muffins　out　of　a　tin　and

placing　them　on　a　paper　plate。　For　one　second；　I　thought　the　reason　Embry　had

told　me　not　to　stare　was

because　the　girl　was　so　beautiful。

And　then　she　asked　〃You　guys　hungry？〃　in　a　melodic　voice；　and　she　turned　to

face　us　full　on；　a　smile　on

half　of　her　face。

The　right　side　of　her　face　was　scarred　from　hairline　to　chin　by　three　thick；

red　lines；　livid　in　color　though

they　were　long　healed。　One　line　pulled　down　the　corner　of　her　dark；　almond…

shaped　right　eye；　another

twisted　the　right　side　of　her　mouth　into　a　permanent　grimace。

Thankful　for　Embry's　warning；　I　quickly　turned　my　eyes　to　the　muffins　in　her

hands。　They　smelled

wonderful—like　fresh　blueberries。

〃Oh；〃　Emily　said；　surprised。　〃Who's　this？〃

I　looked　up；　trying　to　focus　on　the　left　half　of　her　face。

〃Bella　Swan；〃　Jared　told　her；　shrugging。　Apparently；　I'd　been　a　topic　of

conversation　before。　〃Who　else？〃

〃Leave　it　to　Jacob　to　find　a　way　around；〃　Emily　murmured。　She　stared　at　me；

and　neither　half　of　her

once…beautiful　face　was　friendly。　〃So；　you're　the　vampire　girl。〃

I　stiffened。　〃Yes。　Are　you　the　wolf　girl？〃

She　laughed；　as　did　Embry　and　Jared。　The　left　half　of　her　face　warmed。　〃I

guess　I　am。〃　She　turned　to

Jared。　〃Where's　Sam？〃

〃Bella；　er；　surprised　Paul　this　morning。〃

Emily　rolled　her　good　eye。　〃Ah；　Paul；〃　she　sighed。　〃Do　you　think　they'll　be

long？　I　was　just　about　to　start

the　eggs。〃

〃Don't　worry；〃　Embry　told　her。　〃If　they're　late；　we　won't　let　anything　go　to

waste。〃

Emily　chuckled；　and　then　opened　the　refrigerator。　〃No　doubt；〃　she　agreed。

〃Bella；　are　you