(Ash's POV)
The moment I admitted I didn't want to keep pushing her away, something inside me shifted.
It wasn't sudden or overwhelming. It was quiet—like the slow settling of dust after a storm.
Alice's expression softened, her golden eyes searching mine for something I wasn't sure I could give. Understanding? Reassurance? A promise?
I didn't have the answers. I didn't know what this meant for me—what we meant. But I couldn't ignore the way my chest felt lighter now, the way that ever-present tension inside me seemed to loosen just by standing near her.
I wasn't sure I was ready. But I also wasn't sure I wanted to keep fighting this.
Alice smiled then. Not one of her usual playful grins, nor the knowing smirk she'd given me when we first met. This was different—softer, almost cautious, as if she was afraid that any sudden movement would make me bolt.
"I'm glad," she said, voice light but steady. "That you're not pushing me away, I mean."
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know how to do this, Alice."
Her smile didn't waver. "Then let's not rush."
She made it sound so simple, but nothing about this felt simple to me.
All I could focus on was the way she was looking at me, the way her presence seemed to settle something inside me I hadn't even realized was restless.
I wasn't supposed to feel like this. I had spent so long telling myself that I needed to stay distant. That I wasn't a part of this world—not truly. But Alice made that feel like a lie.
"Come on," Alice said suddenly, stepping back toward her car.
I blinked. "Where?"
She smirked. "Just trust me."
I hesitated, then nodded.
Alice's eyes flickered with something unreadable before she spun on her heel, leading the way to the parking lot. I followed, my steps measured, my thoughts tangled.
The parking lot had emptied out significantly as most of the student have already enter the school, but a few students still loitered near their cars, casting curious glances as Alice and I made our way to her sleek, yellow Porsche.
Jessica and a couple of her friends were standing near another car, whispering as they stole glances at us. Their expressions ranged from surprised to envious, but I ignored them.
Alice unlocked the Porsche with a quiet click, sliding into the driver's seat with practiced ease. I hesitated for half a second before slipping into the passenger seat beside her. The interior smelled faintly of leather and something distinctly Alice—sweet but sharp, like a crisp winter breeze.
She started the engine, the quiet purr filling the car, then cast me a sidelong glance. "Still trusting me?"
I sighed, shaking my head but unable to hide the small smile tugging at my lips. "You're really not going to tell me where we're going, huh?"
Alice grinned, shifting the car into gear. "Where's the fun in that?"
With that, she pulled out of the parking lot, and we were gone.
---
(On the road...)
We drove in comfortable silence, the town of Forks slowly shrinking behind us. I didn't ask where we were going. I wasn't sure I needed to.
The road stretched ahead, flanked by towering evergreens and mist-cloaked hills. The further we drove, the quieter everything became—just the soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic patter of rain against the windshield.
Alice looked completely at ease, one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against the gear shift in a quiet rhythm.
"Are we leaving town?" I asked finally.
Alice smirked. "You afraid of a little adventure?"
I huffed a quiet laugh. "That depends on where we're going."
She only laughed, a soft, musical sound that sent an unfamiliar warmth through me.
A few minutes later, we pulled into a hidden clearing surrounded by towering evergreens. The air smelled fresher here, crisp and untouched.
Alice cut the engine and turned to me, tilting her head slightly. "Come on."
I followed her out of the car, stepping onto soft earth. The quiet here was different—deeper, more profound.
Alice walked ahead, weaving through the trees with unnatural grace. I didn't question it.
We reached a small hill, and suddenly, the trees opened up, revealing a breathtaking view of the valley below. Mist curled around the treetops, the sky stretched wide and gray, the sun barely breaking through the thick clouds.
I exhaled, caught off guard by the sheer beauty of it.
Alice sat down on the grass, hugging her knees to her chest. "It helps to get away sometimes," she murmured.
I sat beside her, feeling the damp earth beneath my fingers. "You come here often?"
She nodded. "It's peaceful. And… it helps clear my head."
I glanced at her. "You need to clear your head?"
Alice smiled, but there was something distant in her expression. "Even vampires need time to think."
I hesitated before asking, "What do you think about?"
She was quiet for a moment, staring out at the valley.
"...The future," she admitted finally. "What's coming. What's changing."
I swallowed. "Do you see something?"
Alice shook her head. "No. Not yet."
Something about the way she said it sent a shiver down my spine.
Then she turned toward me, her golden eyes soft but serious. "What about you, Ash? What's on your mind?"
I opened my mouth—then closed it.
What was I supposed to say? That I wasn't supposed to be here? That I was never supposed to get involved?
That I was scared of what she meant to me?
Instead, I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know."
Alice hummed, as if she expected that answer. "Well, whenever you do know… I'll be here."
I turned to look at her, something twisting in my chest.
I believed her.
And that scared me more than anything.
---
(Alice's POV)
He was starting to trust me.
I could feel it.
It wasn't much—just a quiet moment on a hilltop, just a little more honesty in his eyes.
But it was enough.
Enough to make hope bloom inside me.
Enough to remind me that no matter how much he fought it…
He was mine.
And I wasn't going anywhere.
I had seen so many possible futures. Watched them shift and twist like sand slipping through my fingers. But with Ash… everything was still uncertain.
That should have terrified me.
Instead, it thrilled me.
Because even though I couldn't see what lay ahead for us…
I wanted to be there.
With him.
---
(Ash's POV)
I should have let go.
I should have told myself this was a mistake.
But I didn't.
For the first time since stepping into Forks, since meeting the Cullens, since realizing the world I had been reincarnated into—I didn't run.
I sat beside Alice, watching the mist roll over the valley, feeling her presence beside me.
And for the first time, I felt… grounded.
Connected.
Real.
I didn't know what came next. I didn't know how to navigate this bond or what it meant for my future.
But as I sat there, the weight in my chest felt lighter.
Maybe I didn't need to have all the answers right now.
Maybe, for once, I could just let myself feel.
And maybe… that was enough.
For now.
---
End of Chapter 8
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Author's Note:
WHY THE HELL IS NO ONE COMMENTING?! I mean, seriously, I poured my soul into that last chapter, and what did I get? Silence. Not a single peep! You guys are out here reading in ninja mode—20,000 views, but not even a "Nice chapter" or a "Bro, you good?" Like, is this a ghost town? Am I just screaming into the void??
I even asked you all a VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION—should I continue trash-talking in this fanfic novel like I did in my other book? And what did I receive in response? AIR. NOTHING. Am I supposed to take that as a yes? A no? A cryptic "figure it out yourself"? I'm out here feeling like a stand-up comedian bombing his set because the audience is just staring in silence.😔
Maybe y'all are secret agents on a mission where leaving comments would blow your cover. Or perhaps you've been cursed to read but never type—tragic. Maybe aliens abducted you right before you could hit "post." I don't know, but I do know this: I'm onto you.
So, let's try this again—drop a comment. Say "hi," roast my grammar, tell me your favorite breakfast food, I don't care. Just prove you exist before I start thinking I'm hallucinating all of you.😘😘