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adage said that things looked different in the morning that things changed when you slept on them。 Would I look different to Bella in the weak light of a foggy day？ More sinister or less sinister than I had in the blackness of night？ Had the truth sunk in while she slept？ Would she finally be afraid？ Her dreams had been peaceful； though； last night。 When she d spoken my name； time and time again； she d smiled。 More than once she d murmured a plea for me to
stay。 Would that mean nothing today？ I waited nervously； listening to the sounds of her inside the house the fast； stumbling footsteps on the stairs； the sharp rip of a foil wrapper； the contents of the refrigerator crashing against each other when the door slammed。 It sounded like she was in a hurry。 Anxious to get to school？ The thought made me smile； hopeful again。 I looked at the clock。 I supposed that taking in account the velocity her decrepit truck must limit her to she was running a little late。 Bella rushed out of the house； her book bag sliding off her shoulder； her hair coiled into a messy twist that was already ing apart on the nape of her neck。 The thick green sweater she wore was not enough to keep her thin shoulders from hunching against the cold fog。 The long sweater was too big for her； unflattering。 It masked her slender figure； turning all her delicate curves and soft lines into a shapeless jumble。 I appreciated this almost as much as I wished that she had worn something more like the soft blue blouse she d worn last night the fabric had clung to her skin in such an appealing way； cut low enough to reveal the mesmerizing way her collar bones curled away from the hollow beneath her throat。 The blue had flowed like water along the subtle shape of her body It was better essential that I kept my thoughts far； far away from that shape； so I was grateful to the unbeing sweater she wore。 I couldn t afford to make mistakes； and it would be a monumental mistake to dwell on the strange hungers that thoughts of her lips her skin her body were shaking loose inside of me。 Hungers that had evaded me for a hundred years。 But I could not allow myself to think of touching her； because that was impossible。 I would break her。 Bella turned away from the door； in such a hurry that she nearly ran right by my car without noticing it。 Then she skidded to a stop； her knees locking like a startled colt s。 Her bag slid further down her arm； and her eyes flew wide as they focused on the car。 I got out； taking no care to move at human speed； and opened the passenger door for her。 I would not try to deceive her anymore when we were alone； at least； I would be myself。 She looked up at me； startled again as I seemingly materialized out of the fog。 And then the surprise in her eyes changed to something else； and I was no longer afraid or hopeful that her feelings for me had changed in the course of the night。 Warmth； wonder； fascination； all swimming in the melted chocolate of her eyes。 Do you want to ride with me today？ I asked。 Unlike dinner last night； I would let her choose。 From now on； it must always be her choice。 Yes； thank you； she murmured； climbing into my car without hesitation。 Would it ever cease to thrill me； that I was the one she was saying yes to？ doubted it。 I flashed around the car； eager to join her。 I She showed no sign of being shocked
by my sudden reappearance。 The happiness I felt when she sat beside me this way had no precedent。 As much as I enjoyed the love and panionship of my family； despite the various entertainments and distractions the world had to offer； I had never been happy like this。 Even knowing that it was wrong； that this couldn t possibly end well； could not keep the smile from my face for long。 My jacket was folded over the headrest of her seat。 I saw her eyeing it。 I brought the jacket for you； I told her。 This was my excuse； had I needed to provide one； for showing up uninvited this morning。 It was cold。 She had no jacket。 Surely this was an acceptable form of chivalry。 something。 I didn t want you to get sick or I m not quite that delicate； she said； staring at my chest rather than my face； as if she were hesitant to meet my eyes。 But she put the coat on before I had to resort to manding or coaxing。 Aren t you？ I muttered to myself。 She stared out at the road as I accelerated toward the school。 I could only stand the silence for a few seconds。 I had to know what her thoughts were this morning。 So much had changed between us since the last time the sun was up。 What； no twenty questions today？ I asked； keeping it light again。 She smiled； seeming glad that I d broached the subject。 you？ Do my questions bother Not as much as your reactions do； I told her honestly； smiling in response to her smile。 Her mouth turned down。 Do I react badly？ No； that s the problem。 You take everything so coolly it s unnatural。 Not one scream so far。 How could that be？ It makes me wonder what you re really thinking。 Of course； everything she did or didn t do made me wonder that。 I always tell you what I m really thinking。 You edit。 Her teeth pressed into her lip again。 She didn t seem to notice when she did this it was an unconscious response to tension。 Not very much。 Just those words were enough to have my curiosity raging。 purposefully keep from me？ Enough to drive me insane； I said。 She hesitated； and then whispered； You don t want to hear it。 I had to think for a moment； run through our entire conversation last night； word for word； before I made the connection。 Perhaps it took so much concentration What did she
because I couldn t imagine anything that I wouldn t want her to say to me。 And then because the tone of her voice was the same as last night； there was suddenly pain there again I remembered。 Once； I had asked her not to speak her thoughts。 Never say that； I d all but snarled at her。 I had made her cry Was this what she kept from me？ The depth of her feelings about me？ That my being a monster didn t matter to her； and that she thought it was too late for her to change her mind？ I was unable to speak； because the joy and pain were too strong for words； the conflict between them too wild to allow for a coherent response。 It was silent in the car