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〃Er… hi。〃 She shifted her wide eyes to me； trying to gather her jumbled
thoughts。 〃I guess I'll see you in Trig。〃 She gave me a meaningful look；
and I suppressed a sigh。 What on earth was I going to tell her？
〃Yeah； I'll see you then。〃
She walked away； pausing twice to peek back over her shoulder at us。
〃What are you going to tell her？〃 Edward murmured。
〃Hey； I thought you couldn't read my mind！〃 I hissed。
〃I can't；〃 he said； startled。 Then understanding brightened his eyes。
〃However； I can read hers — she'll be waiting to ambush you in class。〃
I groaned as I pulled off his jacket and handed it to him； replacing it
with my own。 He folded it over his arm。
〃So what are you going to tell her？〃
〃A little help？〃 I pleaded。 〃What does she want to know？〃
He shook his head； grinning wickedly。 〃That's not fair。〃
〃No； you not sharing what you know — now that's not fair。〃
He deliberated for a moment as we walked。 We stopped outside the door to
my first class。
〃She wants to know if we're secretly dating。 And she wants to know how
you feel about me；〃 he finally said。
〃Yikes。 What should I say？〃 I tried to keep my expression very innocent。
People were passing us on their way to class； probably staring； but I was
barely aware of them。
〃Hmmm。〃 He paused to catch a stray lock of hair that was escaping the
twist on my neck and wound it back into place。 My heart spluttered
hyperactively。 〃I suppose you could say yes to the first… if you don't
mind — it's easier than any other explanation。〃
〃I don't mind；〃 I said in a faint voice。
〃And as for her other question… well； I'll be listening to hear the
answer to that one myself。〃 One side of his mouth pulled up into my
favorite uneven smile。 I couldn't catch my breath soon enough to respond
to that remark。 He turned and walked away。
〃I'll see you at lunch；〃 he called over his shoulder。 Three people
walking in the door stopped to stare at me。
I hurried into class； flushed and irritated。 He was such a cheater。 Now I
was even more worried about what I was going to say to Jessica。 I sat in
my usual seat； slamming my bag down in aggravation。
〃Morning； Bella；〃 Mike said from the seat next to me。 I looked up to see
an odd； almost resigned look on his face。 〃How was Port Angeles？〃
〃It was…〃 There was no honest way to sum it up。 〃Great；〃 I finished
lamely。 〃Jessica got a really cute dress。〃
〃Did she say anything about Monday night？〃 he asked； his eyes
brightening。 I smiled at the turn the conversation had taken。
〃She said she had a really good time；〃 I assured him。
〃She did？〃 he said eagerly。
〃Most definitely。〃
Mr。 Mason called the class to order then； asking us to turn in our
papers。 English and then Government passed in a blur； while I worried
about how to explain things to Jessica and agonized over whether Edward
would really be listening to what I said through the medium of Jess's
thoughts。 How very inconvenient his little talent could be — when it
wasn't saving my life。
The fog had almost dissolved by the end of the second hour； but the day
was still dark with low； oppressing clouds。 I smiled up at the sky。
Edward was right； of course。 When I walked into Trig Jessica was sitting
in the back row； nearly bouncing off her seat in agitation。 I reluctantly
went to sit by her； trying to convince myself it would be better to get
it over with as soon as possible。
〃Tell me everything！〃 she manded before I was in the seat。
〃What do you want to know？〃 I hedged。
〃What happened last night？〃
〃He bought me dinner； and then he drove me home。〃
She glared at me； her expression stiff with skepticism。 〃How did you get
home so fast？〃
〃He drives like a maniac。 It was terrifying。〃 I hoped he heard that。
〃Was it like a date — did you tell him to meet you there？〃
I hadn't thought of that。 〃No — I was very surprised to see him there。〃
Her lips puckered in disappointment at the transparent honesty in my
voice。
〃But he picked you up for school today？〃 she probed。
〃Yes — that was a surprise； too。 He noticed I didn't have a jacket last
night；〃 I explained。
〃So are you going out again？〃
〃He offered to drive me to Seattle Saturday because he thinks toy truck
isn't up to it — does that count？〃
〃Yes。〃 She nodded。
〃Well； then； yes。〃
〃Wow。〃 She exaggerated the word into three syllables。 〃Edward Cullen。〃
〃I know；〃 I agreed。 〃Wow〃 didn't even cover it。
〃Wait！〃 Her hands flew up； palms toward me like she was stopping traffic。
〃Has he kissed you？〃
〃No；〃 I mumbled。 〃It's not like that。〃
She looked disappointed。 I'm sure I did； too。
〃Do you think Saturday… ？〃 She raised her eyebrows。
〃I really doubt it。〃 The discontent in my voice was poorly disguised。
〃What did you talk about？〃 She pushed for more information in a whisper。
Class had started but Mr。 Varner wasn't paying close attention and we
weren't the only ones still talking。
〃I don't know； Jess； lots of stuff；〃 I whispered back。 〃We talked about
the English essay a little。〃 A very； very little。 I think he mentioned it
in passing。
〃Please； Bella；〃 she begged。 〃Give me some details。〃
〃Well… okay； I've got one。 You should have seen the waitress flirting
with him — it was over the top。 But he didn't pay any attention to her at
all。〃 Let him make what he could of that。
〃That's a good sign；〃 she nodded。 〃Was she pretty？〃
〃Very — and probably nieen or twenty。〃
〃Even better。 He must like you。〃
〃I think so； but it's hard to tell。 He's always so cryptic；〃 I threw in
for his benefit； sighing。
〃I don't know how you're brave enough to be alone with him；〃 she breathed。
〃Why？〃 I was shocked； but she didn't understand my reaction。
〃He's so… intimidating。 I wouldn't know what to say to him。〃 She made a
face； probably remembering this morning or last night； when he'd turned
the overwhelming force of his eyes on her。
〃I do have some trouble with incoherency when I'm around him；〃 I admitted。
〃Oh well。 He is unbelievably gorgeous。〃 Jessica shrugged as if this