ew。 Sorry; my mistake。〃
The threat that had pulled me across the street had evaporated。 These were not
the dangerous men I
remembered。 They were probably nice guys。 Safe。 I lost interest。
〃That's okay;〃 the confident blonde said。 〃Stay and hang out with us。〃
〃Thanks; but I can't。〃 Jessica was hesitating in the middle of the street; her
eyes wide with outrage and
betrayal。
〃Oh; just a few minutes。〃
I shook my head; and turned to rejoin Jessica。
〃Let's go eat;〃 I suggested; barely glancing at her。 Though I appeared to be;
for the moment; freed of the
zombie abstraction; I was just as distant。 My mind was preoccupied。 The safe;
numb deadness did not
e back; and I got more anxious with every minute that passed without its
return。
〃What were you thinking?〃 Jessica snapped。 〃You don't know them—they could
have been
psychopaths!〃
I shrugged; wishing she would let it go。 〃I just thought I knew the one guy。〃
〃You are so odd; Bella Swan。 I feel like I don't know who you are。〃
〃Sorry。〃 I didn't know what else to say to that。
We walked to McDonald's in silence。 I'd bet that she was wishing we'd taken
her car instead of walking
the short distance from the theater; so that she could use the drive…through。
She was just as anxious now
for this evening to be over as I had been from the beginning。
I tried to start a conversation a few times while we ate; but Jessica was not
cooperative。 I must have
really offended her。
When we go back in the car; she tuned the stereo back to her favorite station
and turned the volume too
loud to allow easy conversation。
I didn'