d fiercely。 I can t。 I thought you couldn t read my mind！ Ah we I stared at her； surprised； trying to make sense of her words。
must have been thinking the same thing at the same time。 Hmm I rather liked that。 However； I told her； I can read hers she ll be waiting to ambush you in class。 Bella groaned； and then let the jacket slide off her shoulders。 I didn t realize that she was giving it back at first I wouldn t have asked for it； I would rather she kept it a token so I was too slow to offer her my help。 She handed me the jacket； and put her arms through her own； without looking up to see that my hands were extended to assist。 I frowned at that； and then controlled my expression before she noticed it。 So； what are you going to tell her？ I pressed。 A little help？ What does she want to know？ I wanted to hear what she was thinking without a I smiled； and shook my head。 prompt。 That s not fair。 Her eyes tightened。 No； you not sharing what you know now that s unfair。 Right she didn t like double standards。 We got to the door of her class where I would have to leave her； I wondered idly if Ms。 Cope would be more acmodating about a switch in the schedule of my English class I made myself focus。 I could be fair。 She wants to know if we re secretly dating； I said slowly。 know how you feel about me。 Her eyes were wide not startled； but ingenious now。 readable。 She was playing innocent。 Yikes； she murmured。 What should I say？ I pondered how And she wants to They were open to me； Hmmm。 She always tried to make me give away more than she did。 to respond。 A wayward strand of her hair； slightly damp from the fog； draped across her shoulder and curled around where her collar bone was hidden by the ridiculous sweater。 It drew my eyes pulled them across the other hidden lines I reached for it carefully； not touching her skin the morning was chill enough without my touch and twisted it back into place in her untidy bun so that it wouldn t distract me again。 I remembered when Mike Newton had touched her hair； and my jaw flexed at the memory。 She had flinched away from him then。 Her reaction now was nothing the same； instead； there was a slight widening of her eyes； a rush of blood under her skin； and a sudden； uneven thumping of her heart。 I tried to hide my smile as I answered her question。 I suppose you could say yes to the first if you don t mind ； her choice； always her choice； it s easier than any other explanation。 I don t mind； she whispered。 Her heart had not found its normal rhythm yet。
And as for her other question I couldn t hide my smile now。 listening to hear the answer to that one myself。 Let Bella consider that。 Well； I ll be I held back my laugh as shock crossed her face。 I turned quickly； before she could ask for any more answers。 I had a difficult time not giving her whatever she asked for。 And I wanted to hear her thoughts； not mine。 I ll see you at lunch； I called back to her over my shoulder； an excuse to check that she was still staring after me； wideeyed。 Her mouth was hanging open。 I turned away again； and laughed。 that swirled around me eyes bouncing back and forth between Bella s face and my retreating figure。 I paid them little attention。 I couldn t concentrate。 It was hard enough to keep my feet moving at an acceptable speed as I crossed the soggy grass to my next class。 I wanted to run really run； so fast that I would disappear； so fast that it would feel like I was flying。 Part of me was flying already。 I put the jacket on when I got to class； letting her fragrance swim thick around me。 I would burn now let the scent desensitize me and then it would be easier to ignore it later； when I was with her again at lunch It was a good thing that my teachers no longer bothered to call on me。 Today might have been the day that they would have caught me out； unprepared and answerless。 My mind was in so many places this morning； only my body was in the classroom。 Of course I was watching Bella。 That was being natural as automatic as breathing。 I heard her conversation with a demoralized Mike Newton。 She quickly directed the conversation to Jessica； and I grinned so wide that Rob Sawyer； who sat at the desk to my right； flinched visibly and slid deeper into his seat； away from me。 Ugh。 Creepy。 Well； I hadn t lost it entirely。 I was also monitoring Jessica loosely； watching her refine her questions for Bella。 I could barely wait for fourth period； ten times as eager and anxious as the curious human girl who wanted fresh gossip。 And I was also listening to Angela Weber。 I had not forgotten the gratitude I felt to her for thinking nothing but kind things toward Bella in the first place； and then for her help last night。 So I waited through the morning； looking for something that she wanted。 I assumed it would be an easy； like any other human； there must be some bauble or toy she wanted particularly。 Several； probably。 I would deliver something anonymously and call us even。 But Angela proved almost as unacmodating as Bella with her thoughts。 She was oddly content for a teenager。 Happy。 Perhaps this was the reason for her unusual kindness she was one of those rare people who had what they wanted and wanted what
they had。 If she wasn t paying attention to her teachers and her notes； she was thinking of the twin little brothers she was taking to the beach this weekend anticipating their excitement with an almost maternal pleasure。 She cared for them often； but was not resentful of this fact It was very sweet。 But not really helpful to me。 There had to be something she wanted。 I would just have to keep looking。 later。 It was time for Bella s trig class with Jessica。 But I wasn t watching where I was going as I made my way to English。 Jessica was already in her seat； both her feet tapping impatiently against the floor as she waited for Bella to arrive。 Conversely； once I settled into my assigned seat in the classroom； I became utterly still。 I had to remind myself to fidget now and then。 To keep up the charade。 It was difficult； my thoughts were so focused on Jessica s。 I hoped she would pay attention； really try to read Bella s face for me。 Jessica s tapping intensified when Bella walked into the room。 She looks glum。 Why？ Maybe there s nothing going on with Edward Cullen。 That would be a disappointment。 Except then he s still available If he s suddenly interested in dating； I don t mind helping out with that Bella s face didn t look glum； it looked reluctant。 would hear all of this。 I smiled to myself。 She was worried she knew I Tell me everything！ Jess demanded while Bella was still removing her jacket to hang it on the back of her seat。 She was moving with deliberation； unwilling。 Ugh； she s so slow。 Let s get to the juicy stuff！ What do you want to know？ Bella stalled as she took her seat。 What happened last night？ He bought me dinner； and then he drove me home。 And then？ C mon； there has to be more than that！ that。 I m going to call her on it。 How did you get home so fast？ I watched Bella roll her eyes at the suspicious Jessica。 He drives like a maniac。 It was terrifying。 She s lying anyway； I know She smiled a tiny smile； and I laughed out loud； interrupting Mr。 Mason s announcements。 I tried to turn the laugh into a cough