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I handed the press back to the nurse。 〃Here； I don't need this。〃
And then Mike staggered through the door； now supporting a sallowlooking
Lee Stephens； another boy in our Biology class。 Edward and I drew back
against the wall to give them room。
〃Oh no；〃 Edward muttered。 〃Go out to the office； Bella。〃
I looked up at him； bewildered。
〃Trust me — go。〃
I spun and caught the door before it closed； darting out of the
infirmary。 I could feel Edward right behind me。
〃You actually listened to me。〃 He was stunned。
〃I smelled the blood；〃 I said； wrinkling my nose。 Lee wasn't sick from
watching other people； like me。
〃People can't smell blood；〃 he contradicted。
〃Well； I can — that's what makes me sick。 It smells like rust… and salt。〃
He was staring at me with an unfathomable expression。
〃What？〃 I asked。
〃It's nothing。〃
Mike came through the door then； glancing from me to Edward。 The look he
gave Edward confirmed what Edward had said about loathing。 He looked back
at me； his eyes glum。
〃You look better；〃 he accused。
〃Just keep your hand in your pocket；〃 I warned him again。
〃It's not bleeding anymore；〃 he muttered。 〃Are you going back to class？〃
〃Are you kidding？ I'd just have to turn around and e back。〃
〃Yeah； I guess… So are you going this weekend？ To the beach？〃 While he
spoke； he flashed another glare toward Edward； who was standing against
the cluttered counter； motionless as a sculpture； staring off into space。
I tried to sound as friendly as possible。 〃Sure； I said I was in。〃
〃We're meeting at my dad's store； at ten。〃 His eyes flickered to Edward
again； wondering if he was giving out too much information。 His body
language made it clear that it wasn't an open invitation。
〃I'll be there；〃 I promised。
〃I'll see you in Gym； then；〃 he said； moving uncertainly toward the door。
〃See you；〃 I replied。 He looked at me once more； his round face slightly
pouting； and then as he walked slowly through the door； his shoulders
slumped。 A swell of sympathy washed over me。 I pondered seeing his
disappointed face again… in Gym。
〃Gym；〃 I groaned。
〃I can take care of that。〃 I hadn't noticed Edward moving to my side； but
he spoke now in my ear。 〃Go sit down and look pale；〃 he muttered。
That wasn't a challenge； I was always pale； and my recent swoon had left
a light sheen of sweat on my face。 I sat in one of the creaky folding
chairs and rested my head against the wall with my eyes closed。 Fainting
spells always exhausted me。
I heard Edward speaking softly at the counter。
〃Ms。 Cope？〃
〃Yes？〃 I hadn't heard her return to her desk。
〃Bella has Gym next hour； and I don't think she feels well enough。
Actually； I was thinking I should take her home now。 Do you think you
could excuse her from class？〃 His voice was like melting honey。 I could
imagine how much more overwhelming his eyes would be。
〃Do you need to be excused； too； Edward？〃 Ms。 Cope fluttered。 Why
couldn't I do that？
〃No； I have Mrs。 Goff； she won't mind。〃
〃Okay； it's all taken care of。 You feel better； Bella；〃 she called to me。
I nodded weakly； hamming it up just a bit。
〃Can you walk； or do you want me to carry you again？〃 With his back to
the receptionist； his expression became sarcastic。
〃I'll walk。〃
I stood carefully； and I was still fine。 He held the door for me； his
smile polite but his eyes mocking。 I walked out into the cold； fine mist
that had just begun to fall。 It felt nice — the first time I'd enjoyed
the constant moisture falling out of the sky — as it washed my face clean
of the sticky perspiration。
〃Thanks；〃 I said as he followed me out。 〃It's almost worth getting sick
to miss Gym。〃
〃Anytime。〃 He was staring straight forward； squinting into the rain。
〃So are you going？ This Saturday； I mean？〃 I was hoping he would； though
it seemed unlikely。 I couldn't picture him loading up to carpool with the
rest of the kids from school； he didn't belong in the same world。 But
just hoping that he might gave me the first twinge of enthusiasm I'd felt
for the outing。
〃Where are you all going； exactly？〃 He was still looking ahead；
expressionless。
〃Down to La Push； to First Beach。〃 I studied his face； trying to read it。
His eyes seemed to narrow infinitesimally。
He glanced down at me from the corner of his eye； smiling wryly。 〃I
really don't think I was invited。〃
I sighed。 〃I just invited you。〃
〃Let's you and I not push poor Mike any further this week。 We don't want
him to snap。〃 His eyes danced； he was enjoying the idea more than he
should。
〃Mikeschmike。〃 I muttered； preoccupied by the way he'd said 〃you and I。〃
I liked it more than I should。
We were near the parking lot now。 I veered left； toward my truck。
Something caught my jacket； yanking me back。
〃Where do you think you're going？〃 he asked； outraged。 He was gripping a
fistful of my jacket in one hand。
I was confused。 〃I'm going home。〃
〃Didn't you hear me promise to take you safely home？ Do you think I'm
going to let you drive in your condition？〃 His voice was still indignant。
〃What condition？ And what about my truck？〃 I plained。
〃I'll have Alice drop it off after school。〃 He was towing me toward his
car now； pulling me by my jacket。 It was all I could do to keep from
falling backward。 He'd probably just drag me along anyway if I did。
〃Let go！〃 I insisted。 He ignored me。 I staggered along sideways across
the wet sidewalk until we reached the Volvo。 Then he finally freed me — I
stumbled against the passenger door。
〃You are so pushy！〃 I grumbled。
〃It's open；〃 was all he responded。 He got in the driver's side。
〃I am perfectly capable of driving myself home！〃 I stood by the car；
fuming。 It was raining harder now； and I'd never put my hood up； so my
hair was dripping down my back。
He lowered the automatic window and leaned toward me across the seat。
〃Get in； Bella。〃
I didn't answer。 I was mentally calculating my chances of reaching the
truck before he could catch me。 I had to admit； they weren't good。
〃I'll just drag