is left in the driveway。〃
His smile was condescending now。 〃I wasn't intending to bring a car。〃
〃How —〃
He cut me off。 〃Don't worry about it。 I'll be there； no car。〃
I let it go。 I had a more pressing question。
〃Is it later yet？〃 I asked significantly。
He frowned。 〃I supposed it is later。〃
I kept my expression polite as I waited。
He stopped the car。 I looked up； surprised — of course we were already at
Charlie's house； parked behind the truck。 It was easier to ride with him
if I only looked when it was over。 When I looked back at him； he was
staring at me； measuring with his eyes。
〃And you still want to know why you can't see me hunt？〃 He seemed solemn；
but I thought I saw a trace of humor deep in his eyes。
〃Well；〃 I clarified； 〃I was mostly wondering about your reaction。〃
〃Did I frighten you？〃 Yes； there was definitely humor there。
〃No；〃 I lied。 He didn't buy it。
〃I apologize for scaring you；〃 he persisted with a slight smile； but then
all evidence of teasing disappeared。 〃It was just the very thought of you
being there… while we hunted。〃 His jaw tightened。
〃That would be bad？〃
He spoke from between clenched teeth。 〃Extremely。〃
〃Because… ？〃
He took a deep breath and stared through the windshield at the thick；
rolling clouds that seemed to press down； almost within reach。
〃When we hunt；〃 he spoke slowly； unwillingly； 〃we give ourselves over to
our senses… govern less with our minds。 Especially our sense of smell。 If
you were anywhere near me when I lost control that way…〃 He shook his
head； still gazing morosely at the heavy clouds。
I kept my expression firmly under control； expecting the swift flash of
his eyes to judge my reaction that soon followed。 My face gave nothing
away。
But our eyes held； and the silence deepened — and changed。 Flickers of
the electricity I'd felt this afternoon began to charge the atmosphere as
he gazed unrelentingly into my eyes。 It wasn't until my head started to
swim that I realized I wasn't breathing。 When I drew in a jagged breath；
breaking the stillness； he closed his eyes。
〃Bella； I think you should go inside now。〃 His low voice was rough； his
eyes on the clouds again。
I opened the door； and the arctic draft that burst into the car helped
clear my head。 Afraid I might stumble in my woozy state； I stepped
carefully out of the car and shut the door behind me without looking
back。 The whir of the automatic window unrolling made me turn。
〃Oh； Bella？〃 he called after me； his voice more even。 He leaned toward
the open window with a faint smile on his lips。
〃Yes？〃
〃Tomorrow it's my turn。〃
〃Your turn to what？〃
He smiled wider； flashing his gleaming teeth。 〃Ask the questions。〃
And then he was gone； the car speeding down the street and disappearing
around the corner before I could even collect my thoughts。 I smiled as I
walked to the house。 It was clear he was planning to see me tomorrow； if
nothing else。
That night Edward starred in my dreams； as usual。 However； the climate of
my unconsciousness had changed。 It thrilled with the same electricity
that had charged the afternoon； and I tossed and turned restlessly；
waking often。 It was only in the early hours of the morning that I
finally sank into an exhausted； dreamless sleep。
When I woke I was still tired； but edgy as well。 I pulled on my brown
turtleneck and the inescapable jeans； sighing as I daydreamed of
spaghetti straps and shorts。 Breakfast was the usual； quiet event I
expected。 Charlie fried eggs for himself； I had my bowl of cereal。 I
wondered if he had forgotten about this Saturday。 He answered my unspoken
question as he stood up to take his plate to the sink。
〃About this Saturday…〃 he began； walking across the kitchen and turning
on the faucet。
I cringed。 〃Yes； Dad？〃
〃Are you still set on going to Seattle？〃 he asked。
〃That was the plan。〃 I grimaced； wishing he hadn't brought it up so I
wouldn't have to pose careful halftruths。
He squeezed some dish soap onto his plate and swirled it around with the
brush。 〃And you're sure you can't make it back in time for the dance？〃
〃I'm not going to the dance； Dad。〃 I glared。
〃Didn't anyone ask you？〃 he asked； trying to hide his concern by focusing
on rinsing the plate。
I sidestepped the minefield。 〃It's a girl's choice。〃
〃Oh。〃 He frowned as he dried his plate。
I sympathized with him。 It must be a hard thing； to be a father； living
in fear that your daughter would meet a boy she liked； but also having to
worry if she didn't。 How ghastly it would be； I thought； shuddering； if
Charlie had even the slightest inkling of exactly what I did like。
Charlie left then； with a goodbye wave； and I went upstairs to brush my
teeth and gather my books。 When I heard the cruiser pull away； I could
only wait a few seconds before I had to peek out of my window。 The silver
car was already there； waiting in Charlie's spot on the driveway。 I
bounded down the stairs and out the front door； wondering how long this
bizarre routine would continue。 I never wanted it to end。
He waited in the car； not appearing to watch as I shut the door behind me
without bothering to lock the deadbolt。 I walked to the car； pausing
shyly before opening the door and stepping in。 He was smiling； relaxed —
and； as usual； perfect and beautiful to an excruciating degree。
〃Good morning。〃 His voice was silky。 〃How are you today？〃 His eyes roamed
over my face； as if his question was something more than simple courtesy。
〃Good； thank you。〃 I was always good — much more than good — when I was
near him。
His gaze lingered on the circles under my eyes。 〃You look tired。〃
〃I couldn't sleep；〃 I confessed； automatically swinging my hair around my
shoulder to provide some measure of cover。
〃Neither could I；〃 he teased as he started the engine。 I was being
used to the quiet purr。 I was sure the roar of my truck would scare me；
whenever I got to drive it again。
I laughed。 〃I guess that's right。 I suppose I slept just a little bit
more than you did。〃
〃I'd wager you did。〃
〃So what did you do last night？〃 I asked。
He chuckled。 〃Not a chance。 It's my day to ask questions。〃
〃Oh； that's right。 What do you want to know？〃 My forehead creased。 I
couldn't imagine anything about me that could be in any way interesting
to him。
〃What's your favorite color？〃 he asked； his face grave。
I rolled my eyes。 〃It changes from day to day。〃
〃What's your favorite color today？〃 He was still solemn。
〃Probably brown。〃 I tended to dress according to my mood。
He snorted； dropping his serious expression。 〃Brown？〃 he asked
skeptically。
〃Sure。 Brown is warm。 I miss brown。 Everything that's supposed to be
brown — tree trunks； rocks； dirt — is all covered up with squashy green
stuff here；〃 I plained。
He seemed fascinated by my little rant。 He considered for a moment；
staring into my eyes。
〃You're right；〃 he decided； serious again。 〃Brown is warm。〃 He reached
over； swiftly； but somehow still hesitantly； to sweep my hair back behind
my