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ouch； and I could feel the pulse of blood speed beneath her transparent skin。 Enough； I ordered； though my hand was aching to shape itself to the side of her face。 Enough。 It was difficult to pull my hand back； to stop myself from moving closer to her than I already was。 A thousand different possibilities ran through my mind in an instant a thousand different ways to touch her。 The tip of my finger tracing the shape of her lips。 My palm cupping under her chin。 Pulling the clip from her hair and letting it spill out across my hand。 My arms winding around her waist； holding her against the length of my body。 Enough。 I forced myself to turn； to move away from her。 My body moved stiffly unwilling。 I let my mind linger behind to watch her as I walked swiftly away； almost running from the temptation。 I caught Mike Newton s thoughts they were the loudest while he watched Bella walk past him in oblivion； her eyes unfocused and her cheeks red。 He glowered and suddenly my name was mingled with curses in his head； I couldn t help grinning slightly in response。 My hand was tingling。 I flexed it and then curled it into a fist； but it continued to sting painlessly。 No； I hadn t hurt her but touching her had still been a mistake。 It felt like fire like the thirsting burn of my throat had spread throughout my entire body。 The next time I was close to her； would I be able to stop myself from touching her again？ And if I touched her once； would I be able to stop at that？ No more mistakes。 That was it。 Savor the memory； Edward； I told myself grimly； and keep your hands to yourself。 That； or I would have to force myself to leave somehow。 Because I couldn t allow myself near her if I insisted on making errors。 I took a deep breath and tried to steady my thoughts。 Emmett caught up to me outside the English building。 Hey； Edward。 Hey； Em。 that way。 He s looking better。 Weird； but better。 Happy。 Did I look happy？ I supposed； despite the chaos in my head； I felt Rosalie wants to rip your tongue out。 Are you angry with me？ With what Alice sees Way to keep your mouth shut； kid。 I sighed。 Sorry I left you to deal with that。 Naw。 Rose ll get over it。 ing It was bound to happen anyway。
Alice s visions were not what I wanted to think about right now。 forward； my teeth locking together。 I stared As I searched for a distraction； I caught sight of Ben Cheney entering the Spanish room ahead of us。 Ah here was my chance to give Angela Weber her gift。 I stopped walking and caught Emmett s arm。 Hold on a second。 What s up？ I know I don t deserve it； but would you do me a favor anyway？ What is it？ he asked； curious。 Under my breath and at a speed that would have made the words inprehensible to a human no matter how loud they d been spoken I explained to him what I wanted。 He stared at me blankly when I was done； his thoughts as blank as his face。 So？ I prompted。 Will you help me do it？ But； why？ It took him a minute to respond。 C mon； Emmett。 Why not？ Who are you and what have you done with my brother？ Aren t you the one who plains that school is always the same？ This is something a little different； isn t it？ Consider it an experiment an experiment in human nature。 He stared at me for another moment before he caved。 Well； it is different； I ll give you that Okay； fine。 Emmett snorted and then shrugged。 I ll help you。 I grinned at him； feeling more enthusiastic about my plan now that he was on board。 Rosalie was a pain； but I would always owe her one for choosing Emmett； no one had a better brother than mine。 Emmett didn t need to practice。 I whispered his lines to him once under my breath as we walked into the classroom。 Ben was already in his seat behind mine； assembling his homework to hand in。 Emmett and I both sat and did the same thing。 The classroom was not quiet yet； the murmur of subdued conversation would continue until Mrs。 Goff called for attention。 She was in no hurry； appraising the quizzes from the last class。 So； Emmett said； his voice louder than necessary if he were really speaking only to me。 Did you ask Angela Weber out yet？ The sound of papers rustling behind me came to an abrupt stop as Ben froze； his attention suddenly riveted on our conversation。 Angela？ They re talking about Angela？ Good。 I had his interest。 No； I said； shaking my head slowly to appear regretful。
Why not？ Emmett improvised。 I grimaced at him。 No。 Are you chicken？ I heard that she was interested in someone else。 Edward Cullen was going to ask Angela out？ But No。 I don t like that。 I don t want him near her。 He s not right for her。 Not safe。 I hadn t anticipated the chivalry； the protective instinct。 jealousy。 But whatever worked。 I d been working for You re going to let that stop you？ Emmett asked scornfully； improvising again。 Not up for the petition？ I glared at him； but made used of what he gave me。 Look； I guess she really likes this Ben person。 I m not going to try to convince her otherwise。 There are other girls。 The reaction in the chair behind me was electric。 Who？ Emmett asked； back to the script。 My lab partner said it was some kid named Cheney。 is。 I m not sure I know who he I bit back my smile。 Only the haughty Cullens could get away with pretending not to know every student at this tiny school。 Ben s head was whirling with shock。 like me？ Me？ Over Edward Cullen？ But why would she Edward； Emmett muttered in a lower tone； rolling his eyes toward the boy。 He s right behind you； he mouthed； so obviously that the human could easily read the words。 Oh； I muttered back。 I turned in my seat and glanced once at the boy behind me。 For a second； the black eyes behind the glasses were frightened； but then he stiffened and squared his narrow shoulders； affronted by my clearly disparaging evaluation。 His chin shot out and an angry flush darkened his goldenbrown skin。 Huh； I said arrogantly as I turned back to Emmett。 He thinks he s better than me。 But Angela doesn t。 I ll show him Perfect。 Didn t you say she was taking Yorkie to the dance； though？ Emmett asked； snorting as he said the name of the boy that many scorned for his awkwardness。 That was a group decision apparently。 I wanted to be sure that Ben was clear on this。 Angela s shy。 If B well； if a guy doesn t have the nerve to ask her out； she d never ask him。 You like shy girls； Emmett said； back to improvisation。 like hmm； I don t know。 Maybe Bella Swan？ I grinned at him。 Exactly。 Quiet girls。 Girls Then I returned to the performance。 Maybe Angela
will get tired of waiting。 Maybe I ll ask her to the prom。 No； you won t； Ben thought； straightening up in his chair。 So what if she s so much taller than me？ If she doesn t care； then neither do I。 She s the nicest； smartest； prettiest girl in this school and she wants me。 I liked this Ben。 like Angela。 He seemed bright and wellmeaning。 Maybe even worthy of a girl I gave Emmett a thumbs up under the desk as Mrs。 Goff stood and greeted the class。 Okay； I ll admit it that was sort of fun； Emmett thought。 I smiled to myself； pleased that I d been able to shape one love story s happy ending。 I was positive that Ben would follow through； and Angela would receive my anonymous gift。 My debt was repaid。 How silly humans were； to let a six inch height differential confound their happiness。 My success put me in a good mood。 I smiled again as I settled into my chair and prepared to be entertained。 After all； as Bella had pointed out at lunch； I d never seen her in action in her gym class before。 Mike s thoughts were the easiest to pinpoint in the babble of voices that swarmed through the gym。 His mind had gotten far too familiar over the last few weeks。 With a sigh； I resigned myself to listening through him。 At least I could be sure that he would be paying attention to Bella。 I was just in time to hear him offer to be her badminton partner； as he made the suggestion； other partnerings ran through his mind。 My smile faded； my teeth clenched together； and I had to remind myself that murdering Mike Newton was not a permissible option。 Thanks； Mike you don t have to do this； you know。 Don t worry； I ll keep out of your way。 They grinned at each other； and flashes of numerous accidents always in some way connected to Bella flashed through Mike s head。 Mike played alone at first； while