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my head at her； and she hesitated； cocking her head to one side with curiosity。 Yes； she
would be very curious tonight。 A crowd was not the ideal place for this conversation。
〃Perhaps something more private？〃 I requested of the hostess； handing her the
money。 Her eyes widened in surprise； and then narrowed while her hand curled around
the tip。
〃Sure。〃
She peeked at the bill while she led us around a dividing wall。
Fifty dollars for a better table？ Rich； too。 That makes sense—I bet his jacket cost
more than my last paycheck。 Damn。 Why does he want privacy with her？
She offered us a booth in a quiet corner of the restaurant where no one would be
able to see us—to see Bella's reactions to whatever I would tell her。 I had no clue as to
what she would want from me tonight。 Or what I would give her。
How much had she guessed？ What explanation of tonight's events had she told
herself？
〃How's this？〃 the hostess asked。
〃Perfect；〃 I told her and； feeling slightly annoyed by her resentful attitude toward
Bella； I smiled widely at her； baring my teeth。 Let her see me clearly。
Whoa。 〃Um？your server will be right out。〃 He can't be real。 I must be asleep。
Maybe she'll disappear？maybe I'll write my number on his plate with ketchup？ She
wandered away； listing slightly to the side。
Odd。 She still wasn't frightened。 I suddenly remembered Emmett teasing me in
the cafeteria； so many weeks ago。 I'll bet I could have scared her better than that。
Was I losing my edge？
〃You really shouldn't do that to people；〃 Bella interrupted my thoughts in a
disapproving tone。 〃It's hardly fair。〃
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
182
I stared at her critical expression。 What did she mean？ I hadn't frightened the
hostess at all； despite my intentions。 〃Do what？〃
〃Dazzle them like that—she's probably hyperventilating in the kitchen right
now。〃
Hmm。 Bella was very nearly right。 The hostess was only semi…coherent at the
moment； describing her incorrect assessment of me to her friend on the wait staff。
〃Oh； come on；〃 Bella chided me when I didn't answer immediately。 〃You have
to know the effect you have on people。〃
〃I dazzle people？〃 That was an interesting way of phrasing it。 Accurate enough
for tonight。 I wondered why the difference？
〃You haven't noticed？〃 she asked； still critical。 〃Do you think everybody gets
their way so easily？〃
〃Do I dazzle you？〃 I voiced my curiosity impulsively； and then the words were
out； and it was too late to recall them。
But before I had time to too deeply regret speaking the words aloud she answered；
〃Frequently。〃 And her cheeks took on a faint pink glow。
I dazzled her。
My silent heart swelled with a hope more intense than I could ever remember
having felt before。
〃Hello；〃 someone said； the waitress； introducing herself。 Her thoughts were loud；
and more explicit than the hostess's； but I tuned her out。 I stared at Bella's face instead
of listening； watching the blood spreading under her skin； noticing not how that made my
throat flame； but rather how it brightened her fair face； how it set off the cream of her
skin？
The waitress was waiting for something from me。 Ah； she'd asked for our drink
order。 I continued to stare at Bella； and the waitress grudgingly turned to look at her； too。
〃I'll have a coke？〃 Bella said； as if asking for approval。
〃Two cokes；〃 I amended。 Thirst—normal； human thirst—was a sign of shock。 I
would make sure she had the extra sugar from the soda in her system。
She looked healthy； though。 More than healthy。 She looked radiant。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
183
〃What？〃 she demanded—wondering why I was staring； I guessed。 I was vaguely
aware that the waitress had left。
〃How are you feeling？〃 I asked。
She blinked； surprised by the question。 〃I'm fine。〃
〃You don't feel dizzy； sick； cold？〃
She was even more confused now。 〃Should I？〃
〃Well； I actually I'm waiting for you to go into shock。〃 I half…smiled； expecting
her denial。 She would not want to be taken care of。
It took her a minute to answer me。 Her eyes were slightly unfocused。 She looked
that way sometimes； when I smiled at her。 Was she？dazzled？
I would love to believe that。
〃I don't think that will happen。 I've always been very good at repressing
unpleasant things；〃 she answered； a little breathless。
Did she have a lot of practice with unpleasant things； then？ Was her life always
this hazardous？
〃Just the same；〃 I told her。 〃I'll feel better when you have some sugar and food in
you。〃
The waitress returned with the cokes and a basket of bread。 She put them in front
of me； and asked for my order； trying to catch my eye in the process。 I indicated that she
should attend to Bella； and then went back to tuning her out。 She had a vulgar mind。
〃Um？〃 Bella glanced quickly at the menu。 〃I'll have the mushroom ravioli。〃
The waitress turned back to me eagerly。 〃And you？〃
〃Nothing for me。〃
Bella made a slight face。 Hmm。 She must have noticed that I never ate food。 She
noticed everything。 And I always forgot to be careful around her。
I waited till we were alone again。
〃Drink；〃 I insisted。
I was surprised when she complied immediately and without objection。 She
drank until the glass was entirely empty； so I pushed the second coke toward her；
frowning a little。 Thirst； or shock？
She drank a little more； and then shuddered once。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
184
〃Are you cold？〃
〃It's just the coke；〃 she said； but she shivered again； her lips trembling slightly as
if her teeth were about to chatter。
The pretty blouse she wore looked too thin to protect her adequately； it clung to
her like a second skin； almost as fragile as the first。 She was so frail； so mortal。 〃Don't
you have a jacket？〃
〃Yes。〃 She looked around herself； a little perplexed。 〃Oh—I left it in Jessica's
car。〃
I pulled off my jacket； wishing that the gesture was not marred by my body
temperature。 It would have been nice to have been able to offer her a warm coat。 She
stared at me； her cheeks warming again。 What was she thinking now？
I handed her the jacket across the table； and she put it on at once； and then
shuddered again。
Yes； it would be very nice to be warm。
〃Thanks；〃 she said。 She took a deep breath； and then pushed the too…long sleeves
back to free her hands。 She took another deep breath。
Was the evening finally settling in？ Her color was still good； her skin was cream
and roses against the deep blue of her shirt。
〃That color blue looks lovely with your skin；〃 I complimented her。 Just being
honest。
She flushed； enhancing the effect。
She looked well； but there was no point in taking chances。 I pushed the basket of
bread toward her。
〃Really；〃 she objected； guessing my motives。 〃I'm not going into shock。〃
〃You should be—a normal person would be。 You don't even look shaken。〃 I
stared at her； disapproving； wondering why she couldn't be normal and then wondering if
really wanted her to be that way。
〃I feel very safe with you；〃 she said； her eyes； again； filled with trust。 Trust I
didn't deserve。
？ 2008 Stepheni