Bella wasn't quite sure what had come over her, but she was powerless to control it. Dinner had passed with little event and she was glad for it. Was she getting sick? Had she...ever...been sick before? Was this what it felt like? She was tempted to ask Damon to bring her home, but every time she looked at him, something made her stop. She was hot, flushed, and it was hard to breathe, but none of that really seemed to matter.
She went through the motions of eating and drinking, laughing at times, though only bits and pieces of the conversation filtered through her consciousness...and none of it really stuck. She could hear herself speaking when questioned about this or that, but all she could really focus on was Damon. There seemed to be a glow around him. It was beautiful, really, and she caught herself staring a number of times. What she really wanted...what she really, really wanted...was to find some place private, alone with Damon, where she could....
A touch to her cheek made her jump and she sucked in a quick breath. Something was missing. Someone was missing. Multiple someones. Where had they gone? Why was she so...fuzzy?
She heard a voice beckoning her and, although her eyes were locked on him and his mouth hadn't moved, she was almost certain it was Damon's. Scooting back in her chair, she stood and was rewarded with the guidance of a hand at the small of her back, leading her away from the table.