Old soul

THE END

Natalia felt absolutely miserable in the morning. She hadn't slept well; her head killing her as her nerves ate her alive all night. It didn't help her outlook that Jasper looked just as miserable as he kissed her forehead.
The girl was afraid of the time she'd spent unconscious, afraid that she was running out of time. Her anxiety seemed to ratchet up the intensity of the pounding in her head and Jasper could feel every second of it.

Borrowing an outfit which belonged to Rosalie, Natalia got changed in the bathroom which was connected to Jasper's room. The drive to school was quiet, the couple got a lift with Emmett and Rosalie.
As Emmett pulled into the car park, Natalia was staring out of her window. She wanted to find Bella and make sure she was okay - that was the first thing she needed to do before anything else. So when the car was parked, Natalia was quick to take off her seatbelt and leave the vehicle before hurrying over to Bella who was stood beside her truck with Edward.
The girl pulled Bella into a hug, making sure to be careful of her arm. Natalia didn't let go of her friend until Bella managed to wiggle out of her grasp.

"Are you okay?"
Bella nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I'm okay."
Natalia tilted her head, "Are you sure? You sorta flew across the room." The girl made a point to send a small glare to Edward who stood there awkwardly. If Natalia was being honest, it was unnecessary for Edward to throw her back into the table - he just hurt Bella even more and made it worse for Noah.
Jasper appeared to stand beside his brother, choosing to ignore the feeling of dislike which Natalia threw towards Edward. Bella made sure Natalia understood she was okay, telling her not to worry as they started to walk.

The four of them walked in silence, the brothers shortening their strides so they matched the girls'. There were so many questions which Bella wanted to ask Edward, but those would have to wait, because they were for Alice: how was Noah this morning? What had they said when she was gone? What had Rosalie said? And most importantly, what could she see happening now in her strange, imperfect visions of the future? Could she guess what Edward was thinking, why he was so gloomy? Was there a foundation for the tenuous, instinctive fears that Bella couldn't seem to shake?
Natalia also had her questions, but those weren't for anyone to hear, they were to stay in her head, unanswered.

The morning passed slowly. Bella was impatient to see Alice, though she knew she wouldn't be able to properly talk to her with Edward there. The Cullen boy remained aloof. Occasionally he would ask about Bella's arm, and she would lie. Natalia could see straight through all of Bella's lies - the girl had no idea if Edward could see through them too, but Natalia was sure on the fact that even if he could, he wouldn't say anything.

Alice usually beat the four to lunch; she didn't have to keep pace with sloths like Bella and Natalia. But she wasn't at the table, waiting with the tray of food she wouldn't eat. Natalia knew why she was nowhere to be found. Alice had left Forks with Noah, trying to get the boy to go to Denali where the one other band of unique vampires - good ones like the Cullens - lived. That had made sense to Natalia when Carlisle had informed everyone that the pair had left early that morning because it's where Edward and Jasper had gone last winter when herself and Bella had arrived and made it difficult for them. It was where Laurent had gone rather than siding with James against the Cullens. So it made sense that Alice would try to encourage Noah to go there.

But when Bella asked Edward where the girl had gone and why she wasn't at school, she couldn't seem to understand why they had left. Natalia thought Bella was feeling guilty about Noah having to leave for a while. The Swan girl hung her head low and let her shoulders slump. She's ran them out of their home. Bella thought of herself as a plague.

By the end of the day, Natalia was growing annoyed with the tension between Bella and Edward. She knew it had nothing to do with her, but it was affecting Jasper and Natalia hated to see the painful wince on his face every time Edward looked at the girl.