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looked like I was just dithering over whether or not I was going to approach them。 How could they guess
that I was standing there enjoying an unexpected moment of insanity？
〃Hi；〃 one of the men called； his tone both confident and a bit sarcastic。 He was fairskinned and
fairhaired； and he stood with the assurance of someone who thought of himself as quite goodlooking。 I
couldn't tell whether he was or not。 I was prejudiced。
The voice in my head answered with an exquisite snarl。 I smiled； and the confident man seemed to take
that as encouragement。
〃Can I help you with something？ You look lost。〃 He grinned and winked。
I stepped carefully over the gutter； running with water that was black in the darkness。
〃No。 I'm not lost。〃
Now that I was closer—and my eyes felt oddly in focus—I analyzed the short； dark man's face。 It was
not familiar in any way。 I suffered a curious sensation of disappointment that this was not the terrible man
who had tried to hurt me almost a year ago。
The voice in my head was quiet now。
The short man noticed my stare。 〃Can I buy you a drink？〃 he offered； nervous； seeming flattered that I'd
singled him out to stare at。
〃I'm too young；〃 I answered automatically。
He was baffled—wondering why I had approached them。 I felt pelled to explain。
〃From across the street； you looked like someone I knew。 Sorry； my mistake。〃
The threat that had pulled me across the street had evaporated。 These were not the dangerous men I
remembered。 They were probably nice guys。 Safe。 I lost interest。
〃That's okay；〃 the confident blonde said。 〃Stay and hang out with us。〃
〃Thanks； but I can't。〃 Jessica was hesitating in the middle of the street； her eyes wide with outrage and
betrayal。
〃Oh； just a few minutes。〃
I shook my head； and turned to rejoin Jessica。
〃Let's go eat；〃 I suggested； barely glancing at her。 Though I appeared to be； for the moment； freed of the
zombie abstraction； I was just as distant。 My mind was preoccupied。 The safe； numb deadness did not
e back； and I got more anxious with every minute that passed without its return。
〃What were you thinking？〃 Jessica snapped。 〃You don't know them—they could have been
psychopaths！〃
I shrugged； wishing she would let it go。 〃I just thought I knew the one guy。〃
〃You are so odd； Bella Swan。 I feel like I don't know who you are。〃
〃Sorry。〃 I didn't know what else to say to that。
We walked to McDonald's in silence。 I'd bet that she was wishing we'd taken her car instead of walking
the short distance from the theater； so that she could use the drivethrough。 She was just as anxious now
for this evening to be over as I had been from the beginning。
I tried to start a conversation a few times while we ate； but Jessica was not cooperative。 I must have
really offended her。
When we go back in the car； she tuned the stereo back to her favorite station and turned the volume too
loud to allow easy conversation。
I didn't have to struggle as hard as usual to ignore the music。 Even though my mind； for once； was not
carefully numb and empty； I had too much to think about to hear the lyrics。
I waited for the numbness to return； or the pain。 Because the pain must be ing。 I'd broken my
personal rules。 Instead of shying away from the memories； I'd walked forward and greeted them。 I'd
heard his voice； so clearly； in my head。 That was going to cost me； I was sure of it。 Especially if I couldn't
reclaim the haze to protect myself。 I felt too alert； and that frightened me。
But relief was still the strongest emotion in my body—relief that came from the very core of my being。
As much as I struggled not to think of him； I did not struggle to forget。 I worried—late in the night； when
the exhaustion of sleep deprivation broke down my defenses—that it was all slipping away。 That my
mind was a sieve； and I would someday not be able to remember the precise color of his eyes； the feel of
his cool skin； or the texture of his voice。 I could not think of them； but I must remember them。
Because there was just one thing that I had to believe to be able to live—I had to know that he existed。
That was all。 Everything else I could endure。 So long as he existed。
That's why I was more trapped in Forks than I ever had been before； why I'd fought with Charlie when
he suggested a change。 Honestly； it shouldn't matter； no one was ever ing back here。
But if I were to go to Jacksonville； or anywhere else bright and unfamiliar； how could I be sure he was
real？ In a place where I could never imagine him； the conviction might fade… and that I could not live
through。
Forbidden to remember； terrified to forget； it was a hard line to walk。
I was surprised when Jessica stopped the car in front of my house。 The ride had not taken long； but；
short as it seemed； I wouldn't have thought that Jessica could go that long without speaking。
〃Thanks for going out with me； Jess；〃 I said as I opened my door。 〃That was…fun。〃 I hoped that fun was
the appropriate word。
〃Sure；〃 she muttered。
〃I'm sorry about… after the movie。〃
〃Whatever； Bella。〃 She glared out the windshield instead of looking at me。 She seemed to be growing
angrier rather than getting over it。
〃See you Monday？〃
〃Yeah。 Bye。〃
I gave up and shut the door。 She drove away； still without looking at me。
I'd forgotten her by the time I was inside。
Charlie was waiting for me in the middle of the hall； his arms folded tight over his chest with his hands
balled into fists。
〃Hey； Dad；〃 I said absentmindedly as I ducked around Charlie； heading for the stairs。 I'd been thinking
about him for too long； and I wanted to be upstairs before it caught up with me。
〃Where have you been？〃 Charlie demanded。
I looked at my dad； surprised。 〃I went to a movie in Port Angeles with Jessica。 Like I told you this
morning。〃
〃Humph；〃 he grunted。
〃Is that okay？〃
He studied my face； his eyes widening as if he saw something unexpected。 〃Yeah； that's fine。 Did you
havefun？〃
〃Sure；〃 I said。 〃We watched zombies eat people。 It was great。〃
His eyes narrowe