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head； not sure if I could speak。 I could feel his gaze on my face； but I
kept my eyes forward。
〃Are you crying？〃 He sounded appalled。 I hadn't realized the moisture in
my eyes had brimmed over。 I quickly rubbed my hand across my cheek； and
sure enough； traitor tears were there； betraying me。
〃No；〃 I said； but my voice cracked。
I saw him reach toward me hesitantly with his right hand； but then he
stopped and placed it slowly back on the steering wheel。
〃I'm sorry。〃 His voice burned with regret。 I knew he wasn't just
apologizing for the words that had upset me。
The darkness slipped by us in silence。
〃Tell me something；〃 he asked after another minute； and I could hear him
struggle to use a lighter tone。
〃Yes？〃
〃What were you thinking tonight； just before I came around the corner？ I
couldn't understand your expression — you didn't look that scared； you
looked like you were concentrating very hard on something。〃
〃I was trying to remember how to incapacitate an attacker — you know；
selfdefense。 I was going to smash his nose into his brain。〃 I thought of
the darkhaired man with a surge of hate。
〃You were going to fight them？〃 This upset him。 〃Didn't you think about
running？〃
〃I fall down a lot when I run；〃 I admitted。
〃What about screaming for help？〃
〃I was getting to that part。〃
He shook his head。 〃You were right — I'm definitely fighting fate trying
to keep you alive。〃
I sighed。 We were slowing； passing into the boundaries of Forks。 It had
taken less than twenty minutes。
〃Will I see you tomorrow？〃 I demanded。
〃Yes — I have a paper due； too。〃 He smiled。 〃I'll save you a seat at
lunch。〃
It was silly； after everything we'd been through tonight； how that little
promise sent flutters through my stomach； and made me unable to speak。
We were in front of Charlie's house。 The lights were on； my truck in its
place； everything utterly normal。 It was like waking from a dream。 He
stopped the car； but I didn't move。
〃Do you promise to be there tomorrow？〃
〃I promise。〃
I considered that for a moment； then nodded。 I pulled his jacket off；
taking one last whiff。
〃You can keep it — you don't have a jacket for tomorrow；〃 he reminded me。
I handed it back to him。 〃I don't want to have to explain to Charlie。〃
〃Oh； right。〃 He grinned。
I hesitated； my hand on the door handle； trying to prolong the moment。
〃Bella？〃 he asked in a different tone — serious； but hesitant。
〃Yes？〃 I turned back to him too eagerly。
〃Will you promise me something？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； and instantly regretted my unconditional agreement。 What
if he asked me to stay away from him？ I couldn't keep that promise。
〃Don't go into the woods alone。〃
I stared at him in blank confusion。 〃Why？〃
He frowned； and his eyes were tight as he stared past me out the window。
〃I'm not always the most dangerous thing out there。 Let's leave it at
that。〃
I shuddered slightly at the sudden bleakness in his voice； but I was
relieved。 This； at least； was an easy promise to honor。 〃Whatever you
say。〃
〃I'll see you tomorrow；〃 he sighed； and I knew he wanted me to leave now。
〃Tomorrow； then。〃 I opened the door unwillingly。
〃Bella？〃 I turned and he was leaning toward me； his pale； glorious face
just inches from mine。 My heart stopped beating。
〃Sleep well；〃 he said。 His breath blew in my face； stunning me。 It was
the same exquisite scent that clung to his jacket； but in a more
concentrated form。 I blinked； thoroughly dazed。 He leaned away。
I was unable to move until my brain had somewhat unscrambled itself。 Then
I stepped out of the car awkwardly； having to use the frame for support。
I thought I heard him chuckle； but the sound was too quiet for me to be
certain。
He waited till I had stumbled to the front door； and then I heard his
engine quietly rev。 I turned to watch the silver car disappear around the
corner。 I realized it was very cold。
I reached for the key mechanically； unlocked the door； and stepped inside。
Charlie called from the living room。 〃Bella？〃
〃Yeah； Dad； it's me。〃 I walked in to see him。 He was watching a baseball
game。
〃You're home early。〃
〃Am I？〃 I was surprised。
〃It's not even eight yet；〃 he told me。 〃Did you girls have fun？〃
〃Yeah — it was lots of fun。〃 My head was spinning as I tried to remember
all the way back to the girls' night out I had planned。 〃They both found
dresses。〃
〃Are you all right？〃
〃I'm just tired。 I did a lot of walking。〃
〃Well； maybe you should go lie down。〃 He sounded concerned。 I wondered
what my face looked like。
〃I'm just going to call Jessica first。〃
〃Weren't you just with her？〃 he asked； surprised。
〃Yes — but I left my jacket in her car。 I want to make sure she brings it
tomorrow。〃
〃Well； give her a chance to get home first。〃
〃Right；〃 I agreed。
I went to the kitchen and fell； exhausted； into a chair。 I was really
feeling dizzy now。 I wondered if I was going to go into shock after all。
Get a grip； I told myself。
The phone rang suddenly； startling me。 I yanked it off the hook。
〃Hello？〃 I asked breathlessly。
〃Bella？〃
〃Hey； Jess； I was just going to call you。〃
〃You made it home？〃 Her voice was relieved… and surprised。
〃Yes。 I left my jacket in your car — could you bring it to me tomorrow？〃
〃Sure。 But tell me what happened！〃 she demanded。
〃Um； tomorrow — in Trig； okay？〃
She caught on quickly。 〃Oh； is your dad there？〃
〃Yes； that's right。〃
〃Okay； I'll talk to you tomorrow； then。 Bye！〃 I could hear the impatience
in her voice。
〃Bye； Jess。〃
I walked up the stairs slowly； a heavy stupor clouding my mind。 I went
through the motions of getting ready for bed without paying any attention
to what I was doing。 It wasn't until I was in the shower — the water too
hot； burning my skin — that I realized I was freezing。 I shuddered
violently for several minutes before the steaming spray could finally
relax my rigid muscles。 Then I stood in the shower； too tired to move；
until the hot water began to run out。
I stumb