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I mmm'd and ahh'd at the right places； but it wasn't easy to concentrate。
Jessica； Mike； the dance； the school — they all seemed strangely
irrelevant at the moment。 My eyes kept flashing to the window； trying to
judge the degree of light behind the heavy clouds。
〃Did you hear what I said； Bella？〃 Jess asked； irritated。
〃I'm sorry； what？〃
〃I said； Mike kissed me！ Can you believe it？〃
〃That's wonderful； Jess；〃 I said。
〃So what did you do yesterday？〃 Jessica challenged； still sounding
bothered by my lack of attention。 Or maybe she was upset because I hadn't
asked for details。
〃Nothing； really。 I just hung around outside to enjoy the sun。〃
I heard Charlie's car in the garage。
〃Did you ever hear anything more from Edward Cullen？〃
The front door slammed and I could hear Charlie banging around under the
stairs； putting his tackle away。
〃Um。〃 I hesitated； not sure what my story was anymore。
〃Hi there； kiddo！〃 Charlie called as he walked into the kitchen。 I waved
at him。
Jess heard his voice。 〃Oh； your dad's there。 Never mind — we'll talk
tomorrow。 See you in Trig。〃
〃See ya； Jess。〃 I hung up the phone。
〃Hey； Dad；〃 I said。 He was scrubbing his hands in the sink。 〃Where's the
fish？〃
〃I put it out in the freezer。〃
〃I'll go grab a few pieces before they freeze — Billy dropped off some of
Harry Clearwater's fish fry this afternoon。〃 I worked to sound
enthusiastic。
〃He did？〃 Charlie's eyes lit up。 〃That's my favorite。〃
Charlie cleaned up while I got dinner ready。 It didn't take long till we
were sitting at the table； eating in silence。 Charlie was enjoying his
food。 I was wondering desperately how to fulfill my assignment；
struggling to think of a way to broach the subject。
〃What did you do with yourself today？〃 he asked； snapping me out of my
reverie。
〃Well； this afternoon I just hung out around the house…〃 Only the very
recent part of this afternoon； actually。 I tried to keep my voice upbeat；
but my stomach was hollow。 〃And this morning I was over at the Cullens'。〃
Charlie dropped his fork。
〃Dr。 Cullen's place？〃 he asked in astonishment。
I pretended not to notice his reaction。 〃Yeah。〃
〃What were you doing there？〃 He hadn't picked his fork back up。
〃Well； I sort of have a date with Edward Cullen tonight； and he wanted to
introduce me to his parents… Dad？〃
It appeared that Charlie was having an aneurysm。
〃Dad； are you all right？〃
〃You are going out with Edward Cullen？〃 he thundered。
Uhoh。 〃I thought you liked the Cullens。〃
〃He's too old for you；〃 he ranted。
〃We're both juniors；〃 I corrected； though he was more right than he
dreamed。
〃Wait…〃 He paused。 〃Which one is Edwin？〃
〃Edward is the youngest； the one with the reddish brown hair。〃 The
beautiful one； the godlike one…
〃Oh； well； that's〃 — he struggled — 〃better； I guess。 I don't like the
look of that big one。 I'm sure he's a nice boy and all； but he looks too…
mature for you。 Is this Edwin your boyfriend？〃
〃It's Edward； Dad。〃
〃Is he？〃
〃Sort of； I guess。〃
〃You said last night that you weren't interested in any of the boys in
town。〃 But he picked up his fork again； so I could see the worst was over。
〃Well； Edward doesn't live in town； Dad。〃
He gave me a disparaging look as he chewed。
〃And； anyways；〃 I continued； 〃it's kind of at an early stage； you know。
Don't embarrass me with all the boyfriend talk； okay？〃
〃When is he ing over？〃
〃He'll be here in a few minutes。〃
〃Where is he taking you？〃
I groaned loudly。 〃I hope you're getting the Spanish Inquisition out of
your system now。 We're going to play baseball with his family。〃
His face puckered； and then he finally chuckled。 〃You're playing
baseball？〃
〃Well； I'll probably watch most of the time。〃
〃You must really like this guy；〃 he observed suspiciously。
I sighed and rolled my eyes for his benefit。
I heard the roar of an engine pull up in front of the house。 I jumped up
and started cleaning my dishes。
〃Leave the dishes； I can do them tonight。 You baby me too much。〃
The doorbell rang； and Charlie stalked off to answer it。 I was half a
step behind him。
I hadn't realized how hard it was pouring outside。 Edward stood in the
halo of the porch light； looking like a male model in an advertisement
for raincoats。
〃e on in； Edward。〃
I breathed a sigh of relief when Charlie got his name right。
〃Thanks； Chief Swan；〃 Edward said in a respectful voice。
〃Go ahead and call me Charlie。 Here； I'll take your jacket。〃
〃Thanks； sir。〃
〃Have a seat there； Edward。〃
I grimaced。
Edward sat down fluidly in the only chair； forcing me to sit next to
Chief Swan on the sofa。 I quickly shot him a dirty look。 He winked behind
Charlie's back。
〃So I hear you're getting my girl to watch baseball。〃 Only in Washington
would the fact that it was raining buckets have no bearing at all on the
playing of outdoor sports。
〃Yes； sir； that's the plan。〃 He didn't look surprised that I'd told my
father the truth。 He might have been listening； though。
〃Well； more power to you； I guess。〃
Charlie laughed； and Edward joined in。
〃Okay。〃 I stood up。 〃Enough humor at my expense。 Let's go。〃 I walked back
to the hall and pulled on my jacket。 They followed。
〃Not too late； Bell。〃
〃Don't worry； Charlie； I'll have her home early；〃 Edward promised。
〃You take care of my girl； all right？〃
I groaned； but they ignored me。
〃She'll be safe with me； I promise； sir。〃
Charlie couldn't doubt Edward's sincerity； it rang in every word。
I stalked out。 They both laughed； and Edward followed me。
I stopped dead on the porch。 There； behind my truck； was a monster Jeep。
Its tires were higher than my waist。 There were metal guards over the
headlights and taillights； and four large spotlights attached to the
crash bar。 The hardtop was shiny red。
Charlie let out a low whistle。
〃Wear your seat belts；〃 he choked out。
Edward followed me around to my side and opened the door。 I gauged the
distance to the seat and prepared to jump for it。