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done。 I peeked out the window again； but nothing had changed。 I had just
finished brushing my teeth and was heading back downstairs when a quiet
knock sent my heart thudding against my rib cage。
I flew to the door； I had a little trouble with the simple dead bolt； but
I yanked the door open at last； and there he was。 All the agitation
dissolved as soon as I looked at his face； calm taking its place。 I
breathed a sigh of relief — yesterday's fears seemed very foolish with
him here。
He wasn't smiling at first — his face was somber。 But then his expression
lightened as he looked me over； and he laughed。
〃Good morning；〃 he chuckled。
〃What's wrong？〃 I glanced down to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything
important； like shoes； or pants。
〃We match。〃 He laughed again。 I realized he had a long； light tan sweater
on； with a white collar showing underneath； and blue jeans。 I laughed
with him； hiding a secret twinge of regret — why did he have to look like
a runway model when I couldn't？
I locked the door behind me while he walked to the truck。 He waited by
the passenger door with a martyred expression that was easy to understand。
〃We made a deal；〃 I reminded him smugly； climbing into the driver's seat；
and reaching over to unlock his door。
〃Where to？〃 I asked。
〃Put your seat belt on — I'm nervous already。〃
I gave him a dirty look as I plied。
〃Where to？〃 I repeated with a sigh。
〃Take the oneohone north；〃 he ordered。
It was surprisingly difficult to concentrate on the road while feeling
his gaze on my face。 I pensated by driving more carefully than usual
through the stillsleeping town。
〃Were you planning to make it out of Forks before nightfall？〃
〃This truck is old enough to be your car's grandfather — have some
respect；〃 I retorted。
We were soon out of the town limits； despite his negativity。 Thick
underbrush and greenswathed trunks replaced the lawns and houses。
〃Turn right on the oen；〃 he instructed just as I was about to ask。 I
obeyed silently。
〃Now we drive until the pavement ends。〃
I could hear a smile in his voice； but I was too afraid of driving off
the road and proving him right to look over and be sure。
〃And what's there； at the pavement's end？〃 I wondered。
〃A trail。〃
〃We're hiking？〃 Thank goodness I'd worn tennis shoes。
〃Is that a problem？〃 He sounded as if he'd expected as much。
〃No。〃 I tried to make the lie sound confident。 But if he thought my truck
was slow…
〃Don't worry； it's only five miles or so； and we're in no hurry。〃
Five miles。 I didn't answer； so that he wouldn't hear my voice crack in
panic。 Five miles of treacherous roots and loose stones； trying to twist
my ankles or otherwise incapacitate me。 This was going to be humiliating。
We drove in silence for a while as I contemplated the ing horror。
〃What are you thinking？〃 he asked impatiently after a few moments。
I lied again。 〃Just wondering where we're going。〃
〃It's a place I like to go when the weather is nice。〃 We both glanced out
the windows at the thinning clouds after he spoke。
〃Charlie said it would be warm today。〃
〃And did you tell Charlie what you were up to？〃 he asked。
〃Nope。〃
〃But Jessica thinks we're going to Seattle together？〃 He seemed cheered
by the idea。
〃No； I told her you canceled on me — which is true。〃
〃No one knows you're with me？〃 Angrily； now。
〃That depends… I assume you told Alice？〃
〃That's very helpful； Bella；〃 he snapped。
I pretended I didn't hear that。
〃Are you so depressed by Forks that it's made you suicidal？〃 he demanded
when I ignored him。
〃You said it might cause trouble for you… us being together publicly；〃 I
reminded him。
〃So you're worried about the trouble it might cause me— if you don't e
home？〃 His voice was still angry； and bitingly sarcastic。
I nodded； keeping my eyes on the road。
He muttered something under his breath； speaking so quickly that I
couldn't understand。
We were silent for the rest of the drive。 I could feel the waves of
infuriated disapproval rolling off of him； and I could think of nothing
to say。
And then the road ended； constricting to a thin foot trail with a small
wooden marker。 I parked on the narrow shoulder and stepped out； afraid
because he was angry with me and I didn't have driving as an excuse not
to look at him。 It was warm now； warmer than it had been in Forks since
the day I'd arrived； almost muggy under the clouds。 I pulled off my
sweater and knotted it around my waist； glad that I'd worn the light；
sleeveless shirt — especially if I had five miles of hiking ahead of me。
I heard his door slam； and looked over to see that he'd removed his
sweater； too。 He was facing away from me； into the unbroken forest beside
my truck。
〃This way；〃 he said； glancing over his shoulder at me； eyes still
annoyed。 He started into the dark forest。
〃The trail？〃 Panic was clear in my voice as I hurried around the truck to
catch up to him。
〃I said there was a trail at the end of the road； not that we were taking
it。〃
〃No trail？〃 I asked desperately。
〃I won't let you get lost。〃 He turned then； with a mocking smile； and I
stifled a gasp。 His white shirt was sleeveless； and he wore it
unbuttoned； so that the smooth white skin of his throat flowed
uninterrupted over the marble contours of his chest； his perfect
musculature no longer merely hinted at behind concealing clothes。 He was
too perfect； I realized with a piercing stab of despair。 There was no way
this godlike creature could be meant for me。
He stared at me； bewildered by my tortured expression。
〃Do you want to go home？〃 he said quietly； a different pain than mine
saturating his voice。
〃No。〃 I walked forward till I was close beside him； anxious not to waste
one second of whatever time I might have with him。
〃What's wrong？〃 he asked； his voice gentle。
〃I'm not a good hiker；〃 I answered dully。 〃You'll have to be very
patient。〃
〃I can be patient — if I make a great effort。〃 He smiled； holding my
glance； trying to lift me out of m