Easygoing in Twilight

Alex woke early, before his alarm could rouse him, as faint streaks of sunlight filtered through the blinds, battling the steady drizzle that had come to define Forks. There was a heaviness in the air today—a soft whisper of change—moments swelling from possibility into reality.

His phone buzzed quietly on the bedside table—a message from Alice:

Heading to the river trail with Rosalie. Want to join us? I promise there will be less danger than the last time I picked a picnic spot.

—A

A smile tugged at Alex's lips. He pulled on a hoodie, slipped on his shoes, and headed out. The day felt fresh, somehow forgiving, even beneath the gray sky.

Turning the corner, he stepped onto the road outside his building, he nearly collided with Bella Swan. She looked distracted, one hand clutching the strap of her bag, her eyes unfocused as if lost in heavy thoughts.

"Hey, Alex," she said softly, her voice thinner than usual—as though something wound tight within her.

He offered a warm smile. "Everything okay?"

Bella hesitated, then forced a wry grin that barely touched her eyes. "Yeah. Just… Forks feels weirder every week, doesn't it? Or maybe that's just me."

Alex chuckled gently. "If it's the town, you've chosen the right place for weird."

She lingered, chewing the inside of her cheek, eyes flicking toward the stairs as if debating whether to slip away or speak.

Finally, she met his gaze. "Alex, can I ask you something… weird?"

He nodded. There was something about her vulnerability—a mirror to his own private doubts, the oddness he usually tried to ignore.

"Have you ever… seen someone do something impossible? Like the laws of physics just don't apply?" Her words came fast, raw. For once, Bella's usual caution was gone, replaced by urgent sincerity.

Alex blinked, caught off-guard by her bluntness. "What do you mean?"

Bella glanced away, nervously tracing a line up and down her arm. "Edward. After the truck accident—he stopped it. Literally stopped the truck with his hands. It shouldn't be possible. And now… he won't talk to me. Won't look at me. Like he's afraid I'll ask the wrong question. It feels like… there's something I'm not supposed to see."

Alex frowned, a dozen memories flickering through his mind. So canon already had her reaching this point—knowing about the Cullens, the start of their story playing out in fast forward. Should he help her? Or let her find her own path?

"I can't be the only one noticing, right?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

He shook his head slowly. "No, you're not alone. But Forks isn't a normal town…and the Cullens have a way of making strange things look normal." He paused, weighing his words. "Edward's a good guy. Quiet, though. Keeps mostly to himself."

Bella sighed, her rigid posture softening as she leaned against the wall. "Sometimes I feel like I'm in over my head. Like I should just let things be, but…" Her voice trailed off, uncertainty etching her face.

Alex stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're stronger than you think. Trust your gut. And you're not alone, okay? If you ever want to talk, I'm here."

Bella managed a grateful half-smile, tension easing a little. "Thanks, Alex."

He watched her go, clutching her books tighter to her chest, before stepping out into the crisp morning air. The encounter left him keyed up—Bella's words lingering like dew on his skin: impossibilities, secrets, fear. How much did anyone here really know—about the Cullens, about anything?

At the river trail, sunlight filtered through thinning clouds, making the damp earth glow. Alice greeted him with her usual brightness, Rosalie following nearby, rain glittering in her pale gold hair.

"Survived the weird day already?" Alice teased, nudging his arm.

He grinned, letting go of the morning's tension. "Weird is basically the town motto, isn't it?"

Rosalie shot him a rare, wry smile. "You'll fit in, then."

They wandered the muddy path, the ground squelching beneath their boots. Alice plucked wildflowers, Rosalie critiqued Alice's music tastes, and Alex felt himself ease into their rhythm, though Bella's worry still hummed faintly beneath his skin.

Pausing by a sun-warmed flat stone, watching the river race past, Alice's expression shifted suddenly serious. "Don't let this place get to you," she said softly, as though she could read the shape of his doubts. "Forks likes its mysteries."

Rosalie looked at him with steady eyes. "We're not exactly normal, you know."

Alex smiled warmly, a kind of acceptance blooming inside. "Maybe that's what makes us fit. Outcasts who find each other."

I think I should say something about this—not just friendship. Seriously, who wouldn't think these two were flirting with me? If I weren't so clueless, maybe I'd realize I'm their mate. Or something—I can feel the bond. But maybe that's a conversation for later.

Thunder rolled in the distance, promising rain again, but the clouds held for now. The three of them walked on together, laughter trailing behind like a tentative promise. The future was uncertain—but, finally—it felt inviting.