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〃Hey； I didn't see you there；〃 he mumbled。 〃I guess I'll see you around；
Bella。〃 He stepped back； waving halfheartedly。
I smiled。 〃Yeah； I'll see you later。〃
〃Sorry；〃 he said again before he turned for the door。
Edward's arms wound around me as the next song started。 It was a little
uptempo for slow dancing； but that didn't seem to concern him。 I leaned
my head against his chest； content。
〃Feeling better？〃 I teased。
〃Not really；〃 he said tersely。
〃Don't be mad at Billy；〃 I sighed。 〃He just worries about me for
Charlie's sake。 It's nothing personal。〃
〃I'm not mad at Billy；〃 he corrected in a clipped voice。 〃But his son is
irritating me。〃
I pulled back to look at him。 His face was very serious。
〃Why？〃
〃First of all； he made me break my promise。〃
I stared at him in confusion。
He halfsmiled。 〃I promised I wouldn't let go of you tonight；〃 he
explained。
〃Oh。 Well； I forgive you。〃
〃Thanks。 But there's something else。〃 Edward frowned。
I waited patiently。
〃He called you pretty；〃 he finally continued； his frown deepening。
〃That's practically an insult； the way you look right now。 You're much
more than beautiful。〃
I laughed。 〃You might be a little biased。〃
〃I don't think that's it。 Besides； I have excellent eyesight。〃
We were twirling again； my feet on his as he held me close。
〃So are you going to explain the reason for all of this？〃 I wondered。
He looked down at me； confused； and I glared meaningfully at the crepe
paper。
He considered for a moment； and then changed direction； spinning me
through the crowd to the back door of the gym。 I caught a glimpse of
Jessica and Mike dancing； staring at me curiously。 Jessica waved； and I
smiled back quickly。 Angela was there； too； looking blissfully happy in
the arms of little Ben Cheney； she didn't look up from his eyes； a head
lower than hers。 Lee and Samantha； Lauren； glaring toward us； with
Conner； I could name every face that spiraled past me。 And then we were
outdoors； in the cool； dim light of a fading sunset。
As soon as we were alone； he swung me up into his arms； and carried me
across the dark grounds till he reached the bench beneath the shadow of
the madrone trees。 He sat there； keeping me cradled against his chest。
The moon was already up； visible through the gauzy clouds； and his face
glowed pale in the white light。 His mouth was hard； his eyes troubled。
〃The point？〃 I prompted softly。
He ignored me； staring up at the moon。
〃Twilight； again；〃 he murmured。 〃Another ending。 No matter how perfect
the day is； it always has to end。〃
〃Some things don't have to end；〃 I muttered through my teeth； instantly
tense。
He sighed。
〃I brought you to the prom；〃 he said slowly； finally answering my
question； 〃because I don't want you to miss anything。 I don't want my
presence to take anything away from you； if I can help it。 I want you to
be human。 I want your life to continue as it would have if I'd died in
nieeneighteen like I should have。〃
I shuddered at his words； and then shook my head angrily。 〃In what
strange parallel dimension would I ever have gone to prom of my own free
will？ If you weren't a thousand times stronger than me； I would never
have let you get away with this。〃
He smiled briefly； but it didn't touch his eyes。 〃It wasn't so bad； you
said so yourself。〃
〃That's because I was with you。〃
We were quiet for a minute； he stared at the moon and I stared at him。 I
wished there was some way to explain how very uninterested I was in a
normal human life。
〃Will you tell me something？〃 he asked； glancing down at me with a slight
smile。
〃Don't I always？〃
〃Just promise you'll tell me；〃 he insisted； grinning。
I knew I was going to regret this almost instantly。 〃Fine。〃
〃You seemed honestly surprised when you figured out that I was taking you
here；〃 he began。
〃I was；〃 I interjected。
〃Exactly；〃 he agreed。 〃But you must have had some other theory… I'm
curious — what did you think I was dressing you up for？〃
Yes； instant regret。 I pursed my lips； hesitating。 〃I don't want to tell
you。〃
〃You promised；〃 he objected。
〃I know。〃
〃What's the problem？〃
I knew he thought it was mere embarrassment holding me back。 〃I think it
will make you mad — or sad。〃
His brows pulled together over his eyes as he thought that through。 〃I
still want to know。 Please？〃
I sighed。 He waited。
〃Well… I assumed it was some kind of… occasion。 But I didn't think it
would be some trite human thing… prom！〃 I scoffed。
〃Human？〃 he asked flatly。 He'd picked up on the key word。
I looked down at my dress； fidgeting with a stray piece of chiffon。 He
waited in silence。
〃Okay；〃 I confessed in a rush。 〃So I was hoping that you might have
changed your mind… that you were going to change me； after all。〃
A dozen emotions played across his face。 Some I recognized： anger… pain…
and then he seemed to collect himself and his expression became amused。
〃You thought that would be a black tie occasion； did you？〃 he teased；
touching the lapel of his tuxedo jacket。
I scowled to hide my embarrassment。 〃I don't know how these things work。
To me； at least； it seems more rational than prom does。〃 He was still
grinning。 〃It's not funny；〃 I said。
〃No； you're right； it's not；〃 he agreed； his smile fading。 〃I'd rather
treat it like a joke； though； than believe you're serious。〃
〃But I am serious。〃
He sighed deeply。 〃I know。 And you're really that willing？〃
The pain was back in his eyes。 I bit my lip and nodded。
〃So ready for this to be the end；〃 he murmured； almost to himself； 〃for
this to be the twilight of your life； though your life has barely
started。 You're ready to give up everything。〃
〃It's not the end； it's the beginning；〃 I disagreed under my breath。
〃I'm not worth it；〃 he said sadly。
〃Do you remember when you told me that I didn't see myself very clearly？〃
I asked； raising my eyebrows。 〃You obviously have the same blindness。〃
〃I know what I am。〃
I sighed。
But his mercurial mood shifted on me。 He p