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And then the surprise in her eyes changed to something else； and I was no longer afraid—
or hopeful—that her feelings for me had changed in the course of the night。 Warmth；
wonder； fascination； all swimming in the melted chocolate of her eyes。
〃Do you want to ride with me today？〃 I asked。 Unlike dinner last night； I would
let her choose。 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？ I
doubted it。
I flashed around the car； eager to join her。 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 companionship of my family； despite the various entertainments
and distractions the world had to offer； I had never been happy like this。 Even knowing
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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。 〃I didn't want you to get sick or
something。〃
〃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
commanding 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。 〃Do my questions bother
you？〃
〃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。 What did she
purposefully keep from me？
〃Enough to drive me insane；〃 I said。
She hesitated； and then whispered； 〃You don't want to hear it。〃
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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 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。
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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？ If you're looking for privacy？〃 she asked
as we walked。
〃An indulgence；〃 I admitted。 〃We all like to drive fast。〃
〃Figures；〃 she mumbled； her tone sour。
She didn't look up to see my answering grin。
Nuh…uh！ I don't believe this！ How the hell did Bella pull this off？ I don't get it！
Why？
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。 She reached out for
the jacket and Jessica handed it to her wordlessly。
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。 Details。 I have to
have details！ Edward freaking CULLEN！！ Life is so unfair。
Bella's mouth twitched。 〃Yeah； I'll see you then。〃
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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 datin