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。
===========================================================================
11。 PLICATIONS
Everyone watched us as we walked together to our lab table。 I noticed
that he no longer angled the chair to sit as far from me as the desk
would allow。 Instead； he sat quite close beside me； our arms almost
touching。
Mr。 Banner backed into the room then — what superb timing the man had —
pulling a tall metal frame on wheels that held a heavylooking； outdated
TV and VCR。 A movie day — the lift in the class atmosphere was almost
tangible。
Mr。 Banner shoved the tape into the reluctant VCR and walked to the wall
to turn off the lights。
And then； as the room went black； I was suddenly hyperaware that Edward
was sitting less than an inch from me。 I was stunned by the unexpected
electricity that flowed through me； amazed that it was possible to be
more aware of him than I already was。 A crazy impulse to reach over and
touch him； to stroke his perfect face just once in the darkness； nearly
overwhelmed me。 I crossed my arms tightly across my chest； my hands
ballin