The Impala was cruising along Highway 101, with about eighty kilometers left to Forks. Alex was behind the wheel, one hand hanging out the window as he lazily drummed his fingers against the door. In the passenger seat, Lucina was enjoying the fresh air, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth — the generous gift of the endless forests of the county.

In the backseat, as always, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch were anything but quiet: each absorbed in their handheld console, but making so much noise it sounded as if they were all playing the same game together.

Alex drove without hurrying — he wanted to take in the scenery. Even if it was mostly just forest, the green wall of towering trees lining the road seemed almost hypnotic. Occasionally, a lonely house would flash by — tiny islands of human life in this sea of pine.

But Alex's thoughts were far ahead. He knew that first he had to figure out what made this world special and how many timelines intertwined here. Only then could he begin the search for Nyan-Nyan's new avatar. He already had experience, and Alex knew well — avatars were always drawn to the center of events, loved to manipulate, and thrived on spreading chaos around them.

Humming quietly along with the tune on the radio, he was sketching out a plan of action in his head — a plan that, as always, he would have to adjust on the go, as new information appeared. The only thing that annoyed him was the prospect of going back to school again. He even thought about applying for independent study just to free up time for real work.

Lucina, leaning back in her seat, pulled her gaze away from the passing scenery and looked at Alex. He was drumming his fingers on the wheel in rhythm with the music, as he always did when lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, lightly touching his shoulder.

"I'm thinking I could just finish school externally and focus on my own work. Sure, it'll be fun to watch Edward and Bella play out their little drama, but that'll get boring pretty fast," Alex said with a smirk.

Lucina chuckled softly."Sounds tempting. No matter how romantic high school dates look, we're not exactly at that age anymore to sit at desks. And we can't stay here forever — sooner or later you'll get bored. Although…" She took a breath, gazing into the dense forest. "I really do like this kind of place. Back when I lived in Night City, I dreamed of moving to a small quiet town."

"I like towns like this too," Alex nodded. "Few people, no noisy neighbors… Although usually in places like this something always happens."

"Like what? What could possibly happen in a town of three thousand people?" Lucina asked curiously.

"Oh, plenty," Alex replied with a grin. "A cult, maybe. Or some ancient sealed monster. Worst case — an underground lab of a mad scientist. Or… vampires sparkling in the sun like disco balls."

Lucina burst out laughing.

"After the way you said that, it actually sounds a little too believable."

Alex smiled and turned his focus back to the road. But inside, the growing thought wouldn't leave him: in this world, there were likely more towns like this one. Each with its own secret, its own events. The only way to find out was to start gathering information. Luckily, his trio of restless helpers clearly weren't going to sit at home bored while he and Lucina played the role of "students."

Meanwhile, as Alex and Lucina drew closer to Forks, not far from the town stood a house hidden in seclusion. It was the embodiment of modern, spacious elegance, designed to blend seamlessly with the nature around it. Among the other homes of Forks, this one stood out — too refined, too modern, as if the architect had poured his very soul into its design.

Inside reigned a bright, open interior, where every detail balanced aesthetics with functionality. The house seemed to breathe warmth, perfectly suited for those who lived there.

At that moment, around the long dining table sat eight people with pale, almost porcelain skin. But what stood out most of all were their eyes — unusual, mesmerizing.

The Cullen family was having dinner. Or rather, pretending to. Only one of them felt no appetite at all. It was Alice Cullen — melancholic and lost in her thoughts. Her gift of foresight once again gave her no peace: recently she had seen that her adoptive brother Edward would finally meet his true other half. But Alice herself still didn't know when and under what circumstances she would meet the one destined for her.

The rest of the family understood her mood perfectly well, but there was nothing they could do to help.

Suddenly Alice's gaze went glassy. Everyone immediately realized: she was having another vision. But this time something was different — a wide, genuine smile appeared on her face.

Edward, gifted with the ability to read minds, couldn't resist and peeked into her thoughts. What he saw made his eyes widen. Carlisle and Esme, their adoptive parents, watched Alice's and Edward's reactions with curiosity: she was glowing, while he looked truly stunned.

"Alice, darling, what did you see?" Esme asked gently.

"I saw him," she whispered, gripping the edge of the table as her smile grew wider.

"That weird guy again?" Emmett smirked. "You've been buzzing in our ears about him for years. He's all you ever talk about. Your whole room's plastered with his portraits — and they just keep getting crazier."

"Shut up, Emmett," Alice snarled, flashing her fangs. "Do you want me to beat you up again, like the time you ruined one of my paintings?"

"Well, I'm not wrong," Emmett shrugged. "No one in this house doubts that your 'Alexander' is just a figment of your imagination. City of gods, future worlds, zombie apocalypse... nonsense!"

"Enough," Rosalie cut in, giving her husband a cold look. "Or you'll regret it."

Emmett snorted but didn't argue.

For ten years Alice had tirelessly spoken about the mysterious Alexander she saw in her visions. And even if it all sounded absurd, her heart was certain — he was real. And now, after her new vision, she was literally trembling with anticipation.

"If you say he's coming, then he is," Esme said with maternal warmth. "I'm happy for you, dear."

"So am I," Carlisle added. "Now all of my children will have their partners. That's the greatest joy for a parent."

"Tomorrow I'll see him at school," Alice rattled off so quickly that even for a vampire it sounded rushed. "What should I wear? How do I approach him? What if he decides to skip class? He hates school…"

"I don't think that's such a good idea," Edward cut in darkly. "Even if my mate is human, I'm not going to condemn her to eternal existence in our skin."

Alice snapped her head toward him and narrowed her eyes."Like it or not, Edward, that's your problem. But if you get in my way, I swear I'll dunk your head in a toilet. Or tie you to a tree. Got it?"

Edward pressed his lips together but said nothing.

"Children, enough," Carlisle said calmly. "Edward, I understand your doubts. But eternal life only becomes suffering when you're alone. When I met Esme, I knew: even if the world collapses, I want to face its end by her side."

Esme smiled and squeezed his hand tighter."You're still the same hopeless romantic, my dear."

"I just don't want her to become a monster," Edward muttered quietly.

"Let your other half decide for herself," Esme said softly. "Don't make the choice for her."

Edward only nodded, and silence settled over the dining table. It didn't last long — it was broken by a quiet giggle. All the Cullens turned their heads in unison toward Alice. She was acting like a schoolgirl who had just met her first crush: grinning from ear to ear, dreamy-eyed, completely unconcerned with everyone else's stares.

From the very day, ten years ago, when she first had a vision of the mysterious Alex, Alice knew — he was her true mate. Over the years of watching him through her visions, she had learned a great deal: about his life, his family, his travels across different worlds. What began as fascination eventually grew into a true hobby: Alice painted countless works dedicated to Alex and everything he did.

Her room had long since turned into a kind of gallery. Dozens of canvases hung on the walls, showing Alex either battling monsters, sitting among strange creatures, or taking part in completely absurd situations. Even the closet was crammed with paintings. Among them, one held a special place — a piece where Alex was depicted in a ridiculous outfit as a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, brandishing an iron rod over a defeated adventurer.

Quickly finishing her glass of blood, Alice jumped up and rushed to her room to prepare for the next day, slamming the door loudly behind her. The rest of the Cullens only exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison. They were already used to it: once Alice was struck by inspiration, her hyperactivity couldn't be stopped.

Meanwhile, the black Impala carrying Alex, Lucina, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch finally rolled into Forks. Alex had no idea that Alice Cullen had seen it all in her visions — his adventures, his victories, even his most ridiculous moments. And if he did know, he would most likely chalk it up to the meddling of the Goddess of Luck and the Goddess of Fate, who loved nothing more than throwing wrenches in his plans.

Upon reaching town, Alex's first priority was to find the house where he and Lucina were supposed to stay. Forks was small, yet even here he managed to get lost before finally finding the right street. Pulling up to a modest two-story house and shutting off the engine, he stepped out of the car with Lucina.

The house looked ordinary enough — neat, cozy, unremarkable. But Alex's attention was immediately drawn to the neighboring property. There, parked by the house, was an old red Chevrolet. Seeing it, Alex let out a heavy sigh.

"What are you sighing about?" Lucina asked, taking his hand. "It's just a car."

"It's not the car," Alex replied wearily. "It's the neighbors."

"You haven't even met them," Lucina raised a brow. "Maybe they're nice people?"

"Our neighbors are Bella Swan and her father, Charlie. Which means sooner or later Edward will be hanging around here. And as far as I know, that creepy stalker likes sneaking into Bella's room to watch her sleep."

Lucina burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand."My God, that sounds both creepy and hilarious. Maybe we should prank him? For fun."

"Hmm…" Alex rubbed his chin. "Set a few traps, throw him in a sack, give him a good beating… sounds tempting. But later. For now, let's check out the house. Then school, and maybe we can stop by the local restaurant."

Lucina smiled, nodded, and practically dragged him inside. GIR, MIMI, and Stitch didn't wait for orders — they jumped out of the car and dashed in right behind them.

The interior turned out to be simple but cozy. The trio of troublemakers immediately darted upstairs and claimed a room for themselves. A couple of minutes later, they came back down looking cheerful and satisfied. Their first action, of course, had been to toss the old TV out the window and replace it with a brand-new plasma screen, complete with an arsenal of gaming consoles.

Alex could only sigh heavily again. Taking Lucina's hand, he went upstairs. In their bedroom stood a spacious bed. Alex flopped down on it, closing his eyes, while Lucina methodically began unpacking clothes into the wardrobe.

He watched her as she carefully folded the laundry, and smirked to himself: women always had a soft spot for these little details.

"I think while you're settling in, I'll go introduce myself to the neighbors," he said, sitting up.

"You're not going to unpack your things?" Lucina asked without turning.

"Nope. All my clothes are in my inventory. I usually change them depending on my mood."

"Then go on, hurry up, and say hello to the neighbors. I'll finish up here." Lucina waved her hand dismissively.

Alex nodded and went downstairs. The first thing he saw — GIR, MIMI, and Stitch already felt completely at home. The trio sprawled on the couch, snacks spread across the coffee table, entirely absorbed in a video game. Alex just sighed heavily again and shook his head: it hadn't even been an hour, and they were already making themselves the masters of the house.

At that moment, in the Swan house, Bella was lying in her room, gloomily thinking about the next day. Her first day at the local school awaited her, and she hated the very thought of becoming the center of attention just because she was the new girl. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Charlie! Someone's knocking! Probably for you!" Bella called without getting up.

"Bellz, open it yourself, I'm busy!" her father's voice came from the bathroom. "Just ask what they want."

Bella grimaced — the last thing she wanted was to talk to strangers. But she had no choice. Going downstairs, she opened the door — and found herself face-to-face with a tall young man dressed in black. His eyes immediately caught her attention.

"Uh… can I help you? Are you looking for someone?" she asked, stammering slightly.

"I'm your new neighbor. My name's Alex. My family and I just moved into the house next door. Thought I'd come by and say hello," he replied with a slight smile.

"Bella. Bella Swan," she introduced herself, not knowing what else to say.

"Very nice to meet you, Bella Swan. Is your father home? Since we're neighbors now, we should get acquainted," Alex went on, still smiling.

"He's—" Bella began, but at that moment a voice called down from upstairs:

"Bellz, who's at the door?" Charlie shouted.

She turned gratefully toward him, for the first time in a long while looking at her father with genuine relief. Talking to strangers had always been difficult for her.

Alex also looked up at Charlie, who was coming down from the second floor. Dressed in simple home clothes, with a mustache and wavy chestnut hair, standing a little over five foot five, he looked like an ordinary man. But Alex noted to himself: socially awkward, perhaps, but a good father.

"Good afternoon, sir. I'm Alexander, your new neighbor," Alex said, extending his hand as Charlie approached.

"Charlie Swan," he introduced himself, shaking it. "Chief of police here in Forks. So, your family bought the Browns' place? Where are your parents? I'd like to meet them too."

"My father's busy with work and won't be living here. Only my fiancée and I moved in," Alex replied, letting go of his hand.

"Fiancée?" Bella blurted out in surprise. "But you look so young—"

"Bella," Charlie said warningly.

"It's all right," Alex answered softly. "We've known each other a very long time. Our families gave their blessing, so we're engaged."

Charlie frowned but didn't argue."All right. And why choose such a small, out-of-the-way place as Forks?"

"It was my father's idea," Alex continued calmly, improvising a story on the spot. "He thinks I need to spend time with people my own age and act like a teenager, not like an adult. So, he transferred me to the local school."

"Well…" Charlie shrugged awkwardly, unsure how to continue. "I hope it works out for you."

"Thank you, sir. And since I'm here — could you tell me how to get to the school? I need to confirm my enrollment paperwork. And also, where's a good place to grab a bite around here?" Alex asked, still smiling amiably.

Charlie nodded and carefully explained the way to the school and the diner. Alex listened attentively, nodding and trying to memorize the route. Forks was a small town, but it was still better to ask a local than wander aimlessly.

Bella, meanwhile, couldn't take her eyes off Alex. The thought that she wouldn't be the only new student at school tomorrow comforted her a little. What's more, with looks like his, Alex was bound to draw all the attention — and she wouldn't have to burn under dozens of curious stares. Bella even silently apologized to her new neighbor for planning to use him as a shield.

While Charlie continued giving directions, Lucina stepped out of the house. Spotting Alex standing with Charlie, she came closer. Alex immediately introduced her to both of them. Charlie gave a brief smile, while Bella caught herself thinking: why are the new neighbors so beautiful? Alex — tall, fit, with an athletic build visible even through a plain black T-shirt. And Lucina, with her cold, distant face, looked as though she'd walked straight out of a fashion magazine.

Alex exchanged a few more words with Charlie, thanked him for the help, and, taking Lucina's hand, headed back to the car. Within a few minutes, they were driving to the school to submit the paperwork and avoid any problems the next day.

Forks High was just around the corner. Alex asked a security guard for directions, and soon they were in the principal's office. The half-hour dragged on endlessly: the principal, seemingly oblivious to time, lectured them on school rules and the history of the institution. Finally, handing them their locker codes, he let them go.

"You know, my love, I already regret coming with you," Lucina murmured, rubbing her temples.

"You're not the only one," Alex yawned. "I had the feeling he wasn't trying to convince us to study, he was trying to sell the school, like a real estate agent."

"Maybe he's just happy to see new faces," Lucina shrugged. "But we forgot something."

"And what's that?" Alex raised an eyebrow.

"The class schedule. Or are you planning to wander around and hope you guess the right classroom?" Lucina asked in return.

"I'm not going back there. We're already by the car, and I don't have the energy for another lecture. We'll grab it tomorrow," Alex said lazily, waving her off.

Lucina looked at him, then at the school building, and sighed. Deep down, she agreed: the risk of another "historical lecture" from the principal was too high.

They got into the car. Alex lit a cigarette, while Lucina pulled out her tablet and began searching for information about the world they had arrived in. Their next destination was the diner "Caver," recommended by Charlie. After parking, Alex helped Lucina out — she still couldn't tear her eyes away from the screen.

Inside, they chose a corner table, away from prying eyes. After placing their order, Alex got comfortable, propping his cheek on his hand, and stared out the window. He considered this town a perfect choice for any introvert.

"Found anything interesting?" Alex asked without turning his head.

"Not yet. I need more time. If there's anything supernatural in this world, the traces will be well hidden. It won't be easy to find," Lucina replied, setting the tablet aside.

"We're in no rush. We've only been in this town a few hours. Worst case, we can hook GIR, MIMI, and Stitch into this task. They'd be bored at home anyway while we 'suffer' in school," Alex smirked.

"Whatever you say. I was just curious. I hoped I'd get lucky and stumble upon something interesting right away," Lucina said, resting her chin on her hands and narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Then it's easier to hack the police database," Alex chuckled, lightly poking her in the nose. "There's probably a dozen strange cases there that no one could explain."

"For example?" she asked, kicking him under the table for his cheekiness.

"Well… unnatural death in a locked apartment. Or an animal attack in the city center. Desecrated graves, robberies where the criminal was in two places at once. And people disappearing — that hasn't stopped either. Plenty of possibilities," Alex listed.

"Sounds convincing. But what if there aren't any such cases here? This isn't Night City. There, you hacked the police database and immediately found dozens of leads," Lucina noted, thoughtfully dragging her foot along his leg.

Alex paused for a second and smirked.

"Yeah… I've forgotten the feeling that not all information is online."

Lucina smiled and lazily began tracing circles with her foot on Alex's leg. He noticed her squinting, almost cat-like gaze, smirked, and suddenly grabbed her foot, trying to stop her with a tickle. But Lucina pulled it away just in time and laughed at her husband's failed attempt. Alex just shook his head with a smile.

When the waitress brought their order, they ate slowly together, chatting about trivial things. Before leaving, Alex placed three more takeout orders — for GIR, MIMI, and Stitch. He knew perfectly well that if they returned home without food, the trio would either stage a strike or decide to cook themselves — which in some cases usually ended in disaster.

After paying, Alex and Lucina drove around town. At one point, Alex suggested stopping by a nearby beach where local youths usually jumped off the cliffs. Lucina didn't mind.

At the top of the cliff, they stopped and watched the waves crash against the rocks below. Alex wrapped his arms around Lucina's waist, pulling her close, while she leaned back against his chest. For a while, they simply remained silent, listening to the sound of the surf.

"You know, this is a really nice place. I like it here," Lucina said, turning toward him and resting her head on his chest.

"That's your inner introvert speaking," Alex smirked, resting his chin on her head. "Even your old apartment in Night City looked like an introvert's den."

"I don't recall you complaining when you stayed over," Lucina squinted.

"That was only a few times, before you moved in with me."

"But it did happen," she remarked, rolling her eyes.

Alex just smiled and remained silent. Memories of the evenings they spent programming GIR together surfaced. The first time he stayed over, they had worked late into the night, and Lucina, holding him in her sleep, simply hadn't let go. He hadn't objected.

After standing on the cliff a little longer, they returned to the car. On the way home, they stopped at a store and bought all the essentials. Back at the house, Alex placed the bags of food on the coffee table in front of GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, who hadn't moved from the console since they left.

"Don't stay up too late. Eat now so you're not banging dishes around at night," Alex warned.

"Okay," they replied in unison, without taking their eyes off the screen.

Alex just shook his head. Sometimes he felt less like a high school student and more like a father of three kids obsessed with video games.

Going upstairs, he entered the bedroom. Lucina had already changed into casual clothes — his loose T-shirt and black shorts. She was lying on the couch, waiting for him. Alex quickly changed, lay down beside her, and pulled his wife closer. Turning on the TV, he flipped through the channels and, finding nothing appealing, picked a random movie from his collection.

Lucina settled on his chest, hugging his waist. That's how they spent the rest of the evening, while downstairs GIR, MIMI, and Stitch continued their noisy gaming, shouting and clattering, disturbing the couple's rest.

Thus ended Alex and Lucina's first day in the new world.

To be continued…

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