head； gripping the strap with one hand； ready to surrender it or use it
as weapon as need demanded。
The thickset man shrugged away from the wall as I warily came to a stop；
and walked slowly into the street。
〃Stay away from me；〃 I warned in a voice that was supposed to sound
strong and fearless。 But I was right about the dry throat — no volume。
〃Don't be like that； sugar；〃 he called； and the raucous laughter started
again behind me。
I braced myself； feet apart； trying to remember through my panic what
little selfdefense I knew。 Heel of the hand thrust upward； hopefully
breaking the nose or shoving it into the brain。 Finger through the eye
socket — try to hook around and pop the eye out。 And the standard knee to
the groin； of course。 That same pessimistic voice in my mind spoke up
then； reminding me that I probably wouldn't have a chance against one of
them； and there were four。 Shut up！ I manded the voice before terror
could incapacitate me。 I wasn't going out without taking someone with me。
I tried to swallow so I could build up a decent scream。
Headlights suddenly flew around the corner； the car almost hitting the
stocky one； forcing him to jump back toward the sidewalk。 I dove into the
road — this car was going to stop； or have to hit me。 But the silver car
unexpectedly fishtailed around； skidding to a stop with the passenger
door open just a few feet from me。
〃Get in；〃 a furious voice manded。
It was amazing how instantaneously the choking fear vanished； amazing how
suddenly the feeling of security washed over me — even before I was off
the street — as soon as I heard his voice。 I jumped into the seat；
slamming the door shut behind me。
It was dark in the car； no light had e on with the opening of the
door； and I could barely see his face in the glow from the dashboard。 The
tires squealed as he spun around to face north； accelerating too quickly；
swerving toward the stunned men on the street。 I caught a glimpse of them
diving for the sidewalk as we straightened out and sped toward the harbor。
〃Put on your seat belt；〃 he manded； and I realized I was clutching the
seat with both hands。 I quickly obeyed； the snap as the belt connected
was loud in the darkness。 He took a sharp left； racing forward； blowing
through several stop signs without a pause。
But I felt utterly safe and； for the moment； totally unconcerned about
where we were going。 I stared at his face in profound relief； relief that
went beyond my sudden deliverance。 I studied his flawless features in the
limited light； waiting for my breath to return to normal； until it
occurred to me that his expression was murderously angry。
〃Are you okay？〃 I asked； surprised at how hoarse my voice sounded。
〃No；〃 he said curtly； and his tone was livid。
I sat in silence； watching his face while his blazing eyes stared
straight ahead； until the car came to a sudden stop。 I glanced around；
but it was too dark to see anything beside the vague outline of dark
trees crowding the roadside。 We weren't in town anymore。
〃Bella？〃 he asked； his voice tight； controlled。
〃Yes？〃 My voice was still rough。 I tried to clear my throat quietly。
〃Are you all right？〃 He still didn't look at me； but the fury was plain
on his face。
〃Yes；〃 I croaked softly。
〃Distract me； please；〃 he ordered。
〃I'm sorry； what？〃
He exhaled sharply。
〃Just prattle about something unimportant until I calm down；〃 he
clarified； closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose with his
thumb and forefinger。
〃Um。〃 I wracked my brain for something trivial。 〃I'm going to run over
Tyler Crowley tomorrow before school？〃
He was still squeezing his eyes closed； but the corner of his mouth
twitched。
〃Why？〃
〃He's telling everyone that he's taking me to prom — either he's insane
or he's still trying to make up for almost killing me last… well； you
remember it； and he thinks prom is somehow the correct way to do this。 So
I figure if I endanger his life； then we're even； and he can't keep
trying to make amends。 I don't need enemies and maybe Lauren would back
off if he left me alone。 I might have to total his Sentra； though。 If he
doesn't have a ride he can't take anyone to prom…〃 I babbled on。
〃I heard about that。〃 He sounded a bit more posed。
〃You did？〃 I asked in disbelief； my previous irritation flaring。 〃If he's
paralyzed from the neck down； he can't go to the prom； either；〃 I
muttered； refining my plan。
Edward sighed； and finally opened his eyes。
〃Better？〃
〃Not really。〃
I waited； but he didn't speak again。 He leaned his head back against the
seat； staring at the ceiling of the car。 His face was rigid。
〃What's wrong？〃 My voice came out in a whisper。
〃Sometimes I have a problem with my temper； Bella。〃 He was whispering；
too； and as he stared out the window； his eyes narrowed into slits。 〃But
it wouldn't be helpful for me to turn around and hunt down those…〃 He
didn't finish his sentence； looking away； struggling for a moment to
control his anger again。 〃At least；〃 he continued； 〃that's what I'm
trying to convince myself。〃
〃Oh。〃 The word seemed inadequate； but I couldn't think of a better
response。
We sat in silence again。 I glanced at the clock on the dashboard。 It was
past sixthirty。
〃Jessica and Angela will be worried；〃 I murmured。 〃I was supposed to meet
them。〃
He started the engine without another word； turning around smoothly and
speeding back toward town。 We were under the streetlights in no time at
all； still going too fast； weaving with ease through the cars slowly
cruising the boardwalk。 He parallelparked against the curb in a space I
would have thought much too small for the Volvo； but he slid in
effortlessly in one try。 I looked out the window to see the lights of La
Bella Italia； and Jess and Angela just leaving； pacing anxiously away
from us。
〃How did you know where… ？〃 I began； but then I just shook my head。 I
heard the door open and turned to see him getting out。
〃What are you doing？〃 I asked。
〃I'm taking you to dinner。〃 He smiled slightly； but his eyes were hard。
He stepped out of the car and slammed the door。 I fumbled with my seat
belt； and then hurried to get out of the car as well。 He was waiting for
me on the sidewalk。
He spoke before I could。 〃Go stop Jessica and Angela before I have to
track them down； too。 I don't think I could restrain myself if I ran into
your other friends again。〃
I shivered at the threat in his voice。
〃Jess！ Angela！〃 I yelled after them； waving when they turned。 They rushed
back to me； the pronounced relief on both their faces simultaneously
changing to surprise as they saw who I was standing next to。 They
hesitated a few feet from us。
〃Where have you been？〃 Jessica's voice was suspicious。
〃I got lost；〃 I admitted sheepishly。 〃And then I ran into Edward。〃 I
gestured toward him。
〃Would it be all right if I joined you？〃 he asked in his silken；
irresistible voice。 I could see from their staggered expressions that he
had never unleashed his talents on them befo