It was absolutely silent for one long second before the screaming began. 　　In the abrupt bedlam, I could hear more than one person shouting my name. 　　But more clearly than all the yelling, I could hear Edward Cullen's low,frantic voice in my ear. 　　"Bella? Are you all right?""I'm fine." My voice sounded strange. I tried to sit up, and realized hewas holding me against the side of his body in an iron grasp. 　　"Be careful," he warned as I struggled. "I think you hit your head prettyhard."I became aware of a throbbing ache centered above my left ear. 　　"Ow," I said, surprised. 　　"That's what I thought." His voice, amazingly, sounded like he wassuppressing laughter. 　　"How in the…" I trailed off, trying to clear my head, get my bearings. 　　"How did you get over here so fast?""I was standing right next to you, Bella," he said, his tone seriousagain. 　　I turned to sit up, and this time he let me, releasing his hold around mywaist and sliding as far from me as he could in the limited space. Ilooked at his concerned, innocent expression and was disoriented again bythe force of his gold-colored eyes. What was I asking him? 　　And then they found us, a crowd of people with tears streaming down theirfaces, shouting at each other, shouting at us. 　　"Don't move," someone instructed. 　　"Get Tyler out of the van!" someone else shouted. 　　There was a flurry of activity around us. I tried to get up, but Edward'scold hand pushed my shoulder down. 　　"Just stay put for now.""But it's cold," I complained. It surprised me when he chuckled under hisbreath. There was an edge to the sound. 　　"You were over there," I suddenly remembered, and his chuckle stoppedshort. "You were by your car."His expression turned hard. "No, I wasn't.""I saw you." All around us was chaos. I could hear the gruffer voices ofadults arriving on the scene. But I obstinately held on to our argument;I was right, and he was going to admit it. 　　"Bella, I was standing with you, and I pulled you out of the way." Heunleashed the full, devastating power of his eyes on me, as if trying tocommunicate something crucial. 　　"No." I set my jaw. 　　The gold in his eyes blazed. "Please, Bella.""Why?" I demanded. 　　"Trust me," he pleaded, his soft voice overwhelming. 　　I could hear the sirens now. "Will you promise to explain everything tome later?""Fine," he snapped, abruptly exasperated. 　　"Fine," I repeated angrily. 　　It took six EMTs and two teachers — Mr. Varner and Coach Clapp — to shiftthe van far enough away from us to bring the stretchers in. Edwardvehemently refused his, and I tried to do the same, but the traitor toldthem I'd hit my head and probably had a concussion. I almost died ofhumiliation when they put on the neck brace. It looked like the entireschool was there, watching soberly as they loaded me in the back of theambulance. Edward got to ride in the front. It was maddening. 　　To make matters worse, Chief Swan arrived before they could get me safelyaway. 　　"Bella!" he yelled in panic when he recognized me on the stretcher. 　　"I'm completely fine, Char — Dad," I sighed. "There's nothing wrong withme."He turned to the closest EMT for a second opinion. I tuned him out toconsider the jumble of inexplicable images churning chaotically in myhead. When they'd lifted me away from the car, I had seen the deep dentin the tan car's bumper — a very distinct dent that fit the contours ofEdward's shoulders… as if he had braced himself against the car withenough force to damage the metal frame…And then there was his family, looking on from the distance, withexpressions that ranged from disapproval to fury but held no hint ofconcern for their brother's safety. 　　I tried to think of a logical solution that could explain what I had justseen — a solution that excluded the assumption that I was insane. 　　Naturally, the ambulance got a police escort to the county hospital. Ifelt ridiculous the whole time they were unloading me. What made it worsewas that Edward simply glided through the hospital doors under his ownpower. I ground my teeth together. 　　They put me in the emergency room, a long room with a line of beds separated by pastel-patterned curtains. A nurse put a pressure cuff on myarm and a thermometer under my tongue. Since no one bothered pulling thecurtain around to give me some privacy, I decided I wasn't obligated towear the stupid-looking neck brace anymore. When the nurse walked away, Iquickly unfastened the Velcro and threw it under the bed.