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[Assistant] Now, so that, for fans of the film, it must be an interesting thing to see you in the car from the movie. Yes. I mean, you know, you don't see Christian Bale in the Batmobile. No.


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[Assistant] But, now my other question is, do people also, has anybody picked up on calling you baby yet? Uh, because that is obviously a unique name for a main character in a film.


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[Assistant] Anyone, it turns out anyone that goes there for two years, he just feels comfortable enough with them to finally start calling them baby. Uh, Jamie Foxx, one of your cast members, castmates of the show, uh, film. He, uh, he would DJ on set. This film is so tied to music, but he would actually DJ in between takes? Is that when he would do it?


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[Assistant] I think yeaah, in general, uh, don't, I think for people like you and I don't ever try to do the things Jamie Foxx is good at.


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[Assistant] About after an hour or an hour and a half, people became very restless. It was not, not pleasant. Uh, it was not very congenial, but everybody felt scared.


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[Assistant] We've got old friends left, Michael. Well then we ought to make new ones.


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[Assistant] I can't see without my glasses. Alright, you're next, George.


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[Assistant] There's no pain for us, except there are grief.


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[Assistant] I'm just a hick. I don't know why you've been so nice to me.


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[Assistant] I got a funny feeling we're going in the wrong direction. On the trail when I feel like that I usually turn back.


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[Assistant] Should you find yourself in need of advice, my dear, he said, beaming genially, do feel free to call upon me.


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[Assistant] My discretion may be relied upon, I do assure you. He bowed quaintly from his saddle.


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[Assistant] To the same extent as your loyalty to Colin Mackenzie, I said, arching my brows. The small brown eyes met mine full on.


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[Assistant] But I assure you, Mr. Gohan, that I have no need of your discretion, at least at present.


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[Assistant] It's catching, I thought, hearing myself. I sound just like him. I am an English lady, I added firmly, and nothing more.


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[Assistant] Column is wasting his time and yours in trying to extract secrets from me that don't exist. Or that do exist, but are untellable, I thought.


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[Assistant] Mr. Garland's discretion might be limitless, but not his belief.


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[Assistant] And performing such small legal requirements that the Klansmen in the more distant areas may have.


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[Assistant] And I'm afraid that even at my advanced age, I have not entirely outgrown the urge to seek adventure. Things are much more settled now than they used to be. He heaved a sigh that might have been one of regret.


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[Assistant] He turned back the flap long enough for me to see the gleaming grips of a pair of scroll-handled pistols, snuggly set in twin loops that kept them within easy reach.


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[Assistant] He surveyed me with a glance that took in every detail of my costume and appearance. You should really be armed yourself, my dear, he said in a tone of mild reproof, though I suppose Dougal thought it would not be suitable. Still, I'll speak to him about it, he promised.


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[Assistant] We passed the rest of the day in pleasant conversation, wandering among his reminiscences of the dear departed days when men were men and the pernicious weed of civilization was less rampant upon the bonny wild face of the Highlands.


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[Assistant] At nightfall, we made camp in a clearing beside the road.


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[Assistant] I had a blanket rolled and tied behind my saddle.


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[Assistant] And with this, I prepared to spend my first night of freedom from the castle.


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[Assistant] As I left the fire and made my way to a spot behind the trees though, I was conscious of the glances that followed me.


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[Assistant] Even in the open air, it seemed, freedom had definite limits.


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[Assistant] It's really hard to start a company in a vacuum. That's why so many entrepreneurs flock to Silicon Valley. It's where all the other people working on startups are.


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[Assistant] However, there are small cities all over North America where one massively successful company can cause droves of like-minded people and companies to flock there, like Waterloo, Ontario, where BlackBerry, formerly RIM's headquarters are.


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[Assistant] The problem is, sometimes that huge company's business can go south, causing the local economy to suffer.


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[Assistant] There's a phrase for this, boom bust. But the bust mostly refers to when natural resources disappear.


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[Assistant] So what happens when the boom was in technology? Do all the engineers and entrepreneurs leave? Or do they build something new in the shadow of a crumbling colossus?


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[Assistant] Companies are even using mobile apps to make it easy for employees to clock in, and supervisors to manage their reports. How can a mobile app help your business? For more business advice, visit AT&T's Business Circle.


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[Assistant] Yeaah, but knowing our Gao, he can survive any attack!


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[Assistant] I still cannot find this amazing four pack that includes four completely brand new characters and it's just bugging me. I completely understand your frustration. I don't know why.


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[Assistant] People like you and me just can't find these in a store. I'm very happy for the people who can. And a lot of them have been going on eBay, which has been decreasing the price, so at least that's a plus. I think it's in like the 40-50 dollar range, which


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[Assistant] Those countries because they don't even have a chance of finding them at all.


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[Assistant] You can see they had quite a few of the Race to Win 4 pack, which...


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[Assistant] Found it a long time ago. Don't need that one anymore. I want this one. I want one to keep in the package. Of course, this is just my box from in December or January. I don't remember when I opened them up. So today is the last review. I reviewed these three already. Links in the description below and in the card pop up in the top right corner.


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[Assistant] So, JD McPillar is the last one remaining. The reason why he is the last is because you guys just voted for me to review.


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[Assistant] He actually appeared, you know, kind of prominently because there's a pretty clear picture of him, but he never spoke, didn't have a role, just served the purpose of, you know, continuing on the toe cap.


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[Assistant] But you just never know. I hope at least, you know, one or two of them down the line gets re-released, but I would not be surprised at all if the other two, maybe even three stayed exclusive essentially.


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[Assistant] The name for the next gen Apple racer has just been revealed because of the fact that the Disney store released him and his name is JP.


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[Assistant] I feel like Toecap as a brand has evolved the most in their marketing.


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[Assistant] Still like blue and white, right? But if you look at Toecap here, you started off with like a purplish, blue, really dark purple, don't know how to describe it, with some white and yellow thrown in there. Kinda same thing for the Cars 3 stock car here, of course this is rusty corn fuel, and this is a jacked post.


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[Assistant] All the white's gone, we have purple, it's lightened a little bit, but then we have like blue and green thrown in here, which makes it look just crazy.


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[Assistant] To make him look so much different, very unnoticeable from the previous iterations. So I like that a lot and we'll compare them a little bit more later on. But it's really hard to compare them since the designs are so different. So toe cap here of course is like a hitch protector. You can kinda see the design for it and how that has evolved from the one there in the center there.


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[Assistant] So it's more conceptual now, you just have lines, you know, the green semi-circle with the blue full circle there connected to this like string or whatever, the hitch I would assume, so that's pretty cool. He has a grill there that is connected to the headlights. He has the two vents down the bottom.


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[Assistant] Yeah, that's four. I can count, yeah. Now his rims are grey with a kind of green trim. It's very hard to, you know, make it apart because the grey and the green are very similar, but I feel like from this angle you can kind of see it. Reminds me a lot of Steve Slick Lepage, who is black and silver.


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[Assistant] But most of them, you know, are usually just like one color, like this is just black. A little bit of white. Berries are blue, complete.


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[Assistant] Then you can see four here, which is literally just the background color that's engraved around the stripes here. Kind of like lime green, sky blue there. Very interesting. You have the exhaust pipes in the bottom right corner. That blue arrow indicates the pit crew where to lift them up at. Two exchange tires during a pit stop.


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[Assistant] On the top here, you do have more of the stripes, the floor again looks really cool, very simple, modern, simplistic, I like it a lot. Roof flaps, this spoiler just simply reads toe cap, similar to up front there, same color, and kind of on that old purple color, you know, in the background there.


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[Assistant] Because that color is not really present anywhere else on him. But the sides of the spoiler are the green. There you have that toe cap logo again, just separated. Instead of being like on one line, you have toe on top, cap on the bottom.


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[Assistant] And here you have the back, you have four over on the left there in green, which is interesting because we've only seen it in purple throughout the rest of him, and then toe cap again there with his yellow rookie stripes, which are obviously mandatory for all rookies, which are most of the next gens.


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[Assistant] Especially, you know, in the first kind of part of the movie, by the time you get to the Florida 500, some of them don't have it anymore. But, pretty cool stuff! I like-


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[Assistant] Now, like I said, I would compare them to the two other Toe Cat racers, but they are so insanely different.


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[Assistant] Because he is a lot more similar to Rusty and I do comparison of them in that video link below and in the card suggestion. So as you can see,


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[Assistant] The hoods have evolved probably like the most in the design. Doesn't say hitch protector anymore, which it did on both Jack and Rusty. The gold leathering is completely gone.


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[Assistant] You know, there's now one, two is Jackson Storm. I don't believe there's a three. On the back, the slogan is gone completely. Which was removed for the card's three stock card version.


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[Assistant] Very, very interesting how this has changed so much. Let me know which one of these three is your favorite. Rusty Corn Fuel from Cars 1.


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[Assistant] Jack Depose from Cars 3, or JD McPillar from Cars 3 as well, just kind of like the second part of it after he replaced Jack, who replaced Rusty, so it's just kind of the cycle of life there. I do have, of course, the pit stop barrier that they released for Toecap.


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[Assistant] Link to my review of that will be in the description below if you wanna see that. So many links, I know, it's kind of ridiculous, but...


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[Assistant] Running a little dry here cuz, like I said, I can't find anything really in the store. I did find, you know, like Rich Mixon, Sheldon Shifter, but I already have reviewed those, so I'm looking for like Conrad Camber, Rev Rodiges, Marcus Krankzler, Metallic Bobby Swift. Those four would make for some great entertaining reviews, but,


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[Assistant] Over the last uh, week, especially over Charlottesville, I had to fully disengage myself.


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[Assistant] So I engaged them and I seized a good 15-20 minutes to talk about the inner city.


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[Assistant] Dousing it in ketchup. And bragging about how great the food is, yeaah. Great. It was like a person who was so fascinated with being where they are that that was the most important thing.


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[Assistant] has been exposed. We are being forced to have a conversation that


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[Assistant] We've needed to have since the Civil War. I interpreted him as a Saul, someone who was put into power, not at the desire of God, but as a concession to the people, and who ended up exposing the spiritual and moral condition of the nation.


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[Assistant] You have to ask those questions, what you stand for, what you're willing to fight for, and...


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[Assistant] If you are in a situation where you can compromise those values, you better think carefully what you are giving in exchange for your life, your reputation.


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[Assistant] You know, there's a wonderful passage of scripture in the book of Samuel that says, man judges by the outward appearance. So, people are judging the council by their actions, or their lack of action.


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[Assistant] Put your relationship, your access at risk. Be willing to walk away. Be willing to demonstrate that you have a set of convictions beyond just your redemptive motivations for his soul. Uhm, you have a responsibility to the nation.


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[Assistant] Life and Death, Twilight Reimagined by Stephanie Meyer. I owe none of the rights to this book or story.


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[Assistant] I told Charlie I had a lot of homework to do and that I'd filled up at the push and didn't want dinner.


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[Assistant] There was a basketball game on that he was excited about, though of course I couldn't tell what was special about it, so he wasn't aware of anything off about my face. Once in my room, I locked the door.


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[Assistant] I dug through my desk until I found my old headphones and I plugged them into my little CD player. I picked up a CD that Phil had given to me for Christmas. It was one of his favorite bands, but they were a little heavy for my taste. I snuck it into place and laid down on my bed. I put the headphones on, hit play, and turned up the volume until it hurt my ears. I closed my eyes and then added a pillow over top half of my face.


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[Assistant] I concentrated only on the music, trying to make out the lyrics, to unravel the complicated drum patterns.


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[Assistant] By the third time I'd listened through the CD, I knew all the words to the choruses, at least. I was surprised to find that I really did like the band after all, once I got past the blaring noise. I'd have to thank Phil again. And it worked. The eardrum-shattering beats made it impossible for me to think, which was the whole idea.


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[Assistant] I listened to the CD again and again until I was singing along with all the songs, until finally I fell asleep.


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[Assistant] But then Jules was there tugging on my hand, pulling me back toward the blackest part of the forest.


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[Assistant] Her face was frightened as she yanked on my hand, trying to tow me back into the dark. Run, Bo, you have to hide. We have to run. She whispered, terrified. This way, Bo.


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[Assistant] It was Michaela's voice I heard now, calling from the thick of the trees, but I couldn't see her. Why? I asked, still pulling against Jules' grasp. Finding the sun was really important to the dream me. It was all I could focus on. And then Jules dropped my hand. She let out a strange yelp, and suddenly shaking, she fell, twitching to the ground. I watched in horror, unable to move. Jules! I yelled. But she was gone. In her place was a big, red-brown wolf with black eyes. The wolf faced away from me.


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[Assistant] Her nails were filed into sharp points and painted a red so dark they were almost as black as her dress. Her lips were the same color. The wolf between us growled. I took a step forward toward Edith. She smiled then, and between her dark lips, her teeth were sharp, pointed like her fingernails. Trust me, she purred. I took another step. The wolf launched herself between the space, across the space between me and the vampire, fangs aiming for the jugular. No! I shouted, wrenching upright out of my bed.


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[Assistant] My sudden movement caused the headphones to pull the CD player off the bedside table, and it clattered to the wooden floor. The light was still on and I was sitting fully dressed on the bed with my shoes on.


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[Assistant] I glanced, disoriented at the clock on my dresser. It was five thirty in the morning.


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[Assistant] I groaned, fell back, and rolled over onto my face, kicking off my boots. I was too uncomfortable to get anywhere near sleep though.


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[Assistant] I rolled back over and unbuttoned my jeans, yanking them off awkwardly as I tried to stay horizontal. I pulled the pillow back over my eyes.


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[Assistant] It was all no use, though. My subconscious had decided to wallow in the word that I'd been trying so hard to avoid. I was gonna have to deal with it now.


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[Assistant] First things first, I thought to myself, glad to put it off as long as possible, I grabbed my bathroom stuff.


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[Assistant] Showering didn't take very long. I couldn't tell if Charlie was still asleep or if he'd left early. I went to the window and the cruiser was gone. Early morning fishing again.


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[Assistant] I dressed slowly in yesterday's jeans and an old sweatshirt and then made my bed, which was just stalling. I couldn't put it off any longer. I went to my desk and switched on my old computer. I hated using the internet here.


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[Assistant] Just dialing up took so long that I decided to grab a bowl of cereal while I waited. I ate slowly, so the last bites were too soggy to finish. I washed the bowl and spoon and put them away. My feet dragged as I climbed the stairs. I went to pick up my CD player first, then wound up the headphones cord and put them away in the desk drawer. I turned the same CD on, but turned it down while it was still... till it was just background noise.


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[Assistant] With a sigh, I turned to my computer, already feeling stupid before I could even finish typing the word. Vampire. I felt even more stupid looking at it. The results were difficult to sift through. Most of it was entertainment.


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[Assistant] Movies, tv shows, role playing games, metal bands, there were goth clothes and makeup, halloween costumes, and convention schedules. Eventually I found a promising site, vampires a to z, and waited impatiently for it to load. The final page was simple and academic looking, black text on a white background. Two quotes greeted me on the homepage.


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[Assistant] Throughout the vast, shadowy world of ghosts and demons, there is no figure so terrible, no figure so dreaded and abhorred, yet Dite, with such fearful fascination as the vampire, who is himself neither ghost nor demon,


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[Assistant] But yet who partakes the dark natures and possesses the mysterious and terrible qualities of both? Reverend Montague Summers


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[Assistant] The rest of the site was an alphabetized listing of all the different myths of vampires found throughout the world.


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[Assistant] Enjoying the taste so much that it drained her body completely of blood


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[Assistant] I carefully read through the descriptions, looking for anything that sounded familiar, let alone plausible. It seemed that most vampire myths focused on beautiful women as demons and children as victims.


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[Assistant] They also seemed like excuses created to explain away the high mortality rates for young children and to give guys an excuse for infidelity.


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[Assistant] Many of the stories were about bodiless spirits and warnings against improper burials. There wasn't much that sounded like the movies I remembered, and just a couple, like the Hebrew Estrier and the Polish Upier, who were even that interested in drinking blood. Only three entries really caught my attention. The Romanian Veracolaci


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[Assistant] Overall though, there wasn't much that fit with Jewel's story or my own observations. I'd created a catalog in my mind, and as I'd read, I'd compared it with each myth.


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[Assistant] Beauty, speed, strength, pale skin, eyes that shift color, and then jewels criteria.


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[Assistant] Blood drinkers, enemies of the werewolf, cold skinned and immortal. There were very few myths that matched even one factor. And then another problem.


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[Assistant] I snapped off the computer's main power switch, not waiting to shut things down right. Through my irritation I felt overwhelming embarrassment. It was all so stupid. I was sitting in my room researching vampires. What was wrong with me?


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[Assistant] It didn't take long to as deep enough that the house and the road were invisible, and the only sound was the squish of the damp earth under my feet. There was a narrow trail that led through the woods here. It wound deeper and deeper into the forest, mostly east as far as I could tell.


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[Assistant] It snaked around the spruces and the hemlocks, the yews and the maples. I only vaguely knew the names of the trees around me.


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[Assistant] And all I knew was thanks to Charlie pointing them out to me from the cruiser window a long time ago.


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[Assistant] There were lots I didn't know, and others I couldn't be sure about because they were so covered in green parasites. I followed the trail as long as my anger pushed me forward. And as that started to fade, I slowed. A few drops of moisture trickled down from the canopy above me.


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[Assistant] A recently fallen tree. I knew it was recent because it wasn't entirely carpeted in moss.


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[Assistant] Rested against the trunk of another, creating a sheltered little bench just a few feet off the trail.


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[Assistant] I stepped over the ferns and sat down, leaning my hooded head back against the living tree


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[Assistant] This was the wrong place to go. I should have known. But where else was there?


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[Assistant] The forest was deep green and far too much like the scene in last night's dream to make me comfortable. Now that there was no longer the sound of my soggy footsteps, the silence was piercing. The birds were quiet too, the drops increasing in frequency so it must be raining above. The ferns stood almost as high as my head now that I was seated.


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[Assistant] Here in the trees it was much easier to believe the stupid word that would embarrass me indoors. Nothing had changed in this forest for thousands of years.


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[Assistant] I forced myself to focus on the two most important questions I had to answer. First, I had to decide if it was possible that what Jules had said about the Cullens could be true. Immediately my mind responded with a loud and clear no. It was stupid to even consider the idea. These were silly stories, just morbid old legends. But what then? I asked myself. There was no rational explanation for how I had survived the van. I listed in my head the things I'd observed myself.


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[Assistant] The inhuman beauty, the impossible speed and strength, the eye color shifting from black to gold and back again, the pale cold skin and more, small things that registered slowly, how they never seemed to eat, the disturbing grace with which they moved, and the way she sometimes spoke.


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[Assistant] With unfamiliar cadences and phrases that better fit the style of the historical romances my mom loved than that of a 21st century classroom. She had skipped class the day that we'd done blood typing. She hadn't said no to the beach trip till I told her where we were going. She seemed to know what everyone around her was thinking, except me. She had told me she was the villain. Dangerous. Could the Cullens be vampires? Well, they were something.


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[Assistant] Something outside the boundaries of normal and sane was happening in this nothing little town. Whether it was Jules Cold Ones, or my own superhero theory, Edith Cullen was not human. She was something more. So then, maybe. That would have to be my answer for now. And then the most important question of all, what was I gonna do about it? If Edith was a vampire, I could barely make myself think the word, then what should I do? Involving someone else was definitely out.


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[Assistant] Between us in the one class where we were forced together to tell her she was right and then never talk to her again. And it hurt. Just the idea, more than it should. More than I felt I could stand. I switched gears, skipping onto the next option. I could do nothing different. After all, if she was something sinister, she'd done nothing too bad so far.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] In fact, I would be a dent in Taylor's fender if she hadn't acted so fast. So fast, I argued with myself, that it might have been sheer reflexes. But if it was a reflex to save lives, how bad could she be? My head spun in circular questions, no answers. There was one thing I was sure of. If I was sure of anything.


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[Assistant] The black-gowned Edith with the sharp teeth and nails was just the embodiment of the word Jules had said, and not the real Edith. Even so, when I had shouted in horror as the werewolf lunged,


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[Assistant] It wasn't fear for the wolf that had me screaming, no, it was terror that she would be hurt. Even while she was calling me with her sharp-edged fangs, I was afraid for her. And I knew that, in that, I had my answer. I didn't know if there ever was a choice, really. I was already in too deep. Now that I knew, if I knew, what could I do about it? Because when I thought of her,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I didn't want to think the word again, not here in the silent forest, not while the rain made it dark as dusk under the canopy and made voices, made noises like footsteps across the matted ground.


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[Assistant] I shivered and jumped up, worried that somehow the path would have disappeared with the rain. But it was there, winding its way out of the dripping green gloom.


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[Assistant] I took longer strides now, and I was surprised as I nearly ran through the trees at how far I had come. I started to wonder if I was heading out at all, or following the path farther into the forest.


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[Assistant] Before I could get too panicky though, I began to see some open spaces through the branches, and then I could hear a car passing on the street and I was suddenly free, Charlie's lawn under my feet. It was just noon when I got back inside. I went upstairs and got dressed for the day, clean jeans and a t-shirt, since I was staying indoors. It didn't take too much effort to concentrate on my task for the day, a paper on Macbeth that was due Wednesday.


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[Assistant] I settled into outlining a rough draft, more relaxed than I'd felt since, well, since Thursday afternoon, if I was being honest. That had always been my way, though. Making decisions was a painful part for me, the part I agonized over, but once the decision was made, I just followed through, relieved that the choice was made. Sometimes the relief was mixed with despair, like my decision to come to Forks, but it was still better than wrestling with the alternatives. This decision was almost too easy to live with. Dangerously easy.


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[Assistant] The rest of the day was quiet, productive. I finished my paper before eight.


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[Assistant] Charlie came home with a large catch, and I made a mental note to pick up a book of recipes for fish while I was in Seattle next week.


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[Assistant] The spikes of adrenaline I'd felt whenever I thought of that trip were no different than the ones I'd felt before I'd taken my walk with Jules. They should be different. I didn't know how to make myself feel the right kind of fear. I slept dreamlessly that night, beat up from getting up so early. Beat from getting up so early.


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[Assistant] For the second time since arriving in Forks, I walked to the bright yellow light of a sunny day.


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[Assistant] I staggered to the window, stunned to see that there was hardly a cloud in the sky.


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[Assistant] I opened the window, surprised when it opened silently, without sticking, though I hadn't opened it in who knows how many years, and sucked in the relatively dry air. It was nearly warm and hardly windy at all. My blood drummed in my veins.


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[Assistant] Charlie was finishing breakfast when I came downstairs, and he picked up on my mood immediately. He smiled back, his brown eyes crinkling around the edges.


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[Assistant] When he smiled big like that, it was easier to imagine him as the man who had impulsively married a beautiful girl he barely knew when he was only three years older than I was now. There wasn't much of that guy left. He'd faded over the years, like the curly brown hair that had receded from his forehead.


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[Assistant] I ate breakfast with a smile on my face, watching the dust moat stirring in the sunlight that streamed in the back window. Charlie called out a goodbye and I heard the cruiser pull away from the house. I hesitated on my way out the door, hand in my rain jacket. It would be tempting fate to leave at home.


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[Assistant] I folded it over my arm and stepped down to the brightest light I'd seen in months.


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[Assistant] After a short battle I was able to get both windows in the truck almost completely rolled down.


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[Assistant] I was one of the first ones to school. I hadn't even checked the clock in my hurry to get outside.


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[Assistant] I parked and headed toward the picnic benches on the south side of the cafeteria.


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[Assistant] After a few minutes, I realized I had drawn five pairs of dark eyes staring off the page at me. I scrubbed them out with the eraser. Oh! I heard someone call, and it sounded like Michaela. I looked around to see that the school had filled with kids while I'd been sitting here. Everyone was in t-shirts, some even in shorts, though the temperature couldn't be over 60.


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[Assistant] Mikayla was coming toward me in a skirt that only reached the middle of her thighs and a tank top. Hey Mikayla, I answered. She came to sit with me, the sun is shimmering off her freshly straightened hair, a grin stretching across her face. She was so happy to see me, I couldn't help but feel responsive. Great day, isn't it? My kind of day, I agreed. What did you do yesterday?


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[Assistant] Why couldn't I ever have a conversation with Michaela anymore without it getting awkward?


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[Assistant] Well, we could still go to dinner or something and I could work on it later. She smiled at me, hopefully.


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[Assistant] Michaela, here comes the guilt, I thought. I don't think that would be the best idea. Her face fell. Why, she asked, her eyes guarded.


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[Assistant] My thoughts flashed to Edith, and I wondered if Michaela was thinking the same thing.


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[Assistant] Look, I'm breaking all kinds of man codes telling you this, so don't rat me out, okay? Man codes? She repeated, mystified. Jeremy's my friend.


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[Assistant] And if I went out with you, well, it would upset him. She stared at me. I never said any of this, okay? It's your word against mine.


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[Assistant] Jeremy? She asked, her voice blank with surprise. Seriously, are you blind? Oh. She exhaled, looking dazed. Time to escape. I stuffed the book in my bag. I don't wanna be late again, I'm already on Mason's list.


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[Assistant] We walked in silence, debuting three, her expression distracted. I hoped whatever thought she was immersed in were leading her in the right direction.


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[Assistant] When I saw Jeremy in Trig, he was just as fired up by the sunny day as I was.


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[Assistant] He, Alan, and Logan were headed into Port Angeles to catch a movie and order corsages for the dance, and I was invited. I was indecisive. It would be nice to get out of town,


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[Assistant] Of course I was happy to see the sun again, but that wasn't totally responsible for the mood I was in, not even close. So I gave him a maybe, lying about homework I had to catch up on. Finally we were on our way to lunch.


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[Assistant] I was so anxious to see not just Edith, but all the Collins, that it was almost painful. I had to compare them with the suspicions that were haunting me.


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[Assistant] Maybe, when we were all together in one room, I would be able to feel sure that I was wrong, that there was nothing sinister about them. As I walked through the doors to the cafeteria, I felt the first tremor of actual fear roll through my stomach. Would they be able to know what I was thinking? And then a different feeling hit my stomach. Would Edith be waiting for me again?


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[Assistant] As with my routine, I glanced first toward the Collins table. I felt a small rush of panic when I saw that it was empty.


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[Assistant] With fading hope, I scoured the rest of the cafeteria hoping to find her there alone. The place was nearly filled. Spanish had run over, but there was no sign of Edith or any of her family. Just like that, my good mood was reversed. We were late enough that everyone was already at our table. I vaguely noticed that Michaela had saved a seat for Jeremy, and that his face lit up in response.


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[Assistant] Alan asked a few quiet questions about the Macbeth paper, which I answered as naturally as I could while my mood was spiraling lower and lower. He invited me to go with him tonight too, and I agreed now, looking for any distraction. What if somehow Edith knew what I'd done this weekend? What if digging deeper into her secrets had triggered her disappearance? What if I'd done this to myself? I realized I'd been holding onto a little bit of hope when I walked into biology, saw her empty seat, and felt a new wave of disappointment. The rest of the day dragged.


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[Assistant] I couldn't follow the discussion in biology and I didn't even try to keep up with Coach Clabs lecture on the rules of badminton. I was glad to finally leave campus so I could stop pretending I was fine until it was time to go to Port Angeles. But right after I walked through my front door the phone rang. It was Jeremy canceling our plans.


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[Assistant] I tried to sound glad that Michaela had asked him to dinner, but I think it sounded irritated. The movie got rescheduled to Tuesday, which left me with no distractions. I put some fish in a marinade and then finished up my new homework, but that only took half an hour.


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[Assistant] So I'm gonna go outside and soak up as much vitamin D as I can. Love you, Belle. I had a small collection of my favorite books that I'd brought to Forks, and now I grabbed 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, plus an old quilt from the linen cupboard at the top of the stairs. Outside, I threw the quilt into the middle of the sunniest spot in Charlie's small square yard and threw myself on top of it. I flipped through the paperback,


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[Assistant] Waiting for a word or phrase to catch my interest. Usually a giant squid or a narwhal would be adequate.


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[Assistant] Maybe they'd all decided to stay an extra day because the weather was so nice. Missing a few days wasn't going to affect any of her perfect grades. I could relax. I would see her again tomorrow for sure. Even if she or one of the others could know what I was thinking, it was hardly a reason for skipping town. I didn't believe any of it myself, and it wasn't like I was gonna say anything to someone else. It was stupid. I knew the whole idea was completely ridiculous.


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[Assistant] Obviously there was no reason for anyone, vampire or not, to overreact. It was just as ridiculous to imagine that someone could read my mind. I needed to stop being so paranoid. Edith will be back tomorrow.


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[Assistant] No one had ever found neuroticism attractive, and I doubted she would be the first. Mellow, relaxed, normal. I could handle that. Just breathe in and out.


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[Assistant] The next thing I was aware of was the sound of Charlie's car turning onto the bricks of the driveway.


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[Assistant] I sat up surprised that the light was gone and I was deep in the shadow of the trees now. I must have fallen asleep.


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[Assistant] I jumped up feeling edgy and also stupid for feeling that way, and I grabbed the quilt and my book.


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[Assistant] I hurried inside to get some oil heating on the stove thanks to my nap. Dinner will be late.


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[Assistant] I'm going to a movie with some of the guys from school tomorrow night, so you'll be on your own. Anyone I know? He asked. Who didn't he know here?


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[Assistant] Uh, Jeremy Stanley, Alan Weber, and Logan, whatever his last name is. Mallory, he told me. If you say so. Fine, but it's school night, so don't go crazy. We're leaving right after school, so we won't be too late. You want me to put something out for your dinner?


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[Assistant] Well, I fed myself for 17 years before you got here, he reminded me. I don't know how you survived, I muttered. Everything felt less gloomy in the morning. It was sunny again, but I tried not to get my hopes up.


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[Assistant] I had planned my arrival at school so that I barely had time to make it to class.


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[Assistant] And also searching for the silver Volvo that was clearly not there. It was the same as yesterday.


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[Assistant] I committed to being in a good mood so that I wouldn't annoy Jeremy and Alan. Maybe I could find a decent bookstore while I was out. I didn't want to think that I might be looking alone in Seattle this weekend. She wouldn't really cancel without even telling me, would she?


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[Assistant] Then again, who knew what social rules vampires felt compelled to follow?


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[Assistant] After school, Jeremy followed me home in his old white Mercury so that I could ditch my truck, and then we headed to Allen's. He was waiting for us. My mood started to lift as we drove out of the town limits.


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[Assistant] And that is chapter 7 of Life and Death.


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[Assistant] Uhm, that's like the rest of my life followed because of that movie.


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[Assistant] When the omens were in our favor, we went to battle.


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[Assistant] We brought it back to the village and slaughtered a buffalo.


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[Assistant] You won't have to do nothing. All the real work signed up.


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[Assistant] I had Smith and Bartlett shootin' off their mouths. Farnley. And that renegade Tetley. Struttin' around his uniform pretendin' he's so much. He never even saw the South till after the war.


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[Assistant] The kid's seen enough already. Why don't you let him alone? This is not your affair, Carter. Thank you, Justice.


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[Assistant] Japan was a country that spent most of its history at war.


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[Assistant] Province against province. Warlord against warlord.


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[Assistant] Your armor was perfectly suited to the times, the terrain, and the weaponry of the samurai.


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[Assistant] Does it stand up against full contact and live weapons?


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[Assistant] Keep watching as we put a Taisho quality armor to the ultimate test.


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[Assistant] The iconic image of the Samurai in full battle armour.


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[Assistant] Often, works of art, allowing the warrior to stand out and be recognized on the field of war.


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[Assistant] But ultimately, it needed to be tough and versatile, allowing for movement and speed.


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[Assistant] Practical and designed to withstand the weapons of battle.


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[Assistant] Perfectly suited to the Samurai Warrior.


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[Assistant] A beautiful hotel with Japanese gardens over two acres that is open to the public.


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[Assistant] There is a fantastic air show today, as well as many visitors visiting the grounds. And we're here to test the armour.


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[Assistant] But for most samurai, the travelling and fighting was done on foot.


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[Assistant] Once the army reached the mountains and the high fortresses, horses became unsuitable and the real legwork began. This meant weeks or months spent walking, running and climbing.


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[Assistant] While carrying everything that they would need for the battles ahead.


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[Assistant] Samurai armor therefore needed to be comfortable and flexible.


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[Assistant] And allow the wearer to be able to carry out all of those tasks without hindrance.


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[Assistant] The armor should allow the ability to climb trees and scan the land ahead.


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[Assistant] Climb to the mountainous fortifications of enemy strongholds, all the while dressed in armour.


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[Assistant] Once battle commenced, they would need to be able to move quickly and easily while fighting.


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[Assistant] If knocked down, have the ability to get up and continue the fight.


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[Assistant] The armour would need to be light enough to allow for this, but tough enough to withstand the treatment.


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[Assistant] The Iron Mountain Armour was tested under all these conditions.


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[Assistant] Well after climbing trees, climbing mountains, rolling and fighting, the armour was surprisingly comfortable. It took all of the impacts with ease and no bruising, which is a great success.


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[Assistant] Well, we fight on a regular basis at Muso Shugi Ryu, and we do not hold back. So to be given some armour to train in was an absolute pleasure, and we took it to town.


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[Assistant] Well the armor certainly took everything that we threw at it. There was a few scratches and a few minor dents, but they're easily polished out and fixed. An absolute pleasure to fight in.


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[Assistant] Musou Shugyo would definitely recommend iron-mounting armoury as the armour to wear for combat.


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[Assistant] The tachi and katana are both swords worn by the samurai. Whilst in armour,


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[Assistant] The touchy would be hung from the waist with the blade facing down, while the katana


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[Assistant] The sword is not a main battlefield weapon, as it is ineffective against most armours.


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[Assistant] Think of it as a sidearm for emergency use, and perfect for taking enemy heads.


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[Assistant] So how effective will a katana be against iron mountain armor?


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[Assistant] So the first two strikes that we're going to look at is the kabuto, the helmet, and the dou, the body.


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[Assistant] We're gonna bring the sword straight down on top of the helmet. Now I'm not expecting it to work. The helmet should absorb the blow.


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[Assistant] We're then going to move through with a good strike to the chest or the dough. Now this could penetrate. It'll be interesting to find out. Let's see what happens.


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[Assistant] Well we can see that the helmet took the blow exceptionally well. It was dented and it was paint chipped. But there's more going on than meets the eye.


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[Assistant] When we turn the helmet around, we see that the force of the blow radiated to the back and was absorbed by the laminate, which exploded outwards, exactly as it was designed to.


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[Assistant] While the dough showed extreme tough protection. It literally got dented and scraped.


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[Assistant] The wearer in both of these strikes would have known they'd been hit, but would have survived.


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[Assistant] And a sword is quite often very effective for cutting away the cords of the armour. So we're going to attempt to cut the cords to see if the kuzari drop away. And then we shall be attacking three targets. The shikoro.


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[Assistant] Now I'm expecting them to absorb the blow, but for the lacing part and allowing it to fall away.


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[Assistant] We're then going to come through with a strike to the most solid part of the Sode, or shoulder guard, followed by attack to the plates themselves. Will the cord hold? Will the armour bend? Or will the sword penetrate?


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[Assistant] The sword cut through the cords with ease, although it may take several cups for the armour to fall away.


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[Assistant] Both the shikoro and the kuzari survived well. Dented, some chipping, and definitely lace was cut. But the samurai would have survived.


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[Assistant] Now for me the weak part of the armour has always seemed to be the arm and the wrist. We have quite solid armour on the forearm and just chainmail on the upper arm.


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[Assistant] I think we'll probably be okay. A possible broken arm, but not penetration. But I really think the sword will cut through this chainmail.


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[Assistant] Well I wasn't surprised that the strike to the lower part of the arm didn't penetrate. The metal spines would have absorbed the blow.


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[Assistant] But the big surprise for me was the chainmail strike.


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[Assistant] Not only did it hole, but the sword did not penetrate.


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[Assistant] A broken arm possibly, but again we have a samurai that would have survived.


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[Assistant] So let's look at the face mask or mempo of the samurai. It was worn during battle to protect the cheeks.


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[Assistant] Interestingly, the longer the moustache, the older and more valiant the warrior was. We are now going to test it with a good strike to the cheek.


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[Assistant] Well the mempo took very minor damage. I'm sure the warrior would have had a broken jaw.


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[Assistant] I'm really interested in this next strike. We're going to attack the padding under the shoulders.


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[Assistant] Now this has lovely little hexagon patterns, but within that are small metal discs to help protect the wearer. Will the sword penetrate?


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[Assistant] Well the small metal discs in the padding certainly did their job. The sword could not penetrate.


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[Assistant] Before we attack the armor, we test cut against a dry bamboo mat, one of the toughest things to cut cleanly, and it went through like butter. And after battering the armor mercilessly,


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[Assistant] Ryujin swords have proven to be swords of quality.


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[Assistant] The spear or yari were characterized by a straight blade that could be anywhere from several inches to more than three feet in length.


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[Assistant] The blades were often made of the same steel that Japanese swords were forged with, and were very durable.


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[Assistant] The yari is perfect for thrusting and slashing, and slamming enemy samurai to the ground.


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[Assistant] And all samurai would be expected to train regularly, no matter what rank they were.


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[Assistant] How will the Iron Mountain armour stand up to the thrusts, slashes and strikes of a Yary spear?


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[Assistant] The yari was the primary weapon of the samurai on foot and also on horse. We're going to look at two classic strikes, yoko shibaki or temple strike followed by a thrust to the body. And this spear is designed to penetrate. Let's see what happens.


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[Assistant] The Yoko Shibaki strikes proved to be ineffective against the armor, even though it had already been struck hard by the swords.


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[Assistant] While the thrust didn't actually penetrate, they showed that it's very easy to knock a warrior down.


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[Assistant] There was some severe denting and two of the seams had burst, but the dough is still fully wearable and functional.


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[Assistant] The Yumi bow is exceptionally tall, standing over two metres in height, and unique in design and use.


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[Assistant] Able to be shot from horseback, from foot and from low ground positions, the Yumi was a great long distance weapon, but needed years of skill to master.


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[Assistant] The arrows are far longer than their western counterparts and could be fitted with a wide range of arrowheads to devastating effect.


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[Assistant] Japanese armor had to be able to resist the arrows from penetrating the body. How will the Iron Mountain armor fare against the Yumi bow and arrow?


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[Assistant] At Musso Shugyu Ryo, we practice battlefield archery, and I've shot many targets, but this is the first time to shoot into armour.


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[Assistant] I can't help but wonder what an arrowhead would actually do to this armour. And I've decided to find out next.


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[Assistant] I must admit on a glass fiber arrow, it did throw the aim off slightly to the left, but we had penetration. From 35 feet, we saw it just went in about a quarter of an inch, not killing the samurai. From 25 feet, we managed to get a penetration of about half an inch. But once we moved closer to 15 feet, it penetrated a lot deeper. But as we can see, the samurai would have had a nick and not a kill.


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[Assistant] Because it would need to go through at least three inches to finish him off. Once again, the samurai has survived.


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[Assistant] Well one thing with me, the armor has survived so well so far, I'd like to give it one more test.


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[Assistant] The Tanto was often worn with armor and used very in close and personal. Let's see what it does to Japanese armor.


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[Assistant] Well, we've certainly bent the tanto, but the armor is absolutely fine. Once again, Iron Mountain Armory. Samurai armor for the modern warrior.


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[Assistant] Iron Mountain Armory. Traditional Japanese armor for the modern warrior.


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[Assistant] I have you to thank for that too, I suppose. Well, I'll be going along.


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[Assistant] No, on the contrary. I appreciate what you've done more than you know.


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[Assistant] I don't know, but since I am going away, will you do me a big favor? Sure, of course. Will you call me George?


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[Assistant] I said goodbye to you today, do you remember that? Well didn't I make myself clear?


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[Assistant] And when I became mayor, one of the first things for me was that city halls should be open to the citizens. That's what it's all about.


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[Assistant] It's part of our DNA to work together and collaborate and I don't see this in other communities and I've traveled and I get asked this all the time, well what makes you guys do, why are you guys doing this?


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[Assistant] So we're actually part of another accelerator program already, uh, the Accelerator Center. But it's a two year long program.


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[Assistant] You actually have to believe you're capable of doing those things. And the wonderful thing about Waterloo is we have examples of people who have done that. They live here. They still work here. They give their time back in this equal.


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[Assistant] This is the VOA Special English Technology Report. Electronics were among the most requested gifts of the 2011 Christmas holiday season in the United States.


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[Assistant] Jim Berry says the iPad continued to lead the way in the tablet market. Apple released its iPad 2 in March. The company is expected to release the iPad 3 in 2012.


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[Assistant] Tablet computers are the top of the list of what folks said they were going to buy this year.


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[Assistant] And probably north of 80% of the tablets being sold up until now have been Apple iPads. But he says the tablet market is starting to change.


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[Assistant] There are now more choices and less costly tablets available.


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[Assistant] Jim Berry says e-readers were number three on his group's survey of holiday gift wishes, and that came as a surprise to more than a few people.


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[Assistant] Some folks thought that the popularity and success of the tablet computer would mean sales of ebook readers would go down. Well, that hasn't happened.


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[Assistant] Sales of ebook readers have more than doubled this year. We're buying lots more.


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[Assistant] Amazon released its Kindle Fire just in time for Christmas. The new Kindle is a touchscreen tablet. Unlike the earlier e-reader, this one is in color and lets users explore the web.


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[Assistant] The Kindle Fire sells for $199. This is several hundred dollars less than the iPad, but about the same as people paid for the Kindle 3G Wireless in 2010.


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[Assistant] As Jim Berry put it, this is the challenge of the early adopter. You know, one of the great things about consumer electronics is that the prices get lower as the stuff gets better.


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[Assistant] He says falling prices are one of the reasons why consumer electronics do relatively well, even in a difficult economy.


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[Assistant] The Dodger and Charlie Bates went out to work every day, but sometimes came home with no handkerchiefs and Fagin would get very angry.


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[Assistant] Once he even knocked them both down the stairs and sent them to bed with no dinner because they had returned with nothing.


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[Assistant] At last, the morning came when Oliver was allowed to go out to work with the two other boys.


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[Assistant] There had been no handkerchiefs for him to work on for several days, and there was not very much to eat for dinner.


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[Assistant] Life and Death, Twilight Reimagined by Stephanie Meyer. I don't own any of the rights to this book or this story.


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[Assistant] That all goes to Stephanie Meyer. This is purely for entertainment purposes as we get into Chapter 4, Invitations. I'm gonna try and do something different with this camera angle here.


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[Assistant] In my dream it was very dark, and what dim light there was seemed to be radiating from Edith's skin. I couldn't see her face, just her back as she walked away from me, leaving me in the blackness.


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[Assistant] No matter how fast I ran, I couldn't catch up to her. No matter how loud I called, she never turned. I got more and more frantic to get to her until that anxiety woke me.


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[Assistant] It was the middle of the night, but I couldn't sleep again for what seemed like a very long time. After that, she was in my dreams nearly every night, always on the edges, never within reach.


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[Assistant] I found myself the center of attention for the rest of the week, which really sucked. Taylor Crowley was super annoying, following me around and coming up with different hypothetical ways to make it up to me.


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[Assistant] But all anyone ever said was that they hadn't even realized she was there until the van was pulled away.


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[Assistant] I wondered a lot about why no one else had noticed her standing so far away by her car before she was both suddenly and impossibly saving my life. There was only one solution I could think of and I didn't like it. It had to be because no one else was so aware of Edith. No one watched her the way that I did. It was pathetic and kind of stalkerish. People avoided Edith the same way they usually did.


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[Assistant] The Cullens and the Hales sat at the same table they always sat at, not eating, talking only to each other. None of them ever glanced my way anymore.


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[Assistant] When Edith sat beside me in class as far away as possible, like usual, she seemed totally unaware that I was sitting there next to her, like my seat was empty. Only now and then, when her fists would suddenly ball up, skin stretched even wider over her knuckles, did I wonder if she wasn't as entirely oblivious as she seemed.


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[Assistant] I also knew I'd been pretty pushy considering that she had to save my life and all. I didn't think I'd thanked her properly.


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[Assistant] I watched as her golden eyes grew noticeably darker day by day, then abruptly they were honey-colored again, and the slow progression toward black would start over. But in class, I gave no more notice that she existed than she showed toward me. It was miserable. And the dreams continued. She wished she hadn't pushed me out of the way of Taylor's van. I couldn't think of any other explanation. Since she obviously preferred me dead, she was pretending that I was.


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[Assistant] Despite my outright lies, the tone of my emails got my mom worked up. She called a few times, demanding to know that I was okay. I tried to convince her that it was just the rain that had me down.


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[Assistant] Mikayla at least was pleased by the obvious coolness between my lab partner and me. I guessed she'd been worried that the shared trauma would have bonded us or something. She got more confident.


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[Assistant] Sitting on the edge of my table to talk before biology class started, ignoring Edith as completely as Edith ignored us.


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[Assistant] The snow washed away for good after that one dangerously icy day. Michaela complained that she had never gotten to stage her big snowball fight, but she was happy that the beach trip would soon be possible. The rain continued heavily, though, and the weeks passed. I hadn't really been aware of how much time was passing. Most days looked the same. Grey, green, and more grey. My stepdad had always complained that Phoenix didn't have seasons, but as far as I could tell, Forks was much worse. I had no idea. Spring was anywhere near appearing,


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[Assistant] I was just wondering if anyone's asked you to a spring dance yet. You know, it's girl's choice. Oh, uhm, no.


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[Assistant] Do you want, I mean, do you think Michaela will ask you? I hope not, I said. Maybe a little too fast. He looked up at me surprised. Why not? I don't do dances. Oh.


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[Assistant] We shuffled forward for a minute in silence. He was thoughtful. I was impatient to get out of that drizzle. Do you mind if I tell her that? He asked. No, that's probably a good idea. I don't want to have to tell anyone no if I don't have to. Okay. When's the dance again? We were close to the cafeteria now. He pointed to a bright yellow poster advertising the dance.


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[Assistant] I'd never noticed it before, but it was curling around the edges and a little washed out like it had been up for a while. A week from Saturday, he said.


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[Assistant] I was pretty sure Jeremy had already said something when the next morning Michaela was not her usual bubbly self in English.


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[Assistant] At lunch, she sat away from both Jeremy and me and she didn't say much to anyone. She stayed quiet as she walked with me to biology, but she came over like usual to sit on the edge of my lab table.


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[Assistant] As always, I was too aware of Edith sitting close enough to touch, but still so far away. She might as well have been a product of my imagination.


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[Assistant] So, Michaela said, looking at the floor instead of me. Jeremy said that you don't do dances. Yeah, that's true. She looked at me even then. And her expression was hurt and a little angry. I hadn't told her no yet, and I already felt guilty.


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[Assistant] Oh, she said. I thought maybe he was making it up. Sorry, no. Why would he make up a story like that? She frowned. I think he wants me to ask him. I forced a smile. You should. Jeremy's great.


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[Assistant] She shrugged. I guess. Then she took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eye with a quick nervous smile. Would this I don't dance thing change if I was the one asking you to go?


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[Assistant] From the corner of my eye, I saw Edith's head suddenly tilt in my direction like she was listening to my answer too. It took me a little too long to respond.


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[Assistant] I still felt guilty, but mostly distracted. Was Edith listening? Uhm, sorry again.


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[Assistant] I closed my eyes and pushed my fingers against my temples trying to force Michaela's dejected posture out of my head. Mrs. Banner started talking. I sighed and opened my eyes.


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[Assistant] Edith was staring straight at me, that familiar expression of frustration even more obvious now in her black eyes. I stared back, surprised, expecting her to look away. She didn't.


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[Assistant] Her eyes kept boring into mine like she was trying to find something really important inside them. I continued to stare also, totally unable to break the connection even if I wanted to. My hands started to shake. Miss Colin, the teacher called, looking for the answer to some question I hadn't heard. The crab cycle, Edith answered, seeming reluctant as she turned to look at Mrs. Banner. I put my head down, pretending to stare at my book. As soon as her eyes released me,


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[Assistant] It bothered me, the rush of emotion pulsing through me. Just because she'd happened to look at me for the first time in six weeks. It wasn't normal.


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[Assistant] Her voice shouldn't sound so familiar, like I'd been hearing it all my life instead of just an hour here and there a few weeks ago.


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[Assistant] I slowly turned toward her, not wanting to feel what I knew I would feel when I looked at her too perfect face. I'm sure my expression was guarded. Hers was unreadable. She didn't say anything. Yes, I asked. She just looked at me.


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[Assistant] It was hard to concentrate when I looked at her, and this conversation wasn't making much sense.


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[Assistant] I'm sorry, she said, and there was no joke in her voice now. I'm being very rude, I know. But it's better this way, really. I looked at her again, her expression was totally serious now. I don't know what you mean. It's better if we're not friends, she explained. Trust me. Her eyes, wait, my eyes, narrowed. I'd heard that one before. She seemed surprised by my reaction. What are you thinking, she asked.


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[Assistant] That it's too bad you didn't figure this out earlier and saved yourself the regret. Regret? My answer seemed to have caught her off guard. Regret for what? For not letting Taylor's van crush me when I had the chance. She looked completely shocked. She stared at me for a minute wide-eyed, and when she finally spoke, she almost sounded mad. You think I regret saving your life?


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[Assistant] The words were quiet just under her breath, but still pretty intense.


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[Assistant] I glanced quickly toward the front of the room where a couple of kids were still lingering. I caught one of them looking at us. He looked away, and I turned back to Edith. Yeah, I said, just as quietly. I mean, what else? Seems kind of obvious. She made the strangest sound. She exhaled through her teeth, and it was like a hiss. She still looked mad. You're an idiot, she told me. Well, that was my limit.


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[Assistant] It was bad enough that I was so fixated on this girl, bad enough that I thought about her all the time, dreamed about her every night.


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[Assistant] I didn't need to sit here like the moron she thought I was and just stare while she insulted me. I grabbed my books and lurched out of my chair knowing all the while that she was right. I was an idiot because I wanted to stay, even if all I got to hear was more abuse from her. I needed to get out of the room as fast as possible.


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[Assistant] So of course I tripped over the threshold and half fell through the doorway, my book scattering across the sidewalk.


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[Assistant] I stood there for a second with my eyes closed thinking about leaving them. Then I sighed and went and bent to pick them up. Edith was there. She'd already stacked them in a pile which she offered to me. I took them without really looking at her. Thanks. I mumbled.


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[Assistant] You're welcome, she answered, still mad sounding like. I straightened up and hurried to gym without looking back. Gym didn't make my day any better. We'd moved on to basketball.


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[Assistant] On the first day, even though all of them had seen me play volleyball, the other kids still seemed to think that I should be good. It didn't take them long to figure out the truth. They never passed to me now, which was good, but with all the running, I still managed to have a few accidents per game. Today was worse than yesterday because I couldn't concentrate on my feet. All I could think of was Edith. It was a relief, as usual, when I was finally free to leave. I couldn't wait to be back inside my truck alone. The truck was in pretty decent shape, all things considered.


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[Assistant] I'd had to replace the tail lights after the accident, but that was it. If the paint job weren't already hopeless, maybe I would have had to do something about the new scrapes. Taylor's parents had to sell her van for parts. I rounded the corner and nearly had a heart attack.


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[Assistant] I glanced down at her and fumbled my keys. She looked really uncomfortable.


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[Assistant] Uhm, I was wondering if you would go to spring dance with me? I carefully inserted the car key into the lock. Sorry Erica, I'm not going to the dance.


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[Assistant] I had to look at her then. Her face was down, her black hair hiding her eyes. Oh, okay.


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[Assistant] Because I'm gonna be in Seattle, I said quickly, trying to make her feel better. It's the only day I can go, so, you know, oh well. I hope it's fun and all. She glanced up from under her hair. Okay, she repeated. But her voice was slightly more cheerful now. Maybe next time.


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[Assistant] Sure, I agreed. And then immediately regretted it. Hopefully she wouldn't take that too literally.


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[Assistant] See ya, she said over her shoulder. She was already escaping. I waved, but she didn't see it. I heard a low laugh.


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[Assistant] Edith was walking past the front of my truck, looking straightforward, her mouth not betraying even the hint of a smile. I froze for a second. I wasn't prepared to be so close to her.


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[Assistant] I was used to bracing myself before biology but this was unexpected. She kept walking.


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[Assistant] I jerked the door open and climbed in, slamming it a little too hard behind me.


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[Assistant] I could see the four of them walking this way, but they were still all the way back by the cafeteria.


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[Assistant] Right behind me, Taylor Crowley was in her newly acquired used Sentra, waving. I ducked my head and pretended I couldn't see her.


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[Assistant] While I was sitting there, focusing all my efforts on not staring at the driver in front of me, I heard a knock on my passenger side window. It was Taylor. I glanced in my mirror again, confused. Her central was still running. The door left open. I leaned across the cab to crank the window down. It was stiff. I got it halfway there, then gave up. Sorry, Taylor. I can't move. I'm pinned in. I gestured to the Volvo. Obviously there was nothing I could do. Oh, I know. I just wanted to ask you something while we're trapped here. She grinned.


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[Assistant] What was with this school? Was this some kind of practical joke hazing the new guy? Will you go to the spring dance with me? She continued. I'm not gonna be in town, Taylor. I realized I sounded too sharp.


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[Assistant] I had to remember it wasn't Taylor's fault that Michaela and Erica had already used up my patience. Yeah, Michaela told me that, she admitted. Then why? She shrugged. I was hoping you were just letting her down easy. Okay, it was totally her fault.


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[Assistant] Sorry Taylor, I said, not feeling nearly as bad as I had with Michaela and Erica. I'm not going to the dance. That's cool, she said, unfazed. We still have prom. Before I could say anything, she was walking back to her car. I could feel the red patches staining my face.


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[Assistant] Straight ahead, Archie, Royal Eleanor, and Jessamine were all sliding into the Volvo. In the rear view mirror, I could see Edith's eyes staring at me.


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[Assistant] They were crinkled around the edges and her shoulders were shaking with laughter. It was like she had heard everything Taylor had said and found my splotchy reaction hilarious. I revved my engine.


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[Assistant] Wondering how much damage it would do to the Volvo and the black car beside it if I just muscled my way through and made my escape. I was pretty sure my truck could win that fight.


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[Assistant] But they were all in and Edith was speeding away with her nearly silent engine.


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[Assistant] I tried to concentrate on something else, anything else, as I drove home. Would Michaela ask Jeremy to the dance? Will he blame me if she didn't? Was Taylor serious about the prom? What would be my excuse for that one? Maybe I could work out a visit to my mom, or maybe she could come here. What was I gonna make for dinner? We hadn't had chicken in a while.


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[Assistant] But each time I finished answering my own question, my mind went right back to Edith.


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[Assistant] By the time I got home, I'd run out of new questions, so I gave up trying to think about something else.


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[Assistant] I decided to make chicken enchiladas because it would keep me busy for a while and I didn't have that much homework. It also forced me to concentrate on all the dicing. Chicken, chilies, onions. All the while though I kept...


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[Assistant] Running through biology class again, trying to analyze every word she'd spoken to me. What did she mean it was better if we weren't friends? My stomach dropped when I realized the only thing that she could have meant. She must know how obsessed I was with her. It wasn't like I was hiding it very well. She didn't want to leave me on, so we couldn't even be friends.


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[Assistant] Because she didn't want to hurt my feelings the way I'd hurt Michaela and Erica today. Taylor seemed fine. Edith didn't want to have to feel that guilt. Because she wasn't interested in me at all.


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[Assistant] Which made perfect sense, obviously, because I wasn't interesting. My eyes were starting to sting and tear from the onions.


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[Assistant] This wasn't about her secret, whatever it was, if I even remembered any of that insane moment clearly. At this point, I almost believed the story I told everyone else. It made a lot more sense than what I thought I'd seen. But she didn't need a secret to be out of my league. She was also brilliant and mysterious and beautiful and completely perfect.


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[Assistant] If she was, in fact, able to lift a full-sized van with one hand, it really didn't matter. Either way, she was fantasy, and I was the very most mundane kind of reality. And that was fine. I could leave her alone. I would leave her alone. I would get through my self-imposed sentence here in Purgatory,


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[Assistant] And then hopefully some school in the Southwest or possibly Hawaii would offer me a scholarship. I tried to think about palm trees and sun while I finished dinner.


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[Assistant] Charlie seemed worried when he came home and smelled the green peppers, but he came around after the first bite.


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[Assistant] It was kind of a strange feeling, but also a good feeling watching as he started to trust me in the kitchen.


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[Assistant] Dad? I asked when he was almost done. Yabbo?


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[Assistant] Uhm, I just wanted to let you know that I'm gonna go to Seattle a week from Saturday. Just for the day. I didn't want to ask permission. It set a bad precedent.


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[Assistant] But the statement form sounded rude, so I added, if that's okay, why?


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[Assistant] He sounded surprised, like he couldn't imagine any reason that would make someone want to leave Forks town limits. Well, I wanted to get a few books.


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[Assistant] The library here is pretty limited and maybe some warmer clothes?


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[Assistant] I had a little extra money since thanks to Charlie, I didn't need to buy a car, though the truck did need a bigger gasoline budget than I'd expected.


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[Assistant] And the cold weather clothes that I picked up in Phoenix seemed to have been designed by people who had never actually lived in temperatures below 70, but had once had such a climate described to them.


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[Assistant] Chuck probably doesn't get very good gas mileage, he said, echoing my thoughts.


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[Assistant] I know, I'll stop in Montesano and Olympia and Tacoma if I have to. Are you going all by yourself? Yeah? Seattle's a big city, you could get lost, he warned. Dad, Phoenix is five times the size of Seattle, and I can read a map, don't worry about it. Do you want me to come with you?


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[Assistant] I wondered if he was really that worried about me or if he just thought all the Saturdays he left me alone were adding up to neglect. Probably worried.


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[Assistant] I was sure that in his head he still pictured me as a five year old most of the time. That's okay, it's not gonna be very exciting.


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[Assistant] We be back in time for the dance? I just stared back at him until he got it. Didn't take him long. Oh, right. Yeah, I said. I didn't get my balance issues from my mom.


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[Assistant] The next morning at school I parked as far as possible from the shiny silver Volvo. I would keep my distance. I wouldn't notice her anymore. She'd have nothing to complain about from here on out. As I slammed the truck door shut, I lost my hold on the key and it splashed down into a puddle at my feet. As I bent to retrieve it, a pale hand flashed out and grabbed it first. I jerked upright, almost smacking my head into her. Edith Cullen was right there, leaning casually against my truck. How do you do that? I gasped.


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[Assistant] Do what? She held out my key while she spoke. As I reached for it she dropped it in my palm. A peer out of thin air.


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[Assistant] Beho, it's not my fault if you are exceptionally unobservant.


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[Assistant] Her voice was just a murmur, muted velvet, and her lips were holding back a smile, like she thought I was hilarious. How was I supposed to ignore her when she wouldn't ignore me? That was what she wanted, right?


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[Assistant] Me out of her long, bronzy hair? Wasn't that what she'd said to me yesterday? We couldn't be friends. Then why was she talking to me? Was she sadistic?


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[Assistant] Was this her idea of fun, torture the idiotic kid she could never possibly care about? I stared at her frustrated. Her eyes were light again today, a deep golden honey color. My thoughts got confused, and I had to look down.


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[Assistant] Her feet were just half a foot from mine, oriented toward me, unmoving, like she was waiting for a response.


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[Assistant] I looked past her toward the school and said the first dumb things that came into my mind. Why the traffic jam last night? I thought you were supposed to be pretending I don't exist. Ah, that was for Taylor's sake. She was figuratively dying for her chance at you. I blinked. What? Irritation from yesterday's memory bled into my voice.


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[Assistant] I hadn't thought Edith and Taylor were friends. Did Taylor ask her? That didn't seem likely.


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[Assistant] And I'm not pretending you don't exist, she continued like I hadn't spoken. I met her eyes again, trying hard to keep my mind focused.


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[Assistant] No matter how golden they seemed or how long her lashes were against her pale violet lids. I don't know what you want from me, I told her.


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[Assistant] It was annoying how my thoughts seemed to explode straight through my lips when I was near her, like I had no filter at all. I would never have spoken this way to another girl.


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[Assistant] The amused half-smile disappeared and her face was suddenly guarded. Nothing. She said too quickly, almost like she was lying. Then you probably should have let the van take me out. Easier that way.


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[Assistant] She said, but I forced myself to keep moving, not to look back. I'm sorry, that was rude, she said, somehow right next to me, keeping pace though my legs were probably twice as long as hers. I'm not saying it wasn't true, but it was rude to say it out loud. Why won't you leave me alone?


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[Assistant] She stared up at me, seeming oblivious to the drizzling rain that was falling. She was apparently wearing no makeup at all. Nothing smudged or ran. Of course, her face was just that perfect naturally. For a second, I was actually angry. Angry that she had to be so beautiful. Angry that her beauty had made her cruel. Angry that I was the object of her cruelty. And even though I knew it, I still couldn't successfully walk away from her.


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[Assistant] Her amused expression was back, the hint of dimples threatening on her cheeks. Will you please allow me to finish? She asked. Walk away, I told myself. I didn't move. I heard that you were going to Seattle that day, and I wondered if you wanted a ride. That's not what I was expecting. Huh? Do you want a ride to Seattle? I wasn't sure where her joke was heading now. With who? Myself.


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[Assistant] She enunciated every syllable, like she thought maybe English wasn't my first language. Why? Where was the punchline?


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[Assistant] I was planning to go to Seattle in the next few weeks, and to be honest, I'm not sure if your truck can make it.


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[Assistant] Before the truck, I had never cared one way or another about any car.


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[Assistant] The wasting of finite resources is everyone's problem, she said primely. Seriously, Edith.


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[Assistant] I felt a charge go through me as I said her name aloud and I didn't like it. I can't keep up with you. I thought you didn't want to be my friend.


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[Assistant] Oh wow, great, so that's all cleared up.


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[Assistant] Thick sarcasm. I realized I had stopped walking again. I looked down at her rain-washed face, clean and perfect, and my thoughts stuttered to a halt.


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[Assistant] It would be more prudent for you not to be my friend, she explained.


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[Assistant] But I'm tired of trying to stay away from you, Bo. There was no humor in her face now. Her eyes were intense, narrowed.


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[Assistant] A quick smile reshaped her face and then she was serious again. You really should stay away from me, she warned. I'll see you in class.


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[Assistant] She spun on her heel and then quickly walked back the way she'd come.


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[Assistant] If I fail, if I somehow fail tonight...


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[Assistant] Which I'm pretty damn determined tonight to get a perfect game. If I somehow do not still get a perfect game, the next time, I'm probably going to try it on the Wii U instead of the Wii.


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[Assistant] Oh, the delayed release strat. Okay, alright, let's, let's bring this bad boy out. I think this is, if I remember right, this was the strategy that got us the furthest. The, uh,


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[Assistant] That's not working, Kaylee. You're giving me a shit strat. Ooh!


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[Assistant] That had some power. That was like the perfect throw right there. I just need to do that 12 more times. And that's how we get a perfect game.


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[Assistant] Ah, that was not discussed. How did I even do that? How did I throw that one?


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[Assistant] That's some good fortune right there. This could be it. There was a green hat guy back there. It reminded me of Animal Crossing. Don't trust people with green hats. Uh oh.


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[Assistant] Alright, everyone needs to not rush me on this perfect game, alright? I see all your messages here that-


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[Assistant] And what I can tell you is you can't rush perfection. Gold ball! Pummin' down the alley. Oh my. Oh my, we might have found the, we might have found the ball. Oh, he's hiding. He's hiding behind that man-female. That female with a, with a goatee.


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[Assistant] Who the hell is that? Who are these people in the background? These are not like... Who are the me's?


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[Assistant] In the background on bowling. They're not, like, obviously right behind me are me's from accounts. But then, who are the other me's? They're not like, the computer me's from the Wii. So who are they?


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[Assistant] We also don't like those. BOOMBAAAAA- No, fuck. You probably have a good Wii Remote. That may or may not have Wii Motion Plus inside. I- Toad isn't the most sophisticated Wii Remote out there, but, you know.


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[Assistant] I need to give Toad the sales, so I deal with its lack of, of consistency and usefulness because I'd like to help those who need help. Okay, why are there so many people in chat talking about my feet? Don't, I'm not showing my feet. I'm pretty sure that's Twitch TOS. Maybe. I don't know.


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[Assistant] That's some shit you ask a streamer on Chatterbait, not on Twitch.


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[Assistant] If that's what it takes, if I could post pictures of my feet on OnlyFans, and people would pay for that, I'd probably do it.


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[Assistant] But see, see, that's the thing. The feet is the first step. Like first it's the feet, then it's the ankles, then it's the leg, then it's the knees, then it's the thighs, and then it's you know what. But this is the, that was the last restart. We're on a roll now.


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[Assistant] That's the only pin that'd be that much of a douchebag to stop a pin from falling.


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[Assistant] Yeaah, look at that. That would have been my, that would have been my third strike in a row. Right? Cause that would have been my second. Then this would be my next throw. That would have been my third strike in a row. So that's my curse. Alright, so let's see here.


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[Assistant] So we just need to go a little bit more to the left. We need to go like a quarter right.


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[Assistant] Like a quarter in between those two hashes, so like, like there.


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[Assistant] And then we get a little curve. And then that time, when I, when I finally line it up after how many fucking times, IT GOES A LITTLE LESS!


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[Assistant] And the forepin is the one that doesn't fall, so coincidentally, this is it. This is gonna be the game. I can feel it. I know I'm not moving a muscle. I know what I have to do.


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[Assistant] Excuse me? I don't- Okay, I guess I- I guess when the second you think you figure something out, you didn't. In the complicated game of-


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[Assistant] Throwing a ball at ten pins, there's somehow variants.


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[Assistant] Uuuuh. Why am I questioning this so much now? Alright, that's gotta be it.


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[Assistant] Woo! Four. Alright. This is as far as we've made it today. If we get one more, it will be, uh, today's record.


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[Assistant] Let's get it. Alright. We're, we're, we got some good consistency here.


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[Assistant] I hate this. I hate this so much. I just turned into a witch right there, but I hate this little bit of wiggle here.


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[Assistant] I could tell it was just, it was just hanging a little bit too right. I-


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[Assistant] With these pins helping each other out. And absolutely fucking me.


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[Assistant] How many times do you think I've restarted since I started this- restarted since I started this challenge months ago? Months ago? It's gotta be.


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[Assistant] A thousand watts. Cause you figure, we're at a, what, we're, oh my, it's gotta be thousands. So there are seven hours that I, wait, seven, there are eleven hours. We play this for eleven hours. Those two days in a row or whatever. And uhm, you figure, I'm, I'm at a hundred and seventy-some restarts in an hour and a half.


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[Assistant] Okay, hold up. Let's do quick maths, quick maths, quick maths, quick maths. An hour and a half, so 1.5 hours, or wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Let's do 172 restarts divided by 1.5 hours.


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[Assistant] That's 114.67, we're gonna call it 115 restarts an hour. Times that by 11. And that's 1265. Plus the 172 that we have here. Plus, yea, I guess, probably a couple thousand. WOOOOOO! Here we go! Three in a row! Nice!


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[Assistant] Okay, this is where I start. This is, this is where it gets serious. Word of a six pack. I'm like, maintaining my body posture. Like, 110%. Like, so I don't... Fuck the- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


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[Assistant] There we go. Four in a row. Uh oh. I thought that one would still be okay.


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[Assistant] I don't know how it fell. It looked like it steadied itself and then it just decided to jump. I tell you what though.


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[Assistant] I've, I've, I moved down to Tampa, and guess what happens to their football team?


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[Assistant] It gets Tom Brady, it gets all these additions. I tell ya, it's not, it's not just a coincidence. It's a sign. Uh oh. Nope. Schnopes!


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[Assistant] Ba-da-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum. I didn't mean to do that. That was not my intention. But actually this, this might be a strike. No, nevermind. I thought. It actually looked like it had hope, but it didn't.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Synchronized bowling pin acrobatics. That, that is my most impressive strike I have ever had. Like without a doubt.


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[Assistant] I don't think anyone has ever seen a strike that impressive. I challenge you to present me with a more impressive strike. And I challenge you.


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[Assistant] To come up with a more less impressive follow-up throw than that. Oop.


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[Assistant] That ball almost hit us! Let's jump and spin in a circle! Woah! Why does that keep on happening? Alright.


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[Assistant] My grandma didn't though, my grandma just stood there. My grandma's not a bitch like the rest of y'all. Moomba! Yep, there it is. There it is.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm sick of that song now. That song was good for like, two weeks.