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lways in some way connected to Bella flashed through Mike s head。 Mike played alone at first； while Bella hesitated on the back half of the court； holding her racket gingerly； as if it was some kind of weapon。 Then Coach Clapp ambled by and ordered Mike to let Bella play。 Uh oh； Mike thought as Bella moved forward with a sigh； holding her racquet at an awkward angle。 Jennifer Ford served the birdie directly toward Bella with a smug twist to her thoughts。 Mike saw Bella lurch toward it； swinging the racket yards wide of her target； and he rushed in to try to save the volley。 I watched the trajectory of Bella s racquet with alarm。 Sure enough； it hit the taut and sprung back at her； clipping her forehead before it spun out to strike Mike s arm with a resounding thwack。 Ow。 Ow。 Ungh。 That s going to leave a bruise。
Bella was kneading her forehead。 It was hard to stay in my seat where I belonged； knowing she was hurt。 But what could I do； if I were there？ And it didn t seem to be serious I hesitated； watching。 If she intended to continue to try to play； I was going to have to manufacture an excuse to pull her out of class。 The coach laughed。 Sorry； Newton。 Shouldn t inflict her on the others That girl s the worst jinx I ve ever seen。 He turned his back deliberately and moved to watch another game so that Bella could return to her former spectator s role。 Ow； Mike thought again； massaging his arm。 He turned to Bella。 Are you okay？ Yeah； are you？ she asked sheepishly； blushing。 I think I ll make it。 hurts！ Don t want to sound like a crybaby。 But； man； that Mike swung his arm in a circle； wincing。 I ll just stay back here； Bella said； embarrassment and chagrin on her face rather than pain。 Maybe Mike had got the worst of it。 I certainly hoped that was the case。 At least she wasn t playing anymore。 She held her racquet so carefully behind her back； her eyes wide with remorse I had to disguise my laugh as coughing。 What s funny？ Emmett wanted to know。 Tell you later； I muttered。 Bella didn t venture into the game again。 alone。 The coach ignored her and let Mike play I breezed through the quiz at the end of the hour； and Mrs。 Goff let me go early。 I was listening intently to Mike as I walked across the campus。 He d decided to confront Bella about me。 Jessica swears they re dating。 Why？ Why did he have to pick her？ He didn t recognize the real phenomenon that she d picked me。 So。 So what？ she wondered。 You and Cullen； huh？ important to you。。。 You and the freak。 I guess； if a rich guy is that I gritted my teeth at his degrading assumption。 That s none of your business； Mike。 Defensive。 So it s true。 Crap。 I don t like it。 You don t have to； she snapped。 Why can t she see what a circus sideshow he is？ Like they all are。 The way he
stares at her。 It gives me chills to watch。 something to eat。 I cringed； waiting for her response。 He looks at you like like you re Her face turned bright red； and her lips pressed together like she was holding her breath。 Then； suddenly； a giggle burst through her lips。 Now she s laughing at me。 Great。 Mike turned； thoughts sullen； and wandered off to change。 I leaned against the gym wall and tried to pose myself。 How could she have laughed at Mike s accusation so entirely on target that I began to worry that Forks was being too aware Why would she laugh at the suggestion that I could kill her； when she knew that it was entirely true？ Where was the humor in that？ What was wrong with her？ Did she have morbid sense of humor？ That didn t fit with my idea of her character； but how could I be sure？ Or maybe my daydream of the giddy angel was true in the one respect； in that she had no sense of fear at all。 Brave that was one word for it。 Others might say stupid； but I knew how bright she was。 No matter what the reason； though； this lack of fear or twisted sense of humor wasn t good for her。 Was it this strange lack that put her in danger so constantly？ Maybe she would always need me here Just like that； my mood was soaring。 If I could just discipline myself； make myself safe； then perhaps it would be right for me to stay with her。 When she walked through the gym doors； her shoulders were stiff and her lower lip was between her teeth again a sign of anxiety。 But as soon as her eyes met mine； her rigid shoulders relaxed and a wide smile spread across her face。 It was an oddly peaceful expression。 She walked right to my side without hesitation； only stopping when she was so close that her body heat crashed over me like a tidal wave。 Hi； she whispered。 The happiness I felt in this moment was； again； without precedent。 Hello； I said； and then because with my mood suddenly so light I couldn t resist teasing her I added； How was gym？ Her smile wavered。 Fine。 She was a poor liar。 Really？ I asked； about to press the issue I was still concerned about her head； was she in pain？ but then Mike Newton s thoughts we so loud they broke my concentration。 I hate him。 I wish he would die。 I hope he drives that shiny car right off a cliff。 Why couldn t he just leave her alone？ Stick to his own kind to the freaks。
What？ Bella demanded。 My eyes refocused on her face。 me again。 She looked at Mike s retreating back； and then at Newton s getting on my nerves； I admitted。 Her mouth fell open； and her smile disappeared。 She must have forgotten that I d had the power to watch through her calamitous last hour； or hoped that I hadn t utilized it。 You weren t listening again？ How s your head？ You re unbelievable！ she said through her teeth； and then she turned away from me and stalked furiously toward the parking lot。 Her skin flushed dark red she was embarrassed。 I kept pace with her； hoping that her anger would pass soon。 quick to forgive me。 She was usually It You were the one who mentioned how I d never seen you in Gym； I explained。 made me curious。 She didn t answer； her eyebrows pulled together。 She came to a sudden halt in the parking lot when she realized that the way to my car was blocked by a crowd of male students。 I wonder how fast they ve gone in this thing Look at the SMG shift paddles。 side grills I ve never seen those outside of a magazine Nice Sure wish I had sixty thousand dollars laying around This was exactly why it was better for Rosalie to only use her car out of town。 I wound through the throng of lustful boys to my car； after a second of hesitation； Bella followed suit。 Ostentatious； I muttered as she climbed in。 What kind of car is that？ she wondered。 An M3。 She frowned。 I don t speak Car and Driver。 It s a BMW。 I rolled my eyes and then focused on backing out without running anyone down。 I had to lock eyes with a few boys that didn t seem willing to move out of my way。 A halfsecond meeting my gaze seemed to be enough to convince them。 Are you still angry？ I asked her。 Her frown had relaxed。
Definitely； she answered curtly。 I sighed。 Maybe I shouldn t have brought it up。 Oh well。 amends； I supposed。 Will you forgive me if I apologize？ She thought about that for a moment。 you promise not to do it again。 I could try to make Maybe if you mean it； she decided。 And if I wasn t going to lie to her； and there was no way I was agreeing to that。 Perhaps if I offered her a different exchange。 How about if I mean it； and I agree to let you drive this Saturday？ internally at the thought。 I cringed The furrow popped into existence between her eyes as she considered the new bargain。 Deal； she said after a moment of thought。 Now for my apology I d never tried to dazzle Bella on purpose before； but now seemed like a good time。 I stared deep into her eyes as I drove away from the school； wondering if I was doing it right。 I used my most persuasive tone。 Then I m very sorry I upset you。 Her heartbeat thudded louder than before； and the rhythm was abruptly staccato。 Her eyes widened； looking a little stunned。 I halfsmiled。 It seemed like I d gotten it right。 Of course； I was having a bit of difficulty looking away from her eyes； too。 Equally dazzled。 It was a good thing I had this road memorized。 And I ll be on your doorstep bright and early Saturday morning； I added； finishing the agreement。 She blinked swiftly； shaking her head as if to clear it。 Um； she said； it doesn t help with the Charlie situation if an unexplained Volvo is l