bella was so engrossed that she didn’t notice him approaching. the pen moved without pause across the open page on the small round table, filling every free inch of the margins with small, tight handwriting. words piled on top of each other

she realized, with a pang of embarrassment, that she probably looked like an unbalanced and strange person. she partially closed the book on her fingers. “i think the book lost that battle a few pages back.”

she frowned slightly. part of her wanted to accept it. it would be easier. easier to stop trying to understand him. to stop wondering why he watched her that way. why he disappeared. why he seemed to wage an invisible battle every time

looked at him again. "i think it's unfair." bella tilted her head slightly. "you want to know what i think of you, but when i try to find out something about you, i get answers like that." her gaze lingered on his longer than she intended. when she

her stomach clenched immediately as edward watched her intently, motionless. that was exactly what made her nervous. bella couldn't explain what she saw in him without sounding completely absurd. she held his golden gaze for only a few

said that, she felt her face immediately heat up, but it was too late to turn back, and she wasn't the type to be afraid. "and then, suddenly… you're here talking to me as if it's the most natural thing in the world." she let out a small breath,