Assoonasthedoctor'sbackwasturned,ImovedtoEdward'sside."CanItalktoyouforaminute?"Ihissedundermybreath.Hetookastepbackfromme,hisjawsuddenlyclenched."Yourfatheriswaitingforyou,"hesaidthroughhisteeth.IglancedatDr.CullenandTyler."I'dliketospeakwithyoualone,ifyoudon'tmind,"Ipressed.Heglared,andthenturnedhisbackandstrodedownthelongroom.Inearlyhadtoruntokeepup.Assoonasweturnedthecornerintoashorthallway,hespunaroundtofaceme."Whatdoyouwant?"heasked,soundingannoyed.Hiseyeswerecold.Hisunfriendlinessintimidatedme.MywordscameoutwithlessseveritythanI'dintended. "Youowemeanexplanation,"Iremindedhim."Isavedyourlife—Idon'toweyouanything."Iflinchedbackfromtheresentmentinhisvoice. "Youpromised.""Bella,youhityourhead,youdon'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout."Histonewascutting.Mytemperflarednow,andIglareddefiantlyathim. "There'snothingwrongwithmyhead."Heglaredback. "Whatdoyouwantfromme,Bella?""Iwanttoknowthetruth,"Isaid. "IwanttoknowwhyI'mlyingforyou.""Whatdoyouthinkhappened?"hesnapped.Itcameoutinarush."AllIknowisthatyouweren'tanywherenearme—Tylerdidn'tseeyou,either,sodon'ttellmeIhitmyheadtoohard.Thatvanwasgoingtocrushusboth—anditdidn't,andyourhandsleftdentsinthesideofit—andyouleftadentintheothercar,andyou'renothurtatall—andthevanshouldhavesmashedmylegs,butyouwereholdingitup…"Icouldhearhowcrazyitsounded,andIcouldn'tcontinue.IwassomadIcouldfeelthetearscoming;Itriedtoforcethembackbygrindingmyteethtogether.Hewasstaringatmeincredulously.Buthisfacewastense,defensive."YouthinkIliftedavanoffyou?"Histonequestionedmysanity,butitonlymadememoresuspicious.Itwaslikeaperfectlydeliveredlinebyaskilledactor.Imerelynoddedonce,jawtight."Nobodywillbelievethat,youknow."Hisvoiceheldanedgeofderisionnow."I'mnotgoingtotellanybody."Isaideachwordslowly,carefullycontrollingmyanger.Surpriseflittedacrosshisface. "Thenwhydoesitmatter?""Itmatterstome,"Iinsisted. "Idon'tliketolie—sothere'dbetterbeagoodreasonwhyI'mdoingit.""Can'tyoujustthankmeandgetoverit?""Thankyou."Iwaited,fumingandexpectant."You'renotgoingtoletitgo,areyou?""No.""Inthatcase…Ihopeyouenjoydisappointment."Wescowledateachotherinsilence.Iwasthefirsttospeak,tryingtokeepmyselffocused.Iwasindangerofbeingdistractedbyhislivid,gloriousface.Itwasliketryingtostaredownadestroyingangel."Whydidyouevenbother?"Iaskedfrigidly.Hepaused,andforabriefmomenthisstunningfacewasunexpectedlyvulnerable."Idon'tknow,"hewhispered.Andthenheturnedhisbackonmeandwalkedaway.Iwassoangry,ittookmeafewminutesuntilIcouldmove.WhenIcouldwalk,Imademywayslowlytotheexitattheendofthehallway.ThewaitingroomwasmoreunpleasantthanI'dfeared.ItseemedlikeeveryfaceIknewinForkswasthere,staringatme.Charlierushedtomyside;Iputupmyhands."There'snothingwrongwithme,"Iassuredhimsullenly.Iwasstillaggravated,notinthemoodforchitchat."Whatdidthedoctorsay?""Dr.Cullensawme,andhesaidIwasfineandIcouldgohome."Isighed.MikeandJessicaandEricwereallthere,beginningtoconvergeonus. "Let'sgo,"Iurged.Charlieputonearmbehindmyback,notquitetouchingme,andledmetotheglassdoorsoftheexit.Iwavedsheepishlyatmyfriends,hopingtoconveythattheydidn'tneedtoworryanymore.Itwasahugerelief—thefirsttimeI'deverfeltthatway—togetintothecruiser.Wedroveinsilence.IwassowrappedupinmythoughtsthatIbarelyknewCharliewasthere.IwaspositivethatEdward'sdefensivebehaviorinthehallwasaconfirmationofthebizarrethingsIstillcouldhardlybelieveI'dwitnessed.Whenwegottothehouse,Charliefinallyspoke."Um…you'llneedtocallRenée."Hehunghishead,guilty.Iwasappalled. "YoutoldMom!""Sorry."Islammedthecruiser'sdooralittleharderthannecessaryonmywayout.Mymomwasinhysterics,ofcourse.IhadtotellherIfeltfineatleastthirtytimesbeforeshewouldcalmdown.Shebeggedmetocomehome—forgettingthefactthathomewasemptyatthemoment—butherpleaswereeasiertoresistthanIwouldhavethought.IwasconsumedbythemysteryEdwardpresented.AndmorethanalittleobsessedbyEdwardhimself.Stupid,stupid,stupid.Iwasn'taseagertoescapeForksasIshouldbe,asanynormal,sanepersonwouldbe.IdecidedImightaswellgotobedearlythatnight.Charliecontinuedtowatchmeanxiously,anditwasgettingonmynerves.IstoppedonmywaytograbthreeTylenolfromthebathroom.Theydidhelp,and,asthepaineased,Idriftedtosleep.ThatwasthefirstnightIdreamedofEdwardCullen.