who could hear people's thoughts。〃
〃That's true。 She knows other things。 She sees things — things that might
happen； things that are ing。 But it's very subjective。 The future
isn't set in stone。 Things change。〃
His jaw set when he said that； and his eyes darted to my face and away so
quickly that I wasn't sure if I only imagined it。
〃What kinds of things does she see？〃
〃She saw Jasper and knew that he was looking for her before he knew it
himself。 She saw Carlisle and our family； and they came together to find
us。 She's most sensitive to nonhumans。 She always sees； for example；
when another group of our kind is ing near。 And any threat they may
pose。〃
〃Are there a lot of… your kind？〃 I was surprised。 How many of them could
walk among us undetected？
〃No； not many。 But most won't settle in any one place。 Only those like
us； who've given up hunting you people〃 — a sly glance in my direction —
〃can live together with humans for any length of time。 We've only found
one other family like ours； in a small village in Alaska。 We lived
together for a time； but there were so many of us that we became too
noticeable。 Those of us who live… differently tend to band together。〃
〃And the others？〃
〃Nomads； for the most part。 We've all lived that way at times。 It gets
tedious； like anything else。 But we run across the others now and then；
because most of us prefer the North。〃
〃Why is that？〃
We were parked in front of my house now； and he'd turned off the truck。
It was very quiet and dark； there was no moon。 The porch light was off so
I knew my father wasn't home yet。
〃Did you have your eyes open this afternoon？〃 he teased。 〃Do you think I
could walk down the street in the sunlight without causing traffic
accidents？ There's a reason why we chose the Olympic Peninsula； one of
the most sunless places in the world。 It's nice to be able to go outside
in the day。 You wouldn't believe how tired you can get of nighttime in
eightyodd years。〃
〃So that's where the legends came from？〃
〃Probably。〃
〃And Alice came from another family； like Jasper？〃
〃No； and that is a mystery。 Alice doesn't remember her human life at all。
And she doesn't know who created her。 She awoke alone。 Whoever made her
walked away； and none of us understand why； or how； he could。 If she
hadn't had that other sense； if she hadn't seen Jasper and Carlisle and
known that she would someday bee one of us； she probably would have
turned into a total savage。〃
There was so much to think through； so much I still wanted to ask。 But；
to my great embarrassment； my stomach growled。 I'd been so intrigued； I
hadn't even noticed I was hungry。 I realized now that I was ravenous。
〃I'm sorry； I'm keeping you from dinner。〃
〃I'm fine； really。〃
〃I've never spent much time around anyone who eats food。 I forget。〃
〃I want to stay with you。〃 It was easier to say in the darkness； knowing
as I spoke how my voice would betray me； my hopeless addiction to him。
〃Can't I e in？〃 he asked。
〃Would you like to？〃 I couldn't picture it； this godlike creature sitting
in my father's shabby kitchen chair。
〃Yes； if it's all right。〃 I heard the door close quietly； and almost
simultaneously he was outside my door； opening it for me。
〃Very human；〃 I plimented him。
〃It's definitely resurfacing。〃
He walked beside me in the night； so quietly I had to peek at him
constantly to be sure he was still there。 In the darkness he looked much
more normal。 Still pale； still dreamlike in his beauty； but no longer the
fantastic sparkling creature of our sunlit afternoon。
He reached the door ahead of me and opened it for me。 I paused halfway
through the frame。
〃The door was unlocked？〃
〃No； I used the key from under the eave。〃
I stepped inside； flicked on the porch light； and turned to look at him
with my eyebrows raised。 I was sure I'd never used that key in front of
him。
〃I was curious about you。〃
〃You spied on me？〃 But somehow I couldn't infuse my voice with the proper
outrage。 I was flattered。
He was unrepentant。 〃What else is there to do at night？〃
I let it go for the moment and went down the hall to the kitchen。 He was
there before me； needing no guide。 He sat in the very chair I'd tried to
picture him in。 His beauty lit up the kitchen。 It was a moment before I
could look away。
I concentrated on getting my dinner； taking last night's lasagna from the
fridge； placing a square on a plate； heating it in the microwave。 It
revolved； filling the kitchen with the smell of tomatoes and oregano。 I
didn't take my eyes from the plate of food as I spoke。
〃How often？〃 I asked casually。
〃Hmmm？〃 He sounded as if I had pulled him from some other train of
thought。
I still didn't turn around。 〃How often did you e here？〃
〃I e here almost every night。〃
I whirled； stunned。 〃Why？〃
〃You're interesting when you sleep。〃 He spoke matteroffactly。 〃You
talk。〃
〃No！〃 I gasped； heat flooding my face all the way to my hairline。 I
gripped the kitchen counter for support。 I knew I talked in my sleep； of
course； my mother teased me about it。 I hadn't thought it was something I
needed to worry about here； though。
His expression shifted instantly to chagrin。 〃Are you very angry with me？〃
〃That depends！〃 I felt and sounded like I'd had the breath knocked out of
me。
He waited。
〃On？〃 he urged。
〃What you heard！〃 I wailed。
Instantly； silently； he was at my side； taking my hands carefully in his。
〃Don't be upset！〃 he pleaded。 He dropped his face to the level of my
eyes； holding my gaze。 I was embarrassed。 I tried to look away。
〃You miss your mother；〃 he whispered。 〃You worry about her。 And when it
rains； the sound makes you restless。 You used to talk about home a lot；
but it's less often now。 Once you said； 'It's too green。'〃 He laughed
softly； hoping； I could see； not to offend me further。
〃Anything else？〃 I demanded。
He knew what I was getting at。 〃You did say my name；〃 he admitted。
I sighed in defeat。 〃A lot？〃
〃How much do you mean by 'a lot；' exactly？〃
〃Oh no！〃 I hung my head。
He pulled me against his chest； softly； naturally。
〃Don't be selfconscious；〃 he whispered in my ear。 〃If I could dream at
all； it would be about you。 And I'm not ashamed of it。〃
Then we both heard the sound of tires on the brick driveway； saw the
headlights flash through the front windows； down the hall to us。 I
stiffened in his arms。
〃Should your father know I'm here？〃 he asked。
〃I'm not sure…〃 I tried to think it through quickly。
〃Another time then…〃
And I was alone。
〃Edward！〃 I hissed。
I heard a ghostly chuckle； then nothing else。
My father's key turned in the door。
〃Bella？〃 he called。 It had bothered me before； who else would it be？
Suddenly he didn't seem so far off base。
〃In here。〃 I hoped he couldn't hear the hysterical edge to my voice。 I
grabbed my dinner from the microwave and sat at the table as he walked
in。 His footsteps sounded so noisy after my day with Edward。
〃Can you get me some of that？ I'm bus