The Athletic Shoe Industry Is Made Up Of Companies That...

Executive Summary Introduction The athletic shoe industry is made up of companies that produce footwear for athletic use. This is a strong industry and has been around for over 100 years. The athletic shoe industry is one of the fastest growing footwear industries and have top growing sales compared to other footwear industries (NDP Group, 2016). The key players that currently dominate the market are Nike, Adidas, and Puma (Kates Bolduc, 2013). This paper will use the porter five forces, industry life cycle, and the key players to understand the industry. Over these years the athletic shoe industry has grown into a competitive market. Porter’s Five Forces The athletic shoe industry will be first analyzed by the Porter’s Five Forces framework. The well-known Porter’s Five Forces is a model that analyzes an industry and helps firms develop a business strategy. The five forces model focuses on six forces that will determine the attractiveness of this industry: (1) the risk of entry by potential competitors, (2) the intensity of rivalry among established companies within an industry, (3) the bargaining power of buyers, (4) the bargaining power of suppliers, (5) the closeness of substitutes to an industry s products, and (6) the power of complement providers (Hill, Jones, Schilling, 2015). The Risk of Entry by Potential Competitors The threat of new entrants in the athletic shoe industry is very weak. Currently the market is dominated by three major competitors, andShow MoreRelatedIndustry Analysis Paper2047 Words   |  9 PagesAthletic Footwear Industry Analysis When you think of athletic footwear what are your first thoughts? Nike? Under armor? Skechers? K-Swiss? All these companies have a common type of product/category called athletic footwear that they all sell and make a huge profit from. Throughout our analysis we will focus primarily on the United States Market industry compared to the International industry in athletic footwear/ running shoes. Within the United States there is a wide variety of different typesRead More Nike1698 Words   |  7 Pages SHORT CASE SUMMARY Nike, Inc. (503-671-6453, www.nike.com) is the worlds #1 athletic shoe and apparel seller. Nike currently employs 20,700 employees, with total sales of $8.78 billion. Nike and the athletic shoe industry have evolved into one of the most competitive market in recent years. But, analysts believe that athletic shoe sales will slow down over the next few years. The slowdown will come with the change in consumer trends. For instance, the younger market is beginning to buy more casualRead MoreAthletic Footwear Industry Analysis13423 Words   |  54 PagesAthletic Footwear Industry Analysis Group #1 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE Table of Contents 2 Industry Analysis 3 Nike Firm Analysis – 9 Adidas Firm Analysis – 15 Asics Firm Analysis – 21 Puma Firm Analysis – 27 Mizuno Firm Analysis – 33 New Balance Firm Analysis – 39 Skechers Firm Analysis – 45 I. Industry Definition The athletic footwear industry includes all producers of shoes designed in an athletic style or for an athleticRead MoreECO 365 WEEK 4 presentation paper1403 Words   |  6 Pagesyour product falls under can help companies develop better competitive strategies and identify potential for loss and gains. The athletic footwear industry in the United States is highly profitable and continuously growing. In this paper I will identify market structure of the athletic footwear industry, the major retailers, and competitive strategies that can be used to maximize profits. History The Athletic shoe industry had its start in 1892 when U.S Rubber company invented Keds and by 1917 theyRead MoreLa Gear Case Study2678 Words   |  11 Pageswatching Reebok attack the shoe market with their fashionable aerobic shoes. Greenberg saw an opportunity and created L.A. Gear, and sold highly fashionable candy colored sneakers aimed at trend conscious teenage girls. The company since then expanded into the third most dominating shoe company in the world entering the 1990s. With their eyes set on no.1, Greenberg and L.A. Gear went after Nike with a fast paced aggressive strategy by starting to develop and sell mens athletic shoes, but by 1991 andRead MoreUnder Armour -- Industry Analysis Essay999 Words   |  4 Pagesperformance apparel industry and introduced a women’s and youth line. Technological – Founder, Kevin Plank found a niche, an undershirt that could control the body temperature of the athlete and that would also enhance performance by keeping them cool, warm, dry when on the field. Under Armour uses synthetic, high tech fibers that provide temperature control comfort and flexibility. After it went public in 2006, Under Armour invested in a new SAP system which has allowed the company to add to its listRead MoreNike Report13324 Words   |  54 Pagesdetail, the athletic footwear industry, and all aspects of its operations. It will focus on Nike, the industry’s leader, and a selected few of its competitors; Adidas-Salomon and Reebok, Sketchers, and K-Swiss. A brief overview of Nike and its competitor’s company profiles, brand portfolios, and current developments will provide an understanding that leads to an analysis of the external environment. This analysis further discusses the geographic distribution, general environment, indu stry environmentRead MoreRun Forest Marketing Plan1463 Words   |  6 Pages Run Forest Marketing Plan MKTG 2000, Julia Cooper Gabby Angelico, Maggie McMahan, John Haselden, Jacob DeVore 16 October 2012 Executive Summary Run Forest is an eco-friendly athletic footwear company that strives to be the first in quality innovations in sustainable athletic shoes. The company’s strategy focuses on total quality management through all aspects of production in order to create a successful brand image and word-of-mouth advertising campaign. In order to offer the product at aRead More The Nike Co. Essay3243 Words   |  13 PagesElements of Task Environment and how Nike. implements it. The company: 1-A brief history of the organization 2- Nike’s goals 3- Nike’s objectives 4-Markets 5-Size Compare theory with what we found Conclusion Ø DESCRIPTION Basketball players want to be like Mike, but shoe companies want to be like NIKE. NIKE is the worlds number one shoe company and controls more than 40% of the athletic shoe market. The company designs and sells shoes for just about every sport, including baseballRead MoreAdidas S.W.O.T Analysis1363 Words   |  6 Pagesinvents is the biggest sponsor * Strong management team * Brand recognition and reputation * Diversity and variety in products offered on the web (footwear, apparel, sporting equipment, etc.) * Strong control over its own distribution channel * No bad reputation like child labor or environment pollution * In the Soccer industry, Adidas has a stronghold Weaknesses * High prices in some products * E-commerce is limited to USA * The direct sale to consumers is creating

Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun - 735 Words

The play â€Å" A Raisin in the Sun† by Lorraine Hansberry shows three generation of women under the same roof and the struggle each women face, the dreams that they had and how they overcome the obstacle in their life to move on to something better. The women in the family has had to sacrifice a lot to make the family either happy or progress further in life. Lena Younger became the head of the household upon the death of her husband. She moved from the south to the north to better herself and her life. Lena dreams and aspirations are link to those of her family. She does not aspire to be more than what she is, but she wants more for her family. Lena is struggling to understand how money as became such a big part of her family. She cannot comprehend the way her children are acting, when they were brought up better than that. Beneatha rejecting God by saying it is just man who does all the work and does not get the praise. She is just expressing the family situation in way tha t maybe Lena would have been able to understand. Lena wants Walter Lee to stand up and become the man he can be; she wants him to feel he is a man, so she decided to give the chance to be the head of the family by giving him the rest of the insurance money to put in an account to manage. Ruth is married to Walter Lee, she is frustrated and just plain tire of the way she is living and Walter Lee is treating her and the family. She is tired of her husband’s get rich ideas, but still seeks to please him andShow MoreRelatedLorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun1260 Words   |  6 Pagesoblivious to this fact, and to those who are aware and accept this knowledge. The people who are oblivious represent those who are ignorant of the fact that their dream will be deferred. This denial is the core of the concept used in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The perception of the American Dream is one that is highly subjective, but every individual dream ends in its own defermen t. During the 1960s, the African-American people were in racial situations due to their â€Å"lowered status†Read MoreLorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun1850 Words   |  8 PagesIn Lorraine Hansberry’s â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun† (1959), she reveals the life of the Youngers family. In doing so, there surfaces a detrimental ideology that destroys the family financially and in their overall happiness. In Act II Scene I, Walter, the father figure of the family, says, â€Å"Why? You want to know why? Cause we all tied up in a race of people that don t know how to do nothing but moan, pray and have babies!† (Hansberry 532). By way of explanation, the family and much of the African-AmericanRead MorePride in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun611 Words   |  2 Pages Pride Numerous meanings thrive throughout Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. One of the most prominent essential values shared is pride. The Younger family having little financial worth to their name holds pride as a means of dignity. Pride is depicted in almost every aspect of the novel, particularly represented through intricate self-respected morals, dreams, and struggle. Every character relays pride in their unique way. Mama and Walter are the most diverse to analyze in terms of layeredRead MoreAnalysis Of Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun1092 Words   |  5 PagesLorraine Hansberry was an African-American female playwright born in Chicago in 1930. Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, has won awards such as the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play and is loosely based on events involving her own family. This play portrays a poor African-American family of five known as the Younger Family, living on the South side of Chicago in a run-down one-bedroom apartment, Its furnishings are typical and undistinguished and their primary feature now isRead More Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun Essay552 Words   |  3 Pages But not everyone will achieve their dreams and some, because of sad circumstances lose their grip on their dream and fall into a state of disappointment. Langston Hughes poem relates to the dreams of Mama, Ruth, and Walter in Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ruth has to listen to Walter’s extravagant dreams of being rich and powerful all the time and know that these dreams will never happen. They are very poor and Travis must sleep on the couch becauseRead MoreEssay on Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun1190 Words   |  5 Pages Lorraine Hansberry’s novel, A Raisin in the Sun, revolves around a middle-class African-American family, struggling during World War II. By reading about the Younger’s true to life experiences, one learns many important life lessons. One of the aforementioned would be that a person should always put family’s needs before their own. There are many examples of this throughout the novel. Just a few of these would be the example of Ruth and her unborn baby, Walter regaining the respect of his familyRead More Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun Essay3889 Words   |  16 PagesLorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun A dream deferred is a dream put off to another time, much like this essay. But unlike dreams sometimes, this essay will get fulfilled and done with. Each character from A Raisin in the Sun had a deferred dream, even little Travis although his dream was not directly stated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their dreams become dried up like a raisin in the sun. Not just dreams are dried up though; Walter Lee and Ruth’s marriage became dried up also. Their marriage was no longerRead MoreLorraine Hansberrys Raisin In The Sun1883 Words   |  8 PagesOver 5 decades ago Lorraine Hansberry wrote a play, Raisin in the Sun, about a family living in Chicago  during the Civil Rights Era.   The play illustrates a realistic portrait of African-American life during the late 50’s early 60’s.   The family comes into some money as a result of the Patriarch of the family passing away.   This insurance check presents an opportunity for each member of the family to realize their dreams in order to escape the ghetto.   However, each family member/character dealsRead MoreEssay Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun2551 Words   |  11 PagesRaisin in the Sun In the story â€Å"Raisin in the Sun† there is basically a group of characters all in one family living in a small apartment with everyday their love dying a little more. The family is black and through the whole play it shows how segregation was played in the 1950s. Ruth Younger is a wife of Walter Younger and a Mother of Travis Younger who is living in a small living assortment and just wants to get away and move on to something bigger and something more independent. Now with herRead MoreThe American Nightmare: Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun1011 Words   |  5 PagesIn Lorraine Hansberry’s â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, she uses the African American Younger family as a representation of the entire race’s struggle for the American Dream. America has always had slogans such as â€Å"the land of the free† and â€Å"liberty and justice for all†. The Younger family is finding out, like generations before them, the American Dream i sn’t at all what it seems if you’re black. The family eagerly awaits the insurance check from the death of their father, while living a life of constant

Dilemma using Mills Utilitarianism, Kants Deontology, and Aristotles Virtue Ethics Free Essay Example, 1250 words

That’s why an attempt to define goodness not by debt, but by something else, like personal enjoyment, individual aims, and circumstances, will lead only to empirical understanding of enjoyment subject, but not to the concept of moral goodness itself (as it has to be). The categorical imperative is an interior moral law, which in fact is a debt to act decently towards others and towards yourself by keeping your life worthily and developing yourself morally (Kant, 2010, p. 7). The essence of human wisdom is moral self-knowledge and consciousness, which form impartiality in making judgments about oneself, comparing with the categorical imperative, and honest oneself’s admission that he is either moral or immoral. So Kant’s moral debt, which differentiates human from animal, is first of all, an inner understanding and recognition of moral acts among the immoral ones (conscience). Aristotle’s ethical position has in its fundamental the concept of virtue. Aristotle (1999) divides virtue into two kinds: moral or ethical, and the reasonable or intellectual one (p. 20). Ethical virtue represents a balance between the extremes of excess and shortage, for example, to be virtuous in finance you have to keep balance between generosity and greed, to become virtuous in social connections you have to balance between sociability and asceticism etc. We will write a custom essay sample on Dilemma using Mills Utilitarianism, Kants Deontology, and Aristotles Virtue Ethics or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now To be virtuous human must know what is considered to be good and bad. This knowledge acquires by human through education and exercising in moral actions, because through the life human acts, gaining experience, and forms his character according to it (Aristotle, 1999, p. 21). In fact, to act morally human should use both kinds of virtue, because Aristotle emphasizes that all good actions are those, which based on rational fundamentals, so knowledge brings human not only intellectual development, but also the moral one. To behave morally towards other people is to use the same principle of balance: to do as it will be good and valuable for both you and others. It’s almost impossible to say that this or that ethical doctrine is good or bad, because moral standards are usually evaluated from subjective point of view. Considering the following situation through Mill’s, Kant’s, and Aristotle ethical doctrines, shows that all of them have some disadvantages, but still comparing them, one is the most suitable. The situation: I’ve been married for 10 years and have 2 children ages 5 and 8. I think I’m no longer in love with my spouse and I’m considering divorce.

Analysis Of The Book Kindred By Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler displays her brilliance as a writer by creating multiple, complex characters in the novel Kindred, characters who epitomize real people with hardships, passions, and transformations that reflect the strict regulations placed upon the Southern society in the early nineteenth century. Dana faces many hardships from the moment Butler shifts her back one-hundred and sixty-one years to a time of slavery where she is stripped of her freedom. Rufus’s passion for Alice transitions into a fog, where he is unable to distinguish between love and control. On the other hand, Butler gives Tom Weylin a depth that reflects his actions and directly relates them to his experiences. Together all three characters’ ideas come to a screaming halt, when they are placed alongside each other and without a choice lives in a time of slavery. First and foremost, Dana lives in 1976, works and gets paid for her labor. There is tension between colored and non-colored people at this time, however, this is nothing compared to what she faces when summoned back to the past. Hearing a child screaming and thrashing in a body of water instantly Dana runs over to his aid and afterwards is not properly thanked. Butler writes: â€Å"I turned, startled, and found myself looking down the barrel of longest rifle I had ever seen. I heard a metallic click, and I froze, thinking I was going to be shot for saving the boy’s life. I was going to die† (Kindred 14). This incident left Dana confused andShow MoreRelatedOctavia Butler Essay3243 Words   |  13 Pages Table of Contents Page 1. A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH OCTAVIA E. BUTLER Page 2 - 4. Biography Page 5 - 9. Synopsis Page 9 - 14. Analysis of Criticism Page 14 – 15. Influences on Society Page 16. Footnotes Page 17. Bibliography A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH OCTAVIA E. BUTLER 1. Who is Octavia E. Butler? Where is she headed? Where has she been? Who am I? Im a 51-year-old writer who can remember being a 10-year-old

The Twilight Saga 5 Midnight Sun 1. First Sight Free Essays

string(21) " I kicked his chair\." This was the time of day when I wished I were able to sleep. High school. Or was purgatory the right word? If there was any way to atone for my sins, this ought to count toward the tally in some measure. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 1. First Sight or any similar topic only for you Order Now The tedium was not something I grew used to; every day seemed more impossibly monotonous than the last. I suppose this was my form of sleep – if sleep was defined as the inert state between active periods. I stared at the cracks running through the plaster in the far corner of the cafeteria, imagining patterns into them that were not there. It was one way to tune out the voices that babbled like the gush of a river inside my head. Several hundred of these voices I ignored out of boredom. When it came to the human mind, I’d heard it all before and then some. Today, all thoughts were consumed with the trivial drama of a new addition to the small student body here. It took so little to work them all up. I’d seen the new face repeated in thought after thought from every angle. Just an ordinary human girl. The excitement over her arrival was tiresomely predictable – like flashing a shiny object at a child. Half the sheep-like males were already imagining themselves in love with her, just because she was something new to look at. I tried harder to tune them out. Only four voices did I block out of courtesy rather than distaste: my family, my two brothers and two sisters, who were so used to the lack of privacy in my presence that they rarely gave it a thought. I gave them what privacy I could. I tried not to listen if I could help it. Try as I may, still†¦I knew. Rosalie was thinking, as usual, about herself. She’d caught sight of her profile in the reflection off someone’s glasses, and she was mulling over her own perfection. Rosalie’s mind was a shallow pool with few surprises. Emmett was fuming over a wrestling match he’d lost to Jasper during the night. It would take all his limited patience to make it to the end of the school day to orchestrate a rematch. I never really felt intrusive hearing Emmett’s thoughts, because he never thought one thing that he would not say aloud or put into action. Perhaps I only felt guilty reading the others’ minds because I knew there were things there that they wouldn’t want me to know. If Rosalie’s mind was a shallow pool, then Emmett’s was a lake with no shadows, glass clear. And Jasper was†¦suffering. I suppressed a sigh. Edward. Alice called my name in her head, and had my attention at once. It was just the same as having my name called aloud. I was glad my given name had fallen out of style lately – it had been annoying; anytime anyone thought of any Edward, my head would turn automatically†¦ My head didn’t turn now. Alice and I were good at these private conversations. It was rare that anyone caught us. I kept my eyes on the lines in the plaster. How is he holding up? she asked me. I frowned, just a small change in the set of my mouth. Nothing that would tip the others off. I could easily be frowning out of boredom. Alice’s mental tone was alarmed now, and I saw in her mind that she was watching Jasper in her peripheral vision. Is there any danger? She searched ahead, into the immediate future, skimming through visions of monotony for the source behind my frown. I turned my head slowly to the left, as if looking at the bricks of the wall, sighed, and then to the right, back to the cracks in the ceiling. Only Alice knew I was shaking my head. She relaxed. Let me know if it gets too bad. I moved only my eyes, up to the ceiling above, and back down. Thanks for doing this. I was glad I couldn’t answer her aloud. What would I say? ‘My pleasure’? It was hardly that. I didn’t enjoy listening to Jasper’s struggles. Was it really necessary to experiment like this? Wouldn’t the safer path be to just admit that he might never be able to handle the thirst the way the rest of us could, and not push his limits? Why flirt with disaster? It had been two weeks since our last hunting trip. That was not an immensely difficult time span for the rest of us. A little uncomfortable occasionally – if a human walked too close, if the wind blew the wrong way. But humans rarely walked too close. Their instincts told them what their conscious minds would never understand: we were dangerous. Jasper was very dangerous right now. At that moment, a small girl paused at the end of the closest table to ours,stopping to talk to a friend. She tossed her short, sandy hair, running her fingers throughit. The heaters blew her scent in our direction. I was used to the way that scent made mefeel – the dry ache in my throat, the hollow yearn in my stomach, the automatictightening of my muscles, the excess flow of venom in my mouth†¦ This was all quite normal, usually easy to ignore. It was harder just now, with thefeelings stronger, doubled, as I monitored Jasper’s reaction. Twin thirsts, rather than justmine. Jasper was letting his imagination get away from him. He was picturing it – picturing himself getting up from his seat next to Alice and going to stand beside the littlegirl. Thinking of leaning down and in, as if he were going to whisper in her ear, andletting his lips touch the arch of her throat. Imagining how the hot flow of her pulsebeneath the fine skin would feel under his mouth†¦ I kicked his chair. He met my gaze for a minute, and then looked down. I could hear shame andrebellion war in his head. â€Å"Sorry,† Jasper muttered. I shrugged. â€Å"You weren’t going to do anything,† Alice murmured to him, soothing hischagrin. â€Å"I could see that.† I fought back the grimace that would give her lie away. We had to stick together,Alice and I. It wasn’t easy, hearing voices or seeing visions of the future. Both freaksamong those who were already freaks. We protected each other’s secrets. â€Å"It helps a little if you think of them as people,† Alice suggested, her high,musical voice too fast for human ears to understand, if any had been close enough tohear. â€Å"Her name is Whitney. She has a baby sister she adores. Her mother invited Esmeto that garden party, do you remember?† â€Å"I know who she is,† Jasper said curtly. He turned away to stare out one of thesmall windows that were spaced just under the eaves around the long room. His toneended the conversation. He would have to hunt tonight. It was ridiculous to take risks like this, trying totest his strength, to build his endurance. Jasper should just accept his limitations andwork within them. His former habits were not conducive to our chosen lifestyle; heshouldn’t push himself in this way. Alice sighed silently and stood, taking her tray of food – her prop, as it were – with her and leaving him alone. She knew when he’d had enough of her encouragement.Though Rosalie and Emmett were more flagrant about their relationship, it was Alice andJasper who knew each other’s every mood as well as their own. As if they could readminds, too – only just each other’s. Edward Cullen. Reflex reaction. I turned to the sound of my name being called, though it wasn’tbeing called, just thought. My eyes locked for a small portion of a second with a pair of wide, chocolatebrownhuman eyes set in a pale, heart-shaped face. I knew the face, though I’d neverseen it myself before this moment. It had been foremost in every human head today. Thenew student, Isabella Swan. Daughter of the town’s chief of police, brought to live hereby some new custody situation. Bella. She’d corrected everyone who’d used her fullname†¦ I looked away, bored. It took me a second to realize that she had not been the oneto think my name. Of course she’s already crushing on the Cullens, I heard the first thoughtcontinue. Now I recognized the voice.’ Jessica Stanley – it had been a while since she’dbothered me with her internal chatter. What a relief it had been when she’d gotten overher misplaced infatuation. It used to be nearly impossible to escape her constant,ridiculous daydreams. I’d wished, at the time, that I could explain to her exactly whatwould have happened if my lips, and the teeth behind them, had gotten anywhere nearher. That would have silenced those annoying fantasies. The thought of her reactionalmost made me smile. Fat lot of good it will do her, Jessica went on. She’s really not even pretty. Idon’t know why Eric is staring so much†¦or Mike. She winced mentally on the last name. Her new infatuation, the genericallypopular Mike Newton, was completely oblivious to her. Apparently, he was not asoblivious to the new girl. Like the child with the shiny object again. This put a meanedge to Jessica’s thoughts, though she was outwardly cordial to the newcomer as sheexplained to her the commonly held knowledge about my family. The new student musthave asked about us. Everyone’s looking at me today, too, Jessica thought smugly in an aside. Isn’t itlucky Bella had two classes with me†¦I’ll bet Mike will want to ask me what she’s – I tried to block the inane chatter out of my head before the petty and the trivialcould drive me mad. â€Å"Jessica Stanley is giving the new Swan girl all the dirty laundry on the Cullenclan,† I murmured to Emmett as a distraction. He chuckled under his breath. I hope she’s making it good, he thought. â€Å"Rather unimaginative, actually. Just the barest hint of scandal. Not an ounce ofhorror. I’m a little disappointed.† And the new girl? Is she disappointed in the gossip as well? I listened to hear what this new girl, Bella, thought of Jessica’s story. What didshe see when she looked at the strange, chalky-skinned family that was universallyavoided? It was sort of my responsibility to know her reaction. I acted as a lookout, forlack of a better word, for my family. To protect us. If anyone ever grew suspicious, Icould give us early warning and an easy retreat. It happened occasionally – some humanwith an active imagination would see in us the characters of a book or a movie. Usuallythey got it wrong, but it was better to move on somewhere new than to risk scrutiny. Very, very rarely, someone would guess right. We didn’t give them a chance to test theirhypothesis. We simply disappeared, to become no more than a frightening memory†¦I heard nothing, though I listened close beside where Jessica’s frivolous internalmonologue continued to gush. It was as if there was no one sitting beside her. Howpeculiar, had the girl moved? That didn’t seem likely, as Jessica was still babbling to her.I looked up to check, feeling off-balance. Checking on what my extra hearing’ could tellme – it wasn’t something I ever had to do. Again, my gaze locked on those same wide brown eyes. She was sitting rightwhere she had been before, and looking at us, a natural thing to be doing, I supposed, asJessica was still regaling her with the local gossip about the Cullens.Thinking about us, too, would be natural. But I couldn’t hear a whisper. Inviting warm red stained her cheeks as she looked down, away from theembarrassing gaffe of getting caught staring at a stranger. It was good that Jasper wasstill gazing out the window. I didn’t like to imagine what that easy pooling of bloodwould do to his control. The emotions had been as clear on her face as if they were spelled out in wordsacross her forehead: surprise, as she unknowingly absorbed the signs of the subtledifferences between her kind and mine, curiosity, as she listened to Jessica’s tale, andsomething more†¦fascination? It wouldn’t be the first time. We were beautiful to them,our intended prey. Then, finally, embarrassment as I caught her staring at me. And yet, though her thoughts had been so clear in her odd eyes – odd, because ofthe depth to them; brown eyes often seemed flat in their darkness – I could hear nothingbut silence from the place she was sitting. Nothing at all. I felt a moment of unease. This was nothing I’d ever encountered before. Was there something wrong withme? I felt exactly the same as I always did. Worried, I listened harder.All the voices I’d been blocking were suddenly shouting in my head†¦.wonder what music she likes†¦maybe I could mention that new CD†¦ MikeNewton was thinking, two tables away – fixated on Bella Swan. Look at him staring at her. Isn’t it enough that he has half the girls in schoolwaiting for him to†¦ Eric Yorkie was thinking sulfurous thoughts, also revolving aroundthe girl. †¦so disgusting. You’d think she was famous or something†¦ Even Edward Cullen, staring†¦ Lauren Mallory was so jealous that her face, by all rights, should be dark jade in color. And Jessica, flaunting her new best friend. What a joke†¦ Vitriol continued to spew from the girl’s thoughts. †¦I bet everyone has asked her that. But I’d like to talk to her. I’ll think of a more original question†¦ Ashley Dowling mused. †¦maybe she’ll be in my Spanish†¦ June Richardson hoped. †¦tons left to do tonight! Trig, and the English test. I hope my mom†¦ Angela Weber, a quiet girl, whose thoughts were unusually kind, was the only one at the table who wasn’t obsessed with this Bella. I could hear them all, hear every insignificant thing they were thinking as it passed through their minds. But nothing at all from the new student with the deceptively communicative eyes. And, of course, I could hear what the girl said when she spoke to Jessica. I didn’t have to read minds to be able to hear her low, clear voice on the far side of the long room. â€Å"Which one is the boy with the reddish brown hair?† I heard her ask, sneaking a look at me from the corner of her eye, only to look quickly away when she saw that I was still staring. If I’d had time to hope that hearing the sound of her voice would help me pinpoint the tone of her thoughts, lost somewhere where I couldn’t access them, I was instantly disappointed. Usually, people’s thoughts came to them in a similar pitch as their physical voices. But this quiet, shy voice was unfamiliar, not one of the hundreds of thoughts bouncing around the room, I was sure of that. Entirely new. Oh, good luck, idiot! Jessica thought before answering the girl’s question. â€Å"That’s Edward. He’s gorgeous, of course, but don’t waste your time. He doesn’t date. Apparently none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him.† She sniffed. I turned my head away to hide my smile. Jessica and her classmates had no idea how lucky they were that none of them particularly appealed to me. Beneath the transient humor, I felt a strange impulse, one I did not clearly understand. It had something to do with the vicious edge to Jessica’s thoughts that the new girl was unaware of†¦ I felt the strangest urge to step in between them, to shield this Bella Swan from the darker workings of Jessica’s mind. What an odd thing to feel. Trying to ferret out the motivations behind the impulse, I examined the new girl one more time. Perhaps it was just some long buried protective instinct – the strong for the weak. This girl looked more fragile than her new classmates. Her skin was so translucent it was hard to believe it offered her much defense from the outside world. I could see the rhythmic pulse of blood through her veins under the clear, pale membrane†¦ But I should not concentrate on that. I was good at this life I’d chosen, but I was just as thirsty as Jasper and there was no point in inviting temptation. There was a faint crease between her eyebrows that she seemed unaware of. It was unbelievable frustrating! I could clearly see that it was a strain for her to sit there, to make conversation with strangers, to be the center of attention. I could sense her shyness from the way she held her frail-looking shoulders, slightly hunched, as if she was expecting a rebuff at any moment. And yet I could only sense, could only see, could only imagine. There was nothing but silence from the very unexceptional human girl. I could hear nothing. Why? â€Å"Shall we?† Rosalie murmured, interrupting my focus. I looked away from the girl with a sense of relief. I didn’t want to continue to fail at this – it irritated me. And I didn’t want to develop any interest in her hidden thoughts simply because they were hidden from me. No doubt, when I did decipher her thoughts – and I would find a way to do so – they would be just as petty and trivial as any human’s thoughts. Not worth the effort I would expend to reach them. â€Å"So, is the new one afraid of us yet?† Emmett asked, still waiting for my response to his question before. I shrugged. He wasn’t interested enough to press for a more information. Nor should I be interested. We got up from the table and walked out of the cafeteria. Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper were pretending to be seniors; they left for their classes. I was playing a younger role than they. I headed off for my junior level biology class, preparing my mind for the tedium. It was doubtful Mr. Banner, a man of no more than average intellect, would manage to pull out anything in his lecture that would surprise someone holding two graduate degrees in medicine. In the classroom, I settled into my chair and let my books – props, again; they held nothing I didn’t already know – spill across the table. I was the only student who had a table to himself. The humans weren’t smart enough to know that they feared me, but their survival instincts were enough to keep them away. The room slowly filled as they trickled in from lunch. I leaned back in my chair and waited for the time to pass. Again, I wished I was able to sleep. Because I’d been thinking about her, when Angela Weber escorted the new girl through the door, her name intruded on my attention. Bella seems just as shy as me. I’ll bet today is really hard for her. I wish I could say something†¦but it would probably just sound stupid†¦ Yes! Mike Newton thought, turning in his seat to watch the girls enter. Still, from the place where Bella Swan stood, nothing. The empty space where her thoughts should be irritated and unnerved me. She came closer, walking down the aisle beside me to get to the teacher’s desk. Poor girl; the seat next to me was the only one available. Automatically, I cleared what would be her side of the desk, shoving my books into a pile. I doubted she would feel very comfortable there. She was in for a long semester – in this class, at least. Perhaps, though, sitting beside her, I’d be able to flush out her secrets†¦not that I’d ever needed close proximity before†¦not that I would find anything worth listening to†¦ Bella Swan walked into the flow of the heated air that blew toward me from the vent. Her scent hit me like wrecking ball, like a battering ram. There was no image violent enough to encapsulate the force of what happened to me in that moment. In that instant, I was nothing close to the human I’d once been; no trace of the shreds of humanity I’d managed to cloak myself in remained. I was a predator. She was my prey. There was nothing else in the whole world but that truth. There was no room full of witnesses – they were already collateral damage in my head. The mystery of her thoughts was forgotten. Her thoughts meant nothing, for she would not go on thinking them much longer. I was a vampire, and she had the sweetest blood I’d smelled in eighty years. I hadn’t imagined such a scent could exist. If I’d known it did, I would have gone searching for it long ago. I would have combed the planet for her. I could imagine the taste†¦ Thirst burned through my throat like fire. My mouth was baked and desiccated. The fresh flow of venom did nothing to dispel that sensation. My stomach twisted with the hunger that was an echo of the thirst. My muscles coiled to spring. Not a full second had passed. She was still taking the same step that had put her downwind from me. As her foot touched the ground, her eyes slid toward me, a movement she clearly meant to be stealthy. Her glance met mine, and I saw myself reflected in the wide mirror of her eyes. The shock of the face I saw there saved her life for a few thorny moments. She didn’t make it easier. When she processed the expression on my face, blood flooded her cheeks again, turning her skin the most delicious color I’d ever seen. The scent was a thick haze in my brain. I could barely think through it. My thoughts raged, resisting control, incoherent. She walked more quickly now, as if she understood the need to escape. Her haste made her clumsy – she tripped and stumbled forward, almost falling into the girl seated in front of me. Vulnerable, weak. Even more than usual for a human. I tried to focus on the face I’d seen in her eyes, a face I recognized with revulsion. The face of the monster in me – the face I’d beaten back with decades of effort and uncompromising discipline. How easily it sprang to the surface now! The scent swirled around me again, scattering my thoughts and nearly propelling me out of my seat. My hand gripped under the edge of the table as I tried to hold myself in my chair. The wood was not up to the task. My hand crushed through the strut and came away with a palmful of splintered pulp, leaving the shape of my fingers carved into the remaining wood. Destroy evidence. That was a fundamental rule. I quickly pulverized the edges of the shape with my fingertips, leaving nothing but a ragged hole and a pile of shavings on the floor, which I scattered with my foot. Destroy evidence. Collateral damage†¦. I knew what had to happen now. The girl would have to come sit beside me, and I would have to kill her. The innocent bystanders in this classroom, eighteen other children and one man, could not be allowed to leave this room, having seen what they would soon see. I flinched at the thought of what I must do. Even at my very worst, I had never committed this kind of atrocity. I had never killed innocents, not in over eight decades. And now I planned to slaughter twenty of them at once. The face of the monster in the mirror mocked me. Even as part of me shuddered away from the monster, another part was planning it. If I killed the girl first, I would have only fifteen or twenty seconds with her before the humans in the room would react. Maybe a little bit longer, if at first they did not realize what I was doing. She would not have time to scream or feel pain; I would not kill her cruelly. That much I could give this stranger with her horribly desirable blood. But then I would have to stop them from escaping. I wouldn’t have to worry about the windows, too high up and small to provide an escape for anyone. Just the door – block that and they were trapped. It would be slower and more difficult, trying to take them all down when they were panicked and scrambling, moving in chaos. Not impossible, but there would be much more noise. Time for lots of screaming. Someone would hear†¦and I’d be forced to kill even more innocents in this black hour. And her blood would cool, while I murdered the others. The scent punished me, closing my throat with dry aching†¦ So the witnesses first then. I mapped it out in my head. I was in the middle of the room, the furthest row in the back. I would take my right side first. I could snap four or five of their necks per second, I estimated. It would not be noisy. The right side would be the lucky side; they would not see me coming. Moving around the front and back up the left side, it would take me, at most, five seconds to end every life in this room. Long enough for Bella Swan to see, briefly, what was coming for her. Long enough for her to feel fear. Long enough, maybe, if shock didn’t freeze her in place, for her to work up a scream. One soft scream that would not bring anyone running. I took a deep breath, and the scent was a fire that raced through my dry veins, burning out from my chest to consume every better impulse that I was capable of. She was just turning now. In a few seconds, she would sit down inches away from me. The monster in my head smiled in anticipation. Someone slammed shut a folder on my left. I didn’t look up to see which of the doomed humans it was. But the motion sent a wave of ordinary, unscented air wafting across my face. For one short second, I was able to think clearly. In that precious second, I saw two faces in my head, side by side. One was mine, or rather had been: the red-eyed monster that had killed so many people that I’d stop counting their numbers. Rationalized, justified murders. A killer of killers, a killer of other, less powerful monsters. It was a god complex, I acknowledged that – deciding who deserved a death sentence. It was a compromise with myself. I had fed on human blood, but only by the loosest definition. My victims were, in their various dark pastimes, barely more human than I was. The other face was Carlisle’s. There was no resemblance between the two faces. They were bright day and blackest night. There was no reason for there to be a resemblance. Carlisle was not my father in the basic biological sense. We shared no common features. The similarity in our coloring was a product of what we were; every vampire had the same ice pale skin. The similarity in the color of our eyes was another matter – a reflection of a mutual choice. And yet, though there was no basis for a resemblance, I’d imagined that my face had begun to reflect his, to an extent, in the last seventy-odd years that I had embraced his choice and followed in his steps. My features had not changed, but it seemed to me like some of his wisdom had marked my expression, that a little of his compassion could be traced in the shape of my mouth, and hints of his patience were evident on my brow. All those tiny improvements were lost in the face of the monster. In a few moments, there would be nothing left in me that would reflect the years I’d spent with my creator, my mentor, my father in all the ways that counted. My eyes would glow red as a devil’s; all likeness would be lost forever. In my head, Carlisle’s kind eyes did not judge me. I knew that he would forgive me for this horrible act that I would do. Because he loved me. Because he thought I was better than I was. And he would still love me, even as I now proved him wrong. Bella Swan sat down in the chair next to me, her movements stiff and awkward – with fear? – and the scent of her blood bloomed in an inexorable cloud around me. I would prove my father wrong about me. The misery of this fact hurt almost as much as the fire in my throat. I leaned away from her in revulsion – revolted by the monster aching to take her. Why did she have to come here? Why did she have to exist? Why did she have to ruin the little peace I had in this non-life of mine? Why had this aggravating human ever been born? She would ruin me. I turned my face away from her, as a sudden fierce, unreasoning hatred washed through me. Who was this creature? Why me, why now? Why did I have to lose everything just because she happened to choose this unlikely town to appear in? Why had she come here! I didn’t want to be the monster! I didn’t want to kill this room full of harmless children! I didn’t want to lose everything I’d gained in a lifetime of sacrifice and denial! I wouldn’t. She couldn’t make me. The scent was the problem, the hideously appealing scent of her blood. If there was only some way to resist†¦if only another gust of fresh air could clear my head. Bella Swan shook out her long, thick, mahogany hair in my direction. Was she insane? It was as if she were encouraging the monster! Taunting him. There was no friendly breeze to blow the smell away from me now. All would soon be lost. No, there was no helpful breeze. But I didn’t have to breathe. I stopped the flow of air through my lungs; the relief was instantaneous, but incomplete. I still had the memory of the scent in my head, the taste of it on the back of my tongue. I wouldn’t be able to resist even that for long. But perhaps I could resist for an hour. One hour. Just enough time to get out of this room full of victims, victims that maybe didn’t have to be victims. If I could resist for one short hour. It was an uncomfortable feeling, not breathing. My body did not need oxygen, but it went against my instincts. I relied on scent more than my other senses in times of stress. It led the way in the hunt, it was the first warning in case of danger. I did not often came across something as dangerous as I was, but self-preservation was just as strong in my kind as it was in the average human. Uncomfortable, but manageable. More bearable than smelling her and not sinking my teeth through that fine, thin, see-through skin to the hot, wet, pulsing – An hour! Just one hour. I must not think of the scent, the taste. The silent girl kept her hair between us, leaning forward so that it spilled across her folder. I couldn’t see her face, to try to read the emotions in her clear, deep eyes. Was this why she’d let her tresses fan out between us? To hide those eyes from me? Out of fear? Shyness? To keep her secrets from me? My former irritation at being stymied by her soundless thoughts was weak and pale in comparison to the need – and the hate – that possessed me now. For I hated this frail woman-child beside me, hated her with all the fervor with which I clung to my former self, my love of my family, my dreams of being something better than what I was†¦ Hating her, hating how she made me feel – it helped a little. Yes, the irritation I’d felt before was weak, but it, too, helped a little. I clung to any emotion that distracted me from imagining what she would taste like†¦ Hate and irritation. Impatience. Would the hour never pass? And when the hour ended†¦ Then she would walk out of this room. And I would do what? I could introduce myself. Hello, my name is Edward Cullen. May I walk you to your next class? She would say yes. It would be the polite thing to do. Even already fearing me, as I suspected she did, she would follow convention and walk beside me. It should be easy enough to lead her in the wrong direction. A spur of the forest reached out like a finger to touch the back corner of the parking lot. I could tell her I’d forgotten a book in my car†¦ Would anyone notice that I was the last person she’d been seen with? It was raining, as usual; two dark raincoats heading the wrong direction wouldn’t pique too much interest, or give me away. Except that I was not the only student who was aware of her today – though no one was as blisteringly aware as I was. Mike Newton, in particular, was conscious of every shift in her weight as she fidgeted in her chair – she was uncomfortable so close to me, just as anyone would be, just as I’d expected before her scent had destroyed all charitable concern. Mike Newton would notice if she left the classroom with me. If I could last an hour, could I last two? I flinched at the pain of the burning. She would go home to an empty house. Police Chief Swan worked a full day. I knew his house, as I knew every house in the tiny town. His home was nestled right up against thick woods, with no close neighbors. Even if she had time to scream, which she would not, there would be no one to hear. That would be the responsible way to deal with this. I’d gone seven decades without human blood. If I held my breath, I could last two hours. And when I had her alone, there would be no chance of anyone else getting hurt. And no reason to rush through the experience, the monster in my head agreed. It was sophistry to think that by saving the nineteen humans in this room with effort and patience, I would be less a monster when I killed this innocent girl. Though I hated her, I knew my hatred was unjust. I knew that what I really hated was myself. And I would hate us both so much more when she was dead. I made it through the hour in this way – imagining the best ways to kill her. I tried to avoid imagining the actual act. That might be too much for me; I might lose this battle and end up killing everyone in sight. So I planned strategy, and nothing more. It carried me through the hour. Once, toward the very end, she peeked up at me through the fluid wall of her hair. I could feel the unjustified hatred burning out of me as I met her gaze – see the reflection of it in her frightened eyes. Blood painted her cheek before she could hide in her hair again, and I was nearly undone. But the bell rang. Saved by the bell – how clich. We were both saved. She, saved from death. I, saved for just a short time from being the nightmarish creature I feared and loathed. I couldn’t walk as slowly as I should as I darted from the room. If anyone had been looking at me, they might have suspected that there was something not right about the way I moved. No one was paying attention to me. All human thoughts still swirled around the girl who was condemned to die in little more than an hour’s time. I hid in my car. I didn’t like to think of myself having to hide. How cowardly that sounded. But it was unquestionably the case now. I didn’t have enough discipline left to be around humans now. Focusing so much of my efforts on not killing one of them left me no resources to resist the others. What a waste that would be. If I were to give in to the monster, I might as well make it worth the defeat. I played a CD of music that usually calmed me, but it did little for me now. No, what helped most now was the cool, wet, clean air that drifted with the light rain through my open windows. Though I could remember the scent of Bella Swan’s blood with perfect clarity, inhaling the clean air was like washing out the inside of my body from its infection. I was sane again. I could think again. And I could fight again. I could fight against what I didn’t want to be. I didn’t have to go to her home. I didn’t have to kill her. Obviously, I was a rational, thinking creature, and I had a choice. There was always a choice. It hadn’t felt that way in the classroom†¦but I was away from her now. Perhaps, if I avoided her very, very carefully, there was no need for my life to change. I had things ordered the way I liked them now. Why should I let some aggravating and delicious nobody ruin that? I didn’t have to disappoint my father. I didn’t have to cause my mother stress, worry†¦pain. Yes, it would hurt my adopted mother, too. And Esme was so gentle, so tender and soft. Causing someone like Esme pain was truly inexcusable. How ironic that I’d wanted to protect this human girl from the paltry, toothless threat of Jessica Stanley’s snide thoughts. I was the last person who would ever stand as a protector for Isabella Swan. She would never need protection from anything more than she needed it from me. Where was Alice, I suddenly wondered? Hadn’t she seen me killing the Swan girl in a multitude of ways? Why hadn’t she come to help – to stop me or help me clean up the evidence, whichever? Was she so absorbed with watching for trouble with Jasper that she’d missed this much more horrific possibility? Was I stronger than I thought? Would I really not have done anything to the girl? No. I knew that wasn’t true. Alice must be concentrating on Jasper very hard. I searched in the direction I knew she would be, in the small building used for English classes. It did not take me long to locate her familiar voice.’ And I was right. Her every thought was turned to Jasper, watching his small choices with minute scrutiny. I wished I could ask her advice, but at the same time, I was glad she didn’t know what I was capable of. That she was unaware of the massacre I had considered in the last hour. I felt a new burn through my body – the burn of shame. I didn’t want any of them to know. If I could avoid Bella Swan, if I could manage not to kill her – even as I thought that, the monster writhed and gnashed his teeth in frustration – then no one would have to know. If I could keep away from her scent†¦ There was no reason why I shouldn’t try, at least. Make a good choice. Try to be what Carlisle thought I was. The last hour of school was almost over. I decided to put my new plan into action at once. Better than sitting here in the parking lot where she might pass me and ruin my attempt. Again, I felt the unjust hatred for the girl. I hated that she had this unconscious power over me. That she could make me be something I reviled. I walked swiftly – a little too swiftly, but there were no witnesses – across the tiny campus to the office. There was no reason for Bella Swan to cross paths with me. She would be avoided like the plague she was. The office was empty except for the secretary, the one I wanted to see. She didn’t notice my silent entrance. â€Å"Mrs. Cope?† The woman with the unnaturally red hair looked up and her eyes widened. It always caught them off guard, the little markers they didn’t understand, no matter how many times they’d seen one of us before. â€Å"Oh,† she gasped, a little flustered. She smoothed her shirt. Silly, she thought to herself. He’s almost young enough to be my son. Too young to think of that way†¦ â€Å"Hello, Edward. What can I do for you?† Her eyelashes fluttered behind her thick glasses. Uncomfortable. But I knew how to be charming when I wanted to be. It was easy, since I was able to know instantly how any tone or gesture was taken. I leaned forward, meeting her gaze as if I were staring deeply into her depthless, small brown eyes. Her thoughts were already in a flutter. This should be simple. â€Å"I was wondering if you could help me with my schedule,† I said in the soft voice I reserved for not scaring humans. I heard the tempo of her heart increase. â€Å"Of course, Edward. How can I help?† Too young, too young, she chanted to herself. Wrong, of course. I was older than her grandfather. But according to my driver’s license, she was right. â€Å"I was wondering if I could move from my biology class to a senior level science? Physics, perhaps?† â€Å"It there a problem with Mr. Banner, Edward?† â€Å"Not at all, it’s just that I’ve already studied this material†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"In that accelerated school you all went to in Alaska, right.† Her thin lips pursed as she considered this. They should all be in college. I’ve heard the teachers complain. Perfect four point ohs, never a hesitation with a response, never a wrong answer on a test – like they’ve found some way to cheat in every subject. Mr. Varner would rather believe that anyone was cheating than think a student was smarter than him†¦ I’ll bet their mother tutors them†¦ â€Å"Actually, Edward, physics is pretty much full right now. Mr. Banner hates to have more than twenty-five students in a class – â€Å" â€Å"I wouldn’t be any trouble.† Of course not. Not a perfect Cullen. â€Å"I know that, Edward. But there just aren’t enough seats as it is†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Could I drop the class, then? I could use the period for independent study.† â€Å"Drop biology?† He mouth fell open. That’s crazy. How hard is it to sit through a subject you already know? There must be a problem with Mr. Banner. I wonder if I should talk to Bob about it? â€Å"You won’t have enough credits to graduate.† â€Å"I’ll catch up next year.† â€Å"Maybe you should talk to your parents about that.† The door opened behind me, but who ever it was did not think of me, so I ignored the arrival and concentrated on Mrs. Cope. I leaned slightly closer, and held my eyes a little wider. This would work better if they were gold instead of black. The blackness frightened people, as it should. â€Å"Please, Mrs. Cope?† I made my voice as smooth and compelling as it could be – and it could be considerably compelling. â€Å"Isn’t there some other section I could switch to? I’m sure there has to be an open slot somewhere? Sixth hour biology can’t be the only option†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I smiled at her, careful not to flash my teeth so widely that it would scare her, letting the expression soften my face. Her heart drummed faster. Too young, she reminded herself frantically. â€Å"Well, maybe I could talk to Bob – I mean Mr. Banner. I could see if – â€Å" A second was all it took to change everything: the atmosphere in the room, my mission here, the reason I leaned toward the red-haired woman†¦ What had been for one purpose before was now for another. A second was all it took for Samantha Wells to open the door and place a signed tardy slip in the basket by the door, and hurry out again, in a rush to be away from school. A second was all it took for the sudden gust of wind through the open door to crash into me. A second was all it took for me to realize why that first person through the door had not interrupted me with her thoughts. I turned, though I did not need to make sure. I turned slowly, fighting to control the muscles that rebelled against me. Bella Swan stood with her back pressed to the wall beside the door, a piece of paper clutched in her hands. Her eyes were even wider than usual as she took in my ferocious, inhuman glare. The smell of her blood saturated every particle of air in the tiny, hot room. My throat burst into flames. The monster glared back at me from the mirror of her eyes again, a mask of evil. My hand hesitated in the air above the counter. I would not have to look back in order to reach across it and slam Mrs. Cope’s head into her desk with enough force to kill her. Two lives, rather than twenty. A trade. The monster waited anxiously, hungrily, for me to do it. But there was always a choice – there had to be. I cut off the motion of my lungs, and fixed Carlisle’s face in front of my eyes. I turned back to face Mrs. Cope, and heard her internal surprise at the change in my expression. She shrank away from me, but her fear did not form into coherent words. Using all the control I’d mastered in my decades of self-denial, I made my voice even and smooth. There was just enough air left in my lungs to speak once more, rushing through the words. â€Å"Nevermind, then. I can see that it’s impossible. Thank you so much for your help.† I spun and launched myself from the room, trying not to feel the warm-blooded heat of the girl’s body as I passed within inches of it. I didn’t stop until I was in my car, moving too fast the entire way there. Most of the humans had cleared out already, so there weren’t a lot of witnesses. I heard a sophomore, D.J. Garrett, notice, and then disregard†¦ Where did Cullen come from – it was like he just came out of thin air†¦ There I go, with the imagination again. Mom always says†¦ When I slid into my Volvo, the others were already there. I tried to control my breathing, but I was gasping at the fresh air like I’d been suffocated. â€Å"Edward?† Alice asked, alarm in her voice. I just shook my head at her. â€Å"What the hell happened to you?† Emmett demanded, distracted, for the moment, from the fact that Jasper was not in the mood for his rematch. Instead of answering, I threw the car into reverse. I had to get out of this lot before Bella Swan could follow me here, too. My own person demon, haunting me†¦ I swung the car around and accelerated. I hit forty before I was on the road. On the road, I hit seventy before I made the corner. Without looking, I knew that Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper had all turned to stare at Alice. She shrugged. She couldn’t see what had passed, only what was coming. She looked ahead for me now. We both processed what she saw in her head, and we were both surprised. â€Å"You’re leaving?† she whispered. The others stared at me now. â€Å"Am I?† I hissed through my teeth. She saw it then, as my resolve wavered and another choice spun my future in a darker direction. â€Å"Oh.† Bella Swan, dead. My eyes, glowing crimson with fresh blood. The search that would follow. The careful time we would wait before it was safe for us to pull out and start again†¦ â€Å"Oh,† she said again. The picture grew more specific. I saw the inside of Chief Swan’s house for the first time, saw Bella in a small kitchen with the yellow cupboards, her back to me as I stalked her from the shadows†¦let the scent pull me toward her†¦ â€Å"Stop!† I groaned, not able to bear more. â€Å"Sorry,† she whispered, her eyes wide. The monster rejoiced. And the vision in her head shifted again. An empty highway at night, the trees beside it coated in snow, flashing by at almost two hundred miles per hour. â€Å"I’ll miss you,† she said. â€Å"No matter how short a time you’re gone.† Emmett and Rosalie exchanged an apprehensive glance. We were almost to the turn off onto the long drive that led to our home. â€Å"Drop us here,† Alice instructed. â€Å"You should tell Carlisle yourself.† I nodded, and the car squealed to a sudden stop. Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper got out in silence; they would make Alice explain when I was gone. Alice touched my shoulder. â€Å"You will do the right thing,† she murmured. Not a vision this time – an order. â€Å"She’s Charlie Swan’s only family. It would kill him, too.† â€Å"Yes,† I said, agreeing only with the last part. She slid out to join the others, her eyebrows pulling together in anxiety. They melted into woods, out of sight before I could turn the car around. I accelerated back toward town, and I knew the visions in Alice’s head would be flashing from dark to bright like a strobe light. As I sped back to Forks doing ninety, I wasn’t sure where I was going. To say goodbye to my father? Or to embrace the monster inside me? The road flew away beneath my tires. How to cite The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 1. First Sight, Essay examples

Criminals are made or born free essay sample

An understanding of criminal behaviour has been attempted by psychologists through many different theories. The three theories I will discuss are: the biological theory, the psychological theory and the social theory of crime. Each theory provides a thorough explanation of why people carry out criminal behaviour, however, which theory offers the better explanation? Are criminals born or made? The biological theory of crime suggests that it is very likely that biological factors play a significant role in criminality due to the fact that criminal behaviour tends to run in families. Adoption studies provide psychologists with the information required in order for them to discover whether criminal behaviour patterns are the result of the child’s genes or their surrounding environment. For example, if a child’s behaviour resembles that of their adoptive parents then this could suggest that criminality is a product of the environment. Mednick et al. (1987) studied the criminal convictions of over 14,000 people who had been adopted and found greater evidence to suggest that biology had more influence over their behaviour. We will write a custom essay sample on Criminals are made or born or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To further support this theory, Bohman (1996) replicated Mednick at al’s study by comparing the percentages of sons with a biological parent with a criminal record to boys with an adoptive parent with a criminal record. Bohman also found that genetic factors were more significant compared to environmental influences. The psychological theory of crime suggests that negative expectations cause certain individuals to behave towards others in a criminal way because their stereotypes alter their social interactions (self-fulfilling prophecy). This theory was supported by Jahoda’s (1954) study of names. Jahoda studied Ashanti people who give boys ‘soul names’ when they are born which supposedly alters their characters. For example, boys born on a Wednesday are called ‘Kwaku’ and are expected to behave in an aggressive, violent way. Jahoda discovered that 13. 5% of boys referred to court had ‘Wednesday’ names, yet they were responsible for 22% of violent crime. This implies that expectations of the boy’s behaviours due to stereotypes caused differential  treatment and therefore they fulfilled the expectations caused by their names. The social theory of crime suggests that learning occurs when an individual (the learner) observes and copies another person (the model). Motivation to reproduce what the learner has observed from the model must be internal or external. Internal motivation may come from identification with the model, or external motivation can be obtained fro m direct or vicarious reinforcement. Children with criminal parents or who have other surrounding role models are very likely to be internally or externally motivated to copy behaviour, i. e. carry out criminal acts. Evidence to support this theory can be found using correlational data about exposure to media models and criminal acts. Eron et al. (1972) discovered a positive correlation between the violence level in television programmes watched by 7-8 years olds and their level of aggression. This violence was shown to progress (especially within males) as they became older. In my opinion, all three theories provide a valid approach and each are supported through evidence. I do not believe that one theory provides a significantly better argument than others, therefore, a combination (if possible) of each of the three theories would perhaps provide a more thorough answer to why people participate in criminal behaviour.