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the tone of her thoughts； lost somewhere where I couldn't access them； I was instantly
disappointed。 Usually； people's thoughts came to them in a similar pitch as their physical
voices。 But this quiet； shy voice was unfamiliar； not one of the hundreds of thoughts
bouncing around the room； I was sure of that。 Entirely new。
Oh； good luck； idiot！ Jessica thought before answering the girl's question。
〃That's Edward。 He's gorgeous； of course； but don't waste your time。 He doesn't date。
Apparently none of the girls here are good…looking enough for him。〃 She sniffed。
I turned my head away to hide my smile。 Jessica and her classmates had no idea
how lucky they were that none of them particularly appealed to me。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
8
Beneath the transient humor； I felt a strange impulse； one I did not clearly
understand。 It had something to do with the vicious edge to Jessica's thoughts that the
new girl was unaware of？ I felt the strangest urge to step in between them； to shield this
Bella Swan from the darker workings of Jessica's mind。 What an odd thing to feel。
Trying to ferret out the motivations behind the impulse； I examined the new girl one more
time。
Perhaps it was just some long buried protective instinct—the strong for the weak。
This girl looked more fragile than her new classmates。 Her skin was so translucent it was
hard to believe it offered her much defense from the outside world。 I could see the
rhythmic pulse of blood through her veins under the clear； pale membrane？ But I
should not concentrate on that。 I was good at this life I'd chosen； but I was just as thirsty
as Jasper and there was no point in inviting temptation。
There was a faint crease between her eyebrows that she seemed unaware of。
It was unbelievable frustrating！ I could clearly see that it was a strain for her to
sit there； to make conversation with strangers； to be the center of attention。 I could sense
her shyness from the way she held her frail…looking shoulders； slightly hunched； as if she
was expecting a rebuff at any moment。 And yet I could only sense； could only see； could
only imagine。 There was nothing but silence from the very unexceptional human girl。 I
could hear nothing。 Why？
〃Shall we？〃 Rosalie murmured； interrupting my focus。
I looked away from the girl with a sense of relief。 I didn't want to continue to fail
at this—it irritated me。 And I didn't want to develop any interest in her hidden thoughts
simply because they were hidden from me。 No doubt； when I did decipher her
thoughts—and I would find a way to do so—they would be just as petty and trivial as any
human's thoughts。 Not worth the effort I would expend to reach them。
〃So； is the new one afraid of us yet？〃 Emmett asked； still waiting for my response
to his question before。
I shrugged。 He wasn't interested enough to press for a more information。 Nor
should I be interested。
We got up from the table and walked out of the cafeteria。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
9
Emmett； Rosalie； and Jasper were pretending to be seniors； they left for their
classes。 I was playing a younger role than they。 I headed off for my junior level biology
class； preparing my mind for the tedium。 It was doubtful Mr。 Banner； a man of no more
than average intellect； would manage to pull out anything in his lecture that would
surprise someone holding two graduate degrees in medicine。
In the classroom； I settled into my chair and let my books—props； again； they
held nothing I didn't already know—spill across the table。 I was the only student who
had a table to himself。 The humans weren't smart enough to know that they feared me；
but their survival instincts were enough to keep them away。
The room slowly filled as they trickled in from lunch。 I leaned back in my chair
and waited for the time to pass。 Again； I wished I was able to sleep。
Because I'd been thinking about her； when Angela Weber escorted the new girl
through the door； her name intruded on my attention。
Bella seems just as shy as me。 I'll bet today is really hard for her。 I wish I could
say something？but it would probably just sound stupid？
Yes！ Mike Newton thought； turning in his seat to watch the girls enter。
Still； from the place where Bella Swan stood； nothing。 The empty space where
her thoughts should be irritated and unnerved me。
She came closer； walking down the aisle beside me to get to the teacher's desk。
Poor girl； the seat next to me was the only one available。 Automatically； I cleared what
would be her side of the desk； shoving my books into a pile。 I doubted she would feel
very comfortable there。 She was in for a long semester—in this class； at least。 Perhaps；
though； sitting beside her； I'd be able to flush out her secrets？not that I'd ever needed
close proximity before？not that I would find anything worth listening to？
Bella Swan walked into the flow of the heated air that blew toward me from the
vent。
Her scent hit me like wrecking ball； like a battering ram。 There was no image
violent enough to encapsulate the force of what happened to me in that moment。
In that instant； I was nothing close to the human I'd once been； no trace of the
shreds of humanity I'd managed to cloak myself in remained。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
10
I was a predator。 She was my prey。 There was nothing else in the whole world
but that truth。
There was no room full of witnesses—they were already collateral damage in my
head。 The mystery of her thoughts was forgotten。 Her thoughts meant nothing； for she
would not go on thinking them much longer。
I was a vampire； and she had the sweetest blood I'd smelled in eighty years。
I hadn't imagined such a scent could exist。 If I'd known it did； I would have gone
searching for it long ago。 I would have combed the planet for her。 I could imagine the
taste？
Thirst burned through my throat like fire。 My mouth was baked and desiccated。
The fresh flow of venom did nothing to dispel that sensation。 My stomach twisted with
the hunger that was an echo of the thirst。 My muscles coiled to spring。
Not a full second had passed。 She was still taking the same step that had put her
downwind from me。
As her foot touched the ground； her eyes slid toward me； a movement she clearly
meant to be stealthy。 Her glance met mine； and I saw myself reflected in the wide mirror
of her eyes。
The shock of the face I saw there saved her life for a few thorny moments。
She didn't make it easier。 When she processed the expression on my face； blood
flooded her cheeks again； turning her skin the most delicious color I'd ever seen。 The
scent was a thick haze in my brain。 I could barely think through it。 My thoughts raged；
resisting control； incoherent。
She walked more quickly now； as if she understood the need to escape。 Her haste
made her clumsy—she tripped and stumbled forward； almost falling into the girl seated in
front of me。 Vulnerable； weak。 Even more than usual for a human。
I tried to focus on the face I'd seen in her eyes； a face I recognized with revulsion。
The face of the monster in me�