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Sunday。 Alice said we There s no point in hurrying back it s going to be sunny； anyway。 were free from school until Wednesday。 I shook my head rigidly。 Peter and Charlotte know how to behave themselves。 I really don t care； Emmett。 With Bella s luck； she ll go wandering off into the woods at exactly the wrong moment and I flinched。 Peter isn t known for his selfcontrol。 I m going back Sunday。 Emmett sighed。 Exactly like a crazy person。 Bella was sleeping peacefully when I climbed up to her bedroom window early Monday morning。 I d remembered oil this time； and the window now moved silently out of my way。 I could tell by the way her hair lay smooth across the pillow that she d had a less restless night than the last time I was here。 She had her hands folded under her cheek like a small child； and her mouth was slightly open。 I could hear her breath moving slowly in and out between her lips。 It was an amazing relief to be here； to be able to see her again。 I realized that I wasn t truly at ease unless that was the case。 Nothing was right when I was away from her。 Not that all was right when I was with her； either； though。 I sighed； letting the thirst fire rake through my throat。 I d been away from it too long。 The time spent without pain and temptation made it all the more forceful now。 It was bad enough that I was afraid to go kneel beside her bed so that I could read the titles of her books。 I wanted to know the stories in her head； but I was afraid of more than my thirst； afraid that if I let myself get that close to her； I would want to be closer still Her lips looked very soft and warm。 my finger。 Just lightly I could imagine touching them with the tip of That was exactly the kind of mistake that I had to avoid。 My eyes ran over her face again and again； examining it for changes。 changed all the time I was sad at the thought of missing anything I thought she looked tired。 Had she gone out？ Mortals Like she hadn t gotten enough sleep this weekend。 So what if she had？ I I laughed silently and wryly at how much that upset me。
didn t own her。 She wasn t mine。 No； she wasn t mine and I was sad again。 One of her hands twitched； and I noticed that there were shallow； barely healed scrapes across the heel of her palm。 She d been hurt？ Even though it was obviously not a serious injury； it still disturbed me。 I considered the location； and decided she must have tripped。 That seemed a reasonable explanation； all things considered。 It was forting to think that I wouldn t have to puzzle over either of these small mysteries forever。 We were friends now or； at least； trying to be friends。 I could ask her about her weekend about the beach； and whatever late night activity had made her look so weary。 I could ask what had happened to her hands。 And I could laugh a little when she confirmed my theory about them。 I smiled gently as I wondered whether or not she had fallen in the ocean。 I wondered if she d had a pleasant time on the outing。 I wondered if she d thought about me at all。 If she d missed me even the tiniest portion of the amount that I d missed her。 I tried to picture her in the sun on the beach。 The picture was inplete； though； because I d never been to First Beach myself。 I only knew how it looked in pictures I felt a tiny qualm of unease as I thought about the reason why I d never once been to the pretty beach located just a few minutes run from my home。 Bella had spent the day at La Push a place where I was forbidden； by treaty； to go。 A place where a few old men still remembered the stories about the Cullens； remembered and believed them。 A place where our secret was known I shook my head。 I had nothing to worry about there。 The Quileutes were bound by treaty； too。 Even had Bella run into one of those aging sages； they could reveal nothing。 And why would the subject ever be broached？ Why would Bella think to voice her curiosity there？ No the Quileutes were perhaps the one thing I did not have to worry about。 I was angry with the sun when it began to rise。 It reminded me that I could not satisfy my curiosity for days to e。 Why did it choose to shine now？ With a sigh； I ducked out her window before it was light enough for anyone to see me here。 I meant to stay in the thick forest by her house and see her off to school； but when I got into the trees； I was surprised to find the trace of her scent lingering on the trail there。 I followed it quickly； curiously； being more and more worried as it led deeper into the darkness。 What had Bella been doing out here？ The trail stopped abruptly； in the middle of nowhere in particular。 She d gone just a few steps off the trail； into the ferns； where she d touched the trunk of a fallen tree。 Perhaps sat there I sat where she had； and looked around。 All she would have been able to see was ferns and forest。 It had probably been raining the scent was washed out； having never set deeply into the tree。
Why would Bella have e to sit here alone and she had been alone； no doubt about that in the middle of the wet； murky forest？ It made no sense； and； unlike those other points of curiosity； I could hardly bring this up in casual conversation。 So； Bella； I was following your scent through the woods after I left your room where I d been watching you sleep Yes； that would be quite the ice breaker。 I would never know what she d been thinking and doing here； and that had my teeth grinding together in frustration。 Worse； this was far too much like the scenario I d imagined for Emmett Bella wandering alone in the woods； where her scent would call to anyone who had the senses to track it I groaned。 Not only did she have bad luck； but she courted it。 Well； for this moment she had a protector。 I would watch over her； keep her from harm； for as long as I could justify it。 I suddenly found myself wishing that Peter and Charlotte would make an extended stay。
8。 Ghost I did not see much of Jasper s guests for the two sunny days that they were in Forks。 I only went home at all so that Esme wouldn t worry。 Otherwise； my existence seemed more like that of a specter than a vampire。 I hovered； invisible in the shadows； where I could follow the object of my love and obsession where I could see her and hear he