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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　between　the　wrecked　vehicles。　She　stared　up　at　me；　and　I　stared　back。　To　look　away　first　was　a　mistake　only　an　inpetent　liar　would　make；　and　I　was　not　an　inpetent　liar。　My　expression　was　smooth；　benign　It　seemed　to　confuse　her。　That　was　good。　The　accident　scene　was　surrounded　now。　Mostly　students；　children；　peering　and　pushing　through　the　cracks　to　see　if　any　mangled　bodies　were　visible。　There　was　a　babble　of　shouting　and　a　gush　of　shocked　thought。　I　scanned　the　thoughts　once　to　make　sure　there　were　no　suspicions　yet；　and　then　tuned　it　out　and　concentrated　only　on　the　girl。　She　was　distracted　by　the　bedlam。　She　glanced　around；　her　expression　still　stunned；　and　tried　to　get　to　her　feet。

I　put　my　hand　lightly　on　her　shoulder　to　hold　her　down。　Just　stay　put　for　now。　She　seemed　alright；　but　should　she　really　be　moving　her　neck？　Again；　I　wished　for　Carlisle。　My　years　of　theoretical　medical　study　were　no　match　for　his　centuries　of　handson　medical　practice。　But　it　s　cold；　she　objected。　She　had　almost　been　crushed　to　death　two　distinct　times　and　crippled　one　more；　and　it　was　the　cold　that　worried　her。　A　chuckle　slid　through　my　teeth　before　I　could　remember　that　the　situation　was　not　funny。　Bella　blinked；　and　then　her　eyes　focused　on　my　face。　That　sobered　me　again。　She　glanced　toward　the　south；　though　there　was　nothing　to　see　now　but　the　crumpled　side　of　the　van。　You　were　by　your　car。　No；　I　wasn　t。　I　saw　you；　she　insisted；　her　voice　was　childlike　when　she　was　being　stubborn。　Her　chin　jutted　out。　Bella；　I　was　standing　with　you；　and　I　pulled　you　out　of　the　way。　I　stared　deeply　into　her　wide　eyes；　trying　to　will　her　into　accepting　my　version　the　only　rational　version　on　the　table。　Her　jaw　set。　No。　You　were　over　there。　I　tried　to　stay　calm；　to　not　panic。　If　only　I　could　keep　her　quiet　for　a　few　moments；　to　give　me　a　chance　to　destroy　the　evidence　。and　undermine　her　story　by　disclosing　her　head　injury。　Shouldn　t　it　be　easy　to　keep　this　silent；　secretive　girl　quiet？　trust　me；　just　for　a　few　moments　If　only　she　would　Please；　Bella；　I　said；　and　my　voice　was　too　intense；　because　I　suddenly　wanted　her　to　trust　me。　Wanted　it　badly；　and　not　just　in　regards　to　this　accident。　A　stupid　desire。　What　sense　would　it　make　for　her　to　trust　me？　Why？　she　asked；　still　defensive。　Trust　me；　I　pleaded。　Will　you　promise　to　explain　everything　to　me　later？　It　made　me　angry　to　have　to　lie　to　her　again；　when　I　so　much　wished　that　I　could　somehow　deserve　her　trust。　So；　when　I　answered　her；　it　was　a　retort。　Fine。　Fine；　she　echoed　in　the　same　tone。　While　the　rescue　attempt　began　around　us　adults　arriving；　authorities　called；　sirens　in　the　distance　I　tried　to　ignore　the　girl　and　get　my　priorities　in　the　right　order。　I　searched　through　every　mind　in　the　lot；　the　witnesses　and　the

lateers　both；　but　I　could　find　nothing　dangerous。　Many　were　surprised　to　see　me　here　beside　Bella；　but　all　concluded　as　there　was　no　other　possible　conclusion　that　they　had　just　not　noticed　me　standing　by　the　girl　before　the　accident。　She　was　the　only　one　who　didn　t　accept　the　eas