As their eyes met, neither of them moved for several seconds. The air between them felt charged, almost electric, as if the rest of the cafeteria had faded into a muffled blur.
"So, Lucas… how was your first day at Forks High?" Rosalie asked at last, breaking the silence. Her voice was steady, but her amber eyes betrayed the storm of emotions she was trying to contain.
To Lucas, her voice sounded like music—soft, captivating, impossible to ignore.
"Well," he said with a faint smirk, "it's boring… listening to teachers all day."
Rosalie's lips curved into a knowing smile. "I can understand that," she replied. She had her own fair share of long, tedious days here.
"So, why did you decide to come to this… dump of a place?" she asked, her tone curious.
"Because I like the weather here," Lucas replied casually. "I love sleeping in this kind of weather, wrapped in a blanket."
Rosalie tilted her head, raising a brow. "So basically, you came here… just to sleep?"
"Yep. I love sleeping more than most things," he said, sipping his tea as if it were the most natural answer in the world.
"And what about you?" he asked.
"For… personal reasons," she replied, her tone mysterious. Lucas caught the subtle shift in her voice, and though she offered no explanation, he didn't press.
A few tables away, the rest of the Cullens were quietly observing.
"So… what now?" Emmett asked under his breath.
"Let's just wait and see," Lisa replied, her eyes fixed on Rosalie. "She's happy for the first time in her life. We shouldn't disturb that."
"Lisa's right. Let them be," Alice agreed softly.
The others nodded in quiet understanding and turned their conversation elsewhere.
Across the room, Jessica looking at them, her tone dripping with jealousy.
"Why now? She doesn't talk to any other guy… so why him?"
"Let it go, Jessica," Mike said, offering her a half-hearted attempt at comfort.
Meanwhile, Bella's attention was locked on Edward, who was already staring back at her, their silent exchange carrying its own meaning.
Back at Rosalie and Lucas's table…
"Do you have a girlfriend, Lucas?" Rosalie asked, her expression casual but her mind racing with possibilities.
"No. Never had one," Lucas replied with a light smile.
"Really?" she said, and a sudden, unguarded smile spread across her face.
"Yeah… I'm waiting for the right girl. Or… was," he added, his voice dropping to a mutter. But they both knew she could hear it clearly.
Rosalie's thoughts danced wildly, and for a moment she almost lost her composure.
"So… what about me?" she asked, her voice steady but her eyes searching his face for an answer.
Lucas's gaze softened. "The first thing I want isn't a girlfriend… it's a life partner. Someone who'll stay with me forever." His words were warm, his eyes steady on hers.
Something inside Rosalie stirred—an ache she thought was long dead. For the second time in her immortal life, she felt her heart try to beat again.
(First time was when they see each other for the first time)
"And… if you want to be that person," he continued, his voice quiet but certain, "you should know—I'm a very possessive and clingy man." His tone was light, but his eyes held a rare vulnerability.
Rosalie's lips parted as if she wanted to answer, but no words came. Inside, she was screaming yes. Even if his words were awkward, even if he didn't speak like a man who'd mastered charming women, something about him made her feel… alive.
.
.
.