straight line through the sleeping forest。 It took less time than the first journey in the speeding car。 It was just minutes later that I scaled the side of her house and slid her window out of my way。 I sighed silently with relief。 Everything was just as it should be。 Bella was safe in her bed； dreaming； her wet hair tangled like seaweed across the pillow。 But； unlike most nights； she was curled into a small ball with the covers stretched taut around her shoulders。 Cold； I guessed。 Before I could settle into my usual seat； she shivered in her sleep； and her lips trembled。 I thought for a brief moment； and then I eased out into the hallway； exploring another part of her house for the first time。 Charlie s snores were loud and even。 I could almost catch the edge of his dream。 Something with the rush of water and patient expectation fishing； maybe？ There； at the top of the stairs； was a promising looking cupboard。 I opened it hopefully； and found what I was looking for。 I selected the thickest blanket from the tiny linen closet； and took it back into her room。 I would return it before she woke； and no one would be the wiser。 Holding my breath； I cautiously spread the blanket over her； she didn t react to the added weight。 I returned to the rocking chair。 While I waited anxiously for her to warm up； I thought of Carlisle； wondering where he was now。 I knew his plan would go smoothly Alice had seen that。 Thinking of my father made me sigh Carlisle gave me too much credit。 I wished I was the person he thought me to be。 That person； the one who deserved happiness； might hope to be worthy of this sleeping girl。 How different things would be if I could be that Edward。 As I pondered this； a strange； uncalled image filled my head。 For one moment； the hagfaced fate I d imagined； the one who sought Bella s destruction； was replaced by the most foolish and reckless of angels。 A guardian angel something Carlisle s version of me might have had。 With a heedless smile on her lips； her skycolored eyes full of mischief； the angel formed Bella in such a fashion that there was no way that I could possibly overlook her。 A ridiculously potent scent to demand my attention； a silent mind to enflame my curiosity； a quiet beauty to hold my eyes；
a selfless soul to earn my awe。 Leave out the natural sense of selfpreservation so that Bella could bear to be near me and； finally； add a wide streak of appallingly bad luck。 With a careless laugh； the irresponsible angel propelled her fragile creation directly into my path； trusting blithely in my flawed morality to keep Bella alive。 In this vision； I was not Bella s sentence； she was my reward。 I shook my head at the fantasy of the unthinking angel。 She was not much better than the harpy。 I could not think well of a higher power that would behave in such a dangerous and stupid manner。 At least the ugly fate I could fight against。 And I had no angel。 They were reserved for the good for people like Bella。 So where was her angel through all this？ Who was watching over her？ I laughed silently； startled； as I realized that； just now； I was filling that role。 A vampire angel there was a stretch。 After about a half hour； Bella relaxed out of the tight ball。 Her breathing got deeper and she started to murmur。 I smiled； satisfied。 It was a small thing； but at least she was sleeping more fortably tonight because I was here。 Edward； she sighed； and she smiled； too。 I shoved tragedy aside for the moment； and let myself be happy again。 11。 Interrogations N broke the story first。 I was glad it hit the news before I had to leave for school； anxious to hear how the humans would phrase the account； and what amount of attention it would garner。 Luckily； it was a heavy news day。 There was an earthquake in South America and a political kidnapping in the Middle East。 So it ended up only earning a few seconds； a few sentences； and one grainy picture。 Alonzo Calderas Wallace； suspected serial rapist and murderer wanted in the states of Texas and Oklahoma； was apprehended last night in Portland； Oregon thanks to an anonymous tip。 Wallace was found unconscious in an alley early this morning； just a few yards from a police station。 Officials are unable to tell us
at this time whether he will be extradited to Houston or Oklahoma City to stand trial。 The picture was unclear； a mug shot； and he d had a thick beard at the time of the photograph。 Even if Bella saw it； she would probably not recognize him。 I hoped she wouldn t； it would make her afraid needlessly。 The coverage here in town will be light。 It s too far away to be considered of local interest； Alice told me。 It was a good call to have Carlisle take him out of state。 I nodded。 Bella didn t watch much TV regardless； and I d never seen her father watching anything besides sports channels。 I d done what I could。 This monster no longer hunted； and I was not a murderer。 Not recently； anyway。 I d been right to trust Carlisle； as much as I still wished the monster had not gotten off quite so easily。 I caught myself hoping he would be extradited to Texas； where the death penalty was so popular No。 That didn t matter。 most important。 I would put this behind me； and concentrate on what was I was already aching to see her I d left Bella s room less than an hour ago。 again。 Alice； do you mind She cut me off。 Rosalie will drive。 She ll act pissed； but you know she ll enjoy the excuse to show off her car。 Alice trilled a laugh。 I grinned at her。 See you at school。 Alice sighed； and my grin became a grimace。 I know； I know； she thought。 Not yet。 I ll wait until you re ready for Bella to know me。 You should know； though； this isn t just me being selfish。 Bella s going to like me； too。 I didn t answer her as I hurried out the door。 That was a different way of viewing the situation。 Would Bella want to know Alice？ To have a vampire for a girlfriend？ Knowing Bella that idea probably wouldn t bother her in the slightest。 I frowned to myself。 separate things。 What Bella wanted and what was best for Bella were two very I started to feel uneasy as I parked my car in Bella s driveway。 The human adage said that things looked different in the morning that things changed when you slept on them。 Would I look different to Bella in the weak light of a foggy day？ More sinister or less sinister than I had in the blackness of night？ Had the truth sunk in while she slept？ Would she finally be afraid？ Her dreams had been peaceful； though； last night。 When she d spoken my name； time and time again； she d smiled。 More than once she d murmured a plea for me to
stay。 Would that mean nothing today？ I waited nervously； listening to the sounds of her inside the house the fast； stumbling footsteps on the stairs； the sharp rip of a foil wrapper； the contents of the refrigerator crashing against each other when the door slammed。 It sounded like she was in a hurry。 Anxious to get to school？ The thought made me smile； hopeful again。 I looked at the clock。 I supposed that taking in account the velocity her decrepit truck must limit her to she was running a little late。 Bella rushed out of the house； her book bag sliding off her shoulder； her hair coiled into a messy twist that was already ing apart on the nape of her neck。 The thick green sweater she wore was not enough to keep her thin shoulders from hunching against the cold fog。 The long sweater was too big for her； unflattering。 It masked her slender figure； turning all her delicate curves and soft lines into a shapeless jumble。 I appreciated this almost as much as I wished that she had worn something more like the soft blue blouse she d worn last night the fabric had clung to her skin in such an appealing way； cut low enough to reveal the mesmerizing way her collar bones curled away from the hollow beneath her throat。 The blue had flowed like water along the subtle shape of her body It was better essential that I kept my thoughts far； far away from that shape； so I was grateful to the unbeing sweater she wore。 I couldn t afford to make mistakes； and it would be a monumental mistake to dwell on the strange hungers that thoughts of her lips her skin her body were shaking loose inside of me。 Hungers that had evaded me for a hundred years。 But I could not allow myself to think of touching her； because that was impossible。 I would break her。 Bella turned away from the door； in such a hurry that she nearly ran right by my car without noticing it。 Then she skidded to a stop； her knees locking like a startled colt s。 Her bag slid further down her arm； and her eyes flew wide as they focused on the car。 I got out； taking no care to move at human speed； and opened the passenger door for her。 I would not try to deceive her anymore when we were alone； at least； I would be myself。 She looked up at me； startled again as I seemingly materialized out of the fog。 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？ 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 ey