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d 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。 sounded like I was being nosy。 Which I was； admittedly。 Phil travels a lot。 He plays ball for a living。 pronounced； this career choice amused her。 It The little smile grew more I smiled； too； without choosing to。 I wasn t trying to make her feel at ease。 Her smile just made me want to smile in response to be in on the secret。 Have I heard of him？ I ran through the rosters of professional ball players in my head； wondering which Phil was hers Probably not。 He doesn t play well。 He moves around a lot。 Another smile。 Strictly minor league。 The rosters in my head shifted instantly； and I d tabulated a list of possibilities in less than a second。 At the same time； I was imagining the new scenario。 And your mother sent you here so that she could travel with him； I said。 Making assumptions seemed to get more information out of her than questions did。 It worked again。 Her chin jutted out； and her expression was suddenly stubborn。 No； she did not send me here； she said； and her voice had a new； hard edge to it。 My assumption had upset her； though I couldn t quite see how。 I sent myself。 I could not guess at her meaning； or the source behind her pique。 lost。 I was entirely So I gave up。 There was just no making sense of the girl。 She wasn t like other humans。 Maybe the silence of her thoughts and the perfume of her scent were not the only unusual things about her。 I don t understand； I admitted； hating to concede。 She sighed； and stared into my eyes for longer than most normal humans were able to stand。 She stayed with me at first； but she missed him； she explained slowly； her tone growing more forlorn with each word。 It made her unhappy so I decided it was time to spend some quality time with Charlie。 The tiny pucker between her eyes deepened。 But now you re unhappy； I murmured。 I couldn t seem to stop speaking my hypotheses aloud； hoping to learn from her reactions。 This one； however； did not seem as far off the mark。 And？ she said； as if this was not even an aspect to be considered。
I continued to stare into her eyes； feeling that I d finally gotten my first real glimpse into her soul。 I saw in that one word where she ranked herself among her own priorities。 Unlike most humans； her own needs were far down the list。 She was selfless。 As I saw this； the mystery of the person hiding inside this quiet mind began to thin a little。 That doesn t seem fair； I said。 I shrugged； trying to seem casual； trying to conceal the intensity of my curiosity。 She laughed； but there was no amusement the sound。 Life isn t fair。 Hasn t anyone ever told you？ I wanted to laugh at her words； though I； too； felt no real amusement。 I knew a little something about the unfairness of life。 I believe I have heard that somewhere before。 She stared back at me； seeming confused again。 came back to mine。 So that s all； she told me。 But I was not ready to let this conversation end。 The little V between her eyes； a remnant of her sorrow； bothered me。 I wanted to smooth it away with my fingertip。 But； of course； I could not touch her。 It was unsafe in so many ways。 You put on a good show。 I spoke slowly； still considering this next hypothesis。 But I d be willing to bet that you re suffering more than you let anyone see。 She made a face； her eyes narrowing and her mouth twisting into a lopsided pout； and she looked back towards the front of the class。 She didn t like it when I guessed right。 She wasn t the average martyr she didn t want an audience to her pain。 Am I wrong？ She flinched slightly； but otherwise pretended not to hear me。 That made me smile。 I didn t think so。 Her eyes flickered away； and then Why does it matter to you？ she demanded； still staring away。 That s a very good question； I admitted； more to myself than to answer her。 Her discernment was better than mine she saw right to the core of things while I floundered around the edges； sifting blindly through clues。 The details of her very human life should not matter to me。 It was wrong for me to care what she thought。 Beyond protecting my family from suspicion； human thoughts were not significant。 I was not used to being the less intuitive of any pairing。 I relied on my extra hearing too much I clearly was not as perceptive as I gave myself credit for。 The girl sighed and glowered toward the front of the classroom。 Something about her frustrated expression was humorous。 The whole situation； the whole conversation was humorous。 No one had ever been in more danger from me than this little girl at any moment I might； distracted by my ridiculous absorption in the
conversation； inhale through my nose and attack her before I could stop myself and she was irritated because I hadn t answered her question。 Am I annoying you？ I asked； smiling at the absurdity of it all。 She glanced at me quickly； and then her eyes seemed to get trapped by my gaze。 Not exactly； she told me。 I m more annoyed at myself。 My face is so easy to read my mother always calls me her open book。 She frowned； disgruntled。 I stared at her in amazement。 The reason she was upset was because she thought I saw through her too easily。 How bizarre。 I d never expended so much effort to understand someone in all my life or rather existence； as life was hardly the right word。 I did not truly have a life。 On the contrary； I disagreed； feeling strangely wary； as if there were some hidden danger here that I was failing to see。 I was suddenly on edge； the premonition making me anxious。 I find you very difficult to read。 You must be a good reader then； she guessed； making her own assumption that was； again； right on target。 Usually； I agreed。 I smiled at her widely then； letting my lips pull back to expose the rows of gleaming； razor sharp teeth behind them。 It was a stupid thing to do； but I was abruptly； unexpectedly desperate to get some kind of warning through to the girl。 Her body was closer to me than before； having shifted unconsciously in the course of our conversation。 All the little markers and signs that were sufficient to scare off the rest of humanity did not seem to be working on her。 Why did she not cringe away from me in terror？ Surely she had seen enough of my darker side to realize the danger； intuitive as she seemed to be。 I didn t get to see if my warning had the intended effect。 Mr。 Banner called for the class s attention just then； and she turned away from me at once。 She seemed a little relieved for the interruption； so maybe she understood unconsciously。 I hoped she did。 I recognized the fascination growing inside me； even as I tried to root it out。 I could not afford to find Bella Swan interesting。 Or rather； she could not afford that。 Already； I was anxious for another chance to talk to her。 I wanted to know more about her mother； her life before she came here； her relationship with her father。 All the meaningless details that would flesh out her character further。 But every second I spent with her was a mistake； a risk she shouldn t have to take。 Absentmindedly； she tossed her thick hair just at the moment that I allowed myself another breath。 A particularly concentrated wave of her scent hit the back of my throat。 It was like the fi