me at times。
〃Perceptive；〃 he whispered。 And there was the anguish again； surfacing as
he confirmed my fear。 〃That's exactly why you're wrong； though；〃 he began
to explain； but then his eyes narrowed。 〃What do you mean； 'the obvious'？〃
〃Well； look at me；〃 I said； unnecessarily as he was already staring。 〃I'm
absolutely ordinary — well； except for bad things like all the neardeath
experiences and being so clumsy that I'm almost disabled。 And look at
you。〃 I waved my hand toward him and all his bewildering perfection。
His brow creased angrily for a moment； then smoothed as his eyes took on
a knowing look。 〃You don't see yourself very clearly； you know。 I'll
admit you're deadon about the bad things；〃 he chuckled blackly； 〃but you
didn't hear what every human male in this school was thinking on your
first day。〃
I blinked； astonished。 〃I don't believe it…〃 I mumbled to myself。
〃Trust me just this once — you are the opposite of ordinary。〃
My embarrassment was much stronger than my pleasure at the look that came
into his eyes when he said this。 I quickly reminded him of my original
argument。
〃But I'm not saying goodbye；〃 I pointed out。
〃Don't you see？ That's what proves me right。 I care the most； because if
I can do it〃 — he shook his head； seeming to struggle with the thought —
〃if leaving is the right thing to do； then I'll hurt myself to keep from
hurting you； to keep you safe。〃
I glared。 〃And you don't think I would do the same？〃
〃You'd never have to make the choice。〃
Abruptly； his unpredictable mood shifted again； a mischievous；
devastating smile rearranged his features。 〃Of course； keeping you safe
is beginning to feel like a fulltime occupation that requires my
constant presence。〃
〃No one has tried to do away with me today；〃 I reminded him； grateful for
the lighter subject。 I didn't want him to talk about goodbyes anymore。 If
I had to； I supposed I could purposefully put myself in danger to keep
him close… I banished that thought before his quick eyes read it on my
face。 That idea would definitely get me in trouble。
〃Yet；〃 he added。
〃Yet；〃 I agreed； I would have argued； but now I wanted him to be
expecting disasters。
〃I have another question for you。〃 His face was still casual。
〃Shoot。〃
〃Do you really need to go to Seattle this Saturday； or was that just an
excuse to get out of saying no to all your admirers？〃
I made a face at the memory。 〃You know； I haven't forgiven you for the
Tyler thing yet；〃 I warned him。 〃It's your fault that he's deluded
himself into thinking I'm going to prom with him。〃
〃Oh； he would have found a chance to ask you without me — I just really
wanted to watch your face；〃 he chuckled； I would have been angrier if his
laughter wasn't so fascinating。 〃If I'd asked you； would you have turned
me down？〃 he asked； still laughing to himself。
〃Probably not；〃 I admitted。 〃But I would have canceled later — faked an
illness or a sprained ankle。〃
He was puzzled。 〃Why would you do that？〃
I shook my head sadly。 〃You've never seen me in Gym； I guess； but I would
have thought you would understand。〃
〃Are you referring to the fact that you can't walk across a flat； stable
surface without finding something to trip over？〃
〃Obviously。〃
〃That wouldn't be a problem。〃 He was very confident。 〃It's all in the
leading。〃 He could see that I was about to protest； and he cut me off。
〃But you never told me — are you resolved on going to Seattle； or do you
mind if we do something different？〃
As long as the 〃we〃 part was in； I didn't care about anything else。
〃I'm open to alternatives；〃 I allowed。 〃But I do have a favor to ask。〃
He looked wary； as he always did when I asked an openended question。
〃What？〃
〃Can I drive？〃
He frowned。 〃Why？〃
〃Well； mostly because when I told Charlie I was going to Seattle； he
specifically asked if I was going alone and； at the time； I was。 If he
asked again； I probably wouldn't lie； but I don't think he will ask
again； and leaving my truck at home would just bring up the subject
unnecessarily。 And also； because your driving frightens me。〃
He rolled his eyes。 〃Of all the things about me that could frighten you；
you worry about my driving。〃 He shook his head in disgust； but then his
eyes were serious again。 〃Won't you want to tell your father that you're
spending the day with me？〃 There was an undercurrent to his question that
I didn't understand。
〃With Charlie； less is always more。〃 I was definite about that。 〃Where
are we going； anyway？〃
〃The weather will be nice； so I'll be staying out of the public eye… and
you can stay with me； if you'd like to。〃 Again； he was leaving the choice
up to me。
〃And you'll show me what you meant； about the sun？〃 I asked； excited by
the idea of unraveling another of the unknowns。
〃Yes。〃 He smiled； and then paused。 〃But if you don't want to be… alone
with me； I'd still rather you didn't go to Seattle by yourself。 I shudder
to think of the trouble you could find in a city that size。〃
I was miffed。 〃Phoenix is three times bigger than Seattle — just in
population。 In physical size —〃
〃But apparently；〃 he interrupted me； 〃your number wasn't up in Phoenix。
So I'd rather you stayed near me。〃 His eyes did that unfair smoldering
thing again。
I couldn't argue； with the eyes or the motivation； and it was a moot
point anyway。 〃As it happens； I don't mind being alone with you。〃
〃I know；〃 he sighed； brooding。 〃You should tell Charlie； though。〃
〃Why in the world would I do that？〃
His eyes were suddenly fierce。 〃To give me some small incentive to bring
you back。〃
I gulped。 But； after a moment of thought； I was sure。 〃I think I'll take
my chances。〃
He exhaled angrily； and looked away。
〃Let's talk about something else；〃 I suggested。
〃What do you want to talk about？〃 he asked。 He was still annoyed。
I glanced around us； making sure we were well out of anyone's hearing。 As
I cast my eyes around the room； I caught the eyes of his sister； Alice；
staring at me。 The others were looking at Edward。 I looked away swiftly；
back to him； and I。 asked the first thing that came to mind。
〃Why did you go to that Goat Rocks place last weekend… to hunt？ Charlie
said it wasn't a good place to hike； because of bears。〃
He stared at me as if I was missing something very obvious。
〃Bears？〃 I gasped； and he smirked。 〃You know； bears are not in season；〃 I
added sternly； to hide my shock。
〃If you read carefully； the laws only cover hunting with weapons；〃 he
informed me。
He watched my face with enjoyment as that slowly sank in。
〃Bears？〃 I repeated with difficulty。
〃Grizzly is Emmett's favorite。〃 His voice was still offhand； but his eyes
were scrutinizing my reaction。 I tried to pull myself together。
〃Hmmm；〃 I said； taking another bite of pizza as an excuse to look down。 I
chewed slowly； and then took a long drink of Coke without looking up。
〃So；〃 I said after a moment； finally meeting his nowanxious gaze。
〃What's your favorite？〃
He raised an eyebrow and the corners of his mouth turned down in
disapproval。 〃Mountain lion。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said in a politely disinterested tone； looking for my soda again。
〃Of course；〃 he said； and his tone mirrored mine； 〃we have to be careful
not to impact the environment with injudicious hunting。 We try to focus
on areas with an overpopulation of predators — ranging as far away as we
need。 There's always plenty of deer and elk here； and they'll do； but
where's the fun in that？〃 He smiled teasingly。
〃Where indeed；〃 I murmured around another bite of pizza。
〃Early spring is Emmett's favorite bear season — they're just ing out
of hibernation； so they're more irritable。〃 He smiled at some remembered
joke。
〃Nothing more fun than an irritated grizzly bear；〃 I agreed； nodding。
He snickered； shaking his head。 〃Tell me what you're really thinking；
please。〃
〃I'm trying to picture it — but I can't；〃 I admitted。 〃How do you hunt a
bear without weapons？〃
〃Oh； we have weapons。〃 He flashed his bright teeth in a brief；
threatening smile。 I fought back a shiver before it could expose me。
〃Just not the kind they consider when writing hunting laws。 If you've
ever seen a bear attack on television； you should be able to visualize
Emmett hunting。〃
I couldn't stop the next shiver that flashed down my spine。 I peeked
across the cafeteria toward Emmett； grateful that he wasn't looking my
way。 The thick bands of muscle that wrapped his arms and torso were
somehow even more menacing now。
Edward followed my gaze and chuckled。 I stared at him； unnerved。
〃Are you like a bear； too？〃 I asked in a low voice。
〃More like the lion； or so they tell me；〃 he said lightly。 〃Perhaps our
preferences are indicative。〃
I tried to smile。 〃Perhaps；〃 I repeated。 But my mind was filled with
opposing images that I couldn't merge together。 〃Is that something I
might get to see？〃
〃Absolutely not！〃 His face turned even whiter than usual； and his eyes
were suddenly furious。 I leaned back； stunned and — though I'd never
admit it to him — frightened by his reaction。 He leaned back as well；
folding his arms across his chest。
〃Too scary for me？〃 I asked when I could control my voice again。
〃If that were it； I would take you out tonight；〃 he said； his voice
cutting。 〃You need a healthy dose of fear。 Nothing could be more
beneficial for you。〃
〃Then why？〃 I pressed； trying to ignore his angry expression。
He glared at me for a long minute。
〃Later；〃 he finally said。 He was on his feet in one lithe movement。
〃We're going to be late。〃
I glanced around； startled to see that he was right and the cafeteria was
nearly vacant。 When I was with him； the time and the place were such a
muddled blur that I pletely lost track of both。 I jumped up； grabbing
my bag from the back of my chair。
〃Later； then；〃 I agreed。 I wouldn't forget。
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11。 PLICATIONS
Everyone watched us as we walked together