house。
I jumped up； foolishly edgy； gathering the nowdamp quilt and my book。 I
ran inside to get some oil heating on the stove； realizing that dinner
would be late。 Charlie was hanging up his gun belt and stepping out of
his boots when I came in。
〃Sorry； Dad； dinner's not ready yet — I fell asleep outside。〃 I stifled a
yawn。
〃Don't worry about it；〃 he said。 〃I wanted to catch the score on the
game； anyway。〃
I watched TV with Charlie after dinner； for something to do。 There wasn't
anything on I wanted to watch； but he knew I didn't like baseball； so he
turned it to some mindless sit that neither of us enjoyed。 He seemed
happy； though； to be doing something together。 And it felt good； despite
my depression； to make him happy。
〃Dad；〃 I said during a mercial； 〃Jessica and Angela are going to look
at dresses for the dance tomorrow night in Port Angeles； and they wanted
me to help them choose… do you mind if I go with them？〃
〃Jessica Stanley？〃 he asked。
〃And Angela Weber。〃 I sighed as I gave him the details。
He was confused。 〃But you're not going to the dance； right？〃
〃No； Dad； but I'm helping them find dresses — you know； giving them
constructive criticism。〃 I wouldn't have to explain this to a woman。
〃Well； okay。〃 He seemed to realize that he was out of his depth with the
girlie stuff。 〃It's a school night； though。〃
〃We'll leave right after school； so we can get back early。 You'll be okay
for dinner； right？〃
〃Bells； I fed myself for seventeen years before you got here；〃 he
reminded me。
〃I don't know how you survived；〃 I muttered； then added more clearly；
〃I'll leave some things for coldcut sandwiches in the fridge； okay？
Right on top。〃
It was sunny again in the morning。 I awakened with renewed hope that I
grimly tried to suppress。 I dressed for the warmer weather in a deep blue
Vneck blouse — something I'd worn in the dead of winter in Phoenix。
I had planned my arrival at school so that I barely had time to make it
to class。 With a sinking heart； I circled the full lot looking for a
space； while also searching for the silver Volvo that was clearly not
there。 I parked in the last row and hurried to English； arriving
breathless； but subdued； before the final bell。
It was the same as yesterday — I just couldn't keep little sprouts of
hope from budding in my mind； only to have them squashed painfully as I
searched the lunchroom in vain and sat at my empty Biology table。
The Port Angeles scheme was back on again for tonight and made all the
more attractive by the fact that Lauren had other obligations。 I was
anxious to get out of town so I could stop glancing over my shoulder；
hoping to see him appearing out of the blue the way he always did。 I
vowed to myself that I would be in a good mood tonight and not ruin
Angela's or Jessica's enjoyment in the dress hunting。 Maybe I could do a
little clothes shopping as well。 I refused to think that I might be
shopping alone in Seattle this weekend； no longer interested in the
earlier arrangement。 Surely he wouldn't cancel without at least telling
me。
After school； Jessica followed me home in her old white Mercury so that I
could ditch my books and truck。 I brushed through my hair quickly when I
was inside； feeling a slight lift of excitement as I contemplated getting
out of Forks。 I left a note for Charlie on the table； explaining again
where to find dinner； switched my scruffy wallet from my school bag to a
purse I rarely used； and ran out to join Jessica。 We went to Angela's
house next； and she was waiting for us。 My excitement increased
exponentially as we actually drove out of the town limits。
===========================================================================
8。 PORT ANGELES
Jess drove faster than the Chief； so we made it to Port Angeles by four。
It had been a while since I'd had a girls' night out； and the estrogen
rush was invigorating。 We listened to whiny rock songs while Jessica
jabbered on about the boys we hung out with。 Jessica's dinner with Mike
had gone very well； and she was hoping that by Saturday night they would
have progressed to the firstkiss stage。 I smiled to myself； pleased。
Angela was passively happy to be going to the dance； but not really
interested in Eric。 Jess tried to get her to confess who her type was；
but I interrupted with a question about dresses after a bit； to spare
her。 Angela threw a grateful glance my way。
Port Angeles was a beautiful little tourist trap； much more polished and
quaint than Forks。 But Jessica and Angela knew it well； so they didn't
plan to waste time on the picturesque boardwalk by the bay。 Jess drove
straight to the one big department store in town； which was a few streets
in from the bay area's visitorfriendly face。
The dance was billed as semiformal； and we weren't exactly sure what that
meant。 Both Jessica and Angela seemed surprised and almost disbelieving
when I told them I'd never been to a dance in Phoenix。
〃Didn't you ever go with a boyfriend or something？〃 Jess asked dubiously
as we walked through the front doors of the store。
〃Really；〃 I tried to convince her； not wanting to confess my dancing
problems。 〃I've never had a boyfriend or anything close。 I didn't go out
much。〃
〃Why not？〃 Jessica demanded。
〃No one asked me；〃 I answered honestly。
She looked skeptical。 〃People ask you out here；〃 she reminded me； 〃and
you tell them no。〃 We were in the juniors' section now； scanning the
racks for dressup clothes。
〃Well； except for Tyler；〃 Angela amended quietly。
〃Excuse me？〃 I gasped。 〃What did you say？〃
〃Tyler told everyone he's taking you to prom；〃 Jessica informed me with
suspicious eyes。
〃He said what？〃 I sounded like I was choking。
〃I told you it wasn't true；〃 Angela murmured to Jessica。
I was silent； still lost in shock that was quickly turning to irritation。
But we had found the dress racks； and now we had work to do。
〃That's why Lauren doesn't like you；〃 Jessica giggled while we pawed
through the clothes。
I ground my teeth。 〃Do you think that if I ran him over with my truck he
would stop feeling guilty about the accident？ That he might give up on
making amends and call it even？〃
〃Maybe；〃 Jess snickered。 '〃If that's why he's doing this。〃
The dress selection wasn't large； but both of them found a few things to
try on。 I sat on a low chair just inside the dressing room； by the
threeway mirror； trying to control my fuming。
Jess was torn between two — one a long； strapless； basic black number；
the other a kneelength electric blue with spaghetti straps。 I encouraged
her to go with the blue； why not play up the eyes？ Angela chose a pale
pink dress that draped around her tall frame nicely and brought out honey
tints in her light brown hair。 I plimented them both generously and
helped by returning the rejects to their racks。 The whole process was
much shorter and easier than similar trips I'd taken with Renée at home。
I guess there was something to be said for limited choices。
We headed over to shoes and accessories。 While they tried things on I
merely watched and critiqued； not in the mood to shop for myself； though
I did need new shoes。 The girls'night high was wearing off in the wake
of my annoyance at Tyler； leaving room for the gloom to move back in。
〃Angela？〃 I began； hesitant； while she was trying on a pair of pink
strappy heels — she was overjoyed to have a date tall enough that she
could wear high heels at all。
Jessica had drifted to the jewelry counter and we were alone。
〃Yes？〃 She held her leg out； twisting her ankle to get a better view of
the shoe。
I chickened out。 〃I like those。〃
〃I think I'll get them — though they'll never match anything but the one
dress；〃 she mused。
〃Oh； go ahead — they're on sale；〃 I encouraged。 She smiled； putting the
lid back on a box that contained more practicallooking offwhite shoes。
I tried again。 〃Um； Angela…〃 She looked up curiously。
〃Is it normal for the… Cullens〃 — I kept my eyes on the shoes — 〃to be
out of school a lot？〃 I failed miserably in my attempt to sound
nonchalant。
〃Yes； when the weather is good they go backpacking all the time — even
the doctor。 They're all real outdoorsy；〃 she told me quietly； examining
her shoes； too。 She didn't ask one question； let alone the hundreds that
Jessica would have unleashed。 I was beginning to really like Angela。
〃Oh。〃 I let the subject drop as Jessica returned to show us the
rhinestone jewelry she'd found to match her silver shoes。
We planned to go to dinner at a little Italian restaurant on the
boardwalk； but the dress shopping hadn't taken as long as we'd expected。
Jess and Angela were going to take their clothes back to the car and then
walk down to the bay。 I told them I would meet them at the restaurant in
an hour — I wanted to look for a bookstore。 They were both willing to
e with me； but I encouraged them to go have fun — they didn't know how
preoccupied I could get when surrounded by books； it was something I
preferred to do al