We were both silent then. I watched the headlights twist withthe curves of the road. They moved too fast; it didn't look real,it looked like a video game. I was aware of the time slipping awayso quickly, like the black road beneath us, and I was hideouslyafraid that I would never have another chance to be with him like this again — openly, the wallsbetween us gone for once. His words hinted at an end, and I recoiled from the idea. I couldn'twaste one minute I had with him. "Tell me more," I asked desperately, not caring what he said, just so I could hear his voice again. He looked at me quickly, startled by the change in my tone. "What more do you want to know?" "Tell me why you hunt animals instead of people," I suggested, my voice still tinged withdesperation. I realized my eyes were wet, and I fought against the grief that was trying tooverpower me. "I don't want to be a monster." His voice was very low. "But animals aren't enough?" He paused. "I can't be sure, of course, but I'd compare it to living on tofu and soy milk; we callourselves vegetarians, our little inside joke. It doesn't completely satiate the hunger — or ratherthirst. But it keens us strong enough to resist. Most of the time." His tone turned ominous. "Sometimes it's more difficult than others." "Is it very difficult for you now?" I asked. He sighed. "Yes." "But you're not hungry now," I said confidently — stating, not asking. "Why do you think that?" "Your eyes. I told you I had a theory. I've noticed that people — men in particular — are crabbierwhen they're hungry." He chuckled. "You are observant, aren't you?" I didn't answer; I just listened to the sound of his laugh, committing it to memory. "Were you hunting this weekend, with Emmett?" I asked when it was quiet again. "Yes." He paused for a second, as if deciding whether or not to say something. "I didn't want toleave, but it was necessary. It's a bit easier to be around you when I'm not thirsty." "Why didn't you want to leave?" "It makes me… anxious… to be away from you." His eyes were gentle but intense, and theyseemed to be making my bones turn soft. "I wasn't joking when I asked you to try not to fall inthe ocean or get run over last Thursday. I was distracted all weekend, worrying about you. Andafter what happened tonight, I'm surprised that you did make it through a whole weekendunscathed." He shook his head, and then seemed to remember something. "Well, not totallyunscathed." "What?" "Your hands," he reminded me. I looked down at my palms, at the almost-healed scrapes acrossthe heels of my hands. His eyes missed nothing. "I fell," I sighed. "That's what I thought." His lips curved up at the corners. "I suppose, being you, it could havebeen much worse — and that possibility tormented me the entire time I was away. It was a verylong three days. I really got on Emmett's nerves." He smiled ruefully at me. "Three days? Didn't you just get back today?" "No, we got back Sunday." "Then why weren't any of you in school?" I was frustrated, almost angry as I thought of howmuch disappointment I had suffered because of his absence. "Well, you asked if the sun hurt me, and it doesn't. But I can't go out in the sunlight — at least,not where anyone can see." "Why?" "I'll show you sometime," he promised. I thought about it for a moment. "You might have called me," I decided. He was puzzled. "But I knew you were safe." "But I didn't know where you were. I —" I hesitated, dropping my eyes. "What?" His velvety voice was compelling. "I didn't like it. Not seeing you. It makes me anxious, too." I blushed to be saying this out loud. He was quiet. I glanced up, apprehensive, and saw that his expression was pained. "Ah," he groaned quietly. "This is wrong." I couldn't understand his response. "What did I say?""Don't you see, Bella? It's one thing for me to make myself miserable, but a wholly other thing for you to be so involved." He turned his anguished eyes to the road, his words flowing almost too fast for me to understand. "I don't want to hear that you feel that way." His voice was low but urgent. His words cut me. "It's wrong. It's not safe. I'm dangerous, Bella — please, grasp that.""No." I tried very hard not to look like a sulky child."I'm serious," he growled."So am I. I told you, it doesn't matter what you are. It's too late."His voice whipped out, low and harsh. "Never say that."I bit my lip and was glad he couldn't know how much that hurt. I stared out at the road. We must be close now. He was driving much too fast."What are you thinking?" he asked, his voice still raw. I just shook my head, not sure if I could speak. I could feel his gaze on my face, but I kept my eyes forward."Are you crying?" He sounded appalled. I hadn't realized the moisture in my eyes had brimmed over. I quickly rubbed my hand across my cheek, and sure enough, traitor tears were there, betraying me."No," I said, but my voice cracked.I saw him reach toward me hesitantly with his right hand, but then he stopped and placed it slowly back on the steering wheel."I'm sorry." His voice burned with regret. I knew he wasn't just apologizing for the words that had upset me.The darkness slipped by us in silence."Tell me something," he asked after another minute, and I could hear him struggle to use a lighter tone."Yes?""What were you thinking tonight, just before I came around the corner? I couldn't understand your expression — you didn't look that scared, you looked like you were concentrating very hard on something.""I was trying to remember how to incapacitate an attacker — you know, self-defense. I was going to smash his nose into his brain." I thought of the dark-haired man with a surge of hate."You were going to fight them?" This upset him. "Didn't you think about running?""I fall down a lot when I run," I admitted."What about screaming for help?""I was getting to that part."He shook his head. "You were right — I'm definitely fighting fate trying to keep you alive."I sighed. We were slowing, passing into the boundaries of Forks. It had taken less than twenty minutes."Will I see you tomorrow?" I demanded."Yes — I have a paper due, too." He smiled. "I'll save you a seat at lunch."It was silly, after everything we'd been through tonight, how that little promise sent flutters through my stomach, and made me unable to speak.We were in front of Charlie's house. The lights were on, my truck in its place, everything utterly normal. It was like waking from a dream. He stopped the car, but I didn't move."Do you promise to be there tomorrow?""I promise."I considered that for a moment, then nodded. I pulled his jacket off, taking one last whiff."You can keep it — you don't have a jacket for tomorrow," he reminded me.I handed it back to him. "I don't want to have to explain to Charlie.""Oh, right." He grinned.I hesitated, my hand on the door handle, trying to prolong the moment."Bella?" he asked in a different tone — serious, but hesitant."Yes?" I turned back to him too eagerly."Will you promise me something?""Yes," I said, and instantly regretted my unconditional agreement. What if he asked me to stay away from him? I couldn't keep that promise."Don't go into the woods alone."I stared at him in blank confusion. "Why?"He frowned, and his eyes were tight as he stared past me out the window."I'm not always the most dangerous thing out there. Let's leave it at that."I shuddered slightly at the sudden bleakness in his voice, but I was relieved. This, at least, was an easy promise to honor. "Whatever you say.""I'll see you tomorrow," he sighed, and I knew he wanted me to leave now."Tomorrow, then." I opened the door unwillingly."Bella?" I turned and he was leaning toward me, his pale, glorious face just inches from mine. My heart stopped beating."Sleep well," he said. His breath blew in my face, stunning me. It was the same exquisite scent that clung to his jacket, but in a more concentrated form. I blinked, thoroughly dazed. He leaned away.I was unable to move until my brain had somewhat unscrambled itself. Then I stepped out of the car awkwardly, having to use the frame for support. I thought I heard him chuckle, but the sound was too quiet for me to be certain.He waited till I had stumbled to the front door, and then I heard his engine quietly rev. I turned to watch the silver car disappear around the corner. I realized it was very cold.I reached for the key mechanically, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.Charlie called from the living room. "Bella?""Yeah, Dad, it's me." I walked in to see him. He was watching a baseball game."You're home early.""Am I?" I was surprised."It's not even eight yet," he told me. "Did you girls have fun?""Yeah — it was lots of fun." My head was spinning as I tried to remember all the way back to the girls' night out I had planned. "They both found dresses.""Are you all right?""I'm just tired. I did a lot of walking.""Well, maybe you should go lie down." He sounded concerned. I wondered what my face looked like."I'm just going to call Jessica first.""Weren't you just with her?" he asked, surprised."Yes — but I left my jacket in her car. I want to make sure she brings it tomorrow.""Well, give her a chance to get home first.""Right," I agreed.I went to the kitchen and fell, exhausted, into a chair. I was really feeling dizzy now. I wondered if I was going to go into shock after all. Get a grip, I told myself.The phone rang suddenly, startling me. I yanked it off the hook."Hello?" I asked breathlessly."Bella?""Hey, Jess, I was just going to call you.""You made it home?" Her voice was relieved… and surprised."Yes. I left my jacket in your car — could you bring it to me tomorrow?""Sure. But tell me what happened!" she demanded."Um, tomorrow — in Trig, okay?"She caught on quickly. "Oh, is your dad there?""Yes, that's right.""Okay, I'll talk to you tomorrow, then. Bye!" I could hear the impatience in her voice."Bye, Jess."I walked up the stairs slowly, a heavy stupor clouding my mind. I went through the motions of getting ready for bed without paying any attention to what I was doing. It wasn't until I was in the shower — the water too hot, burning my skin — that I realized I was freezing. I shuddered violently for several minutes before the steaming spray could finally relax my rigid muscles. Then I stood in the shower, too tired to move, until the hot water began to run out.I stumbled out, wrapping myself securely in a towel, trying to hold the heat from the water in so the aching shivers wouldn't return. I dressed for bed swiftly and climbed under my quilt, curling into a ball, hugging myself to keep warm. A few small shudders trembled through me.My mind still swirled dizzily, full of images I couldn't understand, and some I fought to repress. Nothing seemed clear at first, but as I fell gradually closer to unconsciousness, a few certainties became evident.About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn't know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.