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attract accidents like a mag。 So… try not to fall into the ocean or
get run over or anything； all right？〃 He smiled crookedly。
The helplessness had faded as he spoke。 I glared at him。
〃I'll see what I can do；〃 I snapped as I jumped out into the rain。 I
slammed the door behind me with excessive force。
He was still smiling as he drove away。
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6。 SCARY STORIES
As I sat in my room； trying to concentrate on the third act of Macbeth； I
was really listening for my truck。 I would have thought； even over the
pounding rain； I could have heard the engine's roar。 But when I went to
peek out the curtain — again — it was suddenly there。
I wasn't looking forward to Friday； and it more than lived up to my
nonexpectations。 Of course there were the fainting ments。 Jessica
especially seemed to get a kick out of that story。 Luckily Mike had kept
his mouth shut； and no one seemed to know about Edward's involvement。 She
did have a lot of questions about lunch； though。
〃So what did Edward Cullen want yesterday？〃 Jessica asked in Trig。
〃I don't know；〃 I answered truthfully。 〃He never really got to the point。〃
〃You looked kind of mad；〃 she fished。
〃Did I？〃 I kept my expression blank。
〃You know； I've never seen him sit with anyone but his family before。
That was weird。〃
〃Weird；〃 I agreed。 She seemed annoyed； she flipped her dark curls
impatiently — I guessed she'd been hoping to hear something that would
make a good story for her to pass on。
The worst part about Friday was that； even though I knew he wasn't going
to be there； I still hoped。 When I walked into the cafeteria with Jessica
and Mike； I couldn't keep from looking at his table； where Rosalie；
Alice； and Jasper sat talking； heads close together。 And I couldn't stop
the gloom that engulfed me as I realized I didn't know how long I would
have to wait before I saw him again。
At my usual table； everyone was full of our plans for the next day。 Mike
was animated again； putting a great deal of trust in the local weatherman
who promised sun tomorrow。 I'd have to see that before I believed it。 But
it was warmer today — almost sixty。 Maybe the outing wouldn't be
pletely miserable。
I intercepted a few unfriendly glances from Lauren during lunch； which I
didn't understand until we were all walking out of the room together。 I
was right behind her； just a foot from her slick； silver blond hair； and
she was evidently unaware of that。
〃…don't know why Bella〃 — she sneered my name — 〃doesn't just sit with
the Cullens from now on。〃
I heard her muttering to Mike。 I'd never noticed what an unpleasant；
nasal voice she had； and I was surprised by the malice in it。 I really
didn't know her well at all； certainly not well enough for her to dislike
me — or so I'd thought。 〃She's my friend； she sits with us；〃 Mike
whispered back loyally； but also a bit territorially。 I paused to let
Jess and Angela pass me。 I didn't want to hear any more。
That night at dinner； Charlie seemed enthusiastic about my trip to La
Push in the morning。 I think he felt guilty for leaving me home alone on
the weekends； but he'd spent too many years building his habits to break
them now。 Of course he knew the names of all the kids going； and their
parents； and their greatgrandparents； too； probably。 He seemed to
approve。 I wondered if he would approve of my plan to ride to Seattle
with Edward Cullen。 Not that I was going to tell him。
〃Dad； do you know a place called Goat Rocks or something like that？ I
think it's south of Mount Rainier；〃 I asked casually。
〃Yeah — why？〃
I shrugged。 〃Some kids were talking about camping there。〃
〃It's not a very good place for camping。〃 He sounded surprised。 〃Too many
bears。 Most people go there during the hunting season。〃
〃Oh；〃 I murmured。 〃Maybe I got the name wrong。〃
I meant to sleep in； but an unusual brightness woke me。 I opened my eyes
to see a clear yellow light streaming through my window。 I couldn't
believe it。 I hurried to the window to check； and sure enough； there was
the sun。 It was in the wrong place in the sky； too low； and it didn't
seem to be as close as it should be； but it was definitely the sun。
Clouds ringed the horizon； but a large patch of blue was visible in the
middle。 I lingered by the window as long as I could； afraid that if I
left the blue would disappear again。
The Newtons' Olympic Outfitters store was just north of town。 I'd seen
the store； but I'd never stopped there — not having much need for any
supplies required for being outdoors over an extended period of time。 In
the parking lot I recognized Mike's Suburban and Tyler's Sentra。 As I
pulled up next to their vehicles； I could see the group standing around
in front of the Suburban。 Eric was there； along with two other boys I had
class with； I was fairly sure their names were Ben and Conner。 Jess was
there； flanked by Angela and Lauren。 Three other girls stood with them；
including one I remembered falling over in Gym on Friday。 That one gave
me a dirty look as I got out of the truck； and whispered something to
Lauren。 Lauren shook out her cornsilk hair and eyed me scornfully。
So it was going to be one of those days。
At least Mike was happy to see me。
〃You came！〃 he called； delighted。 〃And I said it would be sunny today；
didn't I？〃
〃I told you I was ing；〃 I reminded him。
〃We're just waiting for Lee and Samantha… unless you invited someone；〃
Mike added。
〃Nope；〃 I lied lightly； hoping I wouldn't get caught in the lie。 But also
wishing that a miracle would occur； and Edward would appear。
Mike looked satisfied。
〃Will you ride in my car？ It's that or Lee's mom's minivan。〃
〃Sure。〃
He smiled blissfully。 It was so easy to make Mike happy。
〃You can have shotgun；〃 he promised。 I hid my chagrin。 It wasn't as
simple to make Mike and Jessica happy at the same time。 I could see
Jessica glowering at us now。
The numbers worked out in my favor； though。 Lee brought two extra people；