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The Cullen house, immersed in its usual twilight serenity, was alive with the subtle vibration of immortal presences. The silence was elegant, almost reverent, as if the place itself knew it was inhabited by beings who rarely allowed themselves to be seen.
That afternoon, Alice had asked everyone to gather in the great hall. It wasn't unusual for her to do so—sometimes for trivial reasons, sometimes for disturbing visions—but this time there was something light, almost playful in her gaze.
Sitting on the back of the couch, her legs crossed, her face lit by a faint smile, she waited for everyone to take their places. Jasper stayed close, as always, at a considerate distance, as if his mere presence could protect her from something he didn't quite understand. Emmett launched himself onto the couch with his usual clatter, while Rosalie did so with the grace of a queen entering a court.
When everyone was present, Alice spoke.
"The next few days are going to be sunny."
The phrase, spoken so naturally, made everyone stop for a second. Anywhere else in the world, that statement wouldn't be worthy of mention. But in Forks, where the clouds seemed eternal, those words were almost miraculous.
Emmett was the first to react, putting a hand to his chest in mock drama.
"Sunny? No! I'll have to go "hiking" again. What a tragedy."
Rosalie rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile. From her seat, she added:
"At least here it's a rare event. The sun comes at a good time. We'll have to feed ourselves anyway..."
"Convenient," Jasper murmured in his deep, yet ironic, voice. His tone was neutral, measured. It always was.
The conversation turned to lighter topics—places they could go without attracting attention, anecdotes from the past, observations about how boring it was to avoid the sun in public—when the front door creaked softly.
Carlisle and Esme walked in, bringing with them an even more tangible calm, if that were possible. Esme reached over to gently kiss Alice's forehead as she passed, then settled in next to Rosalie. Carlisle looked around contentedly. His family, reunited. It was a sight that still moved him.
" I'm glad to see you all together," he said, his voice warm and seeming to soften any tension. Then his tone changed slightly, becoming more thoughtful. "And while we're at it... I'd like to know how much you've found out about the boy who's making Edward so nervous."
Their glances met like reflexes, brief and silent. No one seemed particularly alarmed, but everyone was aware.
Emmett, as usual, broke the ice.
"I met him a couple of times. Pretty nice, actually. Observant. Too much so, maybe." He shrugged. "And thanks to a comment he made, I ended up eating a hamburger in front of a group of humans. Do you know how disgusting that was? Then I had to throw it up... behind a cafeteria. Disgusting. But he doesn't seem to suspect a thing."
Rosalie, impeccable as always, leaned back a little further in her chair before speaking.
"I saw it. Barely. It didn't impress me. It doesn't look like much."
Jasper, always the most analytical, spoke with his gaze lowered.
"I followed him. At a distance. Using enough speed to avoid detection. He doesn't talk to many people. He doesn't seem emotionally unstable, but yes... there's something. A lingering sadness. Like a shadow that never leaves him. I saw him with Bella Swan, and with Billy Black's son. He acted like a normal teenager."
Carlisle nodded, processing each word with the attention of someone who's been making difficult decisions for centuries. Then he turned his gaze to Alice.
"And you? You've talked to him more than anyone. What do you think?"
Alice clasped her hands on her knees, thoughtful. She stared at the ground for a moment before looking up.
"Nate is... interesting. He has a sharp mind. Conversations with him aren't like those with other humans. He makes you think, makes you talk. Like he knows just where to push to get you to say things you didn't know you were thinking. Talking to him is like looking in a mirror. Or sitting across from a therapist who doesn't say much, but makes you uncover truths."
The room fell silent. Alice continued, her tone more introspective.
"I was also surprised by something... The glare. He got over it quickly. I tested him with small gestures, very subtle hints. I watched him. He got nervous, of course, but he handled it with unexpected calm. Especially when compared to how he reacted the first time he saw me."
Carlisle looked at her closely, as if trying to read something beyond the words.
"So... you think he poses a threat?"
Alice hesitated for a moment. She thought about it seriously. She closed her eyes for just a moment.
"I don't think so. But I want to keep getting closer. Just to be sure."
There was a pause. And then Emmett's deep, mocking laughter filled the room.
"Could it be that you're the one who's dazzled, little sister?"
The comment was accompanied by a broad smile. Rosalie rolled her eyes. Jasper tensed his shoulders slightly, in an almost imperceptible reaction.
Alice looked at him with a serene smile.
"That's none of your business, Emmett."
Esme stifled a soft laugh, like someone watching a familiar game. Carlisle said nothing, but smiled faintly.
Little by little, the family began to disperse. Some went upstairs, others simply went into opposite wings of the house, each following their custom of respecting each other's space. The living room fell into semidarkness, bathed in the faint golden light that filtered through the occasional Forks clouds.
Alice didn't move.
She sat for a few more minutes, hands clasped, eyes fixed on some indeterminate point. Emmett's words resonated with her more than she cared to admit. Dazzled? No. It wasn't that. The human would be considered attractive by human standards, but for someone surrounded by near-perfect immortals, he wasn't "dazzling" either.
It was something else. It was... the excitement. The uncertainty. Something she'd rarely felt since she'd learned to trust her visions. Nate was a void. A mystery. A piece that didn't fit. And for someone who could see the future with a clarity that was sometimes suffocating...
That was almost addictive.
Author's Notes: Don't forget the Powerstones! :)