ela Weber； lingering on the sidewalk； discussing an assignment with a boy from her Trigonometry class。 I scanned her thoughts perfunctorily； expecting more disappointment； only to be surprised by their wistful tenor。 Ah； so there was something Angela wanted。 could be easily giftwrapped。 Unfortunately； it wasn t something that I felt strangely forted for a moment； hearing Angela s hopeless yearning。 A sense of kinship that Angela would never know about passed through me； and I was； in that second； at one with the kind human girl。 It was oddly consoling to know that I wasn t the only one living out a tragic love story。 Heartbreak was everywhere。 In the next second； I was abruptly and thoroughly irritated。 Because Angela s story didn t have to be tragic。 She was human and he was human and the difference that seemed so insurmountable in her head was ridiculous； truly ridiculous pared to my own situation。 There was no point in her broken heart。 What a wasteful sadness； when there was no valid reason for her not to be with the one she wanted。 Why shouldn t she have what she wanted？ Why shouldn t this one story have a happy ending？ I wanted to give her a gift Well； I would give her what she wanted。 Knowing what I did of human nature； it probably wouldn t even be very difficult。 I sifted through the consciousness of the boy beside her； the object of her affections； and he did not seem unwilling； he was just stymied by the same difficulty she was。 Hopeless and resigned； the way she was。 All I would have to do was plant the suggestion The plan formed easily； the script wrote itself without effort on my part。 I would need Emmett s help getting him to go along with this was the only real difficulty。 Human nature was so much easier to manipulate than vampire nature。 I was pleased with my solution； with my gift for Angela。 It was a nice diversion from my own problems。 Would that mine were as easily fixed。 My mood was slightly improved as Bella and I took our seats。 Maybe I should be more positive。 Maybe there was some solution out there for us that was escaping me； the way Angela s obvious solution was so invisible to her。 Not likely But why waste time with hopelessness？ I didn t have time to waste when it came to Bella。 Each second mattered。 Mr。 Banner entered pulling an ancient TV and VCR。 He was skipping through a section he wasn t particularly interested in geic disorders by showing a movie for the next three days。 Lorenzo s Oil was not a very cheerful piece； but that didn t stop the excitement in the room。 No notes； no testable material。 Three
free days。 exulted。 The humans I hadn t been planning on paying any It didn t matter to me； either way。 attention to anything but Bella。 I did not pull my chair away from hers today； to give myself space to breathe。 Instead； I sat close beside her like any normal human would。 Closer than we sat inside my car； close enough that the left side of my body felt submerged in the heat from her skin。 It was a strange experience； both enjoyable and nerveracking； but I preferred this to sitting across the table from her。 It was more than I was used to； and yet I quickly realized that it was not enough。 I was not satisfied。 Being this close to her only made me want to be closer still。 The pull was stronger the closer I got。 I had accused her of being a mag for danger。 Right now； it felt like that was the literal truth。 I was danger； and； with every inch I allowed myself nearer to her； her attraction grew in force。 And then Mr。 Banner turned the lights out。 It was odd how much of a difference this made； considering that the lack of light meant little to my eyes。 I could still see just as perfectly as before。 Every detail of the room was clear。 So why the sudden shock of electricity in the air； in this dark that was not dark to me？ Was it because I knew that I was the only one who could see clearly？ That both Bella and I were invisible to the others？ Like we were alone； just the two of us； hidden in the dark room； sitting so close beside one another My hand moved toward her without my permission。 Just to touch her hand； to hold it in the darkness。 Would that be such a horrific mistake？ If my skin bothered her； she only had to pull away I yanked my hand back； folded my arms tightly across my chest and clenched my hands closed。 No mistakes。 I d promised myself that I would make no mistakes； no matter how minimal they seemed。 If I held her hand； I would only want more another insignificant touch； another move closer to her。 I could feel that。 A new kind of desire was growing in me； working to override my selfcontrol。 No mistakes。 Bella folded her arms securely across her own chest； and her hands balled up into fists； just like mine。 What are you thinking？ I was dying to whisper the words to her； but the room was too quiet to get away with even a whispered conversation。 The movie began； lightening the darkness just a bit。 Bella glanced up at me。 She noted the rigid way I held my body just like hers and smiled。 Her lips parted slightly； and her eyes seemed full of warm invitations。 Or perhaps I was seeing what I wanted to see。 I smiled back； her breathing caught with a low gasp and she looked quickly away。 That made it worse。 I didn t know her thoughts； but I was suddenly positive that
I had been right before； and that she wanted me to touch her。 dangerous desire just as I did。 Between her body and mine； the electricity hummed。 She felt this She didn t move all through the hour； holding her stiff； controlled pose as I held mine。 Occasionally she would peek at me again； and the humming current would jolt through me with a sudden shock。 The hour passed slowly； and yet not slowly enough。 This was so new； I could have sat like this with her for days； just to experience the feeling fully。 I had a dozen different arguments with myself while the minutes passed； rationality struggling with desire as I tried to justify touching her。 Finally； Mr。 Banner turned the lights on again。 In the bright fluorescent light； the atmosphere of the room returned to normal。 Bella sighed and stretched； flexing her fingers in front of her。 It must have been unfortable for her to hold that position for so long。 It was easier for me stillness came naturally。 I chuckled at the relieved expression on her face。 Well； that was interesting。 Umm； she murmured； clearly understanding what I referred to； but making no ment。 What I wouldn t give to hear what she was thinking right now。 I sighed。 No amount of wishing was going to help with that。 Shall we？ I asked； standing。 She made a face and got unsteadily to her feet； her hands splayed out as if she were afraid she was going to fall。 I could offer her my hand。 Or I could place that hand underneath her elbow just lightly and steady her。 Surely that wouldn t be such a horrible infraction No mistakes。 She was very quiet as we walked toward the gym。 The crease was in evidence between her eyes； a sign that she was deep in thought。 I； too； was thinking deeply。 One touch of her skin wouldn t hurt her； my selfish side contended。 I could easily moderate the pressure of my hand。 It wasn t exactly difficult； as long as I was firmly in control of myself。 My tactile sense was better developed than a human s；