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there　were　the　eyes；　brimming　over　with　silent　secrets？　
Eyes　that　were　suddenly　boring　into　mine。　
I　stared　back　at　her；　trying　to　guess　even　one　of　those　secrets。　
〃Did　you　get　contacts？〃　she　asked　abruptly。　
What　a　strange　question。　　〃No。〃　　I　almost　smiled　at　the　idea　of　improving　my　
eyesight。　
〃Oh；〃　she　mumbled。　　〃I　thought　there　was　something　different　about　your　eyes。〃　
I　felt　suddenly　colder　again　as　I　realized　that　I　was　apparently　not　the　only　one　
attempting　to　ferret　out　secrets　today。　
I　shrugged；　my　shoulders　stiff；　and　glared　straight　ahead　to　where　the　teacher　was　
making　his　rounds。　
Of　course　there　was　something　different　about　my　eyes　since　the　last　time　she'd　
stared　into　them。　　To　prepare　myself　for　today's　ordeal；　today's　temptation；　I'd　spent　the　
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entire　weekend　hunting；　satiating　my　thirst　as　much　as　possible；　overdoing　it　really。　　I'd　
glutted　myself　on　the　blood　of　animals；　not　that　it　made　much　difference　in　the　face　of　the　
outrageous　flavor　floating　on　the　air　around　her。　　When　I'd　glared　at　her　last；　my　eyes　had　
been　black　with　thirst。　　Now；　my　body　swimming　with　blood；　my　eyes　were　a　warmer　
gold。　　Light　amber　from　my　excessive　attempt　at　thirst…quenching。　
Another　slip。　　If　I'd　seen　what　she'd　meant　with　her　question；　I　could　have　just　
told　her　yes。　
I'd　sat　beside　humans　for　two　years　now　at　this　school；　and　she　was　the　first　to　
examine　me　closely　enough　to　note　the　change　in　my　eye　color。　　The　others；　while　
admiring　the　beauty　of　my　family；　tended　to　look　down　quickly　when　we　returned　their　
stares。　　They　shied　away；　blocking　the　details　of　our　appearances　in　an　instinctive　
endeavor　to　keep　themselves　from　understanding。　　Ignorance　was　bliss　to　the　human　
mind。　
Why　did　it　have　to　be　this　girl　who　would　see　too　much？　
Mr。　Banner　approached　our　table。　　I　gratefully　inhaled　the　gush　of　clean　air　he　
brought　with　him　before　it　could　mix　with　her　scent。　
〃So；　Edward；〃　he　said；　looking　over　our　answers；　〃didn't　you　think　Isabella　
should　get　a　chance　with　the　microscope？〃　
〃Bella；〃　I　corrected　him　reflexively。　　〃Actually；　she　identified　three　of　the　five。〃　
Mr。　Banner's　thoughts　were　skeptical　as　he　turned　to　look　at　the　girl。　　〃Have　you　
done　this　lab　before？〃　
I　watched；　engrossed；　as　she　smiled；　looking　slightly　embarrassed。　
〃Not　with　onion　root。〃　
〃Whitefish　blastula？〃　Mr。　Banner　probed。　
〃Yeah。〃　
This　surprised　him。　　Today's　lab　was　something　he'd　pulled　from　a　more　
advanced　course。　　He　nodded　thoughtfully　at　the　girl。　　〃Were　you　in　an　advanced　
placement　program　in　Phoenix？〃　
〃Yes。〃　
She　was　advanced　then；　intelligent　for　a　human。　　This　did　not　surprise　me。　
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〃Well；〃　Mr。　Banner　said；　pursing　his　lips。　　〃I　guess　it's　good　you　two　are　lab　
partners。〃　　He　turned　and　walked　away　mumbling；　〃So　the　other　kids　can　get　a　chance　to　
learn　something　for　themselves；〃　under　his　breath。　　I　doubted　the　girl　could　hear　that。　
She　began　scrawling　loops　across　her　folder　again。　
Two　slips　so　far　in　one　half　hour。　　A　very　poor　showing　on　my　part。　　Though　I　had　
no　idea　at　all　what　the　girl　thought　of　me—how　much　did　she　fear；　how　much　did　she　
suspect？—I　knew　I　needed　to　put　forth　a　better　effort　to　leave　her　with　a　new　impression　
of　me。　　Something　to　better　drown　her　memories　of　our　ferocious　last　encounter。　
〃It's　too　bad　about　the　snow；　isn't　it？〃　I　said；　repeating　the　small　talk　that　I'd　
heard　a　dozen　students　discuss　already。　　A　boring；　standard　topic　of　conversation。　　The　
weather—always　safe。　
She　stared　at　me　with　obvious　doubt　in　her　eyes—an　abnormal　reaction　to　my　
very　normal　words。　　〃Not　really；〃　she　said；　surprising　me　again。　
I　tried　to　steer　the　conversation　back　to　trite　paths。　　She　was　from　a　much　brighter；　
warmer　place—her　skin　seemed　to　reflect　that　somehow；　despite　its　fairness—and　the　
cold　must　make　her　uncomfortable。　　My　icy　touch　certainly　had？　
〃You　don't　like　the　cold；〃　I　guessed。　
〃Or　the　wet；〃　she　agreed。　
〃Forks　must　be　a　difficult　place　for　you　to　live。〃　　Perhaps　you　should　not　have　
come　here；　I　wanted　to　add。　　Perhaps　you　should　go　back　where　you　belong。　
I　wasn't　sure　I　wanted　that；　though。　　I　would　always　remember　the　scent　of　her　
blood—was　there　any　guarantee　that　I　wouldn't　eventually　follow　after　her？　　Besides；　if　
she　left；　her　mind　would　forever　remain　a　mystery。　　A　constant；　nagging　puzzle。　
〃You　have　no　idea；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　glowering　past　me　for　a　moment。　
Her　answers　were　never　what　I　expected。　　They　made　me　want　to　ask　more　
questions。　
〃Why　did　you　come　here；　then？〃　I　demanded；　realizing　instantly　that　my　tone　was　
too　accusatory；　not　casual　enough　for　the　conversation。　　The　question　sounded　rude；　
prying。　
〃It's？complicated。〃　
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She　blinked　her　wide　eyes；　leaving　it　at　that；　and　I　nearly　imploded　out　of　
curiosity—the　curiosity　burned　as　hot　as　the　thirst　in　my　throat。　　Actually；　I　found　that　it　
was　getting　slightly　easier　to　breathe；　the　agony　was　becoming　more　bearable　through　
familiarity。　
〃I　think　I　can　keep　up；〃　I　insisted。　　Perhaps　common　courtesy　would　keep　her　
answering　my　questions　as　long　as　I　was　rude　enough　to　ask　them。　
She　stared　down　silently　at　her　hands。　　This　made　me　impatient；　I　wanted　to　put　
my　hand　under　her　chin　and　tilt　her　head　up　so　that　I　could　read　her　eyes。　　But　it　would　be　
foolish　of　me—dangerous—to　touch　her　skin　again。　
She　looked　up　suddenly。　　It　was　a　relief　to　be　able　to　see　the　emotions　in　her　eyes　
again。　　She　spoke　in　a　rush；　hurrying　through　the　words。　
〃My　mother　got　remarried。〃　
Ah；　this　was　human　enough；　easy　to　understand。　　Sadness　passed　through　her　
clear　eyes　and　brought　the　pucker　back　between　them。　
〃That　doesn't　sound　so　complex；〃　I　said。　　My　voice　was　gentle　without　my　
working　to　make　it　that　way。　　Her　sadness　left　me　feeling　oddly　helpless；　wishing　there　
was　something　I　could　do　to　make　her　feel　better。　　A　strange　impulse。　　〃When　did　that　
happen？〃　
〃Last　September。〃　　She　exhaled　heavily—not　quite　a　sigh。　　I　held　my　breath　as　
her　warm　breath　brushed　my　face。　
〃And　you　don't　like　him；〃　I　guessed；　fishing　for　more　information。　
〃No；　Phil　is　fine；〃　she　said；　correcting　my　assumption。　　There　was　a　hint　of　a　
smile　now　around　the　corners　of　her　full　lips。　　〃Too　young；　maybe；　but　nice　enough。〃　
This　didn't　fit　with　the　scenario　I'd　been　constructing　in　my　head。　
〃Why　didn't　you　stay　with　them？〃　I　asked；　my　voice　a　little　too　curious。　　It　
sounded　like　I　was　being　nosy。　　Which　I　was；　admittedly。　
〃Phil　travels　a　lot。　　He　plays　ball　for　a　living。〃　　The　little　smile　grew　more　
pronounced；　this　career　choice　amused　her。　
I　smiled；　too；　without　choosing　to。　　I　wasn't　trying　to　make　her　feel　at　ease。　　Her　
smile　just　made　me　want　to　smile　in　response—to　be　in　on　the　secret。　
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〃Have　I　heard　of　him？〃　　I　ran　through　the　rosters　of　professional　ball　players　in　
my　head；　wondering　which　Phil　was　hers？　
〃Probably　not。　　He　doesn't　play　well。〃　　Another　smile。　　〃Strictly　minor　league。　
He　moves　around　a　lot。〃　
The　rosters　in　my　head　shifted　instantly；　and　I'd　tabulated　a　list　of　possibilities　in　
less　than　a　second。　　At　the　same　time；　I　was　imagining　the　new　scenario。　
〃And　your　mother　sent　you　here　so　that　she　could　travel　with　him；〃　I　said。　
Making　assumptions　seemed　to　get　more　information　out　of　her　than　questions　did。　　It　
worked　again。　　Her　chin　jutted　out；　and　her　expression　was　suddenly　stubborn。　
〃No；　she　did　not　send　me　here；〃　she　said；　and　her　voice　had　a　new；　hard　edge　to　it。　
My　assumption　had　upset　her；　though　I　couldn't　quite　see　how。　　〃I　sent　myself。〃　
I　could　not　guess　at　her　meaning；　or　the　source　behind　her　pique。　　I　was　entirely　
lost。　
So　I　gave　up。　　There　was　just　no　making　sense　of　the　girl。　　She　wasn't　like　other　
humans。　　Maybe　the　silence　of　her　thoughts　and　the　perfume　of　her　scent　were　not　the　
only　unusual　things　about　her。　
〃I　don't　understand；〃　I　admitted；　hating　to　concede。　
She　sighed；　and　stared　into　my　eyes　for　longer　than　most　normal　humans　were　
able　to　stand。　
〃She　stayed　with　me　at　first；　but　she　missed　him；〃　she　explained　slowly；　her　tone　
growing　more　forlorn　with　each　word。　　〃It　made　her　unhappy？so　I　decided　it　was　time　
to　spend　some　quality　time　with　Charlie。〃　
The　tiny　pucker　between　her　eyes　deepened。　
〃But　now　you're　unhappy；〃　I　murmured。　　I　couldn't　seem　to　stop　speaking　my　
hypotheses　aloud；　hoping　to　learn　from　her　reactions。　　This　one；　however；　did　not　seem　as　
far　off　the　mark。　
〃And？〃　she　said；　as　if　this　was　not　even　an　aspect　to　be　considered。　
I　continued　to　stare　into　her　eyes；　feeling　that　I'd　finally　gotten　my　first　real　
glimpse　into　her　soul。　　I　saw　in　that　one　word　where　she　ranked　herself　among　her　own　
priorities。　　Unlike　most　humans；　her　own　needs　were　far　down　the　list。　
She　was　selfless。　
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As　I　saw　this；　the　mystery　of　the　person　hiding　inside　this　quiet　mind　began　to　
thin　a　little。　
〃That　doesn't　seem　fair；〃　I　said。　　I　shrugged；　trying　to　seem　casual；　trying　to　
conceal　the　intensity　of　my　curiosity。　
She　laughed；　but　there　was　no　amusement　the　sound。　　〃Hasn't　anyone　ever　told　
you？　　Life　isn't　fair。〃　
I　wanted　to　laugh　at　her　words；　though　I；　too；　felt　no　real　amusement。　　I　knew　a　
little　something　about　the　unfairness　of　life。　　〃I　believe　I　have　heard　that　somewhere　
before。〃　
She　stared　back　at　me；　seeming　confused　again。　　Her　eyes　flickered　away；　and　
then　came　back　to　mine。　
〃So　that's　all；〃　she　told　me。　
But　I　was　not　ready　to　let　this　conversation　end。　　The　little　V　between　her　eyes；　a　
remnant　of　her　sorrow；　bothered　me。　　I　wanted　to　smooth　it　away　with　my　fingertip。　　But；　
of　course；　I　could　not　touch　her。　　It　was　unsafe　in　so　many　ways。　
〃You　put　on　a　good　show。〃　　I　spoke　slowly；　still　considering　this　next　hypothesis。　
〃But　I'd　be　willing　to　bet　that　you're　suffering　more　than　you　let　anyone　see。〃　
She　made　a　face；　her　eyes　narrowing　and　her　mouth　twisting　into　a　lopsided　pout；　
and　she　looked　back　towards　the　front　of　the　class。　　She　didn't　like　it　when　I　guessed　
right。　　She　wasn't　the　average　martyr—she　didn't　wa