Chapter 7: Unexpected Encounters

Charlie wasn't home, so I decided to head over to the Grill early.

I had nothing better to do—besides reading—and Bella Swan wanted to turn over a new leaf. I wanted to be different than the cautious, shy girl I was back in Forks. I wanted to be more outspoken, break a few rules, live a little.

And why not start now?

Mystic Falls Grill was easy to find. Elena had been right; almost everyone seemed to be there. Walking in, I could see a basic setup for any bar/grill. Pool tables in the back, tables full of patrons in the middle, and a bar to the right.

It was full of life and it looked… fun?

I wouldn't really know. For the last month, I've practically been a zombie. I don't really think I know what fun means anymore.

I take a long look around the room. Left to right. No one really notices me. Then again, I'm not really noticeable. Just another girl in jeans and a t-shirt out for a Monday night with friends. I had been expecting staring and gawking. It's what usually accompanied the new girl status, but I guess Mystic Falls was different.

I was okay with that.

Turning my head all the way to the right, something catches my eye. Or should I say someone.

They're wearing an all-black getup, but somehow he doesn't seem like a depressed emo that writes poetry in their mother's basement. The man looks like a bad boy you would see in a movie who rides a motorcycle and has a cigarette hanging from their mouth. Leather jacket, black pants, and tough-looking boots that seem to have gone through a lot.

He seems familiar.

That black hair looks familiar.

I take a step towards him, watching as he twirls the amber-filled glass in a slow, steady circle. There's a bottle sitting on the counter in front of him. I guess he's a leave-the-bottle kind of guy. Or maybe he's just having a leave-the-bottle kind of day.

He must have felt me staring at him because soon the man turns around. It's then I figure out why he looks so familiar. Just one look at those piercing blue eyes and I would know him anywhere.

It's my Stranger.

I don't hesitate to walk all the way over to him now. He's someone I know, even if I don't know him well at all. This time my Stranger isn't the stranger.

I am.

And sometimes it's nice to be known.

"Hello, Stranger," I say, sliding onto the stool next to him. I nod towards the half-empty whiskey bottle, "Have another bad day?"

Stranger laughs. It's loud, musical, and sad.

"You know what, Just-a-Girl. I am."

I settle onto the stool beside him, the worn leather creaking beneath me as I lean forward, resting my elbows on the bar. The dim lighting casts shadows across his features, accentuating the lines of his face and the intensity in his eyes.

"Rough day?" I ask, trying to keep my tone light despite the gravity of the situation.

Stranger nods, his expression grim. "You could say that."

For a moment, we sit in silence, the only sound the distant murmur of voices and the clinking of glasses from the other side of the bar. I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, a silent question lingering in the air between us.

"So, what brings you to Mystic Falls?" he asks finally, breaking the tension.

I hesitate, unsure of how much to reveal. After all, we're practically strangers, bound together by nothing more than a chance encounter on a deserted road.

"Just passing through," I reply, opting for a vague answer. "My dad got a job here, so we decided to give it a shot."

Stranger nods, seemingly satisfied with my response. "Well, welcome to Mystic Falls, Bella."

The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine, as if he's unraveling some hidden truth buried deep within me. I can't help but wonder if there's more to him than meets the eye, if he holds secrets as dark and tangled as the ones I keep locked away inside.

But before I can dwell on it any longer, the bartender appears in front of us, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"Another round?" he asks, eyeing the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the counter.

Stranger nods, sliding it towards him with a flick of his wrist. "Keep 'em coming."

As the bartender pours two more glasses, I glance around the bar, taking in the eclectic mix of patrons. There's something about the atmosphere here that feels strangely familiar, as if I've stumbled upon a place I've been searching for without even realizing it.

"So, Bella," Stranger says, breaking into my thoughts. "Tell me something about yourself."

I hesitate, unsure of how much to reveal to this enigmatic stranger. But there's something about the way he looks at me, something that makes me want to open up to him in a way I never have with anyone else.

"I'm just trying to figure things out," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "Trying to find my place in all of this."

Stranger nods, his eyes softening with understanding. "I know the feeling."

For a moment, we sit in companionable silence, the weight of our shared burdens hanging heavy in the air between us. And as I take a sip of my drink, I can't help but feel a glimmer of hope stirring within me, a sense that maybe, just maybe, I'm not as alone as I thought.