a loud voice。 They turned； and she waved her arm over her head to catch their attention。 Bella！ Oh； she s safe！ Angela thought with relief。 Late much？ Jessica grumbled to herself； but she； too； was thankful that Bella wasn t lost or hurt。 This made me like her a little more than I had。 They hurried back； and then stopped； shocked； when they saw me beside her。 Uhuh！ Jess thought； stunned。 No freaking way！ Edward Cullen？ Did she go away by herself to find him？ But why would she ask about them being out of town if she knew he was here I got a brief flash of Bella s mortified expression when she d asked Angela if my family was often absent from school。 No； she couldn t have known； Angela decided。 Jessica s thoughts were moving past the surprise and on to suspicion。 been holding out on me。 Bella s Where have you been？ she demanded； staring at Bella； but peeking at me from the corner of her eye。 I got lost。 And then I ran into Edward； Bella said； waving one hand toward me。 Her tone was remarkably normal。 Like that was truly all that had happened。 She must be in shock。 That was the only explanation for her calm。 Would it be all right if I joined you？ I asked to be polite； I knew that they d already eaten。 Holy crap but he s hot！ Jessica thought； her head suddenly slightly incoherent。 Angela wasn t much more posed。 why couldn t I do that to Bella？ Er sure； Jessica agreed。 Angela frowned。 Um； actually； Bella； we already ate while we were waiting； she admitted。 Sorry。 What？ Shut up！ Jess plained internally。 So at ease。 Definitely in shock。 That s fine I m not Wish we hadn t eaten。 Wow。 Just。 Wow。 Now Bella shrugged casually。 hungry。 I think you should eat something； I disagreed。 She needed sugar in her bloodstream though it smelled sweet enough as it was； I thought wryly。 The horror was going to e crashing down on her momentarily； and an empty stomach wouldn t help。
She was an easy fainter； as I knew from experience。 These girls wouldn t be in any danger if they went straight home。 stalk their every step。 Danger didn t And I d rather be alone with Bella as long as she was willing to be alone with me。 Do you mind if I drive Bella home tonight？ I said to Jessica before Bella could respond。 That way you won t have to wait while she eats。 Uh； no problem； I guess Jessica stared intently at Bella； looking for some sign that this was what she wanted。 I want to stay but she probably wants him to herself。 thought。 At the same time； she watched Bella wink。 Bella winked？ Okay； Angela said quickly； in a hurry to be out of the way if that was what Bella wanted。 And it seemed that she did want that。 See you tomorrow； Bella Edward。 She struggled to say my name in a casual tone。 Then she grabbed Jessica s hand and began towing her away。 I would have to find some way to thank Angela for this。 Jessica s car was close by and in a bright circle of light cast by a streetlamp。 Bella watched them carefully； a little crease of concern between her eyes； until they were in the car； so she must be fully aware of the danger she d been in。 Jessica waved as she drove away； and Bella waved back。 It wasn t until the car disappeared that she took a deep breath and turned to look up at me。 Honestly； I m not hungry； she said。 Why had she waited for them to be gone before speaking？ Did she truly want to be alone with me even now； after witnessing my homicidal rage？ Whether that was the case or not； she was going to eat something。 Humor me； I said。 I held the restaurant door open for her and waited。 She sighed； and walked through。 I walked beside her to the podium where the hostess waited。 Bella still seemed entirely selfpossessed。 I wanted to touch her hand； her forehead； to check her temperature。 But my cold hand would repulse her； as it had before。 Oh； my； the hostess s rather loud mental voice intruded into my consciousness。 My； oh my。 It seemed to be my night to turn heads。 Or was I only noticing it more because I wished so much that Bella would see me this way？ We were always attractive to our prey。 I d never thought so much about it before。 Usually unless； as with people like Shelly Cope and Jessica Stanley； there was constant repetition to dull the horror the fear kicked in fairly quickly after the initial attraction Who wouldn t？ Jess
A table for two？ I prompted when the hostess didn t speak。 Oh； er； yes。 Wele to La Bella Italia。 Mmm！ me。 Her thoughts were preoccupied calculating。 What a voice！ Please follow Maybe she s his cousin。 She couldn t be his sister； they don t look anything alike。 But family； definitely。 He can t be with her。 Human eyes were clouded； they saw nothing clearly。 How could this smallminded woman find my physical lures snares for prey so attractive； and yet be unable to see the soft perfection of the girl beside me？ Well； no need to help her out； just in case； the hostess thought as she led us to a familysized table in the middle of the most crowded part of the restaurant。 Can I give him my number while she s there ？ she mused。 I pulled a bill from my back pocket。 money was involved。 People were invariably cooperative when Bella was already taking the seat the hostess indicated without objection。 I shook my head at her； and she hesitated； cocking her head to one side with curiosity。 Yes； she would be very curious tonight。 A crowd was not the ideal place for this conversation。 Perhaps something more private？ I requested of the hostess； handing her the money。 Her eyes widened in surprise； and then narrowed while her hand curled around the tip。 Sure。 She peeked at the bill while she led us around a dividing wall。 Fifty dollars for a better table？ Rich； too。 That makes sense I bet his jacket cost more than my last paycheck。 Damn。 Why does he want privacy with her？ She offered us a booth in a quiet corner of the restaurant where no one would be able to see us to see Bella s reactions to whatever I would tell her。 I had no clue as to what she would want from me tonight。 Or what I would give her。 How much had she guessed？ herself？ What explanation of tonight s events had she told How s this？ the hostess asked。 Perfect； I told her and； feeling slightly annoyed by her resentful attitude toward Bella； I smiled widely at her； baring my teeth。 Let her see me clearly。 Whoa。 Um your server will be right out。 He can t be real。 I must be asleep。 Maybe she ll disappear maybe I ll write my number on his plate with ketchup She wandered away； listing slightly to the side。 Odd。 She still wasn t frightened。 I suddenly remembered Emmett teasing me in the cafeteria； so many weeks ago。 I ll bet I could have scared her better than that。 Was I losing my edge？ You really shouldn t do that to people； Bella interrupted my thoughts in a
disapproving tone。 It s hardly fair。 I hadn t frightened the I stared at her critical expression。 What did she mean？ hostess at all； despite my intentions。 Do what？ Dazzle them like that she s probably hyperventilating in the kitchen right now。 Hmm。 Bella was very nearly right。 The hostess was only semicoherent at the moment； describing her incorrect assessment of me to her friend on the wait staff。 Oh； e on； Bella chided me when I didn t answer immediately。 know the effect you have on people。 I dazzle people？ That was an interesti