A Chance Meeting
Bella woke to the soft patter of rain against her bedroom window. The familiar gray skies of Forks wrapped around her like a blanket, reminding her that this wasn’t Phoenix, with its endless sunshine and open spaces. But she didn’t mind; she’d always found a certain comfort in the rain.
After showering and dressing, Bella made her way to the kitchen, finding Charlie already in his recliner, a fresh ice pack balanced on his chest. His leg was propped up on the coffee table, and his crutches sat within arm’s reach.
“Morning, pops” Bella greeted, pouring herself a mug of coffee and joining him.
Charlie grunted his usual response, shifting slightly and wincing.
“How’s the leg?” Bella asked.
“Same as yesterday,” he muttered. “But these ribs are killing me.”
Bella winced in sympathy. His broken leg was bad enough, but the fractured ribs made everything harder—breathing, moving, even sleeping.
Charlie noticed her concerned gaze and huffed out a sigh. “I’m fine, Bells. You don’t have to hover.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bella said, brushing him off. “You’re fine until you try to reach for something and fall on your ass instead. So, you’re stuck with me hovering.”
Charlie sighed but didn’t argue. She could tell he hated being this helpless, and the combination of his broken leg and fractured ribs made even the simplest movements painful.
“I’m heading out in a bit,” Bella said, changing the subject. “Figured I’d stretch my legs and maybe grab us a few things in town. You need anything?”
“More coffee,” Charlie muttered. “And maybe a beer.”
Bella raised an eyebrow. “Beer? Pretty sure you’re not supposed to be drinking with the meds you’re on.”
Charlie grumbled something under his breath that Bella chose to ignore. Instead she finished her coffee and decided to head out for a while.
---
Forks was quieter than Bella remembered, though she wasn’t sure if it was the rain or the passage of time. She wandered aimlessly, taking in the familiar sights: the diner, the hardware store, and the high school she hadn’t thought about in years.
After walking through the small town she still felt restless and decided to decided to take a detour into the woods. The damp earth squished softly beneath her boots, and the scent of pine filled the air. She followed a narrow trail, letting her thoughts drift to what she can do to make her stay in Forks more exciting, when she suddenly rounded a corner and nearly collided with someone coming the other way.
“Oh, sorry!” Bella exclaimed, stumbling back a step. "I was totally lost in thought and didn't even see you coming."
The person she’d nearly run into was a striking blonde that appeared to be around her age. She was tall and elegant, with flawless skin and sharp, piercing eyes. Her clothes were immaculate despite the muddy trail, and there was a grace about her that made Bella feel clumsier than she already was.
“It’s fine,” the blonde said coolly, her voice smooth and steady.
Bella blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. “Uh, I didn’t think I’d run into anyone out here. I guess it’s a nice day for a walk—if you like rain, anyway.”
The blonde’s lips quirked into the faintest hint of a smile. “You could say that.”
“I’m Bella,” she said, offering her hand.
The woman hesitated for a fraction of a second before taking it briefly. “Rosalie.”
“Nice to meet you, Rosalie,” Bella said, trying to ignore how soft Rosalie’s hand was—or how cool. “Do you hike here often?”
“Sometimes,” Rosalie replied, her tone guarded but polite. “It’s quiet.”
“Yeah, that’s what I like about it, too,” Bella said. She hesitated, unsure what else to say. Rosalie didn’t seem like someone who wanted to make small talk, but there was something intriguing about her—something that made Bella want to linger. Considering that Rosalie was still standing there as well instead of walking off, she'd hoped the blonde felt the same way.
“Are you new in town?” Bella asked finally. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
Rosalie’s expression didn’t change, but Bella thought she caught a flicker of something—amusement? Annoyance?—in her eyes. “Not exactly. I’ve been here for a while, but I don’t spend much time in town.”
“That explains it,” Bella said, grinning. “I thought maybe I was losing my memory or something. I mean, I’m not great with faces, but I think I’d remember someone like you.”
Rosalie’s gaze sharpened slightly, and Bella realized too late how that might’ve sounded. “Uh, I mean—”
“I know what you meant,” Rosalie said, her voice soft but cutting off Bella’s rambling.
Bella felt her cheeks heat up. “Right. Sorry. I can be a little... blunt sometimes.”
Rosalie studied her for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to Bella’s surprise, the faint smile returned. “It’s refreshing.”
Bella blinked. “It is?”
Rosalie tilted her head slightly, as if appraising her. “Most people don’t speak their minds. It’s... different.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Bella said, smiling again.
Rosalie didn’t respond, but she didn’t leave, either. Bella took it as a good sign.
“So, are you out here for a reason, or just exploring?” Bella asked, shifting her weight.
Rosalie glanced toward the trees, her tone careful. “Just taking a walk. I like the quiet.”
“Same,” Bella said. “Well, most of the time. My dad’s recovering from an accident, so it’s been a little... too quiet at home lately.”
Rosalie’s expression softened slightly. “Is he all right?”
“He will be,” Bella said. “Just takes time. He’s got me hovering over him, so he’s in good hands.”
Rosalie’s lips twitched again, almost a smile. “I’m sure he is.”
There was a pause, and Bella realized she didn’t want the conversation to end. “Well, if you’re ever looking for a hiking buddy, let me know. I could use an excuse to get out of the house more.”
Rosalie raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable again. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She nodded politely and turned, continuing down the trail with the same effortless grace she’d had when Bella first saw her.
Bella watched her go, a strange mix of curiosity and admiration swirling in her chest. There was something about Rosalie—something that felt important, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Shaking her head, Bella turned and headed back toward town, her thoughts lingering on the blonde stranger she couldn’t seem to forget.
---
When Bella returned home, Charlie was asleep in his recliner, the TV still playing softly. Normally, the quiet comfort of her childhood home would have been soothing, but Bella still felt restless despite her run in with the stranger in the woods running through her mind. Deciding to let Charlie get as much sleep as he could she quietly made her way to the kitchen to start preparing dinner.
When she finally pulled the chicken from the oven she glanced at the clock and saw it was still only 7:30 in the evening. The evening stretched ahead of her, unbroken and dull and she let out a sigh at the thought. Her mind kept straying to her walk in the woods and her encounter with Rosalie. It had been the most interesting thing to happen to her since returning to Forks.
She tried to remind herself it was only her second day back in town, but after the hustle of college life things seemed even duller in Forks than they had before. As much as she hated to admit it, she missed having things to do, people to see. Caring for Charlie was fulfilling in its own way, but it wasn’t enough to keep her feeling fulfilled.
Her thoughts turned to Angela Weber. Bella had run into her at the market the day before, and Angela had been so warm and kind, suggesting they grab coffee sometime. Bella could use a friendly conversation, and Angela was the perfect person for it.
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts, but Angela’s name wasn’t there. Of course. Bella hadn’t stayed in touch after high school, and any numbers she might have had were long gone when she upgraded her phone.
Sighing, Bella leaned back against the counter, tapping the phone against her palm when an idea struck her: Angela mentioned working at the school library. Bella could stop by tomorrow and say hello. It would give her an excuse to get out of the house again, and maybe Angela could help her feel a little more connected to Forks again. With that thought in mind she went to wake Charlie up for dinner, feeling a little less restless than she had before.
---
The next day Bella stayed home with Charlie until afternoon, curling up with a new book on the couch while he watched tv in his recliner. Charlie kept insisting that she didn't need to babysit him but she was also waiting for the school day to end, assuming it would be close to when Angela would be getting off as well. She didn't think the high school would take too kindly to someone just wandering around while classes were in session, even if they were former students.
When she finally arrived, Forks High School looked exactly as Bella remembered it. The old brick buildings were damp from the ever-present rain, and students milled around the parking lot, chatting and laughing as they waited for the busses, or just to delay having to go home.
The main office hadn’t changed either. She explained to the secretary that she was looking for Angela Weber in the library, and after a brief phone call, the woman directed Bella down the familiar hallway.
The library was quiet, as expected. Bella paused in the doorway, taking in the rows of books and the tables scattered with students’ notebooks and laptops. She spotted Angela near the front desk, shelving books.
Before she could call out to her old friend, Bella’s attention was pulled elsewhere. Across the room, near the far wall, was Rosalie.
She was seated at a small table, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulder as she leaned over a book. Her posture was perfect, as if she’d stepped out of an old photograph, and her presence seemed to draw a bubble of silence around her.
Bella’s heart skipped a beat. What are the odds? Though if Rosalie was a student here Bella couldn't help but feel a bit weird about her attraction to someone clearly younger than her. Even if she looked old enough to be Bella's age.
Rosalie didn’t appear to notice her, her attention focused on the book in front of her. Bella hesitated, unsure whether to approach her or stick to her original plan. There was something magnetic about Rosalie, something that made Bella want to know more about her.
Before she could make a decision, Angela turned and spotted Bella. “Bella!” she called, smiling brightly.
Bella tore her gaze away from Rosalie and grinned at Angela, making her way over. What she didn't know was that of course Rosalie had heard her name when Angela called it, and she looked up to watch the two of them greeting each other.
“Hey, Angela,” Bella said, relieved to see a friendly face.
“I didn’t think you’d come by so soon,” Angela said, setting the books on the counter. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You too,” Bella replied, glancing briefly in Rosalie’s direction before returning her focus to Angela. “I was feeling a little stir-crazy at home, so I thought I’d drop by and catch up. That offer for coffee still on the table?”
“Always,” Angela said with a laugh. “Let me finish up here, and we can head out.”
Bella nodded, trying to keep her attention on Angela, but she couldn’t help sneaking another glance at Rosalie. The blonde hadn’t moved, her focus still locked on the book in front of her as far as Bella could tell.
Who was she? Bella couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Rosalie than met the eye.