I woke before the alarm, stretching lazily under the covers before dragging myself toward the bathroom. Early mornings were becoming a survival tactic in this house because with three people and one bathroom, I wasn't about to risk showing up at school looking like a drowned raccoon.
After brushing my teeth and splashing cold water on my face, I stood before the mirror for a long moment, watching the droplets trail down my skin before patting them away. My reflection almost startled me my hair fell in sleek, glossy waves that shimmered like ink under the light, framing my face with an effortless glow. I pulled on a pair of black jeans that hugged my legs in all the right places, a fitted black long-sleeve that accentuated my figure, and a matching jacket that carried just the right weight of confidence. A few touches of gold jewelry glinted against the monochrome, catching the light as though conspiring to make me unforgettable.
It wasn't an outfit that screamed for attention, but rather whispered: elegance, self-assurance, control. The kind of look that made people stop and stare without realizing why. My beauty felt sharpened, deliberate yet unforced every strand of hair in place, my skin luminous as though kissed by morning dew. Subtle, simple, but polished enough to say: yes, I woke up like this… and I know it.
Downstairs, the quiet smell of coffee brewing filled the kitchen. I moved automatically, whisking eggs, frying bacon, and arranging some fruit on the side. Three plates, three cups of coffee. At least if I couldn't control the supernatural insanity of this world, I could control breakfast.
Charlie came down first, yawning and rubbing at his eyes.
"Morning," he greeted, voice still rough with sleep.
"Morning, Uncle Charlie," I replied, sliding him a plate. "Bella's not up yet?"
He dug into the eggs with approval. "She's in the bathroom. Probably getting ready."
I hummed, sipping my coffee. See? Exactly why I claimed bathroom rights before anyone else.
By the time I'd finished eating, I slipped upstairs to grab my school bag already packed last night because, well, one of us had to be responsible. Coming back down, I found Bella finally at the table, scarfing down eggs and sipping coffee like she was in some kind of eating competition.
"Slow down," I told her, slinging the strap of my bag onto my shoulder. "We're not late. We've still got time."
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she mumbled through a bite, "Thanks for breakfast… it's really nice."
I gave her a half-smile. "No problem."
She set her mug down and straightened awkwardly. "I'll, um, drive us both to school?"
I nearly choked on my coffee. "No, no. I already have my car."
Bella blinked. "Oh? I didn't… see it."
I raised an eyebrow. "It's parked right outside. What are you, blind? It's literally there." Girl, you can't miss a Black Audi A4 even if you tried.
Bella's face turned red, and she stammered, "Oh. I-I must've missed it."
I couldn't help laughing. "Sure you did."
Before Bella could die of embarrassment, Charlie reappeared, holding up two small bottles like they were the crown jewels.
"Pepper spray," he announced gravely, handing one to me and the other to Bella.
We both just blinked at him.
"For safety," he said firmly, though the tips of his ears were turning pink under our stares.
I raised an eyebrow and twirled the bottle between my fingers. "Thanks, Charlie. Nothing says morning confidence like armed girls. Should we practice our aim before school, or…?"
Bella covered her mouth, snorting. "Yeah, maybe we can test them on each other at lunch."
Charlie's head whipped around so fast you'd think someone had set the house on fire. "Absolutely not!"
I grinned, sliding mine into my bag. "Relax, Chief Swan. We'll only use it if someone tries to steal Bella's truck… or, you know, if a moody guy stares too hard at lunch."
Bella turned red, shoving my shoulder. "Don't even start."
Charlie groaned, muttering something about "smart-mouthed girls" under his breath as he reached for his coffee. But when he glanced back at me, there was a twitch at the corner of his lips that betrayed him.
After the three of us finished getting ready, Bella and I headed out together. She climbed into her red truck while I slipped into the driver's seat of my Audi A4. Charlie stood by the door, waving us off. "Drive safe, girls!"
I pulled out first, the Audi purring smoothly against the damp road, sleek and controlled like it knew it belonged here more than I did. Behind me, Bella's truck lumbered along like an ancient beast steady, loyal, but clunky, each gear change echoing faintly through the morning air.
The drizzle from last night still lingered, leaving the asphalt dark and glistening. Pine trees towered on both sides, their trunks swallowed by mist, branches swaying with the weight of dew. Every so often, a bead of rain slid down my windshield, catching the gray light before the wipers brushed it away.
I barely paid attention. Instead, I let myself sink into the rhythm of the drive, fingers tapping against the steering wheel. A trendy 2004 track pulsed through the stereo upbeat, catchy, the kind of song that clung to you even after it ended. I hummed along, a little off-key, but free. For those minutes, I could almost believe this was just another ordinary morning. School, coffee, music. Mundane. Safe.
But it wasn't.
From the treeline, hidden between shadow and fog, someone's eyes followed me. Patient. Calculating. Watching not the car, but the girl inside it.
When I rolled into the school parking lot, Bella's truck rumbled in behind me, coughing out a tired growl as it settled into a spot. The instant I stepped out of my Audi, I felt it that shift in the air, the hush that always comes when too many eyes land on one person at once.
I adjusted the strap of my bag over my shoulder and walked forward, not rushing, not shying away either. The gawking didn't exactly flatter me; it was more irritating, like being a bug under glass. Still, if I was going to be stared at, I might as well give them a show. My steps fell into an easy, confident rhythm, like a ramp walk on some small-town runway. Chin lifted, shoulders back, hair glossy in the pale morning light I wasn't trying, but apparently, I looked the part.
Judging by the way mouths hung open and heads turned, I'd somehow ended up strutting into Forks High School like a model sent here by mistake.
Bella slid down from her truck and caught sight of the attention. Her brow arched in quiet disbelief as her eyes flicked from the gawking students back to me.
I shot her a look and muttered under my breath, "Don't even ask."
She snorted, almost choking back a laugh, and together we started toward the building. The crowd shifted naturally, parting in front of us like the sea itself didn't want to get in the way. Bella, walking just behind me, was suddenly reaping the benefits too nobody jostled her, nobody crowded her. For once, she got the full VIP treatment simply because she was in my orbit.
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