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always interesting； at the very least。
〃Mountain lion；〃 I answered brusquely。
〃Ah；〃 she said in a neutral tone。 Her heartbeat continued steady and even； as if
we were discussing a favorite restaurant。
Fine； then。 If she wanted to act like this was nothing unusual？
〃Of course； we have to be careful not to impact the environment with injudicious
hunting；〃 I told her； my voice detached and clinical。 〃We try to focus on areas with an
overpopulation of predators—ranging as far away as we need。 There's always plenty of
deer and elk here； and they'll do； but where's the fun in that？〃
She listened with a politely interested expression； as if I were a teacher giving a
lecture。 I had to smile。
〃Where indeed；〃 she murmured calmly； taking another bite of pizza。
〃Early spring is Emmett's favorite bear season；〃 I said； continuing with the
lecture。 〃They're just coming out of hibernation； so they're more irritable。〃
Seventy years later； and he still hadn't gotten over losing that first match。
〃Nothing more fun than an irritated grizzly bear；〃 Bella agreed； nodding
solemnly。
I couldn't hold back a chuckle as I shook my head at her illogical calm。 It had to
be put on。 〃Tell me what you're really thinking； please。〃
〃I'm trying to picture it—but I can't；〃 she said； the crease appearing between her
eyes。 〃How to you hunt a bear without weapons？〃
〃Oh； we have weapons；〃 I told her； and then flashed her a wide smile。 I expected
her to recoil； but she was very still； watching me。 〃Just not the kind they consider when
writing hunting laws。 If you've ever seen a bear attack on television； you should be able
to visualize Emmett hunting。〃
She glanced toward the table where the others sat； and shuddered。
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Finally。 And then I laughed at myself； because I knew part of me was wishing
she would stay oblivious。
Her dark eyes were wide and deep as she stared at me now。 〃Are you like a bear；
too？〃 she asked in an almost…whisper。
〃More like the lion； or so they tell me；〃 I told her； striving to sound detached
again。 〃Perhaps our preferences are indicative。〃
Her lips pulled up a tiny bit at the corners。 〃Perhaps；〃 she repeated。 And then her
head leaned to the side； and curiosity was suddenly clear in her eyes。 〃Is that something I
might get to see？〃
I didn't need pictures from Alice to illustrate this horror—my imagination was
quite enough。
〃Absolutely not；〃 I snarled at her。
She jerked away from me； her eyes bewildered and frightened。
I leaned back； too； wanting to put space between us。 She was never going to see；
was she？ She wouldn't do one thing to help me keep her alive。
〃Too scary for me？〃 she asked； her voice even。 Her heart； however； was still
moving in double time。
〃If that were it； I would take you out tonight；〃 I retorted through my teeth。 〃You
need a healthy dose of fear。 Nothing could be more beneficial for you。〃
〃Then why？〃 she demanded； undeterred。
I glared at her blackly； waiting for her to be afraid。 I was afraid。 I could imagine
only too clearly having Bella near when I hunted？
Her eyes remained curious； impatient； nothing more。 She waited for her answer；
not giving in。
But our hour was up。
〃Later；〃 I snapped； and I rose to my feet。 〃We're going to be late。〃
She looked around herself； disoriented； like she'd forgotten we were at lunch。
Like she'd forgotten we were even at school—surprised that we were not alone in some
private place。 I understood that feeling exactly。 It was hard to remember the rest of the
world when I was with her。
She got up quickly； bobbling once； and threw her bag over her shoulder。
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〃Later； then；〃 she said； and I could see the determination in the set of her mouth；
she would hold me to that。
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12。 Complications
Bella and I walked silently to biology。 I was trying to focus myself on the moment； on
the girl beside me； on what was real and solid； on anything that would keep Alice's
deceitful； meaningless visions out of my head。
We passed Angela Weber； lingering on the sidewalk； discussing an assignment
with a boy from her Trigonometry class。 I scanned her thoughts perfunctorily； expecting
more disappointment； only to be surprised by their wistful tenor。
Ah； so there was something Angela wanted。 Unfortunately； it wasn't something
that could be easily gift…wrapped。
I felt strangely comforted for a moment； hearing Angela's hopeless yearning。 A
sense of kinship that Angela would never know about passed through me； and I was； in
that second； at one with the kind human girl。
It was oddly consoling to know that I wasn't the only one living out a tragic love
story。 Heartbreak was everywhere。
In the next second； I was abruptly and thoroughly irritated。 Because Angela's
story didn't have to be tragic。 She was human and he was human and the difference that
seemed so insurmountable in her head was ridiculous； truly ridiculous compared to my
own situation。 There was no point in her broken heart。 What a wasteful sadness； when
there was no valid reason for her not to be with the one she wanted。 Why shouldn't she
have what she wanted？ Why shouldn't this one story have a happy ending？
I wanted to give her a gift？ Well； I would give her what she wanted。 Knowing
what I did of human nature； it probably wouldn't even be very difficult。 I sifted through
the consciousness of the boy beside her； the object of her affections； and he did not seem
unwilling； he was just stymied by the same difficulty she was。 Hopeless and resigned；
the way she was。
All I would have to do was plant the suggestion？
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The plan formed easily； the script wrote itself without effort on my part。 I would
need Emmett's help—getting him to go along with this was the only real difficulty。
Human nature was so much easier to manipulate than vampire nature。
I was pleased with my solution； with my gift for Angela。 It was a nice diversion
from my own problems。 Would that mine were as easily fixed。
My mood was slightly improved as Bella and I took our seats。 Maybe I should be
more positive。 Maybe there was some solution out there for us that was escaping me； the
way Angela's obvious solution was so invisible to her。 Not likely？ But why waste time
with hopelessness？ I didn't have time to waste when it came to Bella。 Each second
mattered。
Mr。 Banner entered pulling an ancient TV and VCR。 He was skipping through a
section he wasn't particularly interested in—genetic disorders—by showing a movie for
the next three days。 Lorenzo's Oil was not a very cheerful piece； but that didn't stop the
excitement in the room。 No notes； no test…able material。 Three free days。 The humans
exulted。
It didn't matter to me； either way。 I hadn't been planning on paying any attention
to anything but Bella。
I did not pull my chair away from hers today； to give myself space to breathe。
Instead； I sat close beside her like any normal human would。 Closer than we sat inside
my car； close enough that the left side of m