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the holdup wasn't my fault。
〃Oh； I know — I just wanted to ask you something while we're trapped
here。〃 He grinned。
This could not be happening。
〃Will you ask me to the spring dance？〃 he continued。
〃I'm not going to be in town； Tyler。〃 My voice sounded a little sharp。 I
had to remember it wasn't his fault that Mike and Eric had already used
up my quota of patience for the day。
〃Yeah； Mike said that；〃 he admitted。
〃Then why —〃
He shrugged。 〃I was hoping you were just letting him down easy。〃
Okay； it was pletely his fault。
〃Sorry； Tyler；〃 I said； working to hide my irritation。 〃I really am going
out of town。〃
〃That's cool。 We still have prom。〃
And before I could respond； he was walking back to his car。 I could feel
the shock on my face。 I looked forward to see Alice； Rosalie； Emmett； and
Jasper all sliding into the Volvo。 In his rearview mirror； Edward's eyes
were on me。 He was unquestionably shaking with laughter； as if he'd heard
every word Tyler had said。 My foot itched toward the gas pedal… one
little bump wouldn't hurt any of them； just that glossy silver paint job。
I revved the engine。
But they were all in； and Edward was speeding away。 I drove home slowly；
carefully； muttering to myself the whole way。
When I got home； I decided to make chicken enchiladas for dinner。 It was
a long process； and it would keep me busy。 While I was simmering the
onions and chilies； the phone rang。 I was almost afraid to answer it； but
it might be Charlie or my mom。
It was Jessica； and she was jubilant； Mike had caught her after school to
accept her invitation。 I celebrated with her briefly while I stirred。 She
had to go； she wanted to call Angela and Lauren to tell them。 I suggested
— with casual innocence — that maybe Angela； the shy girl who had Biology
with me； could ask Eric。 And Lauren； a standoffish girl who had always
ignored me at the lunch table； could ask Tyler； I'd heard he was still
available。 Jess thought that was a great idea。 Now that she was sure of
Mike； she actually sounded sincere when she said she wished I would go to
the dance。 I gave her my Seattle excuse。
After I hung up； I tried to concentrate on dinner — dicing the chicken
especially； I didn't want to take another trip to the emergency room。 But
my head was spinning； trying to analyze every word Edward had spoken
today。 What did he mean； it was better if we weren't friends？
My stomach twisted as I realized what he must have meant。 He must see how
absorbed I was by him； he must not want to lead me on… so we couldn't
even be friends… because he wasn't interested in me at all。
Of course he wasn't interested in me； I thought angrily； my eyes stinging
— a delayed reaction to the onions。 I wasn't interesting。 And he was。
Interesting… and brilliant… and mysterious… and perfect… and beautiful…
and possibly able to lift fullsized vans with one hand。
Well； that was fine。 I could leave him alone。 I would leave him alone。 I
would get through my selfimposed sentence here in purgatory； and then
hopefully some school in the Southwest； or possibly Hawaii； would offer
me a scholarship。 I focused my thoughts on sunny beaches and palm trees
as I finished the enchiladas and put them in the oven。
Charlie seemed suspicious when he came home and smelled the green
peppers。 I couldn't blame him — the closest edible Mexican food was
probably in southern California。 But he was a cop； even if just a
smalltown cop； so he was brave enough to take the first bite。 He seemed
to like it。 It was fun to watch as he slowly began trusting me in the
kitchen。
〃Dad？〃 I asked when he was almost done。
〃Yeah； Bella？〃
〃Um； I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to Seattle for the day
a week from Saturday… if that's okay？〃 I didn't want to ask permission —
it set a bad precedent — but I felt rude； so I tacked it on at the end。
〃Why？〃 He sounded surprised； as if he were unable to imagine something
that Forks couldn't offer。
〃Well； I wanted to get few books — the library here is pretty limited —
and maybe look at some clothes。〃 I had more money than I was used to
having； since； thanks to Charlie； I hadn't had to pay for a car。 Not that
the truck didn't cost me quite a bit in the gas department。
〃That truck probably doesn't get very good gas mileage；〃 he said； echoing
my thoughts。
〃I know； I'll stop in Montesano and Olympia — and Taa if I have to。〃
〃Are you going all by yourself？〃 he asked； and I couldn't tell if he was
suspicious I had a secret boyfriend or just worried about car trouble。
〃Yes。〃
〃Seattle is a big city — you could get lost；〃 he fretted。
〃Dad； Phoenix is five times the size of Seattle — and I can read a map；
don't worry about it。〃
〃Do you want me to e with you？〃
I tried to be crafty as I hid my horror。
〃That's all right； Dad； I'll probably just be in dressing rooms all day —
very boring。〃
〃Oh； okay。〃 The thought of sitting in women's clothing stores for any
period of time immediately put him off。
〃Thanks。〃 I smiled at him。
〃Will you be back in time for the dance？〃
Grrr。 Only in a town this small would a father know when the high school
dances were。
〃No — I don't dance； Dad。〃 He； of all people； should understand that — I
didn't get my balance problems from my mother。
He did understand。 〃Oh； that's right；〃 he realized。
The next morning； when I pulled into the parking lot； I deliberately
parked as far as possible from the silver Volvo。 I didn't want to put
myself in the path of too much temptation and end up owing him a new car。
Getting out of the cab； I fumbled with my key and it fell into a puddle
at my feet。 As I bent to get it； a white hand flashed out and grabbed it
before I could。 I jerked upright。 Edward Cullen was right next to me；
leaning casually against my truck。
〃How do you do that？〃 I asked in amazed irritation。
〃Do what？〃 He held my key out as he spoke。 As I reached for it； he
dropped it into my palm。
〃Appear out of thin air。〃
〃Bella； it's not my fault if you are e