Midnight Sun(65)

every moment.
Have fun in Port Angeles tonight, Alice thought cheerfully. Let me know when I'm allowed to talk to
Bella.
You're pathetic. I can't believe you missed the game last night just to watch somebody sleep, Emmett
grumbled.
Jasper paid me no mind, even when the song I played came out a little more stormily than I'd intended.
It was an old song, with a familiar theme: impatience.
Jasper was saying goodbye to his friends, who eyed me curiously.
What a strange creature, the Alice-sized, white-blond Charlotte was thinking. And he was so normal and
pleasant the last time we met.
Peter's thoughts were in sync with hers, as was usually the case.
It must be the animals. The lack of human blood drives them mad eventually, he was concluding. His
hair was just as fair as hers, and almost as long. They were very similar-except for size, as he was almost
as tall as Jasper-in both look and thought. A well matched pair, I'd always thought.
Everyone but Esme stopped thinking about me after a moment, and I played in more subdued tones so
that I would not attract notice.
I did not pay attention to them for a long while, just letting the music distract me from my unease. It
was hard to have the girl out of sight and mind. I only returned my attention to their conversation when
the goodbyes grew more final.
"If you see Maria again," Jasper was saying, a little warily, "tell her I wish her well."
Maria was the vampire who had created both Jasper and Peter-Jasper in the latter half of the nineteenth
century, Peter more recently, in the nineteen forties. She'd looked Jasper up once when we were in
Calgary. It had been an eventful visit-we'd had to move immediately. Jasper had politely asked her to
keep her distance in the future.
"I don't imagine that will happen soon," Peter said with a laugh-Maria was undeniable dangerous and
there was not much love lost between her and Peter. Peter had, after all, been instrumental in Jasper's
defection. Jasper had always been Maria's favorite; she considered it a minor detail that she had once
planned to kill him. "But, should it happen, I certainly will."
They were shaking hands then, preparing to depart. I let the song I was playing trail off to an
unsatisfying end, and got hastily to my feet.
"Charlotte, Peter," I said, nodding.
"It was nice to see you again, Edward," Charlotte said doubtfully. Peter just nodded in return.
Madman, Emmett threw after me.
Idiot, Rosalie thought at the same time.
Poor boy. Esme.
And Alice, in a chiding tone. They're going straight east, to Seattle. No where near Port Angeles. She
showed me the proof in her visions.
I pretended I hadn't heard that. My excuses were already flimsy enough.
Once in my car, I felt more relaxed; the robust purr of the engine Rosalie had boosted for me-last year,
when she was in a better mood-was soothing. It was a relief to be in motion, to know that I was getting
closer to Bella with every mile that flew away under my tires.
9. Port Angeles
It was too bright for me to drive into town when I got to Port Angeles; the sun was still too high
overhead, and, though my windows were tinted dark, there was no reason to take unnecessary risks.
More unnecessary risks, I should say.
I was certain I would be able to find Jessica's thoughts from a distance-Jessica's thoughts were louder
than Angela's, but once I found the first, I'd be able to hear the second. Then, when the shadows
lengthened, I could get closer. For now, I pulled off the road onto an overgrown driveway just outside
the town that appeared to be infrequently used.
I knew the general direction to search in-there was really only one place for dress shopping in Port
Angeles. It wasn't long before I found Jessica, spinning in front of a three way mirror, and I could see
Bella in her peripheral vision, appraising the long black dress she wore.
Bella still looks pissed. Ha ha. Angela was right-Tyler was full of it. I can't believe she's so upset about it,
though. At least she knows she has a back up date for the prom. What if Mike doesn't have fun at the
dance, and he doesn't ask me out again?
What if he asks Bella to the prom? Would she have asked Mike to the dance if I hadn't said anything?
Does he think she's prettier than me? Does she think she's prettier than me?
"I think I like the blue one better. It really brings out your eyes."
Jessica smiled at Bella with false warmth, while eyeing her suspiciously.
Does she really think that? Or does she want me to look like a cow on Saturday?
I was already tired of listening to Jessica. I searched close by for Angela-ah, but Angela was in the
process of changing dresses, and I skipped quickly out of her head to give her some privacy.
Well, there wasn't much trouble Bella could get into in a department store. I'd let them shop and then
catch up with them when they were done. It wouldn't be long until it was dark-the clouds were