Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I loved. Noble,
even. That ought to count for something.

When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it’s not reasonable
to grieve when it comes to an end.

Sometimes I wondered if I was seeing the same things through my eyes that the rest of the
world was seeing through theirs. Maybe there was a glitch in my brain.

Forks was literally my personal hell on earth.

Once people start throwing wet stuff I go inside.

He unleashed the full, devastating power of his eyes on me, as if trying to communicate
something crucial.

I wasn’t interesting. And he was. Interesting…and brilliant…and mysterious…and
perfect…and beautiful…and possibly able to lift full-sized vans with one hand.

I thought you were suppose to be pretending I don’t exist, not irritating me to death.

Stupid, shiny volvo owner.

It was hard to believe that someone so beautiful could be real. I was afraid that he might disappear in a sudden puff of smoke, and I would wake up.

I had been vacillating during the last month between Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker. There was no way I was going to own up to that.

His voice was like melting honey. I could imagine how much more overwhelming his eyes would be.

I tried to make my smile alluring, wondering if i was laying it on too thick. He smiled back, though, looking allured.

Do you think if I ran him over with my truck he would stop feeling guilty about the accident?

Stupid, unreliable vampire.

I realized then that I wasn’t being followed. I was being herded.

He stared into my eyes, and I saw how light his eyes were, lighter than I’d ever seen them, golden butterscotch.

You’re always crabbier when your eyes are black-I expect it then.

And how long have you been seventeen.

About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him — and I didn’t know how potent that part might be — that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

But outside the door to our Spanish class, leaning against the wall-looking more like a Greek god than anyone had a right to-Edward was waiting for me.

I’m absolutely ordinary-well, except for bad things like all the near-death experiences and being so clumsy that I’m almost disabled.

His skin was icy as ever, but the trail his fingers left on my skin was alarmingly warm-like I’d been burned, but didn’t feel the pain of it yet.

He grinned his crooked smile at me, stopping my breath and my heart. I couldn’t imagine how an angel could be any more glorius. There was nothing about him that could be improved upon.

He knows I’ve been meaning to do the laundry. Maybe he’ll think I fell in the washer.

I realized slowly that his words should frighten me. I waited for that fear to come, but all I could seem to feel was an ache for his pain.

I promise to try to be safe. I’ll do the laundry tonight-that ought to be fraught with peril.

This truck is old enough to be your car’s grandfather-have some respect.

Edward in the sunlight was shocking. I couldn’t get used to it, though I’d been staring at him all afternoon.

His skin, white despite the faint flush from yesterday’s hunting trip, literally sparkled, like thousands of tiny diamonds were embedded in the surface.

I sat without moving, more frightened of him than I had ever been. I’d never seen him so completely freed of that carefully cultivated f facade. He’d never been less human… or more beautiful.

So what you’re saying is, I’m your brand of heroin?

Common sense told me I should be terrified. Instead, I was relieved to finally understand. And I was filled with compassion for his suffering, even now, as he confessed his craving to take my life.

You already know how I feel, of course. I’m here… which, roughly translated, means I would rather die than stay away from you.

And so the lion fell in love with the lamb…What a stupid lamb. What a sick, masochistic lion.

I knew at any moment it could be too much, and my life could end — so quickly that I might not even notice. And I couldn’t make myself be afraid. I couldn’t think of anything, except that he was touching me.

No one could be still like Edward. He closed his eyes and became as immobile as stone, a carving under my hand.

If I’d ever feared death before in his presence, it was nothing compared to how I felt now.

Take it easy — my truck is a senior citizen.

I couldn’t picture it, this godlike creature sitting in my father’s shabby kitchen chair.

Can I have a minute to be human?

Yeah, it’s an off day when I don’t get somebody telling me how edible I smell.

Let me get this straight — I’m the baby seal, right?

Are you sure you won’t vanish in the morning? You are mythical, after all.

He laughed, and then began to hum that same, unfamiliar lullaby; the voice of an archangel, soft in my ear.

Well, it’s no irritable grizzly…

I doubted there were any etiquette books detailing how to dress when your vampire sweetheart takes you home to meet his vampire family.

I think I forgot to breathe.

You’re still waiting for the running and the screaming, aren’t you?

I hate to burst your bubble, but you’re really not as scary as you think you are. I don’t find you scary at all, actually.

Vampires like baseball?

You don’t mind, then? That I’m… all wrong for him?

I love you. I will always love you, no matter what happens now.

I can’t do this anymore! I can’t put down any more roots here! I don’t want to end up trapped in this stupid, boring town like Mom! I’m not going to make the same dumb mistake she did. I hate it — I can’t stay here another minute!

But it won’t be all right when I’m not with you.

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