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y。 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 bet