n to experiment with breathing。 I inhaled carefully through my nose。 I
Potent。 I clutched the steering wheel tighter。 The rain made her smell better。 I wouldn t have thought that was possible。 Stupidly； I was suddenly imaging how she would taste。 I tried to swallow against the burn in my throat； to think of something else。 What is your mother like？ I asked as a distraction。 Bella smiled。 She looks a lot like me； but she s prettier。 I doubted that。 I have too much Charlie in me； she went on。 and braver。 I doubted that； too。 She s irresponsible and slightly eccentric； and she s a very unpredictable cook。 She s my best friend。 Her voice had turned melancholy； her forehead creased。 Again； she sounded more like parent than child。 I stopped in front of her house； wondering too late if I was supposed to know where she lived。 No； this wouldn t be suspicious in such a small town； with her father a public figure How old are you； Bella？ She must be older than her peers。 Perhaps she d been late to start school； or been held back that wasn t likely； though。 I m seventeen； she answered。 You don t seem seventeen。 She laughed。 What？ My mom always says I was born thirtyfive years old and that I get more middleaged every year。 She laughed again； and then sighed。 Well； someone has to be the adult。 This clarified things for me。 I could see it now how the irresponsible mother helped explain Bella s maturity。 She d had to grow up early； to bee the caretaker。 That s why she didn t like being cared for she felt it was her job。 You don t seem much like a junior in high school yourself； she said； pulling me from my reverie。 I grimaced。 For everything I perceived about her； she perceived too much in return。 I changed the subject。 So why did your mother marry Phil？ She hesitated a minute before answering。 My mother she s very young for her age。 She s more outgoing than I am；
I think Phil makes her feel even younger。 She shook her head indulgently。 Do you approve？ I wondered。 Does it matter？ she asked。 At any rate； she s crazy about him。 I want her to be happy and he is who she wants。 The unselfishness of her ment would have shocked me； except that it fit in all too well with what I d learned of her character。 That s very generous I wonder。 What？ Would she extend the same courtesy to you； do you think？ choice was？ No matter who your It was a foolish question； and I could not keep my voice casual while I asked it。 How stupid to even consider someone approving of me for their daughter。 stupid to even think of Bella choosing me。 II think so； she stuttered； reacting in some way to my gaze。 attraction？ But she s the parent； after all。 I smiled wryly。 Fear or How It s a little bit different； she finished。 No one too scary then。 Multiple facial piercings and She grinned at me。 What do you mean by scary？ extensive tattoos？ That s one definition； I suppose。 What s your definition？ A very nonthreatening definition； to my mind。 She always asked the wrong questions。 Or exactly the right questions； maybe。 ones I didn t want to answer； at any rate。 Do you think that I could be scary？ I asked her； trying to smile a little。 She thought it through before answering me in a serious voice。 could be； if you wanted to。 I was serious； too。 Are you frightened of me now？ No。 The Hmm I think you She answered at once； not thinking this one through。 I smiled more easily。 I did not think she was entirely telling the truth； but nor was she truly lying。 She wasn t frightened enough to want to leave； at least。 I wondered how she would feel if I told her she was having this discussion with a vampire。 I cringed internally at her imagined reaction。 So； now are you going to tell me about your family？ interesting story than mine。 A more frightening one； at least。 It s got to be a much more
What do you want to know？ I asked cautiously。 The Cullens adopted you？ Yes。 She hesitated； then spoke in a small voice。 What happened to your parents？ They died a very long This wasn t so hard； I wasn t even having to lie to her。 time ago。 I m sorry； she mumbled； clearly worried about having hurt me。 She was worried about me。 I don t really remember them that clearly； I assured her。 have been my parents for a long time now。 And you love them； she deduced。 I smiled。 Yes。 I couldn t imagine two better people。 Carlisle and Esme You re very lucky。 I know I am。 be denied。 In that one circumstance； the matter of parents； my luck could not And your brother and sisters？ If I let her push for too many details； I would have to lie。 clock； disheartened that my time with her was up。 I glanced at the My brother and sister； and Jasper and Rosalie for that matter； are going to be quite upset if they have to stand in the rain waiting for me。 Oh； sorry； I guess you have to go。 She didn t move。 very much。 She didn t want our time to be up； either。 I liked that very； And you probably want your truck back before Chief Swan gets home； so you don t have to tell him about the Biology incident。 I grinned at the memory of her embarrassment in my arms。 I m sure he s already heard。 There are no secrets in Forks。 of the town with distinct distaste。 She said the name I laughed at her words。 No secrets； indeed。 Have fun at the beach。 I glanced at the pouring rain； knowing it would not last； and wishing more strongly than usual that it could。 Good weather for sunbathing。 Well； it would be by Saturday。 She would enjoy that。 Won t I see you tomorrow？ The worry in her tone pleased me。
No。 Emmett and I are starting the weekend early。 I was mad at myself now for having made the plans。 I could break them but there was no such thing as too much hunting at this point； and my family was going to be concerned enough about my behavior without me revealing how obsessive I was turning。 What are you going to do？ she asked； not sounded happy with my revelation。 Good。 We re going to be hiking in the Goat Rocks Wilderness； just south of Rainier。 Emmett was eager for bear season。 Oh； well； have fun； she said halfheartedly。 again。 Her lack of enthusiasm pleased me As I stared at her； I began to feel almost agonized at the thought of saying even a temporary goodbye。 She was just so soft and vulnerable。 It seemed foolhardy to let her out of my sight； where anything could happen to her。 And yet； the worst things that could happen to her would result from being with me。 Will you do something for me this weekend？ I asked seriously。 She nodded； her eyes wide and bewildered by my intensity。 Keep it light。 Don t be offended； but you seem to be one of those people who just attract accidents like a mag。 So try not to fall into the ocean or get run over or anything； all right？ I smiled ruefully at her； hoping she couldn t see the sadness in my eyes。 How much I wished that she wasn t so much better off away from me； no matter what might happen to her there。 Run； Bella； run。 I love you too much； for your good or mine。 She was offended by my teasing。 She glared at me。 I ll see what I can do； she snapped； jumping out into the rain and slamming the door as hard as she could behind her。 Just like an angry kitten that believes it s a tiger。 I curled my hand around the key I d just picked from her jacket pocket； and smiled as I drove away。
7。 Melody That was