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His eyes slid back to mine； still tight。 〃Newton's getting on my nerves。〃
〃You weren't listening again？〃 I was horrorstruck。 All traces of my
sudden good humor vanished。
〃How's your head？〃 he asked innocently。
〃You're unbelievable！〃 I turned； stomping away in the general direction
of the parking lot； though I hadn't ruled out walking at this point。
He kept up with me easily。
〃You were the one who mentioned how I'd never seen you in Gym — it made
me curious。〃 He didn't sound repentant； so I ignored him。
We walked in silence — a furious； embarrassed silence on my part — to his
car。 But I had to stop a few steps away — a crowd of people； all boys；
were surrounding it。
Then I realized they weren't surrounding the Volvo； they were actually
circled around Rosalie's red convertible； unmistakable lust in their
eyes。 None of them even looked up as Edward slid between them to open his
door。 I climbed quickly in the passenger side； also unnoticed。
〃Ostentatious；〃 he muttered。
〃What kind of car is that？〃 I asked。
〃An M3。〃
〃I don't speak Car and Driver。〃
〃It's a BMW。〃 He rolled his eyes； not looking at me； trying to back out
without running over the car enthusiasts。
I nodded — I'd heard of that one。
〃Are you still angry？〃 he asked as he carefully maneuvered his way out。
〃Definitely。〃
He sighed。 〃Will you forgive me if I apologize？〃
〃Maybe… if you mean it。 And if you promise not to do it again；〃 I
insisted。
His eyes were suddenly shrewd。 〃How about if I mean it； and I agree to
let you drive Saturday？〃 he countered my conditions。
I considered； and decided it was probably the best offer I would get。
〃Deal；〃 I agreed。
〃Then I'm very sorry I upset you。〃 His eyes burned with sincerity for a
protracted moment — playing havoc with the rhythm of my heart — and then
turned playful。 〃And I'll be on your doorstep bright and early Saturday
morning。〃
〃Um； it doesn't help with the Charlie situation if an unexplained Volvo
is left in the driveway。〃
His smile was condescending now。 〃I wasn't intending to bring a car。〃
〃How —〃
He cut me off。 〃Don't worry about it。 I'll be there； no car。〃
I let it go。 I had a more pressing question。
〃Is it later yet？〃 I asked significantly。
He frowned。 〃I supposed it is later。〃
I kept my expression polite as I waited。
He stopped the car。 I looked up； surprised — of course we were already at
Charlie's house； parked behind the truck。 It was easier to ride with him
if I only looked when it was over。 When I looked back at him； he was
staring at me； measuring with his eyes。
〃And you still want to know why you can't see me hunt？〃 He seemed solemn；
but I thought I saw a trace of humor deep in his eyes。
〃Well；〃 I clarified； 〃I was mostly wondering about your reaction。〃
〃Did I frighten you？〃 Yes； there was definitely humor there。
〃No；〃 I lied。 He didn't buy it。
〃I apologize for scaring you；〃 he persisted with a slight smile； but then
all evidence of teasing disappeared。 〃It was just the very thought of you
being there… while we hunted。〃 His jaw tightened。
〃That would be bad？〃
He spoke from between clenched teeth。 〃Extremely。〃
〃Because… ？〃
He took a deep breath and stared through the windshield at the thick；
rolling clouds that seemed to press down； almost within reach。
〃When we hunt；〃 he spoke slowly； unwillingly； 〃we give ourselves over to
our senses… govern less with our minds。 Especially our sense of smell。 If
you were anywhere near me when I lost control that way…〃 He shook his
head； still gazing morosely at the heavy clouds。
I kept my expression firmly under control； expecting the swift flash of
his eyes to judge my reaction that soon followed。 My face gave nothing
away。
But our eyes held； and the silence deepened — and changed。 Flickers of
the electricity I'd felt this afternoon began to charge the atmosphere as
he gazed unrelentingly into my eyes。 It wasn't until my head started to
swim that I realized I wasn't breathing。 When I drew in a jagged breath；
breaking the stillness； he closed his eyes。
〃Bella； I think you should go inside now。〃 His low voice was rough； his
eyes on the clouds again。
I opened the door； and the arctic draft that burst into the car helped
clear my head。 Afraid I might stumble in my woozy state； I stepped
carefully out of the car and shut the door behind me without looking
back。 The whir of the automatic window unrolling made me turn。
〃Oh； Bella？〃 he called after me； his voice more even。 He leaned toward
the open window with a faint smile on his lips。
〃Yes？〃
〃Tomorrow it's my turn。〃
〃Your turn to what？〃
He smiled wider； flashing his gleaming teeth。 〃Ask the questions。〃
And then he was gone； the car speeding down the street and disappearing
around the corner before I could even collect my thoughts。 I smiled as I
walked to the house。 It was clear he was planning to see me tomorrow； if
nothing else。
That night Edward starred in my dreams； as usual。 However； the climate of
my unconsciousness had changed。 It thrilled with the same electricity
that had charged the afternoon； and I tossed and turned restlessly；
waking often。 It was only in the early hours of the morning that I
finally sank into an exhausted； dreamless sleep。
When I woke I was still tired； but edgy as well。 I pulled on my brown
turtleneck and the inescapable jeans； sighing as I daydreamed of
spaghetti straps and shorts。 Breakfast was the usual； quiet event I
expected。 Charlie fried eggs for himself； I had my bowl of cereal。 I
wondered if he had forgotten about this Saturday。 He answered my unspoken
question as he stood up to take his plate to the sink。
〃About this Saturday…〃 he began； walking across the kitchen and turning
on the faucet。
I cringed。 〃Yes； Dad？〃
〃Are you still set on going to Seattle？〃 he asked。
〃That was the plan。〃 I grimaced； wishing he hadn't brought it up so I
wouldn't have to pose careful halftruths。
He squeezed some dish soap onto his plate and swirled it around with the
brush。 〃And