tone was cutting。
My temper flared now； and I glared defiantly at him。 〃There's nothing
wrong with my head。〃
He glared back。 〃What do you want from me； Bella？〃
〃I want to know the truth；〃 I said。 〃I want to know why I'm lying for
you。〃
〃What do you think happened？〃 he snapped。
It came out in a rush。
〃All I know is that you weren't anywhere near me — Tyler didn't see you；
either； so don't tell me I hit my head too hard。 That van was going to
crush us both — and it didn't； and your hands left dents in the side of
it — and you left a dent in the other car； and you're not hurt at all —
and the van should have smashed my legs； but you were holding it up…〃 I
could hear how crazy it sounded； and I couldn't continue。 I was so mad I
could feel the tears ing； I tried to force them back by grinding my
teeth together。
He was staring at me incredulously。 But his face was tense； defensive。
〃You think I lifted a van off you？〃 His tone questioned my sanity； but it
only made me more suspicious。 It was like a perfectly delivered line by a
skilled actor。
I merely nodded once； jaw tight。
〃Nobody will believe that； you know。〃 His voice held an edge of derision
now。
〃I'm not going to tell anybody。〃 I said each word slowly； carefully
controlling my anger。
Surprise flitted across his face。 〃Then why does it matter？〃
〃It matters to me；〃 I insisted。 〃I don't like to lie — so there'd better
be a good reason why I'm doing it。〃
〃Can't you just thank me and get over it？〃
〃Thank you。〃 I waited； fuming and expectant。
〃You're not going to let it go； are you？〃
〃No。〃
〃In that case… I hope you enjoy disappointment。〃
We scowled at each other in silence。 I was the first to speak； trying to
keep myself focused。 I was in danger of being distracted by his livid；
glorious face。 It was like trying to stare down a destroying angel。
〃Why did you even bother？〃 I asked frigidly。
He paused； and for a brief moment his stunning face was unexpectedly
vulnerable。
〃I don't know；〃 he whispered。
And then he turned his back on me and walked away。
I was so angry； it took me a few minutes until I could move。 When I could
walk； I made my way slowly to the exit at the end of the hallway。
The waiting room was more unpleasant than I'd feared。 It seemed like
every face I knew in Forks was there； staring at me。 Charlie rushed to my
side； I put up my hands。
〃There's nothing wrong with me；〃 I assured him sullenly。 I was still
aggravated； not in the mood for chitchat。
〃What did the doctor say？〃
〃Dr。 Cullen saw me； and he said I was fine and I could go home。〃 I
sighed。 Mike and Jessica and Eric were all there； beginning to converge
on us。 〃Let's go；〃 I urged。
Charlie put one arm behind my back； not quite touching me； and led me to
the glass doors of the exit。 I waved sheepishly at my friends； hoping to
convey that they didn't need to worry anymore。 It was a huge relief— the
first time I'd ever felt that way — to get into the cruiser。
We drove in silence。 I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I barely
knew Charlie was there。 I was positive that Edward's defensive behavior
in the hall was a confirmation of the bizarre things I still could hardly
believe I'd witnessed。
When we got to the house； Charlie finally spoke。
〃Um… you'll need to call Renée。〃 He hung his head； guilty。
I was appalled。 〃You told Mom！〃
〃Sorry。〃
I slammed the cruiser's door a little harder than necessary on my way out。
My mom was in hysterics； of course。 I had to tell her I felt fine at
least thirty times before she would calm down。 She begged me to e home
— forgetting the fact that home was empty at the moment — but her pleas
were easier to resist than I would have thought。 I was consumed by the
mystery Edward presented。 And more than a little obsessed by Edward
himself。 Stupid； stupid； stupid。 I wasn't as eager to escape Forks as I
should be； as any normal； sane person would be。
I decided I might as well go to bed early that night。 Charlie continued
to watch me anxiously； and it was getting on my nerves。 I stopped on my
way to grab three Tylenol from the bathroom。 They did help； and； as the
pain eased； I drifted to sleep。
That was the first night I dreamed of Edward Cullen。
===========================================================================
4。 INVITATIONS
In my dream it was very dark； and what dim light there was seemed to be
radiating from Edward's skin。 I couldn't see his face； just his back as
he walked away from me； leaving me in the blackness。 No matter how fast I
ran； I couldn't catch up to him； no matter how loud I called； he never
turned。 Troubled； I woke in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep
again for what seemed like a very long time。 After that； he was in my
dreams nearly every night； but always on the periphery； never within
reach。
The month that followed the accident was uneasy； tense； and； at first；
embarrassing。
To my dismay； I found myself the center of attention for the rest of that
week。 Tyler Crowley was impossible； following me around； obsessed with
making amends to me somehow。 I tried to convince him what I wanted more
than anything else was for him to forget all about it — especially since
nothing had actually happened to me — but he remained insistent。 He
followed me between classes and sat at our nowcrowded lunch table。 Mike
and Eric were even less friendly toward him than they were to each other；
which made me worry that I'd gained another unwele fan。
No one seemed concerned about Edward； though I explained over and over
that he was the hero — how he had pulled me out of the way and had nearly
been crushed； too。 I tried to be convincing。 Jessica； Mike； Eric； and
everyone else always mented that they hadn't even seen him there till
the van was pulled away。
I wondered to myself why no one else had seen him standing so far away；
before he was suddenly； impossibly saving my life。 With chagrin； I
realized the probable cause — no one else was as aware of Edward as I
always was。 No one else watched him the way I did。 How pitiful。
Edward was never surrounded by crowds of curious bystanders eager for his
firsthand account。 People avoided him as usual。 The Cullens and the Hales
sat at the same table as always； not eating； talking only among
themselves。 None of them； especially Edward； glanced my way anymore。
When he sat next to me in class； as far from me as the table would allow；
he seemed totally unaware of my presence。 Only now and then； when his
fists would suddenly ball up — skin stretched even whiter over the bones
— did I wonder if he wasn't quite as oblivious as he appeared。
He wished he hadn't pulled me from the path of Tyler's van — there was no
other conclusion I could e to。
I wanted very much to talk to him； and the day after the accident I
tried。 The last time I'd seen him； outside the ER； we'd both been so
furious。 I still was angry that he wouldn't trust me with the truth； even
though I was keeping my part of the bargain flawlessly。 But he had in
fact saved my life； no matter how he'd done it。 And； overnight； the heat
of my anger faded into awed gratitude。
He was already seated when I got to Biology； looking straight ahead。 I
sat down； expecting him to turn toward me。 He showed no sign that he
realized I was there。
〃Hello； Edward；〃 I said pleasantly； to show him I was going to behave
myself。
He turned his head a fraction toward me without meeting my gaze； nodded
once； and then looked the other way。
And that was the last contact I'd had with him； though he was there； a
foot away from me； every day。 I watched him sometimes； unable to stop
myself— from a distance； though； in the cafeteria or parking lot。 I
watched as his golden eyes grew perceptibly darker day by day。 But in
class I gave no more notice that he existed than he showed toward me。 I
was miserable。 And the dreams continued。
Despite my outright lies； the tenor of my emails alerted Renée to my
depression； and she called a few times； worried。 I tried to convince her
it was just the weather that had me down。
Mike； at least； was pleased by the obvious coolness between me and my lab
partner。 I could see he'd been worried that Edward's daring rescue might
have impressed me； and he was relieved that it seemed to have the
opposite effect。 He grew more confident； sitting on the edge of my table
to talk before Biology class started； ignoring Edward as pletely as he
ignored us。
The snow washed away for good after that one dangerously icy day。 Mike
was disappointed he'd never gotten to stage his snowball fight； but
pleased that the beach trip would soon be possible。 The rain continued
heavily； though； and the weeks passed。
Jessica made me aware of another event looming on the horizon — she
called the first Tuesday of March to ask my permission to invite Mike to
the girls' choice spring dance in two weeks。
〃Are you sure you don't mind… you weren't planning to ask him？〃 she
persisted when I told her I d