ylooking。 Sometimes； when he stares at me； I d swear he s thinking about killing me Freak Mike wasn t entirely unperceptive。 Gym； Bella repeated quietly。 A groan。 I looked at her； and saw that she was sad about something again。 I wasn t sure why； but it was clear that she didn t want to go to her next class with Mike； and I was all for that plan。 I went to her side and bent close to her face； feeling the warmth of her skin radiating out to my lips。 I didn t dare breathe。 I can take care of that； I murmured。 Go sit down and look pale。
She did as I asked； sitting in one of the folding chairs and leaning her head back against the wall； while； behind me； Ms。 Cope came out of the back room and went to her desk。 With her eyes closed； Bella looked as if she d passed out again。 Her full color hadn t returned yet。 I turned to the secretary。 Hopefully Bella was paying attention to this； I thought sardonically。 This was how a human was supposed to respond。 Ms。 Cope？ I asked； using my persuasive voice again。 Her eyelashes fluttered； and her heart sped up。 yourself！ Yes？ That was interesting。 When Shelly Cope s pulse quickened； it was because she found me physically attractive； not because she was frightened。 I was used to that around human females yet I hadn t considered that explanation for Bella s racing heart。 I rather liked that。 louder。 Too much； in fact。 I smiled； and Mrs。 Cope s breathing got Too young； get a hold of Bella has gym next hour； and I don t think she feels well enough。 Actually； I was thinking I should take her home now。 Do you think you could excuse her from class？ I stared into her depthless eyes； enjoying the havoc that this wreaked on her thought processes。 Was it possible that Bella ？ Mrs。 Cope had to swallow loudly before she answered。 too； Edward？ No； I have Mrs。 Goff； she won t mind。 I wasn t paying much attention to her now。 I was exploring this new possibility。 Hmm。 I d like to believe that Bella found me attractive like other humans did； but when did Bella ever have the same reactions as other humans？ I shouldn t get my hopes up。 Okay； it s all taken care of。 You feel better； Bella。 Do you need to be excused； Bella nodded weakly overacting a bit。 Can you walk； or do you want me to carry you again？ I asked； amused by her poor theatrics。 I knew she would want to walk she wouldn t want to be weak。 I ll walk； she said。 Right again。 I was getting better at this。 I held the door She got up； hesitating for a moment as if to check her balance。 for her； and we walked out into the rain。 I watched her as she lifted her face to the light rain with her eyes closed； a slight smile on her lips。 What was she thinking？ Something about this action seemed off； and I
quickly realized why the posture looked unfamiliar to me。 Normal human girls wouldn t raise their faces to the drizzle that way； normal human girls usually wore makeup； even here in this wet place。 Bella never wore makeup； nor should she。 The cosmetics industry made billions of dollars a year from women who were trying to attain skin like hers。 Thanks； she said； smiling at me now。 It s worth getting sick to miss Gym。 I stared across the campus； wondering how to prolong my time with her。 Anytime； I said。 So are you going？ This Saturday； I mean？ She sounded hopeful。 Ah； her hope was soothing。 She wanted me with her； not Mike Newton。 And I wanted to say yes。 But there were many things to consider。 For one； the sun would be shining this Saturday Where are you all going； exactly？ I tried to keep my voice nonchalant； as if it didn t matter much。 Mike had said beach； though。 Not much chance of avoiding sunlight there。 Down to La Push； to First Beach。 Damn。 Well； it was impossible； then。 Anyway； Emmett would be irritated if I cancelled our plans。 I glanced down at her； smiling wryly。 She sighed； already resigned。 I really don t think I was invited。 I just invited you。 Let s you and I not push poor Mike any further this week。 We don t want him to snap。 I thought about snapping poor Mike myself； and enjoyed the mental picture intensely。 Mikeschmike； she said； dismissive again。 And then she started to walk away from me。 Without thinking about my action； I reached out and caught her by the back of her rain jacket。 She jerked to a stop。 Where do you think you re going？ I was almost angry that she was leaving me。 hadn t had enough time with her。 She couldn t go； not yet。 I m going home； she said； baffled as to why this should upset me。 Didn t you hear me promise to take you safely home？ Do you think I m going to let you drive in your condition？ I knew she wouldn t like that my implication of weakness on her part。 But I needed to practice for the Seattle trip； anyway。 See if I could handle her proximity in an enclosed space。 This was a much shorter journey。 What condition？ she demanded。 And what about my truck？ I pulled her back to my car I I smiled widely。 I ll have Alice drop it off after school。
carefully； as I now knew that walking forward was challenging enough for her。 Let go！ she said； twisting sideways and nearly tripping。 I held one hand out to catch her； but she righted herself before it was necessary。 I shouldn t be looking for excuses to touch her。 That started me thinking about Ms。 Cope s reaction to me； but I filed it away for later。 There was much to be considered on that front。 I let her go beside the car； and she stumbled into the door。 even more careful； to take into account her poor balance You are so pushy！ It s open。 I got in on my side and started the car。 She held her body rigidly； still outside； though the rain had picked up and I knew she didn t like the cold and wet。 Water was soaking through her thick hair； darkening it to near black。 I am perfectly capable of driving myself home！ Of course she was I just wasn t capable of letting her go。 I rolled her window down and leaned toward her。 Get in； Bella。 Her eyes narrowed； and I guessed that she was debating whether or not to make a run for it。 I ll just drag you back； I promised； enjoying the chagrin on her face when she realized I meant it。 Her chin stiffly in the air； she opened her door and climbed in。 on the leather and her boots squeaked against each other。 This is pletely unnecessary； she said coldly。 embarrassed under the pique。 Her hair dripped I would have to be I thought she looked I just turned up the heater so she wouldn t be unfortable； and set the music to a nice background level。 I drove out toward the exit； watching her from the corner of my eye。 Her lower lip was jutting out stubbornly。 I stared at this； examining how it made me feel thinking of the secretary s reaction again Suddenly she looked at the stereo and smiled； her eyes widening。 she asked。 A fan of the classics？ You know Debussy？ Clair de Lune？ Not well； she said。 My mother plays a lot of classical music around the house I only know my favorites。 It s one of my favorites； too。 I stared at the rain； considering that。 I actually had something in mon with the girl。 I d begun to think that we were opposites in every way。 She seemed more relaxed now； staring at the rain like me； with unseeing eyes。 used her momentary distraction to experiment with breathing。 I inhaled carefully through my nose。 I
Potent。 I clutched the st