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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 was already tired of listening to Jessica。 I searched close by for Angela—ah； 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
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sunset。 I welcomed 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。 She was thinking about her jewelry；
asking Angela's opinion。
〃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。 Do you think Bella will be looking for us；
though？〃
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
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169
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 wandering by herself； and she'd been asking about me before？ Angela was
paying attention to Jessica now—Jessica was babbling about that idiot Mike—and I could
get nothing more from her。
I judged the shadows。 The sun would be behind the clouds soon enough。 If I
stayed on the west side of the road； where the buildings would shade the street from the
fading light？
I started to feel anxious as I drove through the sparse traffic into the center of the
town。 This wasn't something I had considered—Bella taking off on her own—and I had
no idea how to find her。 I should have considered it。
I knew Port Angeles well； I drove straight to the bookstore in Jessica's head；
hoping my search would be short； but doubting it would be so easy。 When did Bella ever
make it easy？
Sure enough； the little shop was empty except for the anachronistically dressed
woman behind the counter。 This didn't look like the kind of place Bella would be
interested in—too new age for a practical person。 I wondered if she'd even bothered to
go in？
There was a patch of shade I could park in？ It made a dark pathway right up to
the overhang of the shop。 I really shouldn't。 Wandering around in the sunlight hours was
not safe。 What if a passing car threw the sun's reflection into the shade at just the wrong
moment？
But I didn't know how else to look for Bella！
I parked and got out； keeping to the deepest side of the shadow。 I strode quickly
into the store； noting the faint trace of Bella's scent in the air。 She had been here； on the
sidewalk； but there was no hint of her fragrance inside the shop。
〃Welcome！ Can I help—〃 the saleswoman began to say； but I was already out the
door。
I followed Bella's scent as far as the shade would allow； stopping when I got to
the edge of the sunlight。
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How powerless it made me feel—fenced in by the line between dark and light that
stretched across the sidewalk in front of me。 So limited。
I could only guess that she'd continued across the street； heading south。 There
wasn't really much in that direction。 Was she lost？ Well； that possibility didn't sound
entirely out of character。
I got back in the car and drove slowly through the streets； looking for her。 I
stepped out into a few other patches of shadow； but I only caught her scent once more；
and the direction of it confused me。 Where was she trying to go？
I drove back and forth between the bookstore and the restaurant a few times；
hoping to see her on her way。 Jessica and Angela were already there； trying to decide
whether to order； or to wait for Bella。 Jessica was pushing for ordering immediately。
I began flitting through the minds of strangers； looking through their eyes。
Surely； someone must have seen her somewhere。
I got more and more anxious the longer she remained missing。 I hadn't
considered before how difficult she might prove to find once； like now； she was out of
my sight and off her normal paths。 I didn't like it。
The clouds were massing on the horizon； and； in a few more minutes； I would be
free to track her on foot。 It wouldn't take me long then。 It was only the sun that made
me so helpless now。 Just few more minutes； and then the advantage would be mine again
and it would be the human world that was powerless。
Another mind； and another。 So many trivial thoughts。
？think the baby has another ear infection？
Was it six…four…oh or six…oh…four？？
Late again。 I ought to tell him？
Here she comes！ Aha！
There； at last； was her face。 Finally； someone had noticed her！
The relief lasted for only a fraction of a second； and then I read mor