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Saturday arrived without incident. The day had started with light rain as if the previous sunny days had been a dream by Forks standards, that was the norm.
Nate had just sat down in front of his parents' dusty box of keepsakes when his cell phone rang. The name "Charlie" flashed across the screen.
"Hey, kiddo. Bella and I are going out to eat. Why don't you stop by and join us for dinner? It's been a while since the three of us saw each other."
Nate hesitated, staring at the unopened box. Part of him had planned to use that Saturday precisely to dig through those belongings, looking for any traces of his parents among the things they left behind. But another, more tired—more human—part of him was relieved to have an excuse to leave it for another day.
"Sure, give me a moment to get ready. I'll catch you there."
He hung up with a sigh, not bothering to hide his relief. Spending Saturday rummaging through memories wasn't something he was keen on. Instead, a meal with the Swans sounded... light. Maybe even fun.
He took a quick shower, put on a dark blue shirt his grandmother insisted enhanced his "aura," and grabbed his car keys. The drive to the restaurant was short, with the rain drumming softly on the windshield as if trying to remind everyone that they were in Forks, after all.
Upon arriving, he spotted Charlie and Bella already seated at a table by a slightly fogged-up window. Bella had her elbows on the table, absentmindedly twirling a straw between her fingers, while Charlie flipped through the menu as if he wasn't looking for anything in particular.
"Hey, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," Nate greeted as he approached.
"Hey, Nate." Bella gave him a soft smile when she saw him arrive.
"It's great you could make it, kid," Charlie said, standing up to shake his hand. Then he gestured for him to sit next to them.
The waitress approached immediately, and after ordering, the conversation began with the usual stiffness that seemed to accompany every father-daughter interaction. Charlie, trying to sound casual, glanced at Nate.
"And how is your grandmother?"
Nate smiled with a slight shrug. "In her world, as always. You know, free spirit. Sometimes I think not even the Forks weather can slow her down."
Charlie let out a hearty laugh. "Your father used to say the same thing. He said it was impossible to predict his next move."
Bella looked up, curious. Nate noticed the gesture and took the opportunity to break the ice a little.
"Actually," he said, turning to Bella, "she's in her 'mystical' phase now. She thinks she can see people's auras, and I have a feeling she's one click away from falling for an energy crystal scam."
Bella giggled, looking down at her burger.
Charlie laughed too, a little more relaxed. "That sounds exactly like something I'd do."
Nate took the reins of the conversation, weaving together small anecdotes, innocent questions, and the occasional sarcastic comment. He felt less like a guest and more like an emotional translator: the Swans spoke the same language but with different accents, and he was there to smooth things over between them.
At one point, Bella got up to get some ketchup. As soon as she left, Charlie lowered his voice and looked at Nate with some seriousness.
"Hey... thanks for coming," he said, playing with the napkin between his fingers. "When Bella arrived, I wasn't entirely sure she'd ever adjust. She's lived away from me for so long... But lately, I've seen her smile more. I think having a friend here is doing her some good. Even her mom called to ask what I was doing; Bella sounded happy."
Nate looked at him with a mixture of surprise and respect for his candor.
"At first, I just thought about getting close to her to take care of her, for you," he confessed. "But… it ended up being a natural fit. It turned out you and Bella are both good people. A little odd, yes, but with the same kind of hearts."
Charlie nodded, with that small, genuine smile he rarely showed. "Thanks, kid."
Not long after, as they were finishing their meal, Charlie's phone vibrated. He answered immediately, his expression changing.
"One of the officers had an emergency. Someone has to cover."
He sighed and took out his wallet. He left some bills on the table and put on his jacket.
"And just when we were having a good time," he murmured. Then he looked at Nate. "Would you take Bella home?"
"Of course."
Charlie nodded gratefully and hurried off.
Nate noticed that Bella, although she tried to hide it, seemed disappointed that her father was leaving just as the conversation was flowing naturally.
The drive back was peaceful. The dashboard lights reflected off their faces, illuminating them with warm, dim tones. The silence wasn't awkward, but Nate decided to break it.
"You have a good father, Bella," he said softly. "He just needs time. You two… are more alike than you think."
Bella looked out the window. "It was easier to talk to him today. I think having you there helped."
Nate gave a small smile. "I'm glad I served as a bridge."
"It's just that... sometimes I struggle with feeling like his daughter," Bella confessed. "It's been so long since I've seen him. And even when I'm here, I feel like I'm the one taking care of him. In Phoenix, with my mom, it was like that too. I always felt like the adult in the relationship."
"And that bothers you?" Nate asked, his tone lacking judgment.
Bella thought for a few seconds. "No. But sometimes… I wish I could stop."
"There's nothing wrong with enjoying being a normal teenager once in a while," Nate said. "You know, having fun and letting the adults babysit you a little." He said it with a hint of nostalgia that didn't go unnoticed.
Bella laughed softly. "Speaking of teenagers… you should know that Jessica will probably ask you to the prom. She decided you were taking her from the first day she saw you."
Nate frowned with an expression that was a mixture of surprise and resignation.
"If you want to avoid it, maybe you should come with me to Seattle that weekend," Bella said, laughing.
He said it jokingly, but Nate didn't blink.
"Yes, we should go together."
Bella looked at him, surprised. "To Seattle?"
Nate laughed. "To the dance."
She frowned, clearly puzzled. "I'm not a good dancer. That's why I avoid those things."
"What if we go as friends? No pressure. We just laugh at each other, dance as little as possible, and if it gets too cheesy... we run away for another burger."
Bella watched him silently for a moment. Nate didn't seem to have any ulterior motives or hidden tension. Just a genuine desire to share something simple and fun, as if he were trying to convince her to do more things her age.
He thought about it for a second but finally smiled. "Okay. I'll go with you. But don't say I didn't warn you when I ruined your feet on the dance floor."
"I'm willing to take the risk," Nate replied with a knowing smile.
They arrived home. Bella opened the car door, but before getting out, she turned to him.
"Thank you. For today. For everything. At first, I wasn't sure it was a good idea to come to Forks… but thank you for becoming my friend."
"Whenever you want."
With a calm smile, Bella closed the door and disappeared behind the illuminated porch entrance. Nate stood there for a few more seconds, making sure she was safe before starting the car and slowly driving off through the damp, silent streets of Forks.
Author's Notes: Don't forget the Powerstones! :)