I shuddered slightly at the sudden bleakness in his voice, but I was relieved. This, at least, was an easy promise to properly honor. "Whatever you say." I said.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said amidst an exhale of his $1,000,000 air, and I knew he wanted me to leave now.
"Tomorrow, then." I opened the door unwillingly, then closed it again and crossed my arms, making a pouty face. Fredward's eyes narrowed.
"Now look," he said.
"You look," I said under my breath.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing." I clarified. I tried to get out of the car again, but could not will my arms to remove themselves from a pouting position and open the door.
Fredward reached over me, careful not to touch me with even the tip of his pinky finger, and opened the door. Arms still folded across my chest, I exited the car.
"Bella?" I turned back and he had crawled into the passenger seat, extending his neck outside of the car. His pale, glorious face was just inches from mine. My heart literally stopped beating.
"Sleep well," he said. His breath blew in my face like a hot tropical breeze, stunning me. It was the same exquisite scent that clung to his jacket, but in a more concentrated form, and it was then that I recognized it: coco-nuts. I blinked, thoroughly razzle-dazzled. He shrunk his neck back in and started crawling back into the driver's seat. I reluctantly swung my hips against the car door to make it closed, as my arms were still folded across my chest.
I was unable to move until my brain had somewhat unscrambled itself. I thought I heard him chuckle, but the sound was too quiet for me to be certain.
He waited 'til I had stumbled to the front door, and then I heard his engine quietly rev. Vroom vroom, Bella, vroom vroom, it whispered. I was amazed at how quietly his engine revved. I turned to watch the silver Volvo car disappear around the corner. How quietly it had revved, and how quickly it disappeared into the dark.
I reached for the key, mechanically unlocked the door, and stepped inside.
Charlie called from the living room. "Bella?"
"That's my name, don't wear it out!" I yelled.
Charlie chuckled. I walked in to see him. He was watching a baseball game—at least he probably thought he was watching a baseball game. All I saw on the screen was a blurry, flesh-colored mass. There were a lot of empty-looking cans of Vitamin R on the ground.
"You're home early," he slurred.
"Am I?" I was surprised.
"It's not even eight yet," he told me. I looked at my watch. It was twelve-thirty. He continued, "Did you girls have fun?"

194

Chapter 9

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