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y　examined　it。　She　started　to　remove　the　slide；　Do　you　mind　if　I　look？　Instinctively　stupidly；　as　if　I　were　one　of　her　kind　I　reached　out　to　stop　her　hand　from　removing　the　slide。　For　one　second；　the　heat　of　her　skin　burned　into　mine。　It　was　like　an　electric　pulse　surely　much　hotter　than　a　mere　niyeight　point　six　degrees。　The　heat　shot　through　my　hand　and　up　my　arm。　She　yanked　her　hand　out　from　under　mine。　I　m　sorry；　I　muttered　through　my　clenched　teeth。　Needing　somewhere　to　look；　I　grasped　the　microscope　and　stared　briefly　into　the　eyepiece。　She　was　right。　Prophase；　I　agreed。　I　was　still　too　unsettled　to　look　at　her。　Breathing　as　quietly　as　I　could　through　my　gritted　teeth　and　trying　to　ignore　the　fiery　thirst；　I　concentrated　on　the　simple　assignment；　writing　the　word　on　the　appropriate　line　on　the　lab　sheet；　and　then　switching　out　the　first　slide　for　the　next。　What　was　she　thinking　now？　What　had　that　felt　like　to　her；　when　I　had　touched　her　hand？　My　skin　must　have　been　ice　cold　repulsive。　No　wonder　she　was　so　quiet。　I　glanced　at　the　slide。　Anaphase；　I　said　to　myself　as　I　wrote　it　on　the　second　line。　May　I？　she　asked。　I　looked　up　at　her；　surprised　to　see　that　she　was　waiting　expectantly；　one　hand　halfstretched　toward　the　microscope。　She　didn　t　look　afraid。　Did　she　really

think　I　d　gotten　the　answer　wrong？　I　couldn　t　help　but　smile　at　the　hopeful　look　on　her　face　as　I　slid　the　microscope　toward　her。　She　stared　into　the　eyepiece　with　an　eagerness　that　quickly　faded。　her　mouth　turned　down。　The　corners　of　Slide　three？　she　asked；　not　looking　up　from　the　microscope；　but　holding　out　her　hand。　I　dropped　the　next　slide　into　her　hand；　not　letting　my　skin　e　anywhere　close　to　hers　this　time。　Sitting　beside　her　was　like　sitting　next　to　a　heat　lamp。　I　could　feel　myself　warming　slightly　to　the　higher　temperature。　She　did　not　look　at　the　slide　for　long。　Interphase；　she　said　nonchalantly　perhaps　trying　a　little　too　hard　to　sound　that　way　and　pushed　the　microscope　to　me。　She　did　not　touch　the　paper；　but　waited　for　me　to　write　the　answer。　I　checked　she　was　correct　again。　We　finished　this　way；　speaking　one　word　at　a　time　and　never　meeting　each　other　s　eyes。　We　were　the　only　ones　done　the　others　in　the　class　were　having　a　harder　time　with　the　lab。　Mike　Newton　seemed　to　be　having　trouble　concentrating　he　was　trying　to　watch　Bella　and　me。　Wish　he　d　stayed　wherever　he　went；　Mike　thought；　eyeing　me　sulfurously。　Hmm；　interesting。　I　hadn　t　realized　the　boy　harbored　any　ill　will　towards　me。　This　was　a　new　development；　about　as　recent　as　the　girl　s　arrival　it　seemed。　Even　more　interesting；　I　found　to　my　surprise　that　the　feeling　was　mutual。　I　looked　down　at　the　girl　again；　bemused　by　the　wide　range　of　havoc　and　upheaval　that；　despite　her　ordinary；　unthreatening　appearance；　she　was　wreaking　on　my　life。　It　wasn　t　that　I　couldn　t　see　what　Mike　was　going　on　about。　She　was　actually　rather　pretty　in　an　unusual　way。　Better　than　being　beautiful；　her　face　was　interesting。　Not　quite　symmetrical　her　narrow　chin　out　of　balance　with　her　wide　cheekbones；　extreme　in　the　coloring　the　light　and　dark　contrast　of　her　skin　and　her　hair；　and　then　there　were　the　eyes；　brimming　over　with　silent　secrets　Eyes　that　were　suddenly　boring　into　mine。　I　stared　back　at　her；　trying　to　guess　even　one　of　those　secrets。　Did　you　get　contacts？　she　asked　abruptly。　What　a　strange　question。　eyesight。　Oh；　she　mumbled。　No。　I　almost　smiled　at　the　idea　of　improving　my　I　thought　there　was　something　different　about　your　eyes。　I　felt　suddenly　colder　again　as　I　realized　that　I　was　apparently　not　the　only　one　attempting　to　ferret　out　secrets　today。　I　shrugged；　my　shoulders　stiff；　and　glared　straight　ahead　to　where　the　teacher　was　making　his　rounds。　Of　course　there　was　something　different　about　my　eyes　since　the　last　time　she　d　stared　into　them。　To　prepare　myself　for　today　s　ordeal；　today　s　temptation；　I　d　spent　the　entire　weekend　hunting；　satiating　my　thirst　as　much　as　possible；　overdoing　it　really。　I　d　glutted　myself　on　the　blood　of　animals；　not　that　it　made　much　difference　in　the　face　of　the　outrageous　flavor　floating　on　the　air　around

her。　When　I　d　glared　at　her　last；　my　eyes　had　been　black　with　thirst。　Now；　my　body　swimming　with　blood；　my　eyes　were　a　warmer　gold。　Light　amber　from　my　excessive　attempt　at　thirstquenching。　Another　slip。　told　her　yes。　If　I　d　seen　what　she　d　meant　with　her　question；　I　could　have　just　I　d　sat　beside　humans　for　two　years　now　at　this　school；　and　she　was　the　first　to　examine　me　closely　enough　to　note　the　change　in　my　eye　color。　The　others；　while　admiring　the　beauty　of　my　family；　tended　to　look　down　quickly　when　we　returned　their　stares。　They　shied　away；　blocking　the　details　of　our　appearances　in　an　instinctive　endeavor　to　keep　themselves　from　understanding。　Ignorance　was　bliss　to　the　human　mind。　Why　did　it　have　to　be　this　girl　who　would　see　too　much？　Mr。　Banner　approached　our　table。　I　gratefully　inhaled　the　gush　of　clean　air　he　brought　with　him　before　it　could　mix　with　her　scent。　So；　Edward；　he　said；　looking　over　our　answers；　didn　t　you　think　Isabella　should　get　a　chance　with　the　microscope？　Bella；　I　corrected　him　reflexively。　five。　Actually；　she　identified　three　of　the　Have　you　Mr。　Banner　s　thoughts　were　skeptical　as　he　turned　to　look　at　the　girl。　done　this　lab　before？　I　watched；　engrossed；　as　she　smiled；　looking　slightly　embarrassed。　Not　with　onion　root。　Whitefish　blastula？　Mr。　Banner　probed。　Yeah。　This　surprised　him。　Today　s　lab　was　something　he　d　pulled　from　a　more　advanced　course。　He　nodded　thoughtfully　at　the　girl。　Were　you　in　an　advanced　placement　program　in　Phoenix？　Yes。　She　was　advanced　then；　intelligent　for　a　human。　This　did　not　surprise　me。　Well；　Mr。　Banner　said；　pursing　his　lips。　I　guess　it　s　good　you　two　are　lab　partners。　He　turned　and　walked　away　mumbling；　So　the　other　kids　can　get　a　chance　to　learn　something　for　themselves；　under　his　breath。　I　doubted　the　girl　could　hear　that。　She　began　scrawling　loops　across　her　folder　again。　Two　slips　so　far　in　one　half　hour。　A　very　poor　showing　on　my　part。　Though　I　had　no　idea　at　all　what　the　girl　thought　of　me　how　much　did　she　fear；　how　much　did　she　suspect？　I　knew　I　needed　to　put　forth　a　better　effort　to　leave　her　with　a　new　impression　of　me。　Something　to　better　drown　her　memories　of　our　ferocious　last　encounter。　It　s　too　bad　about　the　snow；　isn　t　it？　I　said；　repeating　the　small　talk　that　I　d　heard　a　dozen　students　discuss　already。　A　boring；　standard　topic　of　conversation。　The　weather　always　safe。

She　stared　at　me　with　obvious　doubt　in　her　eyes　an　abnormal　reaction　to　my　very　normal　words。　Not　really；　she　said；　surprising　me　again。　I　tried　to　steer　the　conversation　back　to　trite　paths。　She　was　from　a　much　brighter；　warmer　place　her　skin　seemed　to　reflect　that　somehow；　despite　its　fairness　and　the　cold　must　make　her　unfortable。　My　icy　touch　certainly　had　You　don　t　like　the　cold；　I　guessed。　Or　the　wet；　she　agreed。　Forks　must　be　a　difficult　place　for　you　to　live。　Perhaps　you　should　not　have　e　here；　I　wanted　to　add。　Perhaps　you　should　go　back　where　you　belong。　I　wasn　t　sure　I　wanted　that；　though。　I　would　always　remember　the　scent　of　her　blood　was　there　any　guarantee　that　I　wouldn　t　eventually　follow　after　her？　Besides；　if　she　left；　her　mind　would　forever　remain　a　mystery。　A　constant；　nagging　puzzle。　You　have　no　idea；　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　glowering　past　me　for　a　moment。　Her　answers　were　never　what　I　expected。　They　made　me　want　to　ask　more　questions。　Why　did　you　e　here；　then？　I　demanded；　realizing　instantly　that　my　tone　was　too　accusatory；　not　casual　enough　for　the　conversation。　The　question　sounded　rude；　prying。　It　s　plicated。　She　blinked　her　wide　eyes；　leaving　it　at　that；　and　I　nearly　imploded　out　of　curiosity　the　curiosity　burned　as　hot　as　the　thirst　in　my　throat。　Actually；　I　found　that　it　was　getting　slightly　easier　to　breathe；　the　agony　was　being　more　bearable　through　familiarity。　I　think　I　can　keep　up；　I　insisted。　Perhaps　mon　courtesy　would　keep　her　answering　my　questions　as　long　as　I　was　rude　enough　to　ask　them。　She　stared　down　silently　at　her　hands。　This　made　me　impatient；　I　wanted　to　put　my　hand　under　her　chin　and　tilt　her　head　up　so　that　I　could　read　her　eyes。　But　it　would　be　foolish　of　me　dangerous　to　touch　her　skin　again。　She　looked　up　suddenly。　It　was　a　relief　to　be　able　to　see　the　emotions　in　her　eyes　again。　She　spoke　in　a　rush；　hurrying　through　the　words。　My　mother　got　remarried。　Ah；　this　was　human　enough；　easy　to　understand。　eyes　and　brought　the　pucker　back　between　them。　Sadness　passed　through　her　clear　That　doesn　t　sound　so　plex；　I　said。　My　voice　was　gentle　without　my　working　to　make　it　that　way。　Her　sadness　left　me　feeling　oddly　helpless；　wishing　there　was　something　I　could　do　to　make　her　feel　better。　A　strange　impulse。　When　did　that　happen？　Last　September。　She　exhaled　heavily　not　quite　a　sigh。　warm　breath　brushed　my　face。　I　held　my　breath　as　her　And　you　don　t　like　him；　I　guessed；　fishing　for　more　information。

No；　Phil　is　fine；　she　said；　correcting　my　assumption。　There　was　a　hint　of　a　smile　now　around　the　corners　of　her　full　lips。　Too　young；　maybe；　but　nice　enough。　This　didn　t　fit　with　the　scenario　I　d　been　constructing　in　my　head。　Why　didn　t　you　stay　with　them？　I　asked；　my　voice　a　little　too　curious。