obeyed silently。
〃Now we drive until the pavement ends。〃
I could hear a smile in his voice； but I was too afraid of driving off
the road and proving him right to look over and be sure。
〃And what's there； at the pavement's end？〃 I wondered。
〃A trail。〃
〃We're hiking？〃 Thank goodness I'd worn tennis shoes。
〃Is that a problem？〃 He sounded as if he'd expected as much。
〃No。〃 I tried to make the lie sound confident。 But if he thought my truck
was slow…
〃Don't worry； it's only five miles or so； and we're in no hurry。〃
Five miles。 I didn't answer； so that he wouldn't hear my voice crack in
panic。 Five miles of treacherous roots and loose stones； trying to twist
my ankles or otherwise incapacitate me。 This was going to be humiliating。
We drove in silence for a while as I contemplated the ing horror。
〃What are you thinking？〃 he asked impatiently after a few moments。
I lied again。 〃Just wondering where we're going。〃
〃It's a place I like to go when the weather is nice。〃 We both glanced out
the windows at the thinning clouds after he spoke。
〃Charlie said it would be warm today。〃
〃And did you tell Charlie what you were up to？〃 he asked。
〃Nope。〃
〃But Jessica thinks we're going to Seattle together？〃 He seemed cheered
by the idea。
〃No； I told her you canceled on me — which is true。〃
〃No one knows you're with me？〃 Angrily； now。
〃That depends… I assume you told Alice？〃
〃That's very helpful； Bella；〃 he snapped。
I pretended I didn't hear that。
〃Are you so depressed by Forks that it's made you suicidal？〃 he demanded
when I ignored him。
〃You said it might cause trouble for you… us being together publicly；〃 I
reminded him。
〃So you're worried about the trouble it might cause me— if you don't e
home？〃 His voice was still angry； and bitingly sarcastic。
I nodded； keeping my eyes on the road。
He muttered something under his breath； speaking so quickly that I
couldn't understand。
We were silent for the rest of the drive。 I could feel the waves of
infuriated disapproval rolling off of him； and I could think of nothing
to say。
And then the road ended； constricting to a thin foot trail with a small
wooden marker。 I parked on the narrow shoulder and stepped out； afraid
because he was angry with me and I didn't have driving as an excuse not
to look at him。 It was warm now； warmer than it had been in Forks since
the day I'd arrived； almost muggy under the clouds。 I pulled off my
sweater and knotted it around my waist； glad that I'd worn the light；
sleeveless shirt — especially if I had five miles of hiking ahead of me。
I heard his door slam； and looked over to see that he'd removed his
sweater； too。 He was facing away from me； into the unbroken forest beside
my truck。
〃This way；〃 he said； glancing over his shoulder at me； eyes still
annoyed。 He started into the dark forest。
〃The trail？〃 Panic was clear in my voice as I hurried around the truck to
catch up to him。
〃I said there was a trail at the end of the road； not that we were taking
it。〃
〃No trail？〃 I asked desperately。
〃I won't let you get lost。〃 He turned then； with a mocking smile； and I
stifled a gasp。 His white shirt was sleeveless； and he wore it
unbuttoned； so that the smooth white skin of his throat flowed
uninterrupted over the marble contours of his chest； his perfect
musculature no longer merely hinted at behind concealing clothes。 He was
too perfect； I realized with a piercing stab of despair。 There was no way
this godlike creature could be meant for me。
He stared at me； bewildered by my tortured expression。
〃Do you want to go home？〃 he said quietly； a different pain than mine
saturating his voice。
〃No。〃 I walked forward till I was close beside him； anxious not to waste
one second of whatever time I might have with him。
〃What's wrong？〃 he asked； his voice gentle。
〃I'm not a good hiker；〃 I answered dully。 〃You'll have to be very
patient。〃
〃I can be patient — if I make a great effort。〃 He smiled； holding my
glance； trying to lift me out of my sudden； unexplained dejection。
I tried to smile back； but the smile was unconvincing。 He scrutinized my
face。
〃I'll take you home；〃 he promised。 I couldn't tell if the promise was
unconditional； or restricted to an immediate departure。 I knew he thought
it was fear that upset me； and I was grateful again that I was the one
person whose mind he couldn't hear。
〃If you want me to hack five miles through the jungle before sundown；
you'd better start leading the way；〃 I said acidly。 He frowned at me；
struggling to understand my tone and expression。
He gave up after a moment and led the way into the forest。
It wasn't as hard as I had feared。 The way was mostly flat； and he held
the damp ferns and webs of moss aside for me。 When his straight path took
us over fallen trees or boulders； he would help me； lifting me by the
elbow； and then releasing me instantly when I was clear。 His cold touch
on my skin never failed to make my heart thud erratically。 Twice； when
that happened； I caught a look on his face that made me sure he could
somehow hear it。
I tried to keep my eyes away from his perfection as much as possible； but
I slipped often。 Each time； his beauty pierced me through with sadness。
For the most part； we walked in silence。 Occasionally he would ask a
random question that he hadn't gotten to in the past two days of
interrogation。 He asked about my birthdays； my grade school teachers； my
childhood pets — and I had to admit that after killing three fish in a
row； I'd given up on the whole institution。 He laughed at that； louder
than I was used to — belllike echoes bouncing back to us from the empty
woods。
The hike took me most of the morning； but he never showed any sign of
impatience。 The forest spread out around us in a boundless labyrinth of
ancient trees； and I began to be nervous that we would never find our way
out again。 He was perfectly at ease； fortable in the green maze； never
seeming to feel any doubt about our direction。
After several hours； the light that filtered through the canopy
transformed； the murky olive tone shifting to a brighter jade。 The day
had turned sunny； just as he'd foretold。 For the first time since we'd
entered the woods； I felt a thrill of excitement — which quickly turned
to impatience。
〃Are we there yet？〃 I teased； pretending to scowl。
〃Nearly。〃 He smiled at the change in my mood。 〃Do you see the brightness
ahead？〃
I peered into the thick forest。 〃Um； should I？〃
He smirked。 〃Maybe it's a bit soon for your eyes。〃
〃Time to visit the optometrist；〃 I muttered。 His smirk grew more
pronounced。
But then； after another hundred yards； I could definitely see a
lightening in the trees ahead； a glow that was yellow instead of green。 I
picked up the pace； my eagerness growing with every step。 He let me lead
now； following noiselessly。
I reached the edge of the pool of light and stepped through the last
fringe of ferns into the loveliest place I had ever seen。 The meadow was
sm