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ridiculous as it seemed。
My first weekend in Forks passed without incident。 Charlie； unused to
spending time in the usually empty house； worked most of the weekend。 I
cleaned the house； got ahead on my homework； and wrote my mom more
bogusly cheerful email。 I did drive to the library Saturday； but it was
so poorly stocked that I didn't bother to get a card； I would have to
make a date to visit Olympia or Seattle soon and find a good bookstore。 I
wondered idly what kind of gas mileage the truck got… and shuddered at
the thought。
The rain stayed soft over the weekend； quiet； so I was able to sleep well。
People greeted me in the parking lot Monday morning。 I didn't know all
their names； but I waved back and smiled at everyone。 It was colder this
morning； but happily not raining。 In English； Mike took his accustomed
seat by my side。 We had a pop quiz on Wuthering Heights。 It was
straightforward； very easy。
All in all； I was feeling a lot more fortable than I had thought I
would feel by this point。 More fortable than I had ever expected to
feel here。
When we walked out of class； the air was full of swirling bits of white。
I could hear people shouting excitedly to each other。 The wind bit at my
cheeks； my nose。
〃Wow；〃 Mike said。 〃It's snowing。〃
I looked at the little cotton fluffs that were building up along the
sidewalk and swirling erratically past my face。
〃Ew。〃 Snow。 There went my good day。
He looked surprised。 〃Don't you like snow？〃
〃No。 That means it's too cold for rain。〃 Obviously。 〃Besides； I thought
it was supposed to e down in flakes — you know； each one unique and
all that。 These just look like the ends of Qtips。〃
〃Haven't you ever seen snow fall before？〃 he asked incredulously。
〃Sure I have。〃 I paused。 〃On TV。〃
Mike laughed。 And then a big； squishy ball of dripping snow smacked into
the back of his head。 We both turned to see where it came from。 I had my
suspicions about Eric； who was walking away； his back toward us — in the
wrong direction for his next class。 Mike appatently had the same notion。
He bent over and began scraping together a pile of the white mush。
〃I'll see you at lunch； okay？〃 I kept walking as I spoke。 〃Once people
start throwing wet stuff； I go inside。〃
He just nodded； his eyes on Eric's retreating figure。
Throughout the morning； everyone chattered excitedly about the snow；
apparently it was the first snowfall of the new year。 I kept my mouth
shut。 Sure； it was drier than rain — until it melted in your socks。
I walked alertly to the cafeteria with Jessica after Spanish。 Mush balls
were flying everywhere。 I kept a binder in my hands； ready to use it as a
shield if necessary。 Jessica thought I was hilarious； but something in my
expression kept her from lobbing a snowball at me herself。
Mike caught up to us as we walked in the doors； laughing； with ice
melting the spikes in his hair。 He and Jessica were talking animatedly
about the snow fight as we got in line to buy food。 I glanced toward that
table in the corner out of habit。 And then I froze where I stood。 There
were five people at the table。
Jessica pulled on my arm。
〃Hello？ Bella？ What do you want？〃
I looked down； my ears were hot。 I had no reason to feel selfconscious；
I reminded myself。 I hadn't done anything wrong。
〃What's with Bella？〃 Mike asked Jessica。
〃Nothing；〃 I answered。 〃I'll just get a soda today。〃 I caught up to the
end of the line。
〃Aren't you hungry？〃 Jessica asked。
〃Actually； I feel a little sick；〃 I said； my eyes still on the floor。
I waited for them to get their food； and then followed them to a table；
my eyes on my feet。
I sipped my soda slowly； my stomach churning。 Twice Mike asked； with
unnecessary concern； how I was feeling。
I told him it was nothing； but I was wondering if I should play it up and
escape to the nurse's office for the next hour。
Ridiculous。 I shouldn't have to run away。
I decided to permit myself one glance at the Cullen family's table。 If he
was glaring at me； I would skip Biology； like the coward I was。
I kept my head down and glanced up under my lashes。 None of them were
looking this way。 I lifted my head a little。
They were laughing。 Edward； Jasper； and Emmett all had their hair
entirely saturated with melting snow。 Alice and Rosalie were leaning away
as Emmett shook his dripping hair toward them。 They were enjoying the
snowy day； just like everyone else — only they looked more like a scene
from a movie than the rest of us。
But； aside from the laughter and playfulness； there was something
different； and I couldn't quite pinpoint what that difference was。 I
examined Edward the most carefully。 His skin was less pale； I decided —
flushed from the snow fight maybe — the circles under his eyes much less
noticeable。 But there was something more。 I pondered； staring； trying to
isolate the change。
〃Bella； what are you staring at？〃 Jessica intruded； her eyes following my
stare。
At that precise moment； his eyes flashed over to meet mine。
I dropped my head； letting my hair fall to conceal my face。 I was sure；
though； in the instant our eyes met； that he didn't look harsh or
unfriendly as he had the last time I'd seen him。 He looked merely curious
again； unsatisfied in some way。
〃Edward Cullen is staring at you；〃 Jessica giggled in my ear。
〃He doesn't look angry； does he？〃 I couldn't help asking。
〃No；〃 she said； sounding confused by my question。 〃Should he be？〃
〃I don't think he likes me；〃 I confided。 I still felt queasy。 I put my
head down on my arm。
〃The Cullens don't like anybody… well； they don't notice anybody enough
to like them。 But he's still staring at you。〃
〃Stop looking at him；〃 I hissed。
She snickered； but she looked away。 I raised my head enough to make sure
that she did； contemplating violence if she resisted。
Mike interrupted us then — he was planning an epic battle of the blizzard
in the parking lot after school and wanted us to join。 Jessica agreed
enthusiastically。 The way she looked at Mike left little doub