0/1 / Preface + chippy 1

Still following the main events of the book but NotTM. We gon speedrun probably go through books one and two because emotionally unavailable teenagers are fucking BORING. Also, school is boring as fuck so I'm just not including any of those scenes bc they're pointless. So now we have a new setting.

The SettingTM: p much everything is the same as the original book with the Cullens being in high school as their cover, BUT THEY'RE GAMERS. So that's how Bel and Eddie start talking. One of those "one-in-a-million-chance-meetings" tropes. No spoilers but they're going to have ridiculous and comical problems with communication (bc Eddie is a hard-headed ass who thinks he knows everything iykyk). Also expect a lot of projection bc SOMEBODY is in therapy and losing their mind.

PREFACE

Laying on a too-rough quilt and looking up at the stars through the glass ceiling, I couldn't help but feel like I had been in that moment before.

In the small clearing in the middle of nowhere, it was a beautiful night. Just past midnight, the full moon was a spotlight into the cabin window. The ambient light reflected off of the small glass bottle next to me, showing my reflection. Pale, sweaty, near comatose on the large bed.

I didn't think this was how I was going to die. I knew it was coming, but I couldn't help but be scared. I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

CHIPPY 1

The sun had just come out when my flight landed in Seattle. Prescription sunglasses donned I went to sit down at drop-off. I called my grandmother and told her I landed, and the address to pick me up from. I sat on a bench and looked at a map to go find cofeve. Being Seattle, it didn't take long to find a coffee shop. Finding a good one is the challenge (suck it Washington). Finding my destination, I ventured outside. The clouds were soft blankets of fleece across the sky, filtering the light from the sun. Coming from the desert, the green was stunning. It covered everything around. The dark moss on the trunks of the pines; their needles covered in the surrounding mist, the grass swaying in varying shades between the cracks of pavement sidewalks.

I missed the green. The last few years had been nothing but heat for me. I was moving to Forks for a different life. I had hoped coming out as trans would have gone better. But, as with many things in life, it went south quick. Mostly disowned family, broken engagement, a computer and a measly amount of money to my name. Luckily my grandmother was willing to support me for a while. So that meant moving to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. At least there wasn't much sun there.

A friend of a friend ran a small shop in Seattle within walking distance of the airport. My friend introduced her to me, but beyond her name I didn't know her very well. This would be our first time meeting in person. I was going to her cat cafe. I started my path down the small street and observed my surroundings. There were cars littering the street, puttering along their own little paths. I tripped on the curb in front of a silver Volvo. Swerving in the nick of time the driver honked and went along his business. Shaken, I tried to focus on my footing for the remainder of the walk.

It was at a crosswalk that I first saw him, though I didn't know it yet.

Waiting on the light to turn I watched the cars pass, making guesses on what the passengers would be like. Only having a moment to go off of makes an interesting mix of assumptions. An elderly woman who just barely sees over the wheel: cat lady living off two husbands' suspiciously acquired life insurance payouts. A man with a beard in plaid: mega-hipster or lumberjack, no in-between. A lifted truck: hillbilly compensating for something. It's all fun and games until you make eye contact and have to abort mission or commit to watching them pass.

In the passenger seat of a shiny red sports car, I met the eyes of a young man, maybe mid 20's with beautiful auburn hair whipping the ridge of his eyebrows in the wind. Irises all black, it was like glancing into the void itself. Chills covered my spine and froze me in place. A deer in the headlights, I felt as if I were under a spotlight, a target in a scope. And, just as quickly as our eyes had met they broke apart, leaving me dazed and without a clue as to what the driver looked like. The light turned, giving me no time to think about the experience.

The cafe provided a cozy shelter form the rain while I waited; plentiful cushions and air heavy with the aroma of the S. A stout woman welcomed me in. She had long black hair tied into half buns and a faded pink dress. I learned her name was Magnolia – making her the acquaintance I was looking for - and she owned the cafe in partnership with a rescue shelter. I sat on a stool with a marbled angora contentedly kneading my thighs. I watched her bustle about the small counter, puffy skirt spotted with dark stains. I fished one of my cards out and sheepishly called out.

"Magnolia?"

"-Just Maggi is fine. What's up?" A tendril of her hair almost slapped me as she turned around to face me.

"I was wondering if our mutual friend gave you my card? I'm a tailor and would be happy to do business with you." I extended my card to her.

Eyes brightening, she took it. "That's great!" She vaguely gestured to herself, "I would like to get another few of these, if that's not too complicated?"

The 'these' in question looked like a modified maid outfit. "It looks like a pretty easy pattern; do you know your measurements?"

"I'll email them to you." She flashed the card with a smile. "I have some things I need to do, I'll talk to you later!" She whisked away to another group of patrons.

A police siren rang outside the front door, and after a moment a deputy entered the cafe. A woman with a mess of salt-n-pepper hair armed with handcuffs scanned the building until she spotted me.

"Oh? You approach me?" I asked with a smile.

"I have a warrant for your arrest Bel Swan! For being too cute!" She laughed as she pinched my blushing cheeks.

"I missed you!" gave her the biggest hug I could muster and introduced her to Maggi. She saw us out and grabbed a couple of my cards to display at her shop. Gran and I got in the front of the cruiser and made our way to Forks.