ht fade
and that I could not live
through。
Forbidden to remember； terrified to forget； it was a hard line to walk。
I was surprised when Jessica stopped the car in front of my house。 The ride
had not taken long； but；
short as it seemed； I wouldn't have thought that Jessica could go that long
without speaking。
〃Thanks for going out with me； Jess；〃 I said as I opened my door。 〃That was
fun。〃 I hoped that fun was
the appropriate word。
〃Sure；〃 she muttered。
〃I'm sorry about after the movie。〃
〃Whatever； Bella。〃 She glared out the windshield instead of looking at me。 She
seemed to be growing
angrier rather than getting over it。
〃See you Monday？〃
〃Yeah。 Bye。〃
I gave up and shut the door。 She drove away； still without looking at me。
I'd forgotten her by the time I was inside。
Charlie was waiting for me in the middle of the hall； his arms folded tight
over his chest with his hands
balled into fists。
〃Hey； Dad；〃 I said absentmindedly as I ducked around Charlie； heading for the
stairs。 I'd been thinking
about him for too long； and I wanted to be upstairs before it caught up with
me。
〃Where have you been？〃 Charlie demanded。
I looked at my dad； surprised。 〃I went to a movie in Port Angeles with
Jessica。 Like I told you this
morning。〃
〃Humph；〃 he grunted。
〃Is that okay？〃
He studied my face； his eyes widening as if he saw something unexpected。
〃Yeah； that's fine。 Did you
havefun？〃
〃Sure；〃 I said。 〃We watched zombies eat people。 It was great。〃
His eyes narrowed。
〃'Night； Dad。〃
He let me pass。 I hurried to my room。