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I didn't have to disappoint my father。 I didn't have to cause my mother stress；
worry？pain。 Yes； it would hurt my adopted mother； too。 And Esme was so gentle； so
tender and soft。 Causing someone like Esme pain was truly inexcusable。
How ironic that I'd wanted to protect this human girl from the paltry； toothless
threat of Jessica Stanley's snide thoughts。 I was the last person who would ever stand as
a protector for Isabella Swan。 She would never need protection from anything more than
she needed it from me。
Where was Alice； I suddenly wondered？ Hadn't she seen me killing the Swan
girl in a multitude of ways？ Why hadn't she come to help—to stop me or help me clean
up the evidence； whichever？ Was she so absorbed with watching for trouble with Jasper
that she'd missed this much more horrific possibility？ Was I stronger than I thought？
Would I really not have done anything to the girl？
No。 I knew that wasn't true。 Alice must be concentrating on Jasper very hard。
I searched in the direction I knew she would be； in the small building used for
English classes。 It did not take me long to locate her familiar 'voice。' And I was right。
Her every thought was turned to Jasper； watching his small choices with minute scrutiny。
I wished I could ask her advice； but at the same time； I was glad she didn't know
what I was capable of。 That she was unaware of the massacre I had considered in the last
hour。
I felt a new burn through my body—the burn of shame。 I didn't want any of them
to know。
If I could avoid Bella Swan； if I could manage not to kill her—even as I thought
that； the monster writhed and gnashed his teeth in frustration—then no one would have to
know。 If I could keep away from her scent？
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
18
There was no reason why I shouldn't try； at least。 Make a good choice。 Try to be
what Carlisle thought I was。
The last hour of school was almost over。 I decided to put my new plan into action
at once。 Better than sitting here in the parking lot where she might pass me and ruin my
attempt。 Again； I felt the unjust hatred for the girl。 I hated that she had this unconscious
power over me。 That she could make me be something I reviled。
I walked swiftly—a little too swiftly； but there were no witnesses—across the tiny
campus to the office。 There was no reason for Bella Swan to cross paths with me。 She
would be avoided like the plague she was。
The office was empty except for the secretary； the one I wanted to see。
She didn't notice my silent entrance。
〃Mrs。 Cope？〃
The woman with the unnaturally red hair looked up and her eyes widened。 It
always caught them off guard； the little markers they didn't understand； no matter how
many times they'd seen one of us before。
〃Oh；〃 she gasped； a little flustered。 She smoothed her shirt。 Silly； she thought to
herself。 He's almost young enough to be my son。 Too young to think of that way？
〃Hello； Edward。 What can I do for you？〃 Her eyelashes fluttered behind her thick
glasses。
Uncomfortable。 But I knew how to be charming when I wanted to be。 It was
easy； since I was able to know instantly how any tone or gesture was taken。
I leaned forward； meeting her gaze as if I were staring deeply into her depthless；
small brown eyes。 Her thoughts were already in a flutter。 This should be simple。
〃I was wondering if you could help me with my schedule；〃 I said in the soft voice
I reserved for not scaring humans。
I heard the tempo of her heart increase。
〃Of course； Edward。 How can I help？〃 Too young； too young； she chanted to
herself。 Wrong； of course。 I was older than her grandfather。 But according to my
driver's license； she was right。
〃I was wondering if I could move from my biology class to a senior level science？
Physics； perhaps？〃
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
19
〃It there a problem with Mr。 Banner； Edward？〃
〃Not at all； it's just that I've already studied this material？〃
〃In that accelerated school you all went to in Alaska； right。〃 Her thin lips pursed
as she considered this。 They should all be in college。 I've heard the teachers complain。
Perfect four point ohs； never a hesitation with a response； never a wrong answer on a
test—like they've found some way to cheat in every subject。 Mr。 Varner would rather
believe that anyone was cheating than think a student was smarter than him？ I'll bet
their mother tutors them？ 〃Actually； Edward； physics is pretty much full right now。
Mr。 Banner hates to have more than twenty…five students in a class—〃
〃I wouldn't be any trouble。〃
Of course not。 Not a perfect Cullen。 〃I know that； Edward。 But there just aren't
enough seats as it is？〃
〃Could I drop the class； then？ I could use the period for independent study。〃
〃Drop biology？〃 He mouth fell open。 That's crazy。 How hard is it to sit through
a subject you already know？ There must be a problem with Mr。 Banner。 I wonder if I
should talk to Bob about it？ 〃You won't have enough credits to graduate。〃
〃I'll catch up next year。〃
〃Maybe you should talk to your parents about that。〃
The door opened behind me； but who ever it was did not think of me； so I ignored
the arrival and concentrated on Mrs。 Cope。 I leaned slightly closer； and held my eyes a
little wider。 This would work better if they were gold instead of black。 The blackness
frightened people； as it should。
〃Please； Mrs。 Cope？〃 I made my voice as smooth and compelling as it could be—
and it could be considerably compelling。 〃Isn't there some other section I could switch
to？ I'm sure there has to be an open slot somewhere？ Sixth hour biology can't be the
only option？〃
I smiled at her； careful not to flash my teeth so widely that it would scare her；
letting the expression soften my face。
Her heart drummed faster。 Too young； she reminded herself frantically。 〃Well；
maybe I could talk to Bob—I mean Mr。 Banner。 I could see if—〃
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
20
A second was all it took to change everything： the atmosphere in the room； my
mission here； the reason I leaned toward the red…haired woman？ What had been for one
purpose before was now for another。
A second was all it took for Samantha Wells to open the door and place a signed
tardy slip in the basket by the door； and hurry out again； in a rush to be away from school。
A second was all it took for the sudden gust of wind through the open door to crash into
me。 A second was all it took for me to realize why that first person through the door had
not interrupted me with her thoughts。
I turned； though I did not need to make sure。 I turned slowly； fighting to control
the muscles that rebelled against me。
Bella Swan stood with her back pressed to the wall beside the door； a piece of
paper clutched in her hands。 Her eyes were even wider than usual as she took in my
ferocious； inhuman glare。
The smell of her blood saturated every particle of air in the tiny； hot room。 My
throat burst into flames。
The monster glared back at me from the mirror of her eyes again； a mask of evil。
My hand hesitated in the air above the counter。 I would not