionist. His voice was controlled, but there was something in it—an urgency that didn't match the words.

"I need to change my schedule," he said.

The woman shook her head sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Edward, but there's no changing classes right now."

He nodded once and left without looking at us.

Bella exhaled softly. "Weird."

I met her eyes. "Unpredictable."

⸻

At lunch, Jessica waved us over to the same table as yesterday. We sat, trays between us, as the cafeteria's noise ebbed and shifted.

"They're the Cullens," Jessica began, tilting her head toward the far table as the group entered. Her voice lowered, though not enough to keep it from carrying. "The big guy is Emmett, the tiny one with short hair is Alice, the blond guy is Jasper, the blonde is Rosalie, and the one next to her is Edward. They're all together, but not, you know... related."

I followed her gaze.

They walked like a current moving through still water. My attention caught briefly on Rosalie—flawless, poised, eyes cool and distant. She glanced toward our table. For a second, our eyes met. Hers were glacial, assessing. I held her gaze, my expression neutral, before she looked away.

Edward didn't glance at Bella this time, but his gaze did pass over me for a moment—quick, deliberate. His brow furrowed slightly before he looked away.

The conversation at our table moved on to weekend plans. I kept my focus split: half on Bella, who was pushing grapes around her tray, and half on the distant table where the Cullens sat.

⸻

After the final bell, the parking lot was wet and shining. Bella headed for the truck while I lingered near the gym doors, scanning the lot.

That's when the silver Jeep pulled in. Rosalie stepped out first, moving with deliberate grace. Emmett followed, heading straight for the front of the vehicle. He popped the hood and bent over the engine.

I crossed the lot. "Need a hand?"

Emmett looked up with an easy grin. "Nah, she just likes to keep an eye on me."

Rosalie's gaze shifted to me briefly, then down to my jacket and boots. "You work on cars?" she asked.

"Mostly bikes," I said. "But I've been known to give cars some attention."

Her expression didn't change much, but her eyes sharpened. "Emmett says I'm picky."

"Nothing wrong with that," I replied. "Machines deserve respect."

Something flickered across her face—approval, maybe—but it was gone as quickly as it came. She closed the hood with a decisive motion.

"See you around," Emmett said with a wave. Rosalie didn't speak, but she didn't look away as I turned back toward the truck.

⸻

At home, Bella disappeared into her room. I went straight to the garage. My bike waited under the light, the smell of metal and oil settling around me like a second skin.

I worked in steady rhythm, tools clicking against bolts. My thoughts kept circling back to the Cullens—Edward's reaction to Bella, Rosalie's measured glance, the way their presence shifted the air.

The cat inside me stirred, ears pricked. Something told me the quiet days here were numbered.