he vicious edge to Jessica s thoughts that the new girl was unaware of I felt the strangest urge to step in between them； to shield this Bella Swan from the darker workings of Jessica s mind。 What an odd thing to feel。 Trying to ferret out the motivations behind the impulse； I examined the new girl one more time。 Perhaps it was just some long buried protective instinct the strong for the weak。 This girl looked more fragile than her new classmates。 Her skin was so translucent it was hard to believe it offered her much defense from the outside world。 I could see the rhythmic pulse of blood through her veins under the clear； pale membrane But I should not concentrate on that。 I was good at this life I d chosen； but I was just as thirsty as Jasper and there was no point in inviting temptation。 There was a faint crease between her eyebrows that she seemed unaware of。 It was unbelievable frustrating！ I could clearly see that it was a strain for her to sit there； to make conversation with strangers； to be the center of attention。 I could sense her shyness from the way she held her fraillooking shoulders； slightly hunched； as if she was expecting a rebuff at any moment。 And yet I could only sense； could only see； could only imagine。 There was nothing but silence from the very unexceptional human girl。 I could hear nothing。 Why？ Shall we？ Rosalie murmured； interrupting my focus。 I looked away from the girl with a sense of relief。 I didn t want to continue to fail at this it irritated me。 And I didn t want to develop any interest in her hidden thoughts simply because they were hidden from me。 No doubt； when I did decipher her thoughts and I would find a way to do so they would be just as petty and trivial as any human s thoughts。 Not worth the effort I would expend to reach them。 So； is the new one afraid of us yet？ Emmett asked； still waiting for my response to his question before。 I shrugged。 He wasn t interested enough to press for a more information。 should I be interested。 We got up from the table and walked out of the cafeteria。 Emmett； Rosalie； and Jasper were pretending to be seniors； they left for their classes。 I was playing a younger role than they。 I headed off for my junior level biology class； preparing my mind for the tedium。 It was doubtful Mr。 Banner； a man of no more than average intellect； would manage to pull out anything in his lecture that would surprise someone holding two graduate degrees in medicine。 Nor
In the classroom； I settled into my chair and let my books props； again； they held nothing I didn t already know spill across the table。 I was the only student who had a table to himself。 The humans weren t smart enough to know that they feared me； but their survival instincts were enough to keep them away。 The room slowly filled as they trickled in from lunch。 I leaned back in my chair and waited for the time to pass。 Again； I wished I was able to sleep。 Because I d been thinking about her； when Angela Weber escorted the new girl through the door； her name intruded on my attention。 Bella seems just as shy as me。 I ll bet today is really hard for her。 could say something but it would probably just sound stupid Yes！ I wish I Mike Newton thought； turning in his seat to watch the girls enter。 The empty space where her Still； from the place where Bella Swan stood； nothing。 thoughts should be irritated and unnerved me。 She came closer； walking down the aisle beside me to get to the teacher s desk。 Poor girl； the seat next to me was the only one available。 Automatically； I cleared what would be her side of the desk； shoving my books into a pile。 I doubted she would feel very fortable there。 She was in for a long semester in this class； at least。 Perhaps； though； sitting beside her； I d be able to flush out her secrets not that I d ever needed close proximity before not that I would find anything worth listening to Bella Swan walked into the flow of the heated air that blew toward me from the vent。 Her scent hit me like wrecking ball； like a battering ram。 There was no image violent enough to encapsulate the force of what happened to me in that moment。 In that instant； I was nothing close to the human I d once been； no trace of the shreds of humanity I d managed to cloak myself in remained。 I was a predator。 that truth。 She was my prey。 There was nothing else in the whole world but There was no room full of witnesses they were already collateral damage in my head。 The mystery of her thoughts was forgotten。 Her thoughts meant nothing； for she would not go on thinking them much longer。 I was a vampire； and she had the sweetest blood I d smelled in eighty years。 I hadn t imagined such a scent could exist。 If I d known it did； I would have gone searching for it long ago。 I would have bed the pla for her。 I could imagine the taste Thirst burned through my throat like fire。 My mouth was baked and desiccated。 The fresh flow of venom did nothing to dispel that sensation。 My stomach twisted with the hunger that was an echo of the thirst。 My muscles coiled to spring。 Not a full second had passed。 downwind from me。 She was still taking the same step that had put her As her foot touched the ground； her eyes slid toward me； a movement she clearly
meant to be stealthy。 mirror of her eyes。 Her glance met mine； and I saw myself reflected in the wide The shock of the face I saw there saved her life for a few thorny moments。 She didn t make it easier。 When she processed the expression on my face； blood flooded her cheeks again； turning her skin the most delicious color I d ever seen。 The scent was a thick haze in my brain。 I could barely think through it。 My thoughts raged； resisting control； incoherent。 She walked more quickly now； as if she understood the need to escape。 Her haste made her clumsy she tripped and stumbled forward； almost falling into the girl seated in front of me。 Vulnerable； weak。 Even more than usual for a human。 I tried to focus on the face I d seen in her eyes； a face I recognized with revulsion。 The face of the monster in me the face I d beaten back with decades of effort and unpromising discipline。 How easily it sprang to the surface now！ The scent swirled around me again； scattering my thoughts and nearly propelling me out of my seat。 No。 My hand gripped under the edge of the table as I tried to hold myself in my chair。 The wood was not up to the task。 My hand crushed through the strut and came away with a palmful of splintered pulp； leaving the shape of my fingers carved into the remaining wood。 Destroy evidence。 That was a fundamental rule。 I quickly pulverized the edges of the shape with my fingertips； leaving nothing but a ragged hole and a pile of shavings on the floor； which I scattered with my foot。 Destroy evidence。 Collateral damage 。 The girl would have to e sit beside me； and I I knew what had to happen now。 would have to kill her。 The innocent bystanders in this classroom； eighteen other children and one man； could not be allowed to leave this room； having seen what they would soon see。 I flinched at the thought of what I must do。 Even at my very worst； I had never mitted this kind of atrocity。 I had never killed innocents； not in over eight decades。 And now I planned to slaughter twenty of them