She whirled and caught the door before it had swung shut,

130

She whirled and caught the door before it had swung shut, rushing through to the
office.  I followed a few inches behind her.  Her swinging hair brushed my hand?
She turned to look at me, still wide-eyed.
"You actually listened to me."  That was a first.
Her small nose wrinkled.  "I smelled the blood."
I stared at her in blank surprise.  "People can't smell blood."
"Well, I can—that's what makes me sick.  It smells like rust?and salt."
My face froze, still staring.
Was she really even human?  She looked human.  She felt soft as a human.  She
smelled human—well, better actually.  She acted human?sort of.  But she didn't think
like a human, or respond like one.
What other option was there, though?
"What?" she demanded.
"It's nothing."
Mike Newton interrupted us then, entering the room with resentful, violent
thoughts.
"You look better," he said to her rudely.
My hand twitched, wanting to teach him some manners.  I would have to watch
myself, or I would end up actually killing this obnoxious boy.
"Just keep your hand in your pocket," she said.  For one wild second, I thought
she was talking to me.
"It's not bleeding anymore," he answered sullenly.  "Are you going back to
class?"
"Are you kidding?  I'd just have to turn around and come back."
That was very good.  I'd thought I was going to have to miss this whole hour with
her, and now I got extra time instead.  I felt greedy, a miser hording over each minute.
"Yeah, I guess?" Mike mumbled.  "So are you going this weekend?  To the
beach?"
Ah, they had plans.  Anger froze me in place.  It was a group trip, though.  I'd
seen some of this in other students' heads.  It wasn't just the two of them.  I was still
furious.  I leaned motionlessly against the counter, trying to control myself.
? 2008 Stephenie Meyer