A Watcher

As the weekend came to a close, Garnetta found herself preparing mentally for the days ahead. The feeling that something significant was approaching had only grown stronger, and her conversations with Tanya and Raphael had solidified her resolve to protect Bella and prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Monday morning arrived with the usual gray skies, the sun hidden behind thick clouds that promised rain later in the day. Garnetta drove to school, her mind focused on the events of the past week and the sense of urgency that had begun to settle over her.

When she arrived at Forks High School, the parking lot was already filling up with students. Garnetta parked her car and stepped out, scanning the area for any sign of Bella. She spotted her near her truck, talking with Edward, who was leaning casually against the door. The sight of them together brought a small smile to Garnetta's lips—they looked comfortable in each other's presence, though there was an intensity to Edward's gaze that suggested he was still trying to unravel the mystery that was Bella Swan.

As Garnetta approached, Edward looked up and met her eyes, his expression softening slightly. "Good morning, Garnetta," he greeted, his voice calm but with an underlying tension that Garnetta could sense.

"Good morning, Edward, Bella," Garnetta replied, her tone warm. She turned to Bella with a smile. "How was your weekend?"

Bella smiled back, though there was a hint of something in her eyes—uncertainty, perhaps, or a sense of anticipation. "It was good, thanks. I mostly caught up on schoolwork. How about you?"

"Pretty much the same," Garnetta replied, though she didn't mention the more serious conversations she had had with Tanya and Raphael. "It's nice to start the week feeling caught up, isn't it?"

Bella nodded in agreement, her expression relaxing a bit. "Definitely."

Edward's gaze flicked between Garnetta and Bella, as if he were trying to read something in the space between them. "Garnetta, I've been meaning to ask," he began, his tone measured. "Have you noticed anything unusual lately? Anything… out of the ordinary?"

Garnetta met Edward's gaze, understanding what he was really asking. He was fishing for information, trying to determine if she had noticed the same disturbances he had. "I've had a feeling that something's been off," she replied carefully. "But I'm not sure what it is yet. Just a sense that things are shifting."

Edward nodded, as if confirming his own suspicions. "I've felt it too," he said quietly. "There's something in the air—something that's drawing us all together."

Bella glanced between them, her expression puzzled. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice soft.

Edward hesitated, clearly torn between protecting Bella and sharing the truth with her. "It's hard to explain," he finally said. "But I think we need to be careful. Things are changing, and we need to be prepared for whatever's coming."

Garnetta sensed the worry in Edward's voice, and she felt a renewed determination to protect Bella, no matter what. "We'll figure it out together," she said, her tone firm. "Whatever it is, we'll face it as a team."

Bella still looked confused, but she nodded, trusting that Edward and Garnetta knew what they were talking about. "Okay," she said quietly. "I trust you both."

With that, the three of them headed into the school, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as they made their way to their first classes. But the sense of foreboding lingered, like a shadow that refused to be shaken off.

Throughout the day, Garnetta found herself more attuned to the undercurrents around her. The interactions between students, the subtle changes in the atmosphere—all of it seemed to point to something larger, something that was building just out of sight. And though she couldn't yet put her finger on what it was, she knew that it involved Bella and the mysterious forces that had begun to converge on Forks.

During lunch, Garnetta sat with Tanya, Alice, and Jasper, the group's mood more subdued than usual. The conversation touched on school and weekend plans, but there was an unspoken tension that none of them could ignore.

Alice, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been having visions," she admitted, her tone troubled. "They're not clear, but I see fragments—pieces of something that's coming. And Bella is at the center of it."

Garnetta's heart skipped a beat at Alice's words. "What do you see?" she asked, her voice tense.

Alice shook her head, frustration evident in her expression. "I don't know. It's like trying to see through fog. But there's danger—something dark, something that we need to be ready for."

Tanya reached out and placed a comforting hand on Alice's arm. "We'll be ready," she said firmly. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."

Jasper nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "We've dealt with threats before. We'll get through this, too."

Garnetta felt a chill run down her spine, but she forced herself to stay calm. "The Volturi?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alice hesitated, then nodded slowly. "It's possible. But it's not just them. There's something else—something that I can't quite see yet."

The group fell silent, the weight of Alice's words settling over them. Garnetta knew that they needed to be prepared for anything, but the uncertainty of what was coming was unnerving.

As the lunch period came to an end, Garnetta made her way to her next class, her mind racing with thoughts of Alice's vision. The sense of urgency that had been building over the past week now felt like a ticking clock, counting down to an unknown event that could change everything.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Garnetta gathered her things and headed to the parking lot, her thoughts still consumed by the day's revelations. As she reached her car, she noticed Bella standing by her truck, looking around as if searching for something—or someone.

Garnetta approached her, her concern growing. "Bella? Is everything okay?"

Bella looked up, her expression a mixture of confusion and worry. "I thought I saw someone… or something, just over there," she said, gesturing toward the edge of the parking lot, where the trees cast long shadows in the late afternoon light.

Garnetta followed Bella's gaze, her senses on high alert. She saw nothing out of the ordinary, but the feeling of being watched sent a shiver down her spine. "Let's get out of here," Garnetta suggested gently. "We can talk about it later."

Bella nodded, clearly unsettled, and the two of them quickly got into their respective vehicles. As Garnetta drove home, she couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows were closing in—that whatever was coming for Bella was already on its way.

That evening, Garnetta shared her concerns with Raphael, who listened intently, his expression grave. "We need to be cautious," he advised. "The fact that Bella sensed something means that it's getting closer. We should take extra precautions to keep her safe."

Garnetta nodded, her determination renewed. "I'll keep a close eye on her. And I'll make sure the others do the same."

As the night deepened and the house grew quiet, Garnetta found herself staring out the window, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come. The shadows outside seemed to stretch longer, darker, and she knew that the peaceful days they had enjoyed were quickly coming to an end.

Whatever was coming, Garnetta knew that she had to be ready. And with Raphael, Tanya, and the Cullens by her side, she felt a strength that gave her hope. Together, they would face the darkness and protect the people they cared about—no matter the cost.