tribute to his face that it kept my eyes away from his body。
〃I'm not quite that delicate；〃 I said； but I pulled the jacket onto my
lap； pushing my arms through the toolong sleeves； curious to see if the
scent could possibly be as good as I remembered。 It was better。
〃Aren't you？〃 he contradicted in a voice so low I wasn't sure if he meant
for me to hear。
We drove through the fogshrouded streets； always too fast； feeling
awkward。 I was； at least。 Last night all the walls were down… almost all。
I didn't know if we were still being as candid today。 It left me
tonguetied。 I waited for him to speak。
He turned to smirk at me。 〃What； no twenty questions today？〃
〃Do my questions bother you？〃 I asked； relieved。
〃Not as much as your reactions do。〃 He looked like he was joking； but I
couldn't be sure。
I frowned。 〃Do I react badly？〃
〃No； that's the problem。 You take everything so coolly — it's unnatural。
It makes me wonder what you're really thinking。〃
〃I always tell you what I'm really thinking。〃
〃You edit；〃 he accused。
〃Not very much。〃
〃Enough to drive me insane。〃
〃You don't want to hear it；〃 I mumbled； almost whispered。 As soon as the
words were out； I regretted them。 The pain in my voice was very faint； I
could only hope he hadn't noticed it。
He didn't respond； and I wondered if I had ruined the mood。 His face was
unreadable as we drove into the school parking lot。 Something occurred to
me belatedly。
〃Where's the rest of your family？〃 I asked — more than glad to be alone
with him； but remembering that his car was usually full。
〃They took Rosalie's car。〃 He shrugged as he parked next to a glossy red
convertible with the top up。 〃Ostentatious； isn't it？〃
〃Um； wow；〃 I breathed。 〃If she has that； why does she ride with you？〃
〃Like I said； it's ostentatious。 We try to blend in。〃
〃You don't succeed。〃 I laughed and shook my head as we got out of the
car。 I wasn't late anymore； his lunatic driving had gotten me to school
in plenty of time。 〃So why did Rosalie drive today if it's more
conspicuous？〃
〃Hadn't you noticed？ I'm breaking all the rules now。〃 He met me at the
front of the car； staying very close to my side as we walked onto campus。
I wanted to close that little distance； to reach out and touch him； but I
was afraid he wouldn't like me to。
〃Why do you have cars like that at all？〃 I wondered aloud。 〃If you're
looking for privacy？〃
〃An indulgence；〃 he admitted with an impish smile。 〃We all like to drive
fast。〃
〃Figures；〃 I muttered under my breath。
Under the shelter of the cafeteria roof's overhang； Jessica was waiting；
her eyes about to bug out of their sockets。 Over her arm； bless her； was
my jacket。
〃Hey； Jessica；〃 I said when we were a few feet away。 〃Thanks for
remembering。〃 She handed me my jacket without speaking。
〃Good morning； Jessica；〃 Edward said politely。 It wasn't really his fault
that his voice was so irresistible。 Or what his eyes were capable of。
〃Er… hi。〃 She shifted her wide eyes to me； trying to gather her jumbled
thoughts。 〃I guess I'll see you in Trig。〃 She gave me a meaningful look；
and I suppressed a sigh。 What on earth was I going to tell her？
〃Yeah； I'll see you then。〃
She walked away； pausing twice to peek back over her shoulder at us。
〃What are you going to tell her？〃 Edward murmured。
〃Hey； I thought you couldn't read my mind！〃 I hissed。
〃I can't；〃 he said； startled。 Then understanding brightened his eyes。
〃However； I can read hers — she'll be waiting to ambush you in class。〃
I groaned as I pulled off his jacket and handed it to him； replacing it
with my own。 He folded it over his arm。
〃So what are you going to tell her？〃
〃A little help？〃 I pleaded。 〃What does she want to know？〃
He shook his head； grinning wickedly。 〃That's not fair。〃
〃No； you not sharing what you know — now that's not fair。〃
He deliberated for a moment as we walked。 We stopped outside the door to
my first class。
〃She wants to know if we're secretly dating。 And she wants to know how
you feel about me；〃 he finally said。
〃Yikes。 What should I say？〃 I tried to keep my expression very innocent。
People were passing us on their way to class； probably staring； but I was
barely aware of them。
〃Hmmm。〃 He paused to catch a stray lock of hair that was escaping the
twist on my neck and wound it back into place。 My heart spluttered
hyperactively。 〃I suppose you could say yes to the first… if you don't
mind — it's easier than any other explanation。〃
〃I don't mind；〃 I said in a faint voice。
〃And as for her other question… well； I'll be listening to hear the
answer to that one myself。〃 One side of his mouth pulled up into my
favorite uneven smile。 I couldn't catch my breath soon enough to respond
to that remark。 He turned and walked away。
〃I'll see you at lunch；〃 he called over his shoulder。 Three people
walking in the door stopped to stare at me。
I hurried into class； flushed and irritated。 He was such a cheater。 Now I
was even more worried about what I was going to say to Jessica。 I sat in
my usual seat； slamming my bag down in aggravation。
〃Morning； Bella；〃 Mike said from the seat next to me。 I looked up to see
an odd； almost resigned look on his face。 〃How was Port Angeles？〃
〃It was…〃 There was no honest way to sum it up。 〃Great；〃 I finished
lamely。 〃Jessica got a really cute dress。〃
〃Did she say anything about Monday night？〃 he asked； his eyes
brightening。 I smiled at the turn the conversation had taken。
〃She said she had a really good time；〃 I assured him。
〃She did？〃 he said eagerly。
〃Most definitely。〃
Mr。 Mason called the class to order then； asking us to turn in our
papers。 English and then Government passed in a blur； while I worried
about how to explain things to Jessica and agonized over whether Edward
would really be listening to what I said through the medium of Jess's
thoughts。 How very inconvenient his little talent could be — when it
wasn't saving my life。
The fog had almost dissolved by the end of the second hour； but the day
was still dark with low； oppressing clouds。 I smiled up at the sky。
Edward was right； of course。 When I walked into Trig Jessica was sitting
in the back row； nearly bouncing off her seat in agitation。 I reluctantly
went to sit by her； trying to convince myself it would be better to get
it over with as soon as possible。
〃Tell me everything！〃 she manded before I was in the seat。
〃What do you want to know？〃 I hedged。
〃What happened last night？〃
〃He bought me dinner； and then he drove me home。〃
She glared at me； her expression stiff with skepticism。 〃How did you get
home so fast？〃
〃He drives like a maniac。 It was terrifying。〃 I hoped he heard that。
〃Was it like a date — did you tell him to meet you there？〃
I hadn't thought of that。 〃No — I was very surprised to see him there。〃
Her lips puckered in disappointment at the transparent honesty in my
voice。
〃But he picked you up for school today？〃 she probed。
〃Yes — that was a surprise； too。 He no