I Was A Vampire, And

Let Her See Me Clearly.

Alice Was Scrutinizing My Boring Jeans-and-a-t-shirt Outfit In A Way That Made Me Self-conscious. Probably Plotting Another Makeover. I Sighed. My Indifferent Attitude To Fashion Was A Constant Thorn In Her Side. If I'd Allow It, She'd Love To Dress Me Everyday―perhaps Several Times A Day―like Some Oversized Three-dimensional Paper Doll.

He Squeezes My Hand, And My Heart Punches Against My Ribs. It's Just Like Pain, This Pleasure.

Um, Bella? You've Got A Huge Cut On Your Forehead, And It's Gushing Blood," He Informed Me. I Clapped My Hand Over My Head. Sure Enough, It Was Wet And Sticky. I Could Smell Nothing But The Damp Moss On My Face, And That Held Off The Nausea. Oh, I'm So Sorry, Jacob." I Pushed Hard Against The Gash, As If I Could Force The Blood Back Inside My Head. Why Are You Apologizing For Bleeding?" He Wondered As He Wrapped A Long Arm Around My Waist And And Pulled Me To My Feet.

I Stared Because Their Faces, So Different, So Similar, Were All Devastatingly, Inhumanly Beautiful.