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horror。 His face stood out from a sea of faces； all frozen in the same
mask of shock。 But of more immediate importance was the dark blue van
that was skidding； tires locked and squealing against the brakes；
spinning wildly across the ice of the parking lot。 It was going to hit
the back corner of my truck； and I was standing between them。 I didn't
even have time to close my eyes。
Just before I heard the shattering crunch of the van folding around the
truck bed； something hit me； hard； but not from the direction I was
expecting。 My head cracked against the icy blacktop； and I felt something
solid and cold pinning me to the ground。 I was lying on the pavement
behind the tan car I'd parked next to。 But I didn't have a chance to
notice anything else； because the van was still ing。 It had curled
gratingly around the end of the truck and； still spinning and sliding；
was about to collide with me again。
A low oath made me aware that someone was with me； and the voice was
impossible not to recognize。 Two long； white hands shot out protectively
in front of me； and the van shuddered to a stop a foot from my face； the
large hands fitting providentially into a deep dent in the side of the
van's body。
Then his hands moved so fast they blurred。 One was suddenly gripping
under the body of the van； and something was dragging me； swinging my
legs around like a rag doll's； till they hit the tire of the tan car。 A
groaning metallic thud hurt my ears； and the van settled； glass popping；
onto the asphalt — exactly where； a second ago； my legs had been。
It was absolutely silent for one long second before the screaming began。
In the abrupt bedlam； I could hear more than one person shouting my name。
But more clearly than all the yelling； I could hear Edward Cullen's low；
frantic voice in my ear。
〃Bella？ Are you all right？〃
〃I'm fine。〃 My voice sounded strange。 I tried to sit up； and realized he
was holding me against the side of his body in an iron grasp。
〃Be careful；〃 he warned as I struggled。 〃I think you hit your head pretty
hard。〃
I became aware of a throbbing ache centered above my left ear。
〃Ow；〃 I said； surprised。
〃That's what I thought。〃 His voice； amazingly； sounded like he was
suppressing laughter。
〃How in the…〃 I trailed off； trying to clear my head； get my bearings。
〃How did you get over here so fast？〃
〃I was standing right next to you； Bella；〃 he said； his tone serious
again。
I turned to sit up； and this time he let me； releasing his hold around my
waist and sliding as far from me as he could in the limited space。 I
looked at his concerned； innocent expression and was disoriented again by
the force of his goldcolored eyes。 What was I asking him？
And then they found us； a crowd of people with tears streaming down their
faces； shouting at each other； shouting at us。
〃Don't move；〃 someone instructed。
〃Get Tyler out of the van！〃 someone else shouted。
There was a flurry of activity around us。 I tried to get up； but Edward's
cold hand pushed my shoulder down。
〃Just stay put for now。〃
〃But it's cold；〃 I plained。 It surprised me when he chuckled under his
breath。 There was an edge to the sound。
〃You were over there；〃 I suddenly remembered； and his chuckle stopped
short。 〃You were by your car。〃
His expression turned hard。 〃No； I wasn't。〃
〃I saw you。〃 All around us was chaos。 I could hear the gruffer voices of
adults arriving on the scene。 But I obstinately held on to our argument；
I was right； and he was going to admit it。
〃Bella； I was standing with you； and I pulled you out of the way。〃 He
unleashed the full； devastating power of his eyes on me； as if trying to
municate something crucial。
〃No。〃 I set my jaw。
The gold in his eyes blazed。 〃Please； Bella。〃
〃Why？〃 I demanded。
〃Trust me；〃 he pleaded； his soft voice overwhelming。
I could hear the sirens now。 〃Will you promise to explain everything to
me later？〃
〃Fine；〃 he snapped； abruptly exasperated。
〃Fine；〃 I repeated angrily。
It took six EMTs and two teachers — Mr。 Varner and Coach Clapp — to shift
the van far enough away from us to bring the stretchers in。 Edward
vehemently refused his； and I tried to do the same； but the traitor told
them I'd hit my head and probably had a concussion。 I almost died of
humiliation when they put on the neck brace。 It looked like the entire
school was there； watching soberly as they loaded me in the back of the
ambulance。 Edward got to ride in the front。 It was maddening。
To make matters worse； Chief Swan arrived before they could get me safely
away。
〃Bella！〃 he yelled in panic when he recognized me on the stretcher。
〃I'm pletely fine； Char — Dad；〃 I sighed。 〃There's nothing wrong with
me。〃
He turned to the closest EMT for a second opinion。 I tuned him out to
consider the jumble of inexplicable images churning chaotically in my
head。 When they'd lifted me away from the car； I had seen the deep dent
in the tan car's bumper — a very distinct dent that fit the contours of
Edward's shoulders… as if he had braced himself against the car with
enough force to damage the metal frame…
And then there was his family； looking on from the distance； with
expressions that ranged from disapproval to fury but held no hint of
concern for their brother's safety。
I tried to think of a logical solution that could explain what I had just
seen — a solution that excluded the assumption that I was insane。
Naturally； the ambulance got a police escort to the county hospital。 I
felt ridiculous the whole time they were unloading me。 What made it worse
was that Edward simply glided through the hospital doors under his own
power。 I ground my teeth together。
They put me in the emergency room； a long room with a line of beds
separated by pastelpatterned curtains。 A nurse put a pressure cuff on my
arm and a thermometer under my tongue。 Since no one bothered pulling the
curtain around to give me some privacy； I decided I wasn't obligated to
wear the stupidlooking neck brace anymore。 When the nurse walked away；