Lost in Forks

Chapter 3

(April 27, 2006)

It had been a week since Aurora's arrival in Forks, and the small, rainy town was beginning to grow on her. Her school would also start in early May so she was like a nervous wreck. She'd spent time with Bella to get her mind off of it and gotten used to Charlie's quiet presence, and even started to enjoy the deep green of the forested landscape. Yet, despite all this, one thought kept pulling her back to that mysterious afternoon in the woods. Finn Clearwater—his face, his blue eyes, his words—all lingered in her mind like an unsolved mystery.

"Aurora," Bella's voice snapped her back to reality as they sat at the kitchen table after dinner. "I know things have been... well, a little strange for you. But I was thinking you might want to come with me tonight. The Cullens invited me over, and I thought it'd be nice for you to meet them."

Aurora blinked, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Bella had mentioned the Cullens, of course, but always in a guarded way, as if there was more she wasn't saying.

"The Cullens? Your friends?" Aurora asked, studying her sister's expression.

Bella nodded, offering her a warm but careful smile. "They're... different, but I think you'll like them. They're very kind, and they're like family to me."

Aurora nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll come."

-

As they pulled up to the Cullen house, Aurora's eyes widened. The house was grand and modern, with huge glass windows that made it seem like it belonged in a magazine rather than hidden away in a small town. The soft glow of lights inside made it look both inviting and mysterious.

They walked up the path, and Bella glanced over, giving her a reassuring smile. "Just relax and be yourself. They're excited to meet you."

The door opened before they even reached it, and Carlisle Cullen stepped out to greet them with a warm, welcoming smile. "Hello, Bella. And you must be Aurora," he said, extending a hand.

Aurora shook his hand, surprised by the coldness of his skin, but charmed by his gentle and calming presence. "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Cullen."

"Please, call me Carlisle," he said with a smile. "We've heard so much about you."

Esme joined him, a soft, motherly warmth radiating from her. She pulled Aurora into a gentle hug. "We're so glad you could come tonight, Aurora. Make yourself at home."

As they walked inside, Aurora took a a look around the spacious, beautifully decorated interior. Everything seemed so carefully chosen, so timeless, like it had stories of its own to tell.

Alice was the next to greet her, nearly bouncing with excitement. "Aurora! Bella's told me all about you. It's so wonderful to finally meet you in person!" She reached over, taking Aurora's hand in hers, feeling the coldness once again. "We're going to be great friends, I can already tell."

"Alice, give her some space," Jasper teased softly from nearby. He offered Aurora a polite nod, his demeanor calm but watchful.

Aurora grinned, feeling immediately at ease. "No, I don't mind. It's nice to meet people who are so welcoming." Giving them a smile.

Emmett, towering and grinning from ear to ear, joined them. "So, Bella's little sister, huh?" He chuckled. "I bet you've got some fun stories about her."

Aurora laughed, glancing at Bella, who looked mildly embarrassed. "Maybe a few," she teased.

Even Rosalie came over to introduce herself, her cool beauty intimidating but softened by the polite smile she gave. "Welcome, Aurora. I'm Rosalie."

Aurora nodded. "Thank you, it's nice to meet all of you."

After introductions, Carlisle gestured toward the large table that had been elegantly set. "Shall we sit down?"

As they gathered around, Aurora noticed how natural and comfortable the Cullens seemed with one another, like a close-knit family. She found herself drawn into conversations about their travels, the places they'd been, and the interests they had. Each of them had such a unique personality, and as they shared stories and jokes, she found herself feeling a warmth she hadn't expected.

At one point, Alice leaned over to her, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So... have you met anyone interesting in town yet?"

Aurora felt her cheeks warm, suddenly thinking of Finn. "Well... maybe," she admitted, trying to keep her tone casual.

"Oh, really?" Emmett chimed in, smirking. "Do tell!"

Bella, who had been quietly observing, quickly jumped in to change the subject. "Actually, Aurora's more focused on settling in than anything else right now."

Alice smiled knowingly, but let the topic drop, instead steering the conversation to more lighthearted stories about Bella's early days in Forks. As they laughed and talked, Aurora felt herself relaxing even more, almost forgetting about her earlier nerves.

-

At the end of the evening, Esme walked them to the door. "Please, come by anytime, Aurora. You're part of the family now."

Aurora's heart warmed at the words. "Thank you, Esme. This was... really wonderful."

As they left, Aurora glanced back, catching Carlisle's eye. He gave her a gentle, knowing smile, one that felt almost fatherly.

In the car on the way home, Aurora finally turned to Bella. "They're... different, but amazing. I can see why you care about them so much."

Bella smiled softly, eyes fixed on the road. "Yeah. They're special. And they're here for you, too."

Aurora didn't understand everything that lay beneath Bella's words, but tonight had made her feel like she was finding her place here, bit by bit. And for the first time, she felt like Forks might hold more for her than she ever imagined.

——

HIII YOU GUYSSSS, I have finished almost 10 chapters already so uh... anyways I'll be posting a chapter everyday! 🤍🤷‍♀️