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ses； I told her； thinking through each word before I spoke it。 Govern less with our minds。 Especially our sense of smell。 If you were anywhere near me when I lost control that way I shook my head in agony at the thought of what would not what could； but what would surely happen then。 I listened to the spike in her heartbeat； and then turned； restless； to read her eyes。 Bella s face was posed； her eyes grave。 Her mouth was pursed just slightly in what I guessed was concern。 But concern for what？ Her own safety？ Or my anguish？ I continued to stare at her； trying to translate her ambiguous expression into sure fact。 She gazed back。 Her eyes grew wider after a moment； and her pupils dilated； though the light had not changed。 My breathing accelerated； and suddenly the quiet in the car seemed to be humming； just like in the darkened biology room this afternoon。 The pulsing current raced between us again； and my desire to touch her was； briefly； stronger even than the demands of my thirst。 The throbbing electricity made it feel like I had a pulse again。 My body sang with it。 Like I was human。 More than anything in the world； I wanted to feel the heat of her lips against mine。 For one second； I struggled desperately to find the strength； the control； to able to put my mouth so close to her skin She sucked in a ragged breath； and only then did I realize that when I had started breathing faster； she had stopped breathing altogether。 I closed my eyes； trying to break the connection between us。 No more mistakes。 Bella s existence was tied to a thousand delicately balanced chemical processes； all so easily disrupted。 The rhythmic expansion of her lungs； the flow of oxygen；
was life or death to her。 The fluttering cadence of her fragile heart could be stopped by so many stupid accidents or illnesses or by me。 I did not believe that any member of my family would hesitate if he or she were offered a chance back if he or she could trade immortality for mortality again。 Any one of us would stand in fire for it。 Burn for as many days or centuries as were necessary。 Most of our kind prized immortality above anything else。 There were even humans who craved this； who searched in dark places for those who could give them the blackest of gifts Not us。 Not my family。 We would trade anything to be human。 But none of us had ever been as desperate for a way back as I was now。 I stared at the microscopic pits and flaws in the windshield； like there was some solution hidden in the glass。 The electricity had not faded； and I had to concentrate to keep my hands on the wheel。 My right hand began to sting without pain again； from when I d touched her before。 Bella； I think you should go inside now。 She obeyed at once； without ment； getting out of the car and shutting the door behind herself。 Did she feel the potential for disaster as clearly as I did？ Did it hurt her to leave； as it hurt me to let her go？ The only solace was that I would see her soon。 Sooner than she would see me。 I smiled at that； then rolled the window down and leaned across to speak to her one more time it was safer now； with the heat of her body outside the car。 She turned to see what I wanted； curious。 Still curious； though she d asked me so many questions today。 My own curiosity was entirely unsatisfied； answering her questions today had only revealed my secrets I d gotten little from her but my own conjectures。 That wasn t fair。 Oh； Bella？ Yes？ Tomorrow it s my turn。 Her forehead puckered。 Your turn to what？ Ask the questions。 Tomorrow； when we were in a safer place； surrounded by witnesses； I would get my own answers。 I grinned at the thought； and then I turned away because she made no move to leave。 Even with her outside of the car； the echo of the electricity zinged in the air。 I wanted to get out； too； to walk her to her door as an excuse to stay beside her No more mistakes。 I hit the gas； and then sighed as she disappeared behind me。 It seemed like I was always running toward Bella or running away from her； never staying in place。 I would have to find some way to hold my ground if we were ever going to have any peace。