opposite of helpful； but ready to try anything。 Edward seemed to notice nothing； as if I were wearing the
same ratty old sweats I wore at home。
The bruises were much better now—yellowing in some places and disappearing altogether in others—so
tonight I pulled out one of the scarier pieces as I got ready in the paneled bathroom。 It was black； lacy；
and embarrassing to look at even when it wasn't on。 I was careful not to look in the mirror before I went
back to the bedroom。 I didn't want to lose my nerve。
I had the satisfaction of watching his eyes pop open wide for just a second before he controlled his
expression。
〃What do you think？〃 I asked； pirouetting so that he could see every angle。
He cleared his throat。 〃You look beautiful。 You always do。〃
〃Thanks；〃 I said a bit sourly。
I was too tired to resist climbing quickly into the soft bed。 He put his arms around me and pulled me
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against his chest； but this was routine—it was too hot to sleep without his cool body close。
〃I'll make you a deal；〃 I said sleepily。
〃I will not make any deals with you；〃 he answered。
〃You haven't even heard what I'm offering。〃
〃It doesn't matter。〃
I sighed。 〃Dang it。 And I really wanted。。。 Oh well。〃
He rolled his eyes。
I closed mine and let the bait sit there。 I yawned。
It took only a minute—not long enough for me to zonk out。
〃All right。 What is it you want？〃
I gritted my teeth for a second； fighting a smile。 If there was one thing he couldn't resist； it was an
opportunity to give me something。
〃Well； I was thinking。。。 I know that the whole Dartmouth thing was just supposed to be a cover story；
but honestly； one semester of college probably wouldn't kill me；〃 I said； echoing his words from long ago；
when he'd tried to persuade me to put off being a vampire。 〃Charlie would get a thrill out of
Dartmouth stories； I bet。 Sure； it might be embarrassing if I can't keep up with all the brainiacs。 Still。。。
eighteen； nieen。 It's really not such a big difference。 It's not like I'm going to get crow's feet in the next
year。〃
He was silent for a long moment。 Then； in a low voice； he said； 〃You would wait。 You would stay
human。〃
I held my tongue； letting the offer sink in。
〃Why are you doing this to me？〃 he said through his teeth； his tone suddenly angry。 〃Isn't it hard enough
without all of this？〃 He grabbed a handful of lace that was ruffled on my thigh。 For a moment； I thought
he was going to rip it from the seam。 Then his hand relaxed。 〃It doesn't matter。 I won't make any deals
with you。〃
〃I want to goto college。〃
〃No； you don't。 And there is nothing that is worth risking your life again。 That's worth hurting you。〃
〃But I do want to go。 Well； it's not college as much as it's that I want—I want to be human a little while
longer。〃
He closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose。 〃You are making me insane； Bella。 Haven't we had this
argument a million times； you always begging to be a vampire without delay？〃
〃Yes； but。。。 well； I have a reason to be human that I didn't have before。〃
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〃What's that？〃
〃Guess；〃 I said； and I dragged myself off the pillows to kiss him。
He kissed me back； but not in a way that made me think I was winning。 It was more like he was being
careful not to hurt my feelings； he was pletely； maddeningly in control of himself。 Gently； he pulled me
away after a moment and cradled me against his chest。
〃You are so human； Bella。 Ruled by your hormones。〃 He chuckled。
〃That's the whole point； Edward。 I like this part of being human。 I don't want to give it up yet。 I don't
want to wait through years of being a bloodcrazed newborn for some part of this to e back to me。〃
I yawned； and he smiled。
〃You're tired。 Sleep； love。〃 He started humming the lullaby he'd posed for me when we first met。
〃I wonder why I'm so tired；〃 I muttered sarcastically。 〃That couldn't be part of your scheme or anything。〃
He just chuckled once and went back to humming。
〃For as tired as I've been； you'd think I'd sleep better。〃
The song broke off。 〃You've been sleeping like the dead； Bella。 You haven't said a word in your sleep
since we got here。 If it weren't for the snoring； I'd worry you were slipping into a a。〃
I ignored the snoring jibe； I didn't snore。 〃I haven't been tossing？ That's weird。 Usually I'm all over the
bed when I'm having nightmares。 And shouting。〃
〃You've been having nightmares？〃
〃Vivid ones。 They make me so tired。〃 I yawned。 〃I can't believe I haven't been babbling about them all
night。〃
〃What are they about？〃
〃Different things—but the same； you know； because of the colors。〃
〃Colors？〃
〃It's all so bright and real。 Usually； when I'm dreaming； I know that I am。 With these； I don't know I'm
asleep。 It makes them scarier。〃
He sounded disturbed when he spoke again。 〃What is frightening you？〃
I shuddered slightly。 〃Mostly 。。。〃 I hesitated。
〃Mostly？〃 he prompted。
I wasn't sure why； but I didn't want to tell him about the child in my recurring nightmare； there was
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something private about that particular horror。 So； instead of giving him the full description； I gave him
just one element。 Certainly enough to frighten me or anyone else。
〃The Volturi；〃 I whispered。
He hugged me tighter。 〃They aren't going to bother us anymore。 You'll be immortal soon； and they'll have
no reason。〃
I let him fort me； feeling a little guilty that he'd misunderstood。 The nightmares weren't like that；
exactly。 It wasn't that I was afraid for myself—I was afraid for the boy。
He wasn't the same boy as that first dream—the vampire child with the bloodred eyes who sat on a pile
of dead people I loved。 This boy I'd dreamed of four times in the last week was definitely human； his
cheeks were flushed and his wide eyes were a soft green。 But just like the other child； he shook with fear
and desperation as the Volturi closed in on us。
In this dream that was both new and old； I simply had to protect the unknown child。 There was no other
option。 At the same time； I knew that I would fail。
He saw the desolation on my face。 〃What can I do to help？〃
I shook it off。 〃They're just dreams； Edward。〃
〃Do you want me to sing to you？ Ill sing all night if it will keep the bad dreams away。〃
〃They're not all bad。 Some are nice。 So。。。 colorful。 Underwater； with the fish and the coral。 It all seems
like it's really happening—I don't know that I'm dreaming。 Maybe this island is the problem。 It's really
bright here。〃
〃Do you want to go home？〃
〃No。 No； not yet。 Can't we stay awhile longer？〃
〃We can stay as long as you want； Bella；〃 he promised me。
〃When does the semester start？ I wasn't paying attention before。〃
He sighed。 He may have started humming again； too； but I was under before I could be sure。
Later； when I awoke