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from　the　room　as　he　had　last　Monday。　And；　like　last　Monday；　I　stared　
after　him　in　amazement。　

Mike　skipped　quickly　to　my　side　and　picked　up　my　books　for　me。　I　imagined　
him　with　a　wagging　tail。　

〃That　was　awful；〃　he　groaned。　〃They　all　looked　exactly　the　same。　You're　
lucky　you　had　Cullen　for　a　partner。〃　

〃I　didn't　have　any　trouble　with　it；〃　I　said；　stung　by　his　assumption。　I　
regretted　the　snub　instantly。　〃I've　done　the　lab　before；　though；〃　I　added　
before　he　could　get　his　feelings　hurt。　

〃Cullen　seemed　friendly　enough　today；〃　he　mented　as　we　shrugged　into　
our　raincoats。　He　didn't　seem　pleased　about　it。　

I　tried　to　sound　indifferent。　〃I　wonder　what　was　with　him　last　Monday。〃　

I　couldn't　concentrate　on　Mike's　chatter　as　we　walked　to　Gym；　and　RE。　
didn't　do　much　to　hold　my　attention；　either。　Mike　was　on　my　team　today。　
He　chivalrously　covered　my　position　as　well　as　his　own；　so　my　
woolgathering　was　only　interrupted　when　it　was　my　turn　to　serve；　my　team　
ducked　warily　out　of　the　way　every　time　I　was　up。　

The　rain　was　just　a　mist　as　I　walked　to　the　parking　lot；　but　I　was　
happier　when　I　was　in　the　dry　cab。　I　got　the　heater　running；　for　once　not　
caring　about　the　mind…numbing　roar　of　the　engine。　I　unzipped　my　jacket；　
put　the　hood　down；　and　fluffed　my　damp　hair　out　so　the　heater　could　dry　
it　on　the　way　home。　

I　looked　around　me　to　make　sure　it　was　clear。　That's　when　I　noticed　the　
still；　white　figure。　Edward　Cullen　was　leaning　against　the　front　door　of　
the　Volvo；　three　cars　down　from　me；　and　staring　intently　in　my　direction。　
I　swiftly　looked　away　and　threw　the　truck　into　reverse；　almost　hitting　a　
rusty　Toyota　Corolla　in　my　haste。　Lucky　for　the　Toyota；　I　stomped　on　the　
brake　in　time。　It　was　just　the　sort　of　car　that　my　truck　would　make　scrap　
metal　of。　I　took　a　deep　breath；　still　looking　out　the　other　side　of　my　
car；　and　cautiously　pulled　out　again；　with　greater　success。　I　stared　
straight　ahead　as　I　passed　the　Volvo；　but　from　a　peripheral　peek；　I　would　
swear　I　saw　him　laughing。　

===========================================================================　


3。　PHENOMENON　

When　I　opened　my　eyes　in　the　morning；　something　was　different。　

It　was　the　light。　It　was　still　the　gray…green　light　of　a　cloudy　day　in　
the　forest；　but　it　was　clearer　somehow。　I　realized　there　was　no　fog　
veiling　my　window。　

I　jumped　up　to　look　outside；　and　then　groaned　in　horror。　

A　fine　layer　of　snow　covered　the　yard；　dusted　the　top　of　my　truck；　and　
whitened　the　road。　But　that　wasn't　the　worst　part。　All　the　rain　from　
yesterday　had　frozen　solid　—　coating　the　needles　on　the　trees　in　
fantastic；　gorgeous　patterns；　and　making　the　driveway　a　deadly　ice　slick。　
I　had　enough　trouble　not　falling　down　when　the　ground　was　dry；　it　might　
be　safer　for　me　to　go　back　to　bed　now。　

Charlie　had　left　for　work　before　I　got　downstairs。　In　a　lot　of　ways；　
living　with　Charlie　was　like　having　my　own　place；　and　I　found　myself　
reveling　in　the　aloneness　instead　of　being　lonely。　

I　threw　down　a　quick　bowl　of　cereal　and　some　orange　juice　from　the　
carton。　I　felt　excited　to　go　to　school；　and　that　scared　me。　I　knew　it　
wasn't　the　stimulating　learning　environment　I　was　anticipating；　or　seeing　
my　new　set　of　friends。　If　I　was　being　honest　with　myself；　I　knew　I　was　
eager　to　get　to　school　because　I　would　see　Edward　Cullen。　And　that　was　
very；　very　stupid。　

I　should　be　avoiding　him　entirely　after　my　brainless　and　embarrassing　
babbling　yesterday。　And　I　was　suspicious　of　him；　why　should　he　lie　about　
his　eyes？　I　was　still　frightened　of　the　hostility　I　sometimes　felt　
emanating　from　him；　and　I　was　still　tongue…tied　whenever　I　pictured　his　
perfect　face。　I　was　well　aware　that　my　league　and　his　league　were　spheres　
that　did　not　touch。　So　I　shouldn't　be　at　all　anxious　to　see　him　today。　

It　took　every　ounce　of　my　concentration　to　make　it　down　the　icy　brick　
driveway　alive。　I　almost　lost　my　balance　when　I　finally　got　to　the　truck；　
but　I　managed　to　cling　to　the　side　mirror　and　save　myself。　Clearly；　today　
was　going　to　be　nightmarish。　

Driving　to　school；　I　distracted　myself　from　my　fear　of　falling　and　my　
unwanted　speculations　about　Edward　Cullen　by　thinking　about　Mike　and　
Eric；　and　the　obvious　difference　in　how　teenage　boys　responded　to　me　
here。　I　was　sure　I　looked　exactly　the　same　as　I　had　in　Phoenix。　Maybe　it　
was　just　that　the　boys　back　home　had　watched　me　pass　slowly　through　all　
the　awkward　phases　of　adolescence　and　still　thought　of　me　that　way。　
Perhaps　it　was　because　I　was　a　novelty　here；　where　novelties　were　few　and　
far　between。　Possibly　my　crippling　clumsiness　was　seen　as　endearing　
rather　than　pathetic；　casting　me　as　a　damsel　in　distress。　Whatever　the　
reason；　Mike's　puppy　dog　behavior　and　Eric's　apparent　rivalry　with　him　
were　disconcerting。　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　didn't　prefer　being　ignored。　

My　truck　seemed　to　have　no　problem　with　the　black　ice　that　covered　the　
roads。　I　drove　very　slowly；　though；　not　wanting　to　carve　a　path　of　
destruction　through　Main　Street。　

When　I　got　out　of　my　truck　at　school；　I　saw　why　I'd　had　so　little　
trouble。　Something　silver　caught　my　eye；　and　I　walked　to　the　back　of　the　
truck　—　carefully　holding　the　side　for　support　—　to　examine　my　tires。　
There　were　thin　chains　crisscrossed　in　diamond　shapes　around　them。　
Charlie　had　gotten　up　who　knows　how　early　to　put　snow　chains　on　my　truck。　
My　throat　suddenly　felt　tight。　I　wasn't　used　to　being　taken　care　of；　and　
Charlie's　unspoken　concern　caught　me　by　surprise。　

I　was　standing　by　the　back　corner　of　the　truck；　struggling　to　fight　back　
the　sudden　wave　of　emotion　the　snow　chains　had　brought　on；　when　I　heard　
an　odd　sound。　

It　was　a　high…pitched　screech；　and　it　was　fast　being　painfully　loud。　I　
looked　up；　startled。　

I　saw　several　things　simultaneously。　Nothing　was　moving　in　slow　motion；　
the　way　it　does　in　the　movies。　Instead；　the　adrenaline　rush　seemed　to　
make　my　brain　work　much　faster；　and　I　was　able　to　absorb　in　clear　detail　
several　things　at　once。　

Edward　Cullen　was　standing　four　cars　down　from　me；　staring　at　me　in　
horror。　His　face　stood　out　from　a　sea　of　faces；　all　frozen　in　the　same　
mask　of　shock。　But　of　more　immediate　importance　was　the　dark　blue　van　
that　was　skidding；　tires　locked　and　squealing　against　the　brakes；　
spinning　wildly　across　the　ice　of　the　parking　lot。　It　was　going　to　hit　
the　back　corner　of　my　truck；　and　I　was　standing　between　them。　I　didn't　
even　have　time　to　close　my　eyes。　

Just　before　I　heard　the　shattering　crunch　of　the　van　folding　around　the　
truck　bed；　something　hit　me；　hard；　but　not　from　the　direction　I　was　
expecting。　My　head　cracked　against　the　icy　blacktop；　and　I　felt　something　
solid　and　cold　pinning　me　to　the　ground。　I　was　lying　on　the　pavement　
behind　the　tan　car　I'd　parked　next　to。　But　I　didn't　have　a　chance　to　
notice　anything　else；　because　the　van　was　still　ing。　It　had　curled　
gratingly　around　the　end　of　the　truck　and；　still　spinning　and　sliding；　
was　about　to　collide　with　me　again。　

A　low　oath　made　me　aware　that　someone　was　with　me；　and　the　voice　was　
impossible　not　to　recognize。　Two　long；　white　hands　shot　out　protectively　
in　front　of　me；　and　the　van　shuddered　to　a　stop　a　foot　from　my　face；　the　
large　hands　fitting　providentially　into　a　deep　dent　in　the　side　of　the　
van's　body。　

Then　his　hands　moved　so　fast　they　blurred。　One　was　suddenly　gripping　
under　the　body　of　the　van；　and　something　was　dragging　me；　swinging　my　
legs　around　like　a　rag　doll's；　till　they　hit　the　tire　of　the　tan　car。　A　
groaning　metallic　thud　hurt　my　ears；　and　the　van　settled；　glass　popping；　
onto　the　asphalt　—　exactly　where；　a　second　ago；　my　legs　had　been。　

It　was　absolutely　silent　for　one　long　second　before　the　screaming　began。　
In　the　abrupt　bedlam；　I　could　hear　more　than　one　person　shouting　my　name。　
But　more　clearly　than　all　the　yelling；　I　could　hear　Edward　Cullen's　low；　
frantic　voice　in　my　ear。　

〃Bella？　Are　you　all　right？〃　

〃I'm　fine。〃　My　voice　sounded　strange。　I　tried　to　sit　up；　and　realized　he　
was　holding　me　against　the　side　of　his　body　in　an　iron　grasp。　

〃Be　careful；〃　he　warned　as　I　struggled。　〃I　think　you　hit　your　head　pretty　
hard。〃　

I　became　aware　of　a　throbbing　ache　centered　above　my　left　ear。　

〃Ow；〃　I　said；　surprised。　

〃That's　what　I　thought。〃　His　voice；　amazingly；　sounded　like　he　was　
suppressing　laughter。　

〃How　in　the…〃　I　trailed　off；　trying　to　clear　my　head；　get　my　bearings。　
〃How　did　you　get　over　here　so　fast？〃　

〃I　was　standing　right　next　to　you；　Bella；〃　he　said；　his　tone　serious　
again。　

I　turned　to　sit　up；　and　this　time　he　let　me；　releasing　his　hold　around　my　
waist　and　sliding　as　far　from　me　as　he　could　in　the　limited　space。　I　
looked　at　his　concerned；　innocent　expression　and　was　disoriented　again　by　
the　force　of　his　gold…colored　eyes。　What　was　I　asking　him？　

And　then　they　found　us；　a　crowd　of　people　with　tears　streaming　down　their　
faces；　shouting　at　each　other；　shouting　at　us。　

〃Don't　move；〃　someone　instructed。　

〃Get　Tyler　out　of　the　van！〃　someone　else　shouted。　

There　was　a　flurry　of　activity　around　us。　I　tried　to　get　up；　but　Edward's　
cold　hand　pushed　my　shoulder　down。　

〃Just　stay　put　for　now。〃　

〃But　it's　cold；〃　I　plained。　It　surprised　me　when　he　chuckled　under　his　
breath。　There　was　an　edge　to　the　sound。　

〃You　were　over　there；〃　I　suddenly　remembered；　and　his　chuckle　stopped　
short。　〃You　were　by　your　car。〃　

His　expression　turned　hard。　〃No；　I　wasn't。〃　

〃I　saw　you。〃　All　around　us　was　chaos。　I　could　hear　the　gruffer　voices　of　
adults　arriving　on　the　scene。　But　I　obstinately　held　on　to　our　argument；　
I　was　right；　and　he　was　going　to　admit　it。　

〃Bella；　I　was　standing　with　you；　and　I　pulled　you　out　of　the　way。〃　He　
unleashed　the　full；　devastating　power　of　his　eyes　on　me；　as　if　trying　to　
municate　something　crucial。　

〃No。〃　I　set　my　jaw。　

The　gold　in　his　eyes　blazed。　〃Please；　Bella。〃　

〃Why？〃　I　demanded。　

〃Trust　me；〃　he　pleaded；　his　soft　voice　overwhelming。　

I　could　hear　the　sirens　now。　〃Will　you　promise　to　explain　everything　to　
me　later？〃　

〃Fine；〃　he　snapped；　abruptly　exasperated。　

〃Fine；〃　I　repeated　angrily。　

It　took　six　EMTs　and　two　teachers　—　Mr。　Varner　and　Coach　Clapp　—　to　shift　
the　van　far　enough　away　from　us　to　bring　the　stretchers　in。　Edward　
vehemently　refused　his；　and　I　tried　to　do　the　same；　but　the　traitor　told　
them　I'd　hit　my　head　and　probably　had　a　concussion。　I　almost　died　of　
humiliation　when　they　put　on　the　neck　brace。　It　looked　like　the　entire　
school　was　there；　watching　soberly　as　they　loaded　me　in　the　back　of　the　
ambulance。　Edward　got　to　ride　in　the　front。　It　was　maddening。　

To　make　matters　worse；　Chief　Swan　arrived　before　they　could　get　me　safely　
away。　

〃Bella！〃　he　yelled　in　panic　when　he　recognized　me　on　the　stretcher。　

〃I'm　pletely　fine；　Char　—　Dad；〃　I　sighed。　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　
me。〃　

He　turned　to　the　closest　EMT　for　a　second　opinion。　I　tuned　him　out　to　
consider　the　jumble　of　inexplicable　images　churning　chaotically　in　my　
head。　When　they'd　lifted　me　away　from　the　car；　I　had　seen　the　deep　dent　
in　the　tan　car's　bumper　—　a　very　distinct　dent　that　fit　the　contours　of　
Edward's　shoulders…　as　if　he　had　braced　himself　against　the　car　with　
enough　force　to　damage　the　metal　frame…　

And　then　there　was　his　family；　looking　on　from　the　distance；　with　
expressions　that　ranged　from　disapproval　to　fury　but　held　no　hint　of　
concern　for　their　brother's　safety。　

I　tried　to　think　of　a　logical　solution　that　could　explain　what　I　had　just　
seen　—　a　solution　that　excluded　the　assumption　that　I　was　insane。　

Naturally；　the　ambulance　got　a　police　escort　to　the　county　hospital。　I　
felt　ridiculous　the　whole　time　they　were　unloading　me。　What　made　it　worse　
was　that　Edward　simply　glided　through　the　hospital　doors　under　his　own　
power。　I　ground　my　teeth　together。　

They　put　me　in　the　emergency　room；　a　long　room　with　a　line　of　beds　

separated　by　pastel…patterned　curtains。　A　nurse　put　a　pressure　cuff　on　my　
arm　and　a　thermometer　under　my　tongue。　Since　no　one　bothered　pulling　the　
curtain　around　to　give　me　some　privacy；　I　decided　I　wasn't　obligated　to　
wear　the　stu