School had been unremarkable in the best way the kind of day where nothing dramatic happened, and I could actually enjoy the monotony. Classes blurred together, the usual chatter filled the halls, and at lunch Jessica was in rare form, practically vibrating with energy as she went on about some movie releasing next weekend. Angela, as always, listened with saint-like patience, smiling softly in all the right places. Bella and I chimed in just enough to pass as engaged, though I was already mentally halfway to my bed.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Jessica asked suddenly, her eyes flicking between Bella and me like we were about to confess something scandalous.
"Sleeping," I said without hesitation. "Like turn off my alarm, crawl into a blanket cocoon, go into hibernation, don't wake me until Monday kind of sleeping."
Bella smirked. "Same. Waking up early is… torture. Pure torture. I don't trust people who enjoy mornings."
Angela giggled, shaking her head. "You two sound like you're eighty."
"Correction," I said, wagging a finger for dramatic effect. "Eighty-year-olds like waking up early. They're up at five a.m. making oatmeal and reading newspapers. We're more like rebellious college kids who survive on caffeine, spite, and poor decisions."
Jessica laughed. "So basically… you two are going to sleep the weekend away while I'm out watching the greatest rom-com of the decade?"
"What's it called again?" Bella asked.
Jessica straightened, proud. "Love, Actually 2."
I blinked at her. "Jessica. That's not real."
She frowned. "Okay, fine, but it should be."
"Honestly," I said, sipping from my water bottle like it was a mic drop, "if you want peak cinema, just watch me and Bella not set alarms. It's art. It's rebellion. It's survival."
Bella nodded solemnly. "Ten out of ten would recommend. No spoilers though."
Angela pressed her lips together to stifle a laugh. "You two are ridiculous."
"Ridiculously well-rested," I shot back.
Bella deadpanned, "Speak for yourself. My alarm clock hates me. It's plotting against me."
I grinned. "Mine too. I swear it grows louder every morning, like it's training for a screaming competition."
Jessica groaned and leaned her head against Angela's shoulder. "You guys are hopeless. Fine. Sleep through the weekend, but don't come crying to me when I'm the only one caught up on culture."
Bella raised her brows. "What culture?"
"The culture of people who don't nap like cats!" Jessica said dramatically.
I leaned back in my chair, smug. "Cats are elegant, independent creatures who nap whenever they want. Honestly, I'm taking it as a compliment."
Bella snorted. "Same."
Angela sighed, smiling at us both. "You know, one day you two are going to regret all this sleep."
"Angela," I said seriously, "I regret many things in life. But naps? Never."
By the time the final bell rang, I was already plotting my pillow romance for Saturday. Step one: pajamas. Step two: blanket burrito. Step three: ignore civilization until noon.
Of course, that was when Alice and Jasper intercepted us in the hallway like two impossibly photogenic traffic cones.
Alice's smile widened like she'd been waiting for her cue. "You know, Amara you're always welcome at the Cullen house."
I forced a polite smile. "Thank you."
(No, please, anywhere but there. I've had enough immortal house tours for a decade. Unless you're offering eternal Wi-Fi and a bottomless snack bar, I'm out.)
Jasper gave a small nod, all stoic and mysterious. "We means it."
Classes boring?" Alice asked, tilting her head with a knowing grin.
"As always," I said, shifting my books in my arms. "At this point, I think the chalkboard has more personality than my math teacher."
"Of course," I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder. "I think some of my teachers actually sleep through their own lectures."
Alice laughed. "Well, you survived, didn't you? That's what counts. Oh! Did you see the new store that opened up downtown? It's supposed to have the cutest clothes. I've been dying to check it out."
Bella perked up. "Cute clothes? Like dresses and jackets?"
Alice nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Vintage stuff too, really fun patterns and colors. I want to see everything, try it all on. It's dangerous for your wallet, though."
I raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous how? Like, 'run away before your bank account cries' dangerous?"
Bella snorted. "Or 'everything looks amazing, but none of it fits' dangerous."
Alice giggled. "Both. But that's half the fun. You'd love it."
Jasper leaned in, amused. "Sounds like quite the adventure. You two would make excellent shopping partners."
I chuckled. "As long as we don't have to try on something crazy. I draw the line at neon green."
Bella laughed. "Yeah, I'll allow one ridiculous hat or scarf, but nothing else insane."
Alice clapped her hands together. "Perfect! I'll drag you both there soon, you can help me decide what actually works and what belongs in a trash pile."
After school, Bella and I both drove to the diner me gliding like a civilized adult in my Audi, her clunking along behind in what could only generously be called a truck. I'd tried to convince her to ride with me.
"Come on, Bella. Just one time. Don't make me watch your truck wheeze up hills like it's gasping for air at a senior home," I said, smirking over my shoulder.
She shot me a glare through the windshield, eyes narrowed like she was about to fuse the dashboard with her mind.
"Not happening," she said, chin lifted. "This truck has personality. You wouldn't understand."
Stubborn Bella = 1. Logical Me = 0.
By the time I parked, the sky had already dived past sunset, leaving the diner bathed in neon. The lot was surprisingly packed, heads turning as soon as I stepped out of my car.
(I Ah, yes. The perks of being annoyingly photogenic. Thanks,Rob ,Really.)
Bella finally trudged over, rolling her eyes like I'd personally insulted her childhood.
"Stop walking like you're on a runway," she muttered.
I struck a pose anyway. "I'm not walking. I'm floating with grace."
"Tragic," she deadpanned.
I hooked my arm through hers. "You love me."
Bella groaned but didn't argue, which in her world, was practically the same as admitting defeat.
Inside, Charlie was already planted at a booth in the back, nursing a glass of water like it was the most sophisticated thing he'd ever touched.
"There you are," he said, looking up, relief flickering in his tired eyes.
We slid into the booth across from him, menus in hand. I almost waved at the neon ketchup bottles on the table as if acknowledging our mutual appreciation.
Charlie barely looked at me before ordering. "Steak. Fries. And… the usual."
Bella pursed her lips. "Dad, you really should think about your diet. Maybe some greens?"
I snorted loudly. Heads turned. Charlie muttered under his breath, "My greens are fried potatoes."
I grinned. "Bold move, Chief Swan. Very daring."
Bella rolled her eyes. "I'll eat my salad and live to tell the tale." She stabbed at her menu like it had personally offended her.
Finally, it was my turn. I closed the menu with an overly dramatic flourish. "Burger. Fries. Vanilla milkshake. Let's keep it simple."
Bella stared at me like I'd just declared war on nutrition. "Amara, you should order something… healthy."
I smirked, leaning back in my seat. "It's healthy. Let's break it down: burger protein, check. Lettuce and tomato vegetables, check. Fries potatoes, also technically vegetables. Milkshake milk, calcium, bonus. Nutritional masterpiece. Science supports me. You may try a bite if you dare."
Charlie laughed so hard he nearly dropped his fork. "She's got you there, Bells."
Bella made a face, pinching her salad like it had personally attacked her.
While we waited for our food, the conversation drifted like smoke from the grill. Charlie mentioned the recent spate of strange "animal attacks" around town.
Bella's brows knitted. "Dad, seriously. Don't play hero, okay? Just… be careful."
I nodded solemnly. "Yes. No wandering off into the woods chasing mysterious tracks. Leave that to people who actually care about their limbs."
Charlie raised a brow. "Animal control? In Forks? That's… us?"
Bella groaned dramatically. "Exactly. That's why we worry."
I jabbed a straw at him. "Promise us, Chief. No heroics."
He sighed, raising a hand in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll behave. Mostly."
Our meals arrived Charlie's steak looking like something from a carnivore's heaven, Bella's sad salad staring up at her accusingly, and my glorious burger mountain with fries stacked like a small edible monument.
Charlie eyed me between bites. "Didn't think you'd be friends with the Cullens."
I shrugged, mouth full of burger. "We're not, really. Alice just… adopted me for a day. She has a way of making you feel like you had a choice. Spoiler: you didn't."
Charlie chuckled. "Kids nowadays ".
Bella poked her salad, muttering something about "healthy choices" as I waved my burger in her direction.
"Want a bite?" I teased. "It has all the nutrients your salad lacks, plus 100% more fun."
She wrinkled her nose. "Gross."
"Delicious," I corrected, popping a fry into my mouth with dramatic flair.
We slipped into an easy rhythm laughter bouncing across the booth, small jabs, playful teasing, and the soft clatter of silverware. I teased, Bella rolled her eyes, Charlie grunted and laughed in all the right places.
It was simple, normal, warm. The kind of night that made you forget there were vampires, wolves, and the strange twists of fate lurking just beyond Forks' rainy horizon.
Exactly the kind of night I wanted.
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