Standing by their cars after school, Lucas stood hand-in-hand with Rosalie, the Cullens gathered around them, while across the parking lot, Edward was helping Bella, opening her truck door with the practiced elegance of a gentleman.
Lucas caught the sight but simply ignored it, remembering how much of gentleman he had been on his own first day at Forks High for Rosalie.
Lisa, however, gave a small shake of her head as she looked towards them, opened her car door, and slid inside wordlessly, Emmett following behind her with a faint smile as he looked at her.
Alice, ever bright and cheerful, waved enthusiastically at Bella. "See you tomorrow!" she called out, her voice warm which was quite good for Bella as she waved back looking at Alice cheerful smile. Jasper gave Bella a polite nod before quietly following Alice inside their own car.
Rosalie, on the other hand, didn't spare Bella a glance, her attention belonged entirely to Lucas. "So, Luc," she said, her tone curious, "what do you want to write?" It was a question she had been holding onto all day, unable to ask earlier with Bella nearby.
Lucas smiled softly beneath his mask. "I want to write about something that always shows up in my dreams whenever I sleep," he replied with soft voice, while reaching out to gently pinch Rosalie's cheek, as his words laced with a teasing mystery.
Rosalie's golden eyes softened as she leaned into his touch, a curious glint appearing in them. "Your dreams?" she asked in a quieter voice. "What kind of dreams?"as she looked at him while holding his hand.
Lucas seeing Rosalie getting curious, gently placed a finger against her lips, silencing her questions. "You'll find out soon enough," he murmured with a faint, secretive smile. "Consider it a surprise."as he kissed her forehead, while sliding his mask down.
She pouted at his refusal but caught the warmth against her forehead as he kissed her, to which her expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips, despite her curiosity. She wanted to know more, needed to know more, but she let it go, for now."Alright," she said with a sigh, clearly giving in.
Lucas looking at her smiled while brushing a strand of her golden hair back from her face. "You should head home," he said softly to her. "We'll see each other tonight."as his eyes flicked toward the others, who were already getting into their cars.
Rosalie glanced at them too, annoyance flashing briefly in her eyes. She didn't want to leave yet, but she has to. Looking towards Lucas, she leaned forward, pressed a quick kiss to his masked cheek, and pulled back with a faint smirk. "You better welcome me properly," she warned playfully, her voice low, as her affection obvious to him.
Lucas chuckled at her remark nodded. "I will," he promised, as he opened the car door for her.
Rosalie smiled, her irritation easing as she slipped inside the car Lisa had brought earlier. As she started the engine, her eyes stayed locked on Lucas. She didn't look away until she was driving off, still glancing at him through the side mirror as she saw him waving at her.
Alice and Jasper followed with their car, and Emmett's jeep rolled out last as Lisa sat silently beside him, as they were leaving, her gaze briefly met Lucas's through the window, to which she nodded at him, before they disappeared down the road.
Lucas stood there for a moment longer, watching them go as he nodded back to Lisa, before his gaze drifted to Edward, who was still standing near Bella's truck. Their eyes met across the parking lot. Edward's golden eyes were hard, his jaw set, but Lucas simply stared back with calm defiance, a faint smirk hidden under his mask, before turning away and sliding into his own car. He started the engine and drove off, his mind already shifting to what awaited him at home.
"Be careful on the road," Edward said softly to Bella as looked at Lucas car leaving the parking lot, his face tight with concern as he closed her truck door.
Bella smiled faintly at his protectiveness. "I will," she assured him before driving away.
Edward stood watching until her truck disappeared from his sight. Then, with a last, almost frustrated glance toward the lot where Lucas had stood moments ago with his family, he walked back to his Volvo. Sliding inside, he started the car and followed the others home, his thoughts dark, his expression unreadable.
—
Lucas arrived home not long after first washed his face, grabbed a cold glass of water, and sank onto the sofa, letting the chill soothe his dry throat.
As he was relaxing, his thoughts turned to Lisa and her behavior at the cafeteria earlier. He didn't blame her, she wasn't wrong to be upset, but she had been furious with Edward. Her anger wasn't about nothing; Edward had crossed a line involving Bella in their world, when he had already decided not to change her into vampire even when needed.
Thinking about the future, a long sigh escaped him, his breath ruffling his own hair as he stared at the ceiling. "Let's not think about the future for now," he murmured to himself. "Those troubles mean nothing to me."as he thought about the upcoming troubles.
His goals were simple and absolute: Rosalie's happiness, and the safety of the Cullens. He would do whatever it took to protect them, as they were the only thing he care about.
Picking up his phone, he typed a short message to Rosalie:"I'm home already. Missing you so much.❤️"