Chapter 7 – Bella's Arrival
The morning sunlight crept through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the quiet house. After the whirlwind of Bella's arrival, things were beginning to settle—at least on the surface. But for Dante, the storm was just starting.
The next day, Charlie proudly showed Bella the car he had gotten for her. It wasn't new, but it was in great condition. He stood with his hands on his hips, smiling as if he had just given her the keys to a spaceship.
Jacob was there too, clearly waiting for his chance to talk to her. He leaned casually against a tree, trying to look cool. Dante stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a mix of curiosity and secondhand embarrassment.
"Man… secondhand embarrassment," he muttered under his breath. "I can't believe he's trying that hard."
He couldn't help but roll his eyes as Jacob tried to jog Bella's memory about the time they used to play together as kids. Bella didn't seem particularly impressed or even interested. She offered a polite smile, said a few words, then slipped into the driver's seat of the car.
Dante followed her into the passenger seat. As she started the engine and began to drive toward the school, the air in the car felt heavy. Silent.
He glanced at her sideways and then chuckled.
— "What's with that dead face? Didn't like Dad's gift?" — he teased with a smirk.
Bella kept her eyes on the road. Her hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel before she let out a soft sigh.
— "It's nothing. It's just… it's been so long since I stayed here. Everything feels so strange now," — she said, her voice quiet.
Dante leaned back in the seat, resting his arm on the window frame.
— "You'll get used to it," — he said simply, not pushing the subject further.
The drive continued in silence. The town passed by outside: familiar buildings, people starting their day, students walking toward the same school they were heading to. But Bella's presence changed the usual routine. Dante could feel the shift, like a new thread being woven into a story already underway.
When they arrived at the school, Bella parked the car and stepped out, glancing around the campus. Dante looked thoughtful.
"First time I ride in a car in years… ever since I awakened my spatial powers. Feels weird being back in something so normal."
He motioned for Bella to follow him.
— "Come on, I'll show you where the principal's office is."
They walked together through the crowded hallways. Students looked at Bella, some curious, some already whispering. She walked with quiet confidence, pretending not to notice.
At the principal's office, she was given her class assignment. Once everything was sorted, she turned to Dante.
— "Thanks," — she said, offering a nod.
— "No problem," — he replied.
With that, they split up. Dante headed to his own class, settling into his usual seat. The teacher began explaining the lesson, but Dante wasn't paying attention.
His mind was far away.
"So the plot begins today, Ben…" he thought, referring to a friend—or perhaps to the voice in his head that helped him plan his strategies. "Let's let Bella deal with her own drama for now. As long as she's not in serious danger, I'm just going to watch from the sidelines. No way I'm getting caught up in some teenage soap opera."
He let his head tilt slightly, looking out the window, lost in thought again.
"Still… I wonder how Margaret is doing. She must still be confused. After what happened that night… after I marked her… She probably doesn't even understand yet. But the more time we spend apart, the more she'll miss me. That's how these things work."
He allowed himself a slight smile.
"What can I do tonight for fun…? I think I'll head over to that bar where Ted, Barney, Lily, and Marshall hang out. It's always entertaining over there. If I'm lucky, I'll catch one of Barney's ridiculous pickup lines in action."
He leaned back in his chair, hands folded behind his head.
— "Yeah, I'm going there tonight," — he whispered to himself.
The bell rang eventually, snapping him out of his thoughts. Students filed out of the classroom, but Dante moved slowly, like someone who had already seen this part of the story unfold a hundred times. Because, in many ways, he had.
With Bella now at the center of this chapter, Dante felt like an observer watching the beginning of something dramatic—something filled with awkward reunions, hidden truths, and emotional storms.
And he wanted no part of it.
Not yet.
But if danger ever crept too close to Bella... he knew he wouldn't stay on the sidelines forever.
---