oose。 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 except for the steady rhythms of her heart and lungs。 Where s the rest of your family？ she asked suddenly。 I took a deep breath registering the scent in the car with true pain for the first time； I was getting used to this； I realized with satisfaction and forced myself to be casual again。 They took Rosalie s car。 I parked in the open spot next to the car in question。 I hid my smile as I watched her eyes widen。 Ostentatious； isn t it？ Um； wow。 If she has that； why does she ride with you？ Rosalie would have enjoyed Bella s reaction if she were being objective about Bella； which probably wouldn t happen。 Like I said； it s ostentatious。 We try to blend in。 You don t succeed； she told me； and then she laughed a carefree laugh。 The blithe； wholly untroubled sound of her laughter warmed my hollow chest even as it made my head swim with doubt。 So why did Rosalie drive today if it s more conspicuous？ she wondered。 Hadn t you noticed？ I m breaking all the rules now。 My answer should have been mildly frightening so； of course； Bella smiled at it。 She didn t wait for me to open her door； just like last night。 I had to feign normality here at school so I couldn t move fast enough to prevent this but she was just going to have to get used to being treated with more courtesy； and get used to it soon。 I walked as close to her as I dared； watching carefully for any sign that my proximity upset her。 Twice her hand twitched toward me and then she would snatch it back。 It looked like she wanted to touch me My breath sped。 Why do you have cars like that at all？ as we walked。 An indulgence； I admitted。 If you re looking for privacy？ she asked We all like to drive fast。 Figures； she mumbled； her tone sour。 She didn t look up to see my answering grin。
Nuhuh！ I don t believe this！ it！ Why？ How the hell did Bella pull this off？ I don t get Jessica s mental boggling interrupted my thoughts。 She was waiting for Bella； taking refuge from the rain under the edge of the cafeteria s roof； with Bella s winter jacket over her arm。 Her eyes were wide with disbelief。 Bella noticed her； too； in the next moment。 A faint pink touched her cheek when Bella registered Jessica s expression。 The thoughts in Jessica s head were fairly clear on her face。 Hey； Jessica。 Thanks for remembering； Bella greeted her。 the jacket and Jessica handed it to her wordlessly。 She reached out for I should be polite to Bella s friends； whether they were good friends or not。 Good morning； Jessica。 Whoa Jessica s eyes popped even wider。 It was strange and amusing and； honestly； a bit embarrassing to realize how much being near Bella had softened me。 It seemed like no one was afraid of me any more。 If Emmett found out about this； he would be laughing for the next century。 Er hi； Jessica mumbled； and her eyes flashed to Bella s face； full of significance。 I guess I ll see you in Trig。 You are so going to spill。 I m not taking no for an answer。 have details！ Edward freaking CULLEN！！ Life is so unfair。 Bella s mouth twitched。 Yeah； I ll see you then。 Details。 I have to Jessica s thoughts ran wild as she hurried to her first class； peeking back at us now and then。 The whole story。 I m not accepting anything less。 Did they plan to meet up last night？ Are they dating？ How long？ How could she keep this a secret？ Why would she want to？ It can t be a casual thing she has to be seriously into him。 Is there any other option？ I will find out。 I can t stand not knowing。 I wonder if she s made out with him？ Oh； swoon Jessica s thoughts were suddenly disjointed； and she let wordless fantasies swirl through her head。 I winced at her speculations； and not just because she d replaced Bella with herself in the mental pictures。 It couldn t be like that。 And yet I I wanted How many wrong ways would I want I resisted making the admission； even to myself。 Bella in？ Which one would end up killing her？ I shook my head； and tried to lighten up。 What are you going to tell her？ I asked Bella。 Hey！ she whispered fiercely。 I can t。 I thought you couldn t read my mind！ Ah we I stared at her； surprised； trying t