could incapacitate me。 I wasn't going out without taking someone with me。
I tried to swallow so I could build up a decent scream。
Headlights suddenly flew around the corner; the car almost hitting the
stocky one; forcing him to jump back toward the sidewalk。 I dove into the
road — this car was going to stop; or have to hit me。 But the silver car
unexpectedly fishtailed around; skidding to a stop with the passenger
door open just a few feet from me。
〃Get in;〃 a furious voice manded。
It was amazing how instantaneously the choking fear vanished; amazing how
suddenly the feeling of security washed over me — even before I was off
the street — as soon as I heard his voice。 I jumped into the seat;
slamming the door shut behind me。
It was dark in the car; no light had e on with the opening of the
door; and I could barely see his face in the glow from the dashboard。 The
tires squealed as he spun around to face north; accelerating too quickly;
swerving toward the stunned men on the street。 I caught a glimpse of them
diving for the sidewalk as we straightened out and sped toward the harbor。
〃Put on your seat belt;〃 he manded; and I realized I was clutching the
seat with both hands。 I quickly obeyed; the snap as the belt connected
was loud in the darkness。 He took a sharp left; racing forward; blowing
through several stop signs without a pause。
But I felt utterly safe and; for the moment; totally unconcerned about
where we were going。 I stared at his face in profound relief; relief that
went beyond my sudden deliverance。 I studied his flawless features in the
limited light; waiting for my breath to return to normal; until it
occurred to me that his expression was murderously angry。
〃Are you okay?〃 I asked; surprised at how hoarse my voice sounded。
〃No;〃 he said curtly; and his tone was livid。
I sat in silence; watching his face while his blazing eyes stared
straight ahead; until the car came to a sudden stop。 I glanced around;
but it was too dark to see anything beside the vague outline of dark
trees crowding the roadside。 We weren't in town anymore。
〃Bella?〃 he asked; his voice tight; controlled。
〃Yes?〃 My voice was still rough。 I tried to clear my throat quietly。
〃Are you all right?〃 He still didn't look at me; but the fury was plain
on his face。
〃Yes;〃 I croaked softly。
〃Distract me; please;〃 he ordered。
〃I'm sorry; what?〃
He exhaled sharply。
〃Just prattle about something unimportant until I calm down;〃 he
clarified; closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose with his
thumb and forefinger。
〃Um。〃 I wracked my brain for something trivial。 〃I'm going to run over
Tyler Crowley tomorrow before school?〃
He was still squeezing his eyes closed; but the corner of his mouth
twitched。
〃Why?〃
〃He's telling everyone that he's taking me to prom — either he's insane
or he's still trying to make up for almost killing me last… well; you
remember it; and he thinks prom is somehow the correct way to do this。 So
I figure if I endanger his life; then we're even; and he can't keep
trying to make amends。 I don't need enemies and maybe Lauren would back
off if he left me alone。 I might have to total his Sentra; though。 If he
doesn't have a ride he can't take anyone to prom…〃 I babbled on。
〃I heard about that。〃 He sounded a bit more posed。
〃You did?〃 I asked in disbelief; my previous irritation flaring。 〃If he's
paralyzed from the neck down; he can't go to the prom; either;〃 I
muttered; refining my plan。
Edward sighed; and finally opened his eyes。
〃Better?〃
〃Not really。〃
I waited; but he didn't speak again。 He leaned his head back against the
seat; staring at the ceiling of the car。 His face was rigid。
〃What's wrong?〃 My voice came out in a whisper。
〃Sometimes I have a problem with my temper; Bella。〃 He was whispering;
too; and as he stared out the window; his eyes narrowed into slits。 〃But
it wouldn't be helpful for me to turn around and hunt down those…〃 He
didn't finish his sentence; looking away; struggling for a moment to
control his anger again。 〃At least;〃 he continued; 〃that's what I'm
trying to convince myself。〃
〃Oh。〃 The word seemed inadequate; but I couldn't think of a better
response。
We sat in silence again。 I glanced at the clock on the dashboard。 It was
past sixthirty。
〃Jessica and Angela will be worried;〃 I murmured。 〃I was supposed to meet
them。〃
He started the engine without another word; turning around smoothly and
speeding back toward town。 We were under the streetlights in no time at
all; still going too fast; weaving with ease through the cars slowly
cruising the boardwalk。 He parallelparked against the curb in a space I
would have thought much too small for the Volvo; but he slid in
effortlessly in one try。 I looked out the window to see the lights of La
Bella Italia; and Jess and Angela just leaving; pacing anxiously away
from us。
〃How did you know where… ?〃 I began; but then I just shook my head。 I
heard the door open and turned to see him getting out。
〃What are you doing?〃 I asked。
〃I'm taking you to dinner。〃 He smiled slightly; but his eyes were hard。
He stepped out of the car and slammed the door。 I fumbled with my seat
belt; and then hurried to get out of the car as well。 He was waiting for
me on the sidewalk。
He spoke before I could。 〃Go stop Jessica and Angela before I have to
track them down; too。 I don't think I could restrain myself if I ran into
your other friends again。〃
I shivered at the threat in his voice。
〃Jess! Angela!〃 I yelled after them; waving when they turned。 They rushed
back to me; the pronounced relief on both their faces simultaneously
changing to surprise as they saw who I was standing next to。 They
hesitated a few feet from us。
〃Where have you been?〃 Jessica's voice was suspicious。
〃I got lost;〃 I admitted sheepishly。 〃And then I ran into Edward。〃 I
gestured toward him。
〃Would it be all right if I joined you?〃 he asked in his silken;
irresistible voice。 I could see from their staggered expressions that he
had never unleashed his talents on them before。
〃Er… sure;〃 Jessica breathed。
〃Um; actually; Bella; we already ate while we were waiting — sorry;〃
Angela confessed。
〃That's fine — I'm not hungry。〃 I shrugged。
〃I think you should eat something。〃 Edward's voice was low; but full of
authority。 He looked up at Jessica and spoke slightly louder。 〃Do you
mind if I drive Bella home tonight? That way you won't have to wait while
she eats。〃
〃Uh; no problem; I guess…〃 She bit her lip; trying to figure out from my
expression whether that was what I wanted。 I winked at her。 I wanted
nothing more than to be alone with my perpetual savior。 There were so
many questions that I couldn't bombard him with till we were by ourselves。
〃Okay。〃 Angela was quicker than Jessica。 〃See you tomorrow; Bella…
Edward。〃 She grabbed Jessica's hand and pulled her toward the car; which
I could see a little ways away; parked across First Street。 As they got
in; Jess turned and waved; her face eager with curiosity。 I waved back;
waiting for them to drive away before I turned to face him。
〃Honestly; I'm not hungry;〃 I insisted; looking up to scrutinize his
face。 His expression was unreadable。
〃Humor me。〃
He walked to the door of the restaurant and held it open with an
obstinate expression。 Obviously; there would be no further discussion。 I
walked past him into the restaurant with a resigned sigh。
The restaurant wasn't crowded — it was the offseason in Port Angeles。
The host was female; and I understood the look in her eyes as she
assessed Edward。 She weled him a little more warmly than necessary。 I
was surprised by how much that bothered me。 She was several inches taller
than I was; and unnaturally blond。
〃A table for two?〃 His voice was alluring; whether he was aiming for that
or not。 I saw her eyes flicker to me and then away; satisfied by my
obvious ordinariness; and by the cautious; nocontact space Edward kept
between us。 She led us to a table big enough for four in the center of
the most crowded area of the dining floor。
I was about to sit; but Edward shook his head at me。
〃Perhaps something more private?〃 he insisted quietly to the host。 I
wasn't sure; but it looked like he smoothly handed her a tip。 I'd never
seen anyone refuse a table except in old movies。
〃Sure。〃 She sounded as surprised as I was。 She turned and led us around a
partition to a small ring of booths — all of them empty。 〃How's this?〃
〃Perfect。〃 He flashed his gleaming smile; dazing her momentarily。
〃Um〃 — she shook her head; blinking — 〃your server will be right out。〃
She walked away unsteadily。
〃You really shouldn't do that to people;〃 I criticized。 〃It's hardly
fair。〃
〃Do what?〃
〃Dazzle them like that — she's probably hyperventilating in the kitchen
right now。〃
He seemed confused。
〃Oh; e on;〃 I said dubiously。 〃You have to know the effect you have on
people。〃
He tilted his head to one side; and his eyes were curious。