"Who… are you?"
I didn't recognize my own voice. Hoarse, tired… and a little shaky. It felt like I hadn't fully woken from that nightmare yet.
Sunlight streamed from behind her, casting a faint golden halo around her hair. For a few seconds, I thought I was still dreaming… but her heartbeat was calm and human, making everything feel real.
The girl took a step back. She folded her hands and for a moment bit her lower lip… Her heartbeat sped up… was she nervous? Or scared of me?
"Uh… well, I saw you by accident…"
She looked down, breaking eye contact.
That soft, beautiful voice—I had heard it a thousand times in my dreams.
She glanced around a few times, as if she didn't know what to say.
"I… I was just passing through here. I saw you… like you were asleep. I just… wanted to make sure you were okay."
I stared at her for a few moments. Not out of rudeness… I just couldn't believe I had met her in the exact place she had appeared in my dreams so many times!
I stood up… She was small, almost 11 inches shorter than me.
"What's your name?"
My voice softened.
She hesitated.
It seemed like she was fighting with herself whether to answer or not.
"My name is Isabella… just call me Bella."
Isabella… the name fit her perfectly, like a goddess.
I felt my legs go weak, but I pretended everything was normal.
Still, I couldn't take my eyes off her… not even for a moment.
"I… am Michael Kent," I said softly. "I… I'm not from around here."
She nodded. "Me neither, I just got here too."
She glanced at my eyes briefly, but when our eyes met, she seemed to freeze for a moment.
"Isabella?" I said her name for the first time.
She took two steps back.
"Just call me Bella…"
She frowned.
Finally, she looked into my eyes. "I'm from Phoenix, and today I wanted to take a walk in the woods before school!"
I smiled. "I'm from Romania…"
She smiled faintly in return.
"Yeah… you're going to high school too?"
If I go to school, I can talk to her more and figure out why she keeps appearing in my dreams… but I can't immediately enroll today.
"Yeah… we'll see each other tomorrow!"
The smell of wolves in the forest was stronger… Bella is human, what if one of them attacks her?
"Bella… why exactly were you here? The forest is dangerous!"
She blinked, pausing.
Her hands went into her pockets.
She blushed and said, "It was an accident."
I arrived here the same way, like her… but why? Why were we both drawn here?
"Isabella… I'll go with you to high school… I have some enrollment things to take care of."
Bella froze.
Her face turned slightly red. "Ah… okay."
"My car is a little far, is that okay?"
She shook her head no.
We walked out of the forest together and onto the road… There was silence between us until she asked, "Michael, why did you come from Romania to Forks?"
I had to lie. "I needed to get away from my family… and I like the weather here in Forks."
She looked at me confused. "But it's so far!"
I nodded and smiled.
"And you, Isabella… why did you come here?"
She sighed. "Just call me Bella."
I wasn't going to do that.
I smiled wider. "No, Isabella."
She rolled her eyes, trying to hide her smile, but the corner of her lips still lifted.
"I was with my mom in Phoenix, and now I came to live with my dad… he's the sheriff… Charlie Swan."
So that man I saw last night… was Bella's father!
We walked in silence, occasionally glancing at each other until we finally reached my car.
"This is a BMW X6! You're rich, Michael?" she asked excitedly.
"Almost."
I opened the door for her. Ava looked surprised, but then she got in, and I closed the door and got in myself.
I started the car, noticing she was shivering from the cold, so I turned on the heater immediately.
"Isabella, where do you live?"
She raised her eyebrows. "38 Eighth Street… why do you ask?"
I need to find a house nearby… but is it too close? What if she gets scared and wants distance?
"Just asking."
"Where do you live, Michael?"
"I'm staying at a hotel… looking for a place."
She nodded, and I kept driving. Every time I looked at her, her eyes lowered, as if she was lost in thought. I hoped I hadn't accidentally upset her.
We arrived at the school and both got out of the car.
Many people were looking at us.
Bella's heartbeat raced.
She didn't seem comfortable in crowded places, not wanting too much attention.
"Don't mind them."
She calmed a little, but still had anxiety.
We entered the high school building.
"Isabella, I have to take care of my enrollment stuff."
"So, see you later."
We parted ways, and I asked a student in the hall for the principal's office. A little later, I arrived and knocked.
"Come in."
A woman with black hair and glasses was sitting behind the desk. "Yes, sir?"
"Michael Kent!"
Hearing my name, her face tightened, and she suddenly stood up from her chair. "Mr. Kent! Last night, your uncle Vlad Kent completed your transfer paperwork."
She moved to face me. "Also, he generously covered a school fee for you… which I sincerely thanked him for."
Huh! Uncle… you're amazing. How did you even know I'd be in Forks? How did you figure I might come to this school? And you got everything done in one night?
The principal handed me a paper. "This is your class schedule, and come tomorrow to get your textbooks."
"Thank you."
She smiled. "I'm Mrs. Rogers."
I left the office.
Uncle… I wish I could see you to thank you properly.
Now I have to find Isabella…
Her scent was a mix of jasmine and cedar.
I took a deep breath and followed the scent, eventually spotting her in the cafeteria from a distance… wait.
I could smell the Volturi vampires.
Vampires from the Volturi clan are weaker compared to Romanian vampires. Our traits are different—they are more like humans. Only when drinking blood does our true vampire nature show—eyes turn red, fangs and ears elongate.
I didn't wait any longer and entered the cafeteria. Everyone looked at me. Some were surprised, some curious, maybe some intrigued.
I was used to these looks; my tall, broad figure always draws attention.
Bella saw me and smiled, standing up. "Michael!"
"Isabella… I finished my enrollment quickly."
An Asian boy sitting next to Bella looked surprised. "You're new too? I didn't know!"
I sat next to Bella. A blonde girl stared at me. "I'm Jessica, Bella's friend."
I just nodded, focusing on Bella… she seemed off.
"Everything okay, Isabella?"
She glanced at the desk behind us. "Yeah, it's fine… they just… stare at me strangely."
I noticed a few vampires… one was staring deeply at me, and I felt an itch on my head… he wanted to read my mind. But he was weak.
I immediately blocked him.
He realized he couldn't, his eyes widened, and he turned away.
"Isabella… it's normal for humans to notice beautiful things. Don't be upset by their stares."
Her cheeks flushed, and she smiled shyly. "Thanks, Michael…"
The bell rang, cutting our conversation short.
I had math class, and Bella had chemistry.
"Isabella, do you wear a special perfume?"
She got flustered. "No."
I smiled. Her natural scent was really unique.
"You smell like jasmine."
She dropped her head and hurried away. "Bye."
A shy, ordinary human girl… with a pleasant scent. Nothing strange or dangerous about her.
Yet, for some reason, she's in my dreams…
I have to let time pass like this, get closer to her, and find out everything about her.