Twilight (Twilight, #1)

by Stephenie Meyer

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.

It was impossible, being in this house, not to realize that Charlie had never gotten over my mom. It made me uncomfortable.

I can do this, I lied to myself feebly. No one was going to bite me. I finally exhaled and stepped out of the truck.

“That’s Edward. He’s gorgeous, of course, but don’t waste your time. He doesn’t date. Apparently none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him.” She sniffed, a clear case of sour grapes. I wondered when he’d turned her down. I bit my lip to hide my smile. Then I glanced at him again. His face was turned away, but I thought his cheek appeared lifted, as if he were smiling, too.

It was worse because I was tired; I still couldn’t sleep with the wind echoing around the house. It was worse because Mr. Varner called on me in Trig when my hand wasn’t raised and I had the wrong answer. It was miserable because I had to play volleyball, and the one time I didn’t cringe out of the way of the ball, I hit my teammate in the head with it. And it was worse because Edward Cullen wasn’t in school at all.

She is already so intrigued by him

Part of me wanted to confront him and demand to know what his problem was. While I was lying sleepless in my bed, I even imagined what I would say. But I knew myself too well to think I would really have the guts to do it. I made the Cowardly Lion look like the terminator.

Intrigued!!

“Bella?” my father called out when he heard me on the stairs. Who else? I thought to myself. “Hey, Dad, welcome home.”

Had edward been there to scope put the house yet at this point since meeting her?

“Edward Cullen is staring at you,” Jessica giggled in my ear. “He doesn’t look angry, does he?” I couldn’t help asking.

“Do you mind if I look?” he asked as I began to remove the slide. His hand caught mine, to stop me, as he asked. His fingers were ice cold, like he’d been holding them in a snowdrift before class. But that wasn’t why I jerked my hand away so quickly. When he touched me, it stung my hand as if an electric current had passed through us.

Sparks!!

“Am I annoying you?” he asked. He sounded amused. I glanced at him without thinking… and told the truth again. “Not exactly. I’m more annoyed at myself. My face is so easy to read—my mother always calls me her open book.” I frowned. “On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read.” Despite everything that I’d said and he’d guessed, he sounded like he meant it. “You must be a good reader then,” I replied. “Usually.” He smiled widely, flashing a set of perfect, ultrawhite teeth.

I looked around me to make sure it was clear. That’s when I noticed the still, white figure. Edward Cullen was leaning against the front door of the Volvo, three cars down from me, and staring intently in my direction. I swiftly looked away and threw the truck into reverse, almost hitting a rusty Toyota Corolla in my haste. Lucky for the Toyota, I stomped on the brake in time. It was just the sort of car that my truck would make scrap metal of. I took a deep breath, still looking out the other side of my car, and cautiously pulled out again, with greater success. I stared straight ahead as I passed the Volvo, but from a peripheral peek, I would swear I saw him laughing.

Yeah laughing bc he’s endeared with you

If I was being honest with myself, I knew I was eager to get to school because I would see Edward Cullen. And that was very, very stupid.

“How do you do that?” I asked in amazed irritation. “Do what?” He held my key out as he spoke. As I reached for it, he dropped it into my palm. “Appear out of thin air.” “Bella, it’s not my fault if you are exceptionally unobservant.” His voice was quiet as usual—velvet, muted. I scowled at his perfect face. His eyes were light again today, a deep, golden honey color. Then I had to look down, to reassemble my now-tangled thoughts.

“I wanted to ask you something, but you sidetracked me,” he chuckled. He seemed to have recovered his good humor. “Do you have a multiple personality disorder?” I asked severely. “You’re doing it again.” I sighed. “Fine then. What do you want to ask?” “I was wondering if, a week from Saturday—you know, the day of the spring dance—” “Are you trying to be funny?” I interrupted him, wheeling toward him. My face got drenched as I looked up at his expression. His eyes were wickedly amused. “Will you please allow me to finish?” I bit my lip and clasped my hands together, interlocking my fingers, so I couldn’t do anything rash. “I heard you say you were going to Seattle that day, and I was wondering if you wanted a ride.” That was unexpected. “What?” I wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “Do you want a ride to Seattle?” “With who?” I asked, mystified. “Myself, obviously.” He enunciated every syllable, as if he were talking to someone mentally handicapped.

Edward is so coy and sly tbh like I forgot how he is in the books

“Honestly, Edward.” I felt a thrill go through me as I said his name, and I hated it. “I can’t keep up with you. I thought you didn’t want to be my friend.” “I said it would be better if we weren’t friends, not that I didn’t want to be.” “Oh, thanks, now that’s all cleared up.” Heavy sarcasm. I realized I had stopped walking again. We were under the shelter of the cafeteria roof now, so I could more easily look at his face. Which certainly didn’t help my clarity of thought. “It would be more… prudent for you not to be my friend,” he explained. “But I’m tired of trying to stay away from you, Bella.” His eyes were gloriously intense as he uttered that last sentence, his voice smoldering. I couldn’t remember how to breathe. “Will you go with me to Seattle?” he asked, still intense. I couldn’t speak yet, so I just nodded. He smiled briefly, and then his face became serious. “You really should stay away from me,” he warned. “I’ll see you in class.” He turned abruptly and walked back the way we’d come.

“I know.” He smiled again, and then he changed the subject. “I think your friends are angry with me for stealing you.” “They’ll survive.” I could feel their stares boring into my back. “I may not give you back, though,” he said with a wicked glint in his eyes. I gulped. He laughed. “You look worried.” “No,” I said, but, ridiculously, my voice broke. “Surprised, actually… what brought all this on?” “I told you—I got tired of trying to stay away from you. So I’m giving up.” He was still smiling, but his ocher eyes were serious. “Giving up?” I repeated in confusion. “Yes—giving up trying to be good. I’m just going to do what I want now, and let the chips fall where they may.” His smile faded as he explained, and a hard edge crept into his voice.

“Giving up trying to be good” sooooo true!! I get him I do

“I’ll figure it out eventually,” I warned him. “I wish you wouldn’t try.” He was serious again. “Because…?” “What if I’m not a superhero? What if I’m the bad guy?” He smiled playfully, but his eyes were impenetrable.

“Will you do something for me this weekend?” He turned to look me straight in the face, utilizing the full power of his burning gold eyes. I nodded helplessly. “Don’t be offended, but you seem to be one of those people who just attract accidents like a magnet. So… try not to fall into the ocean or get run over or anything, all right?” He smiled crookedly. The helplessness had faded as he spoke. I glared at him. “I’ll see what I can do,” I snapped as I jumped out into the rain. I slammed the door behind me with excessive force. He was still smiling as he drove away.

Ugh they’re so cute, I love the way she amuses him

“Get in,” a furious voice commanded. It was amazing how instantaneously the choking fear vanished, amazing how suddenly the feeling of security washed over me—even before I was off the street—as soon as I heard his voice. I jumped into the seat, slamming the door shut behind me.

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.

I had to remind myself that we were in a crowded lunchroom, with probably many curious eyes on us. It was too easy to get wrapped up in our own private, tense little bubble.

“I like the night. Without the dark, we’d never see the stars.”

“I was wishing I could know what you were thinking…” I hesitated. “And?” “I was wishing that I could believe that you were real. And I was wishing that I wasn’t afraid.” “I don’t want you to be afraid.” His voice was just a soft murmur. I heard what he couldn’t truthfully say, that I didn’t need to be afraid, that there was nothing to fear.

“And so the lion fell in love with the lamb…,” he murmured. I looked away, hiding my eyes as I thrilled to the word. “What a stupid lamb,” I sighed. “What a sick, masochistic lion.” He stared into the shadowy forest for a long moment, and I wondered where his thoughts had taken him.

Jasper and I looked at each other. He stood across the length of the entryway from me… being careful. “You’re wrong, you know,” he said quietly. “What?” I gasped. “I can feel what you’re feeling now—and you are worth it.” “I’m not,” I mumbled. “If anything happens to them, it will be for nothing.” “You’re wrong,” he repeated, smiling kindly at me.