Easygoing in Twilight

The night air felt different—softer, almost expectant—as Alex left the café. Rain hung in the air like a secret, misting his cheeks and cooling the last trace of nerves in his body. He walked slowly, hands in pockets, the memory of Alice's laughter and Rosalie's rare, quiet smile looping through his mind.

All those times believing he was an outsider, that the Cullens' stories were set and untouchable—now everything felt open-ended and possible. He carried that hope upstairs, let it keep him restless with a thousand what-ifs until morning.

By sunrise, his world felt new, tinged with something brighter. As Alex stepped out to grab the phone, his eyes caught a message from alice:

Antique market in town square, 10 a.m. Meet us?

—A

He smiled before he could help it, pocketed the note, and let the promise of the day guide him through the weak sunlight.

Midmorning, the Forks market was all muffled chatter and umbrella parades. Alex found Alice first—impossible to miss, bouncing in place by a rack of old vinyl, her energy a quiet spark in the gray crowd.

Rosalie lingered nearby, flicking through a crate of old books, each movement calm and elegant.

"Hey, city boy," Alice called, already grinning as he approached. "Ready to brave the wilds of small-town shopping? I'm about to expand your pastry horizons forever."

Rosalie glanced up, arching a brow. "He might run screaming. He still hasn't recovered from your karaoke skills."

Alex laughed, falling easily into step beside them. "I'll take doughnuts and books over embarrassment, any day."

They wound through the market, weaving from honey stands to pottery tables. Alice pressed him to sample everything—blueberry scones, local cider—and nudged with whispers like, "Ten out of ten, only slightly better than your taste in music."

Rosalie played along, expertly deflecting teasing and firing back with deadpan comments, brushing her hand against Alex's when they both reached for the same battered paperback.

After a while, sheltering from a sudden burst of rain beneath a striped awning, they settled side by side on a bench, warm mugs in hand. Steam curled between them.

Alice propped her chin on her hands and studied Alex with playful scrutiny. "Okay, mystery boy--what's your angle? You breeze into town, brave fork's gloomy charm, deal with Rosalie's death glare and my endless questions....and you're still hanging around? Kinda suspicious."

Aelx shot her a crooked smile. "Maybe I like danger. Especially when it looks this good."

"Or maybe I'm waiting to see what you'll throw at me next."

Rosalie gave a half-laugh, rolling her eyes.

 "Careful. We're just getting started."

Alex let his gaze linger a moment longer than usual, surprised at how easy they all fit together. He bit into his doughnut, scattering sugar, and Alice nudged his arm so he nearly dropped it.

"Careful," she said, close now. "Wouldn't want you to waste the one thing Forks does better than sunshine."

He brushed sugar from his jeans, smirking. "I'll remember that—next time you accuse me of bad taste, I'm bringing backup."

Rosalie hid a smile behind her mug. "He's learning."

Conversation drifted from small-town quirks to favorite movies, childhood misadventures, which of the vendors might be selling love potions instead of honey.

Whenever Alice laughed, she leaned in just a little, her hand finding his in the space between them. Rosalie, quieter, gave him small, knowing glances—each one a reward for some shared joke he only half understood.

After a lull, Alice gave him a look that was both curious and challenging. "You know, for someone who's new here, you haven't asked a single question about anyone's love life. That's a record."

Alex flushed, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Didn't want to assume. Forks seems like a place where everybody already knows too much."

Rosalie shook her head, laughter soft in her throat. "That would be too easy. People here are great at fiction."

Alex ventured, "So… no mysterious partners in the wings?"

Alice's reply was gentle but pointed. "Nope. No secret boyfriends. Forks would love it, but we're just… us."

Rosalie nodded. "It makes people notice things. Not all of them true."

A weight he didn't know he was carrying faded from Alex's shoulders. For a moment, the only sound was the rain pattering above them and the slow burn of hope in his chest.

"Then that really does make three of us," he said, letting the admission hang, soft but sincere.

The mood lightened—Alice squeezed his hand for a heartbeat, her eyes dancing. "Outsiders unite?"

Rosalie's rare, warm smile said the rest.

Too soon, Alice stood, stretching. "So, what's your plan tonight? We were thinking diner food—real local experience. Unless you're afraid of seeing us again so soon."

Alex met her challenge with a crooked grin. "If it means more doughnuts or magically good fries, I'm committed."

They walked back through the brightening drizzle, eyes meeting with an ease they hadn't dared before. Steps in sync, laughter trailing behind. As they neared Alice's car, she slipped her hand into Alex's just long enough for him to feel the spark and wonder if the whole world saw it too.

Rosalie lingered, glancing over her shoulder. "Just so you know," she said quietly, "next time, you pick the music."

Alex's heart sped up. "Deal."

As they settled into a cozy booth at the diner, Alex watched Alice pick up a fork and delicately trace patterns on her plate, barely taking a bite. Rosalie sipped her coffee with practiced grace, but Alex noticed the cup stayed nearly full. It struck him then—weren't they vampires? How did they manage this whole dining thing?

They don't really need to eat, right? His mind raced back to whispered rumors and old stories. So all this—sharing meals, pretending to enjoy food—just part of the act?

He caught Rosalie's eyes across the table, her expression unreadable but almost amused, as if she could tell exactly what he was thinking. Alex smiled, shaking his head slightly.

Just part of the vampire stealth mode, he decided, but honestly, it's kind of impressive how natural they make it look.

"As Alex watched Rosalie and Alice artfully ignore their dinner, he couldn't help but smile. Vampires or not, they made fitting in look effortless. Some mysteries were better savored than solved—at least for now."

For now, he let the question linger, tucked away beneath the comfort of their conversation and the warmth spreading through the diner. There were mysteries here, for sure—but some things were better left to quiet observation, at least for tonight.