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　existence　centered　around　the　girl；　rather　than　around　myself　anymore。　It　was　easy　enough　to　understand；　though；　really；　after　eighty　years　of　the　same　thing　every　day　and　every　night；　any　change　became　a　point　of　absorption。　She　had　not　yet　arrived；　but　could　I　hear　the　thunderous　chugging　of　her　truck　s　engine　in　the　distance。　I　leaned　against　the　side　of　the　car　to　wait。　Alice　stayed　with　me；　while　the　others　went　straight　to　class。　They　were　bored　with　my　fixation　it　was　inprehensible　to　them　how　any　human　could　hold　my　interest　for　so　long；　no　matter　how　delicious　she　smelled。　The　girl　drove　slowly　into　view；　her　eyes　intent　on　the　road　and　her　hands　tight　on　the　wheel。　She　seemed　anxious　about　something。　It　took　me　a　second　to　figure　out　what　that　something　was；　to　realize　that　every　human　wore　the　same　expression　today。　Ah；　the　road　was　slick　with　ice；　and　they　were　all　trying　to　drive　more　carefully。　I　could　see　she　was　taking　the　added　risk　seriously。　That　seemed　in　line　with　what　little　I　had　learned　of　her　character。　to　my　small　list：　she　was　a　serious　person；　a　responsible　person。　I　added　this　She　parked　not　too　far　from　me；　but　she　hadn　t　noticed　me　standing　here　yet；　staring　at　her。　I　wondered　what　she　would　do　when　she　did？　Blush　and　walk　away？　That　was　my　first　guess。　talk　to　me。　But　maybe　she　would　stare　back。　Maybe　she　would　e　to　I　took　a　deep　breath；　filling　my　lungs　hopefully；　just　in　case。　She　got　out　of　the　truck　with　care；　testing　the　slick　ground　before　she　put　her　weight　on　it。　She　didn　t　look　up；　and　that　frustrated　me。　Maybe　I　would　go　talk　to　her　No；　that　would　be　wrong。　Instead　of　turning　toward　the　school；　she　made　her　way　to　the　rear　of　her　truck；　clinging　to　the　side　of　the　truck　bed　in　a　droll　way；　not　trusting　her　footing。　It　made　me　smile；　and　I　felt　Alice　s　eyes　on　my　face。　I　didn　t　listen　to　whatever

this　made　her　think　I　was　having　too　much　fun　watching　the　girl　check　her　snow　chains。　She　actually　looked　in　some　danger　of　falling；　the　way　her　feet　were　sliding　around。　No　one　else　was　having　trouble　had　she　parked　in　the　worst　of　the　ice？　She　paused　there；　staring　down　with　a　strange　expression　on　her　face。　was　tender？　As　if　something　about　the　tire　was　making　her　emotional？　Again；　the　curiosity　ached　like　a　thirst。　thinking　as　if　nothing　else　mattered。　It　It　was　as　if　I　had　to　know　what　she　was　I　would　go　talk　to　her。　She　looked　like　she　could　use　a　hand　anyway；　at　least　until　she　was　off　the　slick　pavement。　Of　course；　I　couldn　t　offer　her　that；　could　I？　I　hesitated；　torn。　As　adverse　as　she　seemed　to　be　to　snow；　she　would　hardly　wele　the　touch　of　my　cold　white　hand。　I　should　have　worn　gloves　NO！　Alice　gasped　aloud。　Instantly；　I　scanned　her　thoughts；　guessing　at　first　that　I　had　made　a　poor　choice　and　she　saw　me　doing　something　inexcusable。　But　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　me　at　all。　Tyler　Crowley　had　chosen　to　take　the　turn　into　the　parking　lot　at　an　injudicious　speed。　This　choice　would　send　him　skidding　across　a　patch　of　ice　The　vision　came　just　half　a　second　before　the　reality。　Tyler　s　van　rounded　the　corner　as　I　was　still　watching　the　conclusion　that　had　pulled　the　horrified　gasp　through　Alice　s　lips。　No；　this　vision　had　nothing　to　do　with　me；　and　yet　it　had　everything　to　do　with　me；　because　Tyler　s　van　the　tires　right　now　hitting　the　ice　at　the　worst　possible　angle　was　going　to　spin　across　the　lot　and　crush　the　girl　who　had　bee　the　uninvited　focal　point　of　my　world。　Even　without　Alice　s　foresight　it　would　have　been　simple　enough　to　read　the　trajectory　of　the　vehicle；　flying　out　of　Tyler　s　control。　The　girl；　standing　in　the　exactly　wrong　place　at　the　back　of　her　truck；　looked　up；　bewildered　by　the　sound　of　the　screeching　tires。　She　looked　straight　into　my　horror　struck　eyes；　and　then　turned　to　watch　her　approaching　death。　Not　her！　The　words　shouted　in　my　head　as　if　they　belonged　to　someone　else。　Still　locked　into　Alice　s　thoughts；　I　saw　the　vision　suddenly　shift；　but　I　had　no　time　to　see　what　the　oute　would　be。　I　launched　myself　across　the　lot；　throwing　myself　between　the　skidding　van　and　the　frozen　girl。　I　moved　so　fast　that　everything　was　a　streaky　blur　except　for　the　object　of　my　focus。　She　didn　t　see　me　no　human　eyes　could　have　followed　my　flight　still　staring　at　the　hulking　shape　that　was　about　to　grind　her　body　into　the　metal　frame　of　her　truck。　I　caught　her　around　the　waist；　moving　with　too　much　urgency　to　be　as　gentle　as　she　would　need　me　to　be。　In　the　hundredth　of　a　second　between　the　time　that　I　yanked　her　slight　form　out　of　the　path　of　death　and　the　time　that　I　crashed　into　to　the

ground　with　her　in　my　arms；　I　was　vividly　aware　of　her　fragile；　breakable　body。　When　I　heard　her　head　crack　against　the　ice；　it　felt　like　I　had　turned　to　ice；　too。　But　I　didn　t　even　have　a　full　second　to　ascertain　her　condition。　I　heard　the　van　behind　us；　grating　and　squealing　as　it　twisted　around　the　sturdy　iron　body　of　the　girl　s　truck。　It　was　changing　course；　arcing；　ing　for　her　again　like　she　was　a　mag；　pulling　it　toward　us。　A　word　I　d　never　said　before　in　the　presence　of　a　lady　slid　between　my　clenched　teeth。　I　had　already　done　too　much。　As　I　d　nearly　flown　through　the　air　to　push　her　out　of　the　way；　I　d　been　fully　aware　of　the　mistake　I　was　making。　Knowing　that　it　was　a　mistake　did　not　stop　me；　but　I　was　not　oblivious　to　the　risk　I　was　taking　taking；　not　just　for　myself；　but　for　my　entire　family。　Exposure。　And　this　certainly　wasn　t　going　to　help；　but　there　was　no　way　I　was　going　to　allow　the　van　to　succeed　in　its　second　attempt　to　take　her　life。　I　dropped　her　and　threw　my　hands　out；　girl。　The　force　of　it　hurled　me　back　could　feel　its　frame　buckle　behind　my　against　the　unyielding　obstacle　of　my　the　two　far　tires。　catching　the　van　before　it　could　touch　the　into　the　car　parked　beside　her　truck；　and　I　shoulders。　The　van　shuddered　and　shivered　arms；　and　then　swayed；　balancing　unstably　on　If　I　moved　my　hands；　the　back　tire　of　the　van　was　going　fall　onto　her　legs。　Oh；　for　the　love　of　all　that　was　holy；　would　the　catastrophes　never　end？　Was　there　anything　else　that　could　go　wrong？　I　could　hardly　sit　here；　holding　the　van　in　the　air；　and　wait　for　rescue。　Nor　could　I　throw　the　van　away　there　was　the　driver　to　consider；　his　thoughts　incoherent　with　panic。　With　an　internal　groan；　I　shoved　the　van　so　that　it　rocked　away　from　us　for　an　instant。　As　it　fell　back　toward　me；　I　caught　it　under　the　frame　with　my　right　hand　while　I　wrapped　my　left　arm　around　the　girl　s　waist　again　and　drug　her　out　from　under　the　van；　pulling　her　tight　up　against　my　side。　Her　body　moved　limply　as　I　swung　her　around　so　that　her　legs　would　be　in　the　clear　was　she　conscious？　How　much　damage　had　I　done　to　her　in　my　impromptu　rescue　attempt？　I　let　the　van　drop；　now　that　it　could　not　hurt　her。　all　the　windows　shattering　in　unison。　It　crashed　to　the　pavement；　I　knew　that　I　was　in　the　middle　of　a　crisis。　How　much　had　she　seen？　Had　any　other　witnesses　watched　me　materialize　at　her　side　and　then　juggle　the　van　while　I　tried　to　keep　her　out　from　under　it？　These　questions　should　be　my　biggest　concern。　But　I　was　too　anxious　to　really　care　about　the　threat　of　exposure　as　much　as　I　should。　Too　panicstricken　that　I　might　have　injured　her　myself　in　my　effort　to　protect　her。　Too　frightened　to　have　her　this　close　to　me；　knowing　what　I　would　smell　if　I　allowed　myself　to　inhale。　Too　aware　of　the　heat　of　her　soft　body；　pressed　against　mine　even　through　the　double　obstacle　of　our　jackets；　I　could　feel　that　heat

The　first　fear　was　the　greatest　fear。　As　the　screaming　of　the　witnesses　erupted　around　us；　I　leaned　down　to　examine　her　face；　to　see　if　she　was　conscious　hoping　fiercely　that　she　was　not　bleeding　anywhere。　Her　eyes　were　open；　staring　in　shock。　Bella？　I　asked　urgently。　I　m　fine。　Are　you　all　right？　She　said　the　words　automatically　in　a　dazed　voice。　Relief；　so　exquisite　it　was　nearly　pain；　washed　through　me　at　the　sound　of　her　voice。　I　sucked　in　a　breath　through　my　teeth；　and　did　not　mind　the　acpanying　burn　in　my　throat。　I　almost　weled　it。　She　struggled　to　sit　up；　but　I　was　not　ready　to　release　her。　It　felt　somehow　safer？　Better；　at　least；　having　her　tucked　into　my　side。　Be　careful；　I　warned　her。　I　think　you　hit　your　head　pretty　hard。　There　had　been　no　smell　of　fresh　blood　a　mercy；　that　but　this　did　not　rule　out　internal　damage。　I　was　abruptly　anxious　to　get　her　to　Carlisle　and　a　full　pliment　of　radiology　equipment。　Ow；　she　said；　her　tone　ically　shocked　as　she　realized　I　was　right　about　her　head。　That　s　what　I　thought。　Relief　made　it　funny　to　me；　made　me　almost　giddy。　How　did　you　get　How　in　the　Her　voice　trailed　off；　and　her　eyelids　fluttered。　over　here　so　fast？　The　relief　turned　sour；　the　humor　vanished。　She　had　noticed　too　much。　Now　that　it　appeared　that　the　girl　was　in　decent　shape；　the　anxiety　for　my　family　became　severe。　I　was　standing　right　next　to　you；　Bella。　I　knew　from　experience　that　if　I　was　very　confident　as　I　lied；　it　made　any　questioner　less　sure　of　the　truth。　She　struggled　to　move　again；　and　this　time　I　allowed　it。　I　needed　to　breathe　so　that　I　could　play　my　role　correctly。　I　needed　space　from　her　warmblooded　heat　so　that　it　would　not　bine　with　her　scent　to　overwhelm　me。　I　slid　away　from　her；　as　far　as　was　possible　in　the　small　space　between　the　wrecked　vehicles。　She　stared　up　at　me；　and　I　stared　back。　To　look　away　first　was　a　mistake　only　an　inpetent　liar　would　make；　and　I　was　not　an　inpetent　liar。　My　expression　was　smooth；　benign　It　seemed　to　confuse　her。　That　was　good。　The　accident　scene　was　surrounded　now。　Mostly　students；　children；　peering　and　pushing　through　the　cracks　to　see　if　any　mangled　bodies　were　visible。　There　was　a　babble　of　shouting　and　a　gush　of　shocked　thought。　I　scanned　the　thoughts　once　to　make　sure　there　were　no　suspicions　yet；　and　then　tuned　it　out　and　concentrated　only　on　the　girl。　She　was　distracted　by　the　bedlam。　She　glanced　around；　her　expression　still　stunned；　and　tried　to　get　to　her　feet。

I　put　my　hand　lightly　on　her　shoulder　to　hold　her　down。　Just　stay　put　for　now。　She　seemed　alright；　but　should　she　really　be　moving　her　neck？　Again；　I　wished　for　Carlisle。　My　years　of　theoretical　medical　study　were　no　match　for　his　centuries　of　handson　medical　practice。　But　it　s　cold；　she　objected。　She　had　almost　been　crushed　to　death　two　distinct　times　and　crippled　one　more；　and　it　was　the　cold　that　worried　her。　A　chuckle　slid　through　my　teeth　before　I　could　remember　that　the　situation　was　not　funny。　Bella　blinked；　and　then　her　eyes　focused　on　my　face。　That　sobered　me　again。　She　glanced　toward　the　south；　though　there　was　nothing　to　see　now　but　the　crumpled　side　of　the　van。　You　were　by　your　car。　No；　I　wasn　t。　I　saw　you；　she　insisted；　her　voice　was　childlike　when　she　was　being　stubborn。　Her　chin　jutted　out。　Bella；　I　was　standing　with　you；　and　I　pulled　you　out　of　the　way。　I　stared　deeply　into　her　wide　eyes；　trying　to　will　her　into　accepting　my　version　the　only　rational　version　on　the　table。　Her　jaw　set。　No。　You　were　over　there。　I　tried　to　stay　calm；　to　not　panic。　If　only　I　could　keep　her　quiet　for　a　few　moments；　to　give　me　a　chance　to　destroy　the　evidence　。and　undermine　her　story　by　disclosing　her　head　injury。　Shouldn　t　it　be　easy　to　keep　this　silent；　secretive　girl　quiet？　trust　me；　just　for　a　few　moments　If　only　she　would　Please；　Bella；　I　said；　and　my　voice　was　too　intense；　because　I　suddenly　wanted　her　to　trust　me。　Wanted　it　badly；　and　not　just　in　regards　to　this　accident。　A　stupid　desire。　What　sense　would　it　make　for　her　to　trust　me？　Why？　she　asked；　still　defensive。　Trust　me；　I　pleaded。　Will　you　promise　to　explain　everything　to　me　later？　It　made　me　angry　to　have　to　lie　to　her　again；　when　I　so　much　wished　that　I　could　somehow　deserve　her　trust。　So；　when　I　answered　her；　it　was　a　retort。　Fine。　Fine；　she　echoed　in　the　same　tone。　While　the　rescue　attempt　began　around　us　adults　arriving；　authorities　called；　sirens　in　the　distance　I　tried　to　ignore　the　girl　and　get　my　priorities　in　the　right　order。　I　searched　through　every　mind　in　the　lot；　the　witnesses　and　the

lateers　both；　but　I　could　find　nothing　dangerous。　Many　were　surprised　to　see　me　here　beside　Bella；　but　all　concluded　as　there　was　no　other　possible　conclusion　that　they　had　just　not　noticed　me　standing　by　the　girl　before　the　accident。　She　was　the　only　one　who　didn　t　accept　the　easy　explanation；　but　she　would　be　considered　the　least　reliable　witness。　She　had　been　frightened；　traumatized；　not　to　mention　sustaining　the　blow　to　the　head。　Possibly　in　shock。　It　would　be　acceptable　for　her　story　to　be　confused；　wouldn　t　it？　No　one　would　give　it　much　credence　above　so　many　other　spectators　I　winced　when　I　caught　the　thoughts　of　Rosalie；　Jasper　and　Emmett；　just　arriving　on　the　scene。　There　would　be　hell　to　pay　for　this　tonight。　I　wanted　to　iron　out　the　indention　my　shoulders　had　made　against　the　tan　car；　but　the　girl　was　too　close。　I　d　have　to　wait　till　she　was　distracted。　It　was　frustrating　to　wait　so　many　eyes　on　me　as　the　humans　struggled　with　the　van；　trying　to　pull　it　away　from　us。　I　might　have　helped　them；　just　to　speed　the　process；　but　I　was　already　in　enough　trouble　and　the　girl　had　sharp　eyes。　Finally；　they　were　able　to　shift　it　far　enough　away　for　the　EMTs　to　get　to　us　with　their　stretchers。　A　familiar；　grizzled　face　appraised　me。　Hey；　Edward；　Brett　Warner　said。　He　was　also　a　registered　nurse；　and　I　knew　him　well　from　the　hospital。　It　was　a　stroke　of　luck　the　only　luck　today　that　he　was　the　first　through　to　us。　In　his　thoughts；　he　was　noting　that　I　looked　alert　and　calm。　You　okay；　kid？　Perfect；　Brett。　Nothing　touched　me。　But　I　m　afraid　Bella　here　might　have　a　concussion。　She　really　hit　her　head　when　I　yanked　her　out　of　the　way　Brett　turned　his　attention　to　the　girl；　who　shot　me　a　fierce　look　of　betrayal。　Oh；　that　was　right。　She　was　the　quiet　martyr　she　d　prefer　to　suffer　in　silence。　She　did　not　contradict　my　story　immediately；　though；　and　this　made　me　feel　easier。　The　next　EMT　tried　to　insist　that　I　allow　myself　to　be　treated；　but　it　wasn　t　too　difficult　to　dissuade　him。　I　promised　I　would　let　my　father　examine　me；　and　he　let　it　go。　With　most　humans；　speaking　with　cool　assurance　was　all　that　was　needed。　Most　humans；　just　not　the　girl；　of　course。　Did　she　fit　into　any　of　the　normal　patterns？　As　they　put　a　neck　brace　on　her　and　her　face　flushed　scarlet　with　embarrassment　I　used　the　moment　of　distraction　to　quietly　rearrange　the　shape　of　the　dent　in　the　tan　car　with　the　back　of　my　foot。　Only　my　siblings　noticed　what　I　was　doing；　and　I　heard　Emmett　s　mental　promise　to　catch　anything　I　missed。　Grateful　for　his　help　and　more　grateful　that　Emmett；　at　least；　had　already　forgiven　my　dangerous　choice　I　was　more　relaxed　as　I　climbed　into　the　front　seat　of　the　ambulance　next　to　Brett。　The　chief　of　police　arrived　before　they　had　gotten　Bella　into　the　back　of　the　ambulance。

Though　Bella　s　father　s　thoughts　were　past　words；　the　panic　and　concern　emanating　out　of　the　man　s　mind　drown　out　just　about　every　other　thought　in　the　vicinity。　Wordless　anxiety　and　guilt；　a　great　swell　of　them；　washed　out　of　him　as　he　saw　his　only　daughter　on　the　gurney。　Washed　out　of　him　and　through　me；　echoing　and　growing　stronger。　When　Alice　had　warned　me　that　killing　Charlie　Swan　s　daughter　would　kill　him；　too；　she　had　not　been　exaggerating。　My　head　bowed　with　that　guilt　as　I　listened　to　his　panicked　voice。　Bella！　he　shouted。