I hit send and only had to wait through two rings before Dylan answered.

“’bout time you called, woman,” he said instead of a greeting.

“Can you slip away for a few hours?” I asked hopefully.

“For you, Bella, anything.”

I gave him directions and crawled back through my window and made a long production of looking tired in front of Renee and Phil before running back to my room and locking the door. I threw on a pair of dark jeans, a cream fluttery blouse that was perfect for these humid temperatures, and some high-heeled sandals before giving myself the once over in the full length mirror that Phil had attached to the back of my door.

The image staring back at me could’ve been worse. The last time I’d paid any attention I’d look like death. My skin had been sallow with dark circles under my lifeless eyes. Now I was back to just being pale.

I checked the clock. Surely I had time for a quick make-up routine. I dashed back into the hall as quietly as possible and rushed through my make-up application before sneaking back into my room and relocking the door.

I ignored the fact that I was putting more effort into my appearance than I ever had back in Forks. I just kept telling myself it wasn’t for Dylan, but just so I didn’t look ill.

A pebble struck my window and I climbed through peering down a little apprehensively. I was only seven feet up or so, but seven feet to me may as well have been a hundred.

“Don’t be chicken, just jump already,” he said in hushed tones so as not to alert my mom to my night time activities.

“You’ll break a leg…if you’re lucky,” Edward chimed in as I took a calming breath.

“Like you care,” I hissed back before grabbing the edge of the roof and letting my feet dangle down before letting go. Dylan’s arms were around me just as my feet hit the sparsely grass covered lawn.

“Gotcha!” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear sending spikes of heat throughout my body.