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enjoyment above that of her own。 She wore a deep blue blouse today； and the color set her skin off perfectly； making it look like fresh cream。 School ended； and Jessica agreed to pick the other girls up Angela was going； too；
for which I was grateful。 I went home to get my car。 When I found that Peter and Charlotte were there； I decided could afford to give the girls an hour or so for a head start。 I would never be able to bear following behind them； driving at the speed limit hideous thought。 I came in through the kitchen； nodding vaguely at Emmett s and Esme s greetings as I passed by everyone in the front room and went straight to the piano。 Ugh； he s back。 Rosalie； of course。 Ah； Edward。 I hate to see him suffering so。 Esme s joy was being marred by concern。 She should be concerned。 This love story she envisioned for me was careening toward a tragedy more perceptibly every moment。 Have fun in Port Angeles tonight； Alice thought cheerfully。 allowed to talk to Bella。 Let me know when I m You re pathetic。 I can t believe you missed the game last night just to watch somebody sleep； Emmett grumbled。 Jasper paid me no mind； even when the song I played came out a little more stormily than I d intended。 It was an old song； with a familiar theme： impatience。 Jasper was saying goodbye to his friends； who eyed me curiously。 What a strange creature； the Alicesized； whiteblond Charlotte was thinking。 he was so normal and pleasant the last time we met。 Peter s thoughts were in sync with hers； as was usually the case。 It must be the animals。 The lack of human blood drives them mad eventually； he was concluding。 His hair was just as fair as hers； and almost as long。 They were very similar except for size； as he was almost as tall as Jasper in both look and thought。 A well matched pair； I d always thought。 Everyone but Esme stopped thinking about me after a moment； and I played in more subdued tones so that I would not attract notice。 I did not pay attention to them for a long while； just letting the music distract me from my unease。 It was hard to have the girl out of sight and mind。 I only returned my attention to their conversation when the goodbyes grew more final。 If you see Maria again； Jasper was saying； a little warily； tell her I wish her well。 Maria was the vampire who had created both Jasper and Peter Jasper in the latter half of the nieenth century； Peter more recently； in the nieen forties。 She d looked Jasper up once when we were in Calgary。 It had been an eventful visit we d had to move immediately。 Jasper had politely asked her to keep her distance in the future。 I don t imagine that will happen soon； Peter said with a laugh Maria was undeniable dangerous and there was not much love lost between her and Peter。 Peter had； after all； been instrumental in Jasper s defection。 Jasper had always been Maria s favorite； she considered it a minor detail that she had once planned to kill him。 But； should it happen； I certainly will。 And
They were shaking hands then； preparing to depart。 I let the song I was playing trail off to an unsatisfying end； and got hastily to my feet。 Charlotte； Peter； I said； nodding。 It was nice to see you again； Edward； Charlotte said doubtfully。 nodded in return。 Madman； Emmett threw after me。 Idiot； Rosalie thought at the same time。 Poor boy。 Esme。 No where Peter just And Alice； in a chiding tone。 They re going straight east； to Seattle。 near Port Angeles。 She showed me the proof in her visions。 I pretended I hadn t heard that。 My excuses were already flimsy enough。 Once in my car； I felt more relaxed； the robust purr of the engine Rosalie had boosted for me last year； when she was in a better mood was soothing。 It was a relief to be in motion； to know that I was getting closer to Bella with every mile that flew away under my tires。 9。 Port Angeles It was too bright for me to drive into town when I got to Port Angeles； the sun was still too high overhead； and； though my windows were tinted dark； there was no reason to take unnecessary risks。 More unnecessary risks； I should say。 I was certain I would be able to find Jessica s thoughts from a distance Jessica s thoughts were louder than Angela s； but once I found the first； I d be able to hear the second。 Then； when the shadows lengthened； I could get closer。 For now； I pulled off the road onto an overgrown driveway just outside the town that appeared to be infrequently used。 I knew the general direction to search in there was really only one place for dress shopping in Port Angeles。 It wasn t long before I found Jessica； spinning in front of a three way mirror； and I could see Bella in her peripheral vision； appraising the long black dress she wore。 Bella still looks pissed。 Ha ha。 Angela was right Tyler was full of it。 I can t believe she s so upset about it； though。 At least she knows she has a back up date for the prom。 What if Mike doesn t have fun at the dance； and he doesn t ask me out again？ What if he asks Bella to the prom？ Would she have asked Mike to the dance if I hadn t said anything？ Does he think she s prettier than me？ Does she think she s prettier than me？ I think I like the blue one better。 It really brings out your eyes。 Jessica smiled at Bella with false warmth； while eyeing her suspiciously。 Does she really think that？ Or does she want me to look like a cow on Saturday？ I searched close by for Angela ah； I was already tired of listening to Jessica。
but Angela was in the process of changing dresses； and I skipped quickly out of her head to give her some privacy。 Well； there wasn t much trouble Bella could get into in a department store。 I d let them shop and then catch up with them when they were done。 It wouldn t be long until it was dark the clouds were beginning to return； drifting in from the west。 I could only catch glimpses of them through the thick trees； but I could see how they would hurry the sunset。 I weled them； craved them more than I had ever yearned for their shadows before。 Tomorrow I could sit beside Bella in school again； monopolize her attention at lunch again。 I could ask her all the questions I d been saving up So； she was furious about Tyler s presumption。 I d seen that in his head that he d meant it literally when he d spoken of the prom； that he was staking a claim。 I pictured her expression from that other afternoon the outraged disbelief and I laughed。 I wondered what she would say to him about this。 I wouldn t want to miss her reaction。 The time went slowly while I waited for the shadows to lengthen。 I checked in periodically with Jessica； her mental voice was the easiest to find； but I didn t like to linger there long。 I saw the place they were planning to eat。 It would be dark by dinner time maybe I would coincidentally choose the same restaurant。 I touched the phone in my pocket； thinking of inviting Alice out to eat She would love that； but she would also want to talk to Bella。 I wasn t sure if I was ready to have Bella more involved with my world。 Wasn t one vampire trouble enough？ I checked in routinely with Jessica again。 asking Angela s opinion。 She was thinking about her jewelry； Maybe I should take the necklace back。 I ve got one at home that would probably work； and I spent more than I was supposed to My mom is going to freak out。 What was I thinking？ I don t mind going back to the store。 us； though？ Do you think Bella will be looking for What was this？ Bella wasn t with them？ I stared through Jessica s eyes first； then switched to Angela s。 They were on the sidewalk in front of a line of shops； just turning back the other way。 Bella was no where in sight。 Oh； who cares about Bella？ Jess thought impatiently； before answering Angela s question。 She s fine。 We ll get to the restaurant in plenty of time； even if we go back。 Anyway； I think she wanted to be alone。 I got a brief glimpse of the bookshop Jessica thought Bella had gone to。 Let s hurry； then； Angela said。 I hope Bella doesn t think we ditched her。 She was so nice to me in the car before She s really a sweet person。 But she s seemed kind of blue all day。 I wonder if it s because of Edward Cullen？ I ll bet that was why she was asking about his family I should have been paying better attention。 What all had I missed here？ Bella was off w