The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 2 STITCHES

CARLISLE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO STAYED hush. Centuries of jazz in the emergency room were evident in his becalm, authoritative voice.Emmett, Rose, b new(prenominal) Jasper let show upside.Unsmiling for once, Emmett nodded. Come on, Jasper.Jasper struggled against Emmetts shatterproof grasp, twisting slightly, reaching toward his brother with his bargond teeth, his eyeb each(prenominal) suave past rea intelligence.Edwards brasst was whiter than b genius as he wheeled to crouch over me, fetching a fallly defensive position. A depressive disorder warning growl s chapeau from between his clenched teeth. I could tell that he wasnt brea abridgeg.Rosalie, her divine expression fishily smug, stepped in front of Jasper c tree branchineeeming a c arful outdo from his teet exit helped Emmett w embossmentle him d i the film over entry that Esme held open, whiz conk pressed over her mouth and nose.Esmes simple lay out was ashamed. Im so sorry, Bella, she cried as she f ollowed the others into the yard.Let me by, Edward, Carlisle murmured.A second passed, and and so Edward nodded slowly and relaxed his stance.Carlisle knelt beside me, leaning nigh(a) to examine my fort. I could stir the injure rimed on my face, and I tried to compose it.Here, Carlisle, Alice verbalize, bargaining him a towel.He agitate his ca say. Too overmuch(prenominal) crank in the wound. He reached over and ripped a vast, thin scrap from the bottom of the white t ablecloth. He twisted it around my encircle above the elbow to pee a tourniquet. The belief of the blood was making me dizzy. My ears rang.Bella, Carlisle verbalize softly. Do you deprivation me to drive you to the hospital, or would you manage me to take care of it here?Here, please, I talk. If he excessivelyk me to the hospital, in that respect would be no elan to keep this from Charlie.Ill shell your foot, Alice utter.Lets take her to the kitchen table, Carlisle utter to Edward.Edward lifted me effortlessly, date Carlisle kept the pres real steady on my arm.How are you doing, Bella? Carlisle asked.Im fine. My voice was fountainably steady, which pleased me.Edwards face was care st unitary.Alice was there. Carlisles black bag was already on the table, a sm each tot solely(prenominal)y brilliant desk light blocked into the w alone. Edward sat me gently into a c pilus, and Carlisle extracted up a nonher. He went to bailiwick at once.Edward s to a faultd over me, still protective, still not breathing.Just go, Edward, I sighed.I laughingstock do by it, he insisted. solely his jaw was determined his eyes burned with the intensity of the thirst he fought, so much worse for him than it was for the others.You dont consider to be a hero, I said. Carlisle canful fix me up without your help. Get near fresh air.I winced as Carlisle did mostthing to my arm that stung.Ill stay, he said.Why are you so masochistic? I mumbled.Carlisle decided to intercede. Edward, you may as sanitary go find Jasper earlier he gets too far. Im sure hes upset with himself, and I uncertainty hell listen to twoone unless you right on now.Yes, I thirstily hitd. Go find Jasper.You might as well do something useful, Alice added.Edwards eyes narrowed as we ganged up on him, simply, in the long run, he nodded once and sprinted smoothly by dint of with(predicate) the kitchens congest door. I was sure he hadnt interpreted a breath since Id sliced my finger.A numb, s tonus-dead sprightlinessing was spreading through my arm.Though it erased the sting, it reminded me of the gash, and I watched Carlisles face carefully to unhinge me from what his hands were doing. His hair gleamed gold in the bright light as he bent over my arm. I could emotional state the faint stirrings of unease in the pit of my stomach, exclusively I was determined not to let my unwashed squeamishness get the best of me. There was no pain now, proficient a gentle tugging protagoni st that I tried to ignore. No reason to get sick kindred a baby.If she hadnt been in my trace of sight, I wouldnt be possessed of detect Alice give up and steal out of the room. With a tiny, apologetic smiling on her lips, she disappeared through the kitchen door counseling.Well, thats e veryone, I sighed. I can clear a room, at least.Its not your fault, Carlisle console me with a chuckle. It could happen to anyone.Could I repeated. But it usu all toldy respectable happens to me.He laughed again.His relaxed calm was and much amazing set in direct ancestry with everyone elses reaction. I couldnt find any trace of anxiety in his face. He plyed with quick, sure movements. The only fundamental besides our quiet breathing was the soft plink, plink as the tiny fragments of churl dropped one by one to the table.How can you do this? I demanded. Even Alice and Esme I trailed off, shaking my head in wonder. Though the rest of them had given up the traditional diet of vampires in cisively as absolutely as Carlisle had, he was the only one who could bear the smell of my blood without ugly from the intense temptation. Clearly, this was much much(prenominal) difficult than he wane it seem.Years and age of practice, he told me. I patently notice the scent anyto a greater extent.Do you hark back it would be stronger if you took a vacation from the hospital for a long age. And werent around any blood?Maybe. He shrugged his berms, but his hands remained steady. Ive neer matte the motivating for an ext s enlighten overed holiday. He flashed a brilliant pull a face in my program line. I bang my work too much.Plink, plink, plink. I was surprised at how much glass there seemed to be in my arm. I was tempted to stare at the growing pile, just to check the size, but I knew that idea would not be adjuvant to my no-vomiting strategy.What is it that you enjoy? I wondered. It didnt make sense to methe old age of struggle and self-denial he must consume s pent to get to the point where he could wear d assume got this so easily. Besides, I complimentsed to keep him talk the parley kept my mind off the nauseated feeling in my stomach.His dark eyes were calm and panoramaful as he answered. Hmm. What I enjoy the very most is when my enhanced abilities let me go on someone who would otherwise have been lost. Its pleasant subtle that, thanks to what I can do, some peoples lives are better because I subsist. Even the sense of smell is a useful diagnostic tool at times. One side of his mouth pulled up in half a smile.I mulled that over plot of ground he poked around, making sure all the glass splinters were gone. whence(prenominal) he rummaged in his bag for new tools, and I tried not to house painting a questle and thread.You try very stern to make up for something that was neer your fault, I suggested age a new cordial of tugging started at the edges of my skin. What I mean is, its not comparable you asked for this. Yo u didnt choose this kind of demeanor, and yet you have to work so hard to be good.I dont have it away that Im making up for anything, he disagreed lightly. Like everything in life, I just had to decide what to do with what I was given.That makes it sound too easy.He examined my arm again. There, he said, snipping a thread. All through with(p). He wiped an oversized Q-tip, dripping with some syrup- burnished liquid, thoroughly crosswise the operation site. The smell was freaky it do my head spin. The syrup stained my skin.In the beginning, though, I pressed sequence he tape another long cut of veiling steadfastly in place, sealing it to my skin. Why did you take take look at to try a different way than the apparent one?His lips turned up in a private smile. Hasnt Edward told you this story?Yes. But Im trying to attend what you were hypothecateingHis face was suddenly life-threatening again, and I wondered if his thoughts had gone to the aforementioned(prenominal) pl ace that mine had. wonder what I would be cerebration whenI refused to think ifit was me.You know my father was a clergyman, he mused as he cleaned the table carefully, rubbing everything down with wet gauze, and then doing it again. The smell of alcohol burned in my nose. He had a rather harsh view of the world, which I was already beginning to question before the time that I changed. Carlisle put all the dirty gauze and the glass slivers into an empty crystal bowl. I didnt construe what he was doing, even when he lit the match. Then he threw it onto the alcohol-soaked fibers, and the sudden blaze made me jump.Sorry, he apologized. That ought to do it So I didnt agree with my fathers particular(prenominal) brand of faith. But never, in the nearly quad hundred years now since I was born, have I ever seen anything to make me doubt whether idol exists in some form or the other. non even the reflection in the mirror.I fancied to examine the dressing on my arm to obliterate my surprise at the direction our conversation had taken. religious belief was the function thing I expected, all things considered. My own life was modal(a)ly devoid of belief. Charlie considered himself a Lutheran, because thats what his parents had been, but Sundays he worshipped by the river with a look for pole in his hand. Renee tried out a church now and then, but, much like her truncated affairs with tennis, pottery, yoga, and French classes, she moved on by the time I was apprised of her newest fad.Im sure all this sounds a little bizarre, coming from a vampire. He grinned, discerning how their casual use of that word never failed to shock me. But Im hoping that there is still a point to this life, even for us. Its a long shot, Ill admit, he continued in an offhand voice. By all accounts, were damned regardless. But I hope, by chance foolishly, that well get some measure of credit for trying.I dont think thats foolish, I mumbled. I couldnt imagine anyone, deity included , who wouldnt be impressed by Carlisle. Besides, the only kind of promised land I could appreciate would have to include Edward. And I dont think anyone else would, either.Actually, youre the very setoff one to agree with me.The rest of them dont feel the same? I asked, surprised, thinking of only one person in particular.Carlisle guessed the direction of my thoughts again. Edwards with me up to a point. God and heaven exist and so does loony bin. But he doesnt believe there is an afterlife for our kind. Carlisles voice was very soft he stared out the big window over the sink, into the darkness. You see, he thinks weve lost our souls.I immediately thought of Edwards lyric this afternoon unless you want to dieor whatever it is that we do. The lightbulb flicked on over my head.Thats the real problem, isnt it? I guessed. Thats why hes world so difficult somewhat me.Carlisle spoke slowly. I look at my son. His strength, his goodness, the brightness that shines out of himand it only fuels that hope, that faith, more than ever. How could there not be more for one such as Edward?I nodded in fervent agreement.But if I believed as he does He looked down at me with unfathomable eyes. If you believed as he did. Could you take away his soul?The way he phrased the question thwarted my answer.If hed asked me whether I would try my soul for Edward, the reply would be obvious. But would I risk Edwards soul? I pursed my lips unhappily. That wasnt a fair exchange.You see the problem.I shook my head, aware of the decided set of my chin.Carlisle sighed.Its my choice, I insisted.Its his, too. He held up his hand when he could see that I was closely to argue. Whether he is responsible for doing that to you.Hes not the only one able to do it. I eyed Carlisle speculatively.He laughed, suddenly lightening the mood. Oh, no Youre going to have to work this out with him.But then he sighed. Thats the one part I can never be sure of. I think, in most other ways, that Ive done the best I could with what I had to work with. But was it right to doom the others to this life? I cant decide.I didnt answer. I imagined what my life would be like if Carlisle had resisted the temptation to change his lonely existence and shuddered.It was Edwards give who made up my mind. Carlisles voice was almost a whisper. He stared unseeingly out the black windows.His mother? Whenever Id asked Edward about his parents, he would merely say that they had died long ago, and his memories were vague. I pictured Carlisles memory of them, despite the brevity of their contact, would be perfectly clear.Yes. Her name was Elizabeth. Elizabeth Masen. His father, Edward Senior, never regained consciousness in the hospital. He died in the first wave of the influenza. But Elizabeth was alert until almost the very end. Edward looks a abundant deal like hershe had that same strange bronze shade to her hair, and her eyes were exactly the same color green.His eyes were green? I murmured, trying to estimate it.Yes Carlisles ocher eyes were a hundred years away now. Elizabeth worried obsessively over her son. She price her own chances of survival trying to nurse him from her sickbed. I expected that he would go first, he was so much worse off than she was. When the end came for her, it was very quick. It was just after sunset, and Id arrived to relieve the doctors whod been working all day. That was a hard time to pretendthere was so much work to be done, and I had no need of rest. How I hated to go back to my house, to get across in the dark and pretend to peace while so many were dying.I went to check Elizabeth and her son first. Id grown attachedalways a dangerous thing to do considering the fragile nature of humans. I could see at once that shed taken a bad turn. The febrility was raging out of control, and her body was too half-hearted to fight anymore.She didnt look weak, though, when she glared up at me from her cot. however him she commanded me in the hoarse voi ce that was all her throat could manage.Ill do everything in my power, I promised her, taking her hand. The feverishness was so high, she probably couldnt even tell how unnaturally cold mine matte up. Everything felt cold to her skin.You must, she insisted, clutching at my hand with generous strength that I wondered if she wouldnt pull through the crisis after all. Her eyes were hard, like stones, like emeralds. You must do everything in your power. What others cannot do, that is what you must do for my Edward.It frightened me. She looked it me with those piercing eyes, and, for one instant, I felt certain that she knew my secret. Then the fever overwhelmed her, and she never regained consciousness. She died inside an hour of making her demand.Id spent decades considering the idea of creating a companion for myself. Just one other puppet who could unfeignedly know me, rather than what I sour to be. But I could never justify it to myselfdoing what had been done to me.There Edw ard lay, dying. It was clear that he had only hours left. Beside him, his mother, her face someway not yet peaceful, not even in death.Carlisle saw it all again, his memory unblurred by the intervening century. I could see it clearly, too, as he spokethe despair of the hospital, the overwhelming atmosphere of death. Edward burning with fever, his life slipping away with each tick of the measure I shuddered again, and forced the picture from my mind.Elizabeths words echoed in my head. How could she guess what I could do? Could anyone really want that for her son?I looked at Edward. Sick as he was, he was still beautiful. There was something small and good about his face. The kind of face I would have wanted my son to have.After all those years of indecision, I simply acted on a whim. I wheeled his mother to the morgue first, and then I came back for him. No one noticed that he was still breathing. There werent enough hands, enough eyes, to keep track of half of what the patients n eeded. The morgue was emptyof the living, at least. I stole him out the back door, and carried him across the rooftops back to my home.I wasnt sure what had to be done. I colonized for recreating the wounds Id received myself, so many centuries preliminary in London. I felt bad about that later. It was more painful and lingering than necessary.I wasnt sorry, though. Ive never been sorry that I saved Edward. He shook his head, coming back to the present. He smiled at me. I suppose I should take you home now.Ill do that, Edward said. He came through the shadowy dining room, walking slowly for him. His face was smooth, unreadable, but there was something wrong with his eyessomething he was trying very hard to hide. I felt a spasm of unease in my stomach.Carlisle can take me, I said. I looked down at my shirt the light blue like was soaked and spotted with my blood. My right shoulder was hatch in thick pink frosting.Im fine. Edwards voice was unemotional. Youll need to change anyway . Youd give Charlie a heart good time the way you look. Ill have Alice get you something. He strode out the kitchen door again.I looked at Carlisle anxiously. Hes very upset.Yes, Carlisle agreed. this evening is exactly the kind of thing that he fears the most. You existence put in danger, because of what we are.Its not his fault.Its not yours, either.I looked away from his wise, beautiful eyes. I couldnt agree with that.Carlisle offered me his hand and helped me up from the table. I followed him out into the main room. Esme had descend back she was mopping the floor where Id fallenwith straight decolourize from the smell of it.Esme, let me do that. I could feel that my face was bright red again.Im already done. She smiled up at me. How do you feel?Im fine, I advised her. Carlisle sews faster than any other doctor Ive had.They two chuckled.Alice and Edward came in the back doors. Alice hurry to my side, but Edward hung back, his face indecipherable.Cmon, Alice said. Ill get you something less macabre to wear.She found me a shirt of Esmes that was close to the same color mine had been. Charlie wouldnt notice, I was sure. The long white eyepatch on my arm didnt look nearly as serious when I was no longer spattered in gore. Charlie was never surprised to see me bandaged.Alice, I whispered as she headed back to the door.Yes? She kept her voice low, too, and looked at me curiously, her head cocked to the side.How bad is it? I couldnt be sure if my whispering was a wasted effort. Even though we were upstairs, with the door closed, perhaps he could hear me.Her face tensed. Im not sure yet.Hows Jasper?She sighed. Hes very unhappy with himself. Its all so much more of challenge for him, and he hates feeling weak.Its not his fault. Youll tell him that Im not mad at him, not at all, wont you?Of course.Edward was waiting for me by the front door. As I got to the bottom of the staircase, he held it open without a word.Take your things Alice cried as I walked waril y toward Edward. She scooped up the two packages, one half-opened, and my television camera from on a lower floor the easygoing, and pressed them into my good arm. You can thank me later, when youve opened them.Esme and Carlisle both said a quiet goodnight. I could see them stealing quick glances at their impassive son, much like I was.It was a relief to be outside I hurried past the lanterns and the roses, now unwelcome reminders. Edward kept ill-use with me silently. He opened the passenget side for me, and I climbed in withoutcomplaint.On the dashboard was a big red ribbon, stuck to the new stereo. I pulled it off, throwing it to the floor. As Edward slid into the other side, I kicked the ribbon downstairs my seat.He didnt look at me or the stereo. Neither of us switched it on, and the silence was somehow intensified by the sudden thunder of the engine. He drove too fast down the dark, curved lane.The silence was making me insane.Say something, I finally begged as he turned onto the freeway.What do you want me to say? he asked in a stranded voice.I cringed at his remoteness. Tell me you forgive me.That brought a flicker of life to his facea flicker of anger. Forgive you? For what?If Id been more careful, nothing would have happened.Bella, you gave yourself a topic cutthat scarce deserves the death penalty.Its still my fault.My words opened up the floodgate.Your fault? If youd cut yourself at mike Newtons house, with Jessica there and Angela and your other normal friends, the worst that could possibly have happened would be what? Maybe they couldnt find you a bandage? If youd tripped and knocked over a pile of glass plates on your ownwithout someone throwing you into themeven then, whats the worst? Youd get blood on the seats when they drove you to the emergency room? mike Newton could have held your hand while they run up you upand he wouldnt be righting the urge to kill you the building block time he was there. Dont try to take any of this on yourself, Bella. It will only make me more disgusted with myself.How the hell did Mike Newton end up in this conversation? I demanded.Mike Newton ended up in this conversation because Mike Newton would be a hell of a lot healthier for you to be with, he growled.Id rather die than be with Mike Newton, I protested. Id rather die than be with anyone but you.Dont be melodramatic, please.Well then, dont you be ridiculous.He didnt answer. He glared through the windshield, his expression black.I racked my brain for some way to salvage the evening. When we pulled up in front of my house, I still hadnt come up with anything.He killed the engine, but his hands stayed clenched around the steering wheel. ordain you stay tonight? I asked.I should go home.The last thing I wanted was for him to go wallow in remorse.For my birthday, I pressed.You cant have it both wayseither you want people to ignore your birthday or you dont. One or the other.His voice was stern, but not .is serious as before. I b reathed a silent sigh of relief.Okay. Ive decided that I dont want you to ignore my birthday. Ill see you upstairs.I hopped out, reaching back in for my packages. He frowned.You dont have to take those.I want them, I acted automatically, and then wondered if he was victimization reverse psychology.No, you dont. Carlisle and Esme spent money on you.Ill live. I tucked the presents awkwardly under my good arm and slammed the door behind me. He was out of the truck and by my side in less than a second.Let me carry them, at least. he said as he took them away. Ill be in your room.I smiled. Thanks.Happy birthday, he sighed, and leaned down to impress his lips to mine.I reached up on my toes to make the kiss last longer when he pulled away. He smiled my favorite round-backed smile, and then he disappeared into the darkness.The game was still on as soon as I walked through the front door I could hear the announcer carry on over the babble of the crowd.Bell? Charlie called.Hey, Dad, I said as I came around the corner. I held my arm close to my side. The slight pressure burned, and I wrinkly my nose. The anesthetic was apparently losing its effectiveness.How was it? Charlie lounged across the sofa with his bare feet propped up on the arm. What was left of his curly dark-brown hair was crushed direct on one side.Alice went overboard. Flowers, cake, candles, presentsthe whole bit.What did they get you?A stereo for my truck. And various unknowns.Wow.Yeah, I agreed. Well, Im calling it a night.Ill see you in the morning.I waved. See ya.What happened to your arm?I violent and cursed silently. I tripped. Its nothing.Bella, he sighed, shaking his head.Goodnight, Dad.I hurried up to the bathroom, where I kept my pajamas for just such nights as these. I shrugged into the matching armored combat vehicle top and cotton pants that Id gotten to replace the leaky sweats I used to wear to bed, wincing as the movement pulled at the stitches. I washed my face one- hand, brus hed my teeth, and then skipped to my room.He was sitting in the center of my bed, toying idly with one of the eloquent medal boxes.Hi, he said. His voice was sad. He was wallowing.I went to the bed, pushed the presents out of his hands, and climbed into his lap.Hi. I snuggled into his stone chest. Can I open my presents now?Where did the enthusiasm come from? he wondered.You made me curious.I picked up the long flat rectangle that must have been from Carlisle and Esme.Allow me, he suggested. He took the gift from my hand and tore the silver paper off with one fluid movement. He handed the rectangular white box back to me. atomic number 18 you sure I can handle lifting the lid? I muttered, but he ignored me.inside the box was a long thick piece of paper with an overwhelming amount of fine print. It took me a minute to get the gist of the information.Were going to Jacksonville? And I was excited, in spite of myself. It was a voucher for categoric tickets, for both me and Edward.That s the idea.I cant believe it. Renee is going to passing play You dont mind, though, do you? Its sunny, youll have to stay inside all day.I think I can handle it, he said, and then frowned. If Id had any idea that you could respond to a gift this appropriately, I would have made you open it in front of Carlisle and Esme. I thought youd complain.Well, of course its too much. But I get to take you with meHe chuckled. Now I entreat Id spent money on your present. I didnt realize that you were capable of being reasonable.I set the tickets past and reached for his present, my curiosity rekindled. He took it from me and unwrapped it like the first one.He handed back a clear CD jewel case, with a blank silver CD inside.What is it? I asked, perplexed.He didnt say anything he took the CD and reached around me to put it in the CD player on the bedside table. He hit play, and we waited in silence. Then the music began.I listened, speechless and wide-eyed. I knew he was waiting for my reactio n, but I couldnt talk. separate welled up, and I reached up to wipe them away before they could spill over.Does your arm hurt? he asked anxiously.No, its not my arm. Its beautiful, Edward. You couldnt have given me anything I would love more. I cant believe it. I shut up, so I could listen.It was his music, his compositions. The first piece on the CD was my lullaby.I didnt think you would let me get a piano so I could play for you here, he explained.Youre right.How does your arm feel?Just fine. Actually, it was jump to blaze under the bandage. I wanted ice. I would have settled for his hand, but that would have given me away.Ill get you some Tylenol.I dont need anything, I protested, but he slid me off his lap and headed for the door.Charlie, I hissed. Charlie wasnt exactly aware that Edward frequently stayed over. In fact, he would have a stroke if that fact were brought to his attention. But I didnt feel too guilty for deceiving him It wasnt as if we were up to anything he would nt want me to be up to. Edward and his rulesHe wont overcome me, Edward promised as he disappeared silently out the door . . and returned, catching the door before it had swung back to touch the frame. He had the glass from the bathroom and the bottle of pills in one hand.I took the pills he handed me without arguingI knew I would lose the argument And my arm really was starting to bother me.My lullaby continued, soft and lovely, in the background.Its late, Edward noted. He scooped me up off the bed with one arm, and pulled the cover back with the other. He put me down with my head on my pillow and tucked the quilt around me. He lay down next to meon top of the blanket so I wouldnt get chilledand put his arm over me.I leaned my head against his shoulder and sighed happily.Thanks again, I whispered.Youre welcome.It was quiet for a long moment as I listened to my lullaby bearing to a close. Another song began. I acknowledge Esmes favorite.What are you thinking about? I wondered in a whisper.He hesitated for a second before he told me. I was thinking about right and wrong, actually.I felt a chill flush along my spine.Remember how I decided that I wanted you to not ignore my birthday? I asked quickly, hoping it wasnt too clear that I was trying to distract him.Yes, he agreed, wary.Well, I was thinking, since its still my birthday, that Id like you to kiss me again.Youre greedy tonight.Yes, I ambut please, dont do anything you dont want to do, I added, piqued.He laughed, and then sighed. Heaven forbid that I should do anything I dont want to do, he said in a strangely desperate tone as he put his hand under my chin and pulled my face up to his.The kiss began much the same as usualEdward was as careful as ever, and my heart began to overreact like it always did. And then something seemed to change. Suddenly his lips became much more urgent, his free hand twisted into my hair and held my face securely to his. And, though my hands tangled in his hair, too, and tho ugh I was clearly beginning to cross his cautious lines, for once he didnt stop me. His body was cold through the thin quilt, but I crushed myself against him eagerly.When he stopped it was abrupt he pushed me away with gentle, squiffy hands.I collapsed back onto my pillow, gasping, my head spinning. Something tugged at my memory, elusive, on the edges.Sorry, he said, and he was breathless, too. That was out of line.I dont mind, I panted.He frowned at me in the darkness. Try to sleep. Bella.No, I want you to kiss me again.Youre overestimating my self-control.Which is tempting you more, my blood or my body? I challenged.Its a tie. He grinned briefly in spite of himself, and then was serious again. Now. why dont you stop pushing your luck and go to sleep?Fine, I agreed, snuggling closer to him. I really did feel exhausted. It had been a long day in so many ways, yet I felt no sense of relief at its end. just about as if something worse was coming tomorrow. It was a giddy premoniti onwhat could be worse than today? Just the shock catching up with me, no doubt.Trying to be sneaky about it, I pressed my hurt arm against his shoulder, so his cool skin would sooth the burning. It felt better at once.I was halfway asleep, maybe more, when I realized what his kiss had reminded me of last spring, when hed had to countenance me to throw James off my trail, Edward had kissed me goodbye, not knowing whenor ifwe would see each other again. This kiss had the same almost painful edge for some reason I couldnt imagine. I shuddered into unconsciousness, as if I were already having a nightmare.