But at the same time, strange as it seems, I wasn’t terribly worried that in the event of him discovering the truth to my adversity and overall alien existence, he would grab his torch and pitchfork and gather an angry mob to send me back to hell or wherever I came from. Because although I was every bit as extraterrestrial as he probably suspected I was, I did not doubt that he was somewhat different as well. He smelled and felt alien and familiar simultaneously, and it bothered the hell out of me. Because he was just such an incredibly difficult, beautiful mystery that begged to be solved.

Edward turned the music off and met my gaze with shocking, golden intensity. “Well, Bella,” he said softly as his eyes bored into mine, full of questions and undying interest, “I’ll be seeing you.”

I smiled at him with thanks and hastily unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. Taking one last look at him through the tinted window, I turned and practically bolted back to my truck.

I speeded back home as fast as the old truck could go, parked sloppily in Charlie’s driveway and raced up to my room. Mike, Angela, and Ben were coming by soon to pick me up in half an hour, and I looked like hell. I showered quickly and pulled on a clean set of clothes, not bothering with my hair as I bustled about my room in search of a warm jacket for later tonight. Not that I really needed it, my skin was already practically subzero, but I didn’t want to look like a more of a freak than I already was, walking around the beach at night in a t-shirt. If that was even possible. I shivered when an unwelcome gust of wind blew in from my window. I had to stop leaving that thing open.

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The La Push beach was nothing short of beautiful at night. The tide was fairly low at this time of night, and the deep blue water lapped gently against the shoreline, which was sparsely studded with big, mossy rocks. Half a mile down the shoreline, steep cliffs hung over the waves of the ocean, which were pounding restlessly against its base in the cool wind. But even with the huge bonfire casting a lively, yellow light on the sand and faces of the people around me, I felt uncomfortable and as restless as the ocean itself.