Creating a Decision Making Matrix for Four Restaurant Alternatives Essay

Creating a Decision Making Matrix for Four Restaurant Alternatives - Essay Example Eventually, a two dimensional matrix is generated. Decision matrixes are common in procurement procedures where they are used to choose the best bid among the many proposals that have been received. A decision matrix has four major components which include; criteria, options/alternatives, weights and scores/rating (Hammon, Keeney and Raiffa, 2002). The purpose of this paper is to design a decision matrix and the scores for selecting the best restaurant from among four alternatives A, B, C, D using cost, convenience, service, taste and nutrition as the decision criteria. Creating the matrix The restaurants A, B, C, and D shall be ranked according to the following five criteria; cost, convenience, service, taste and nutrition. These criteria have been selected since they are the major determining factors ion the final decision making regarding the most suitable restaurant. The weights for the criteria are assigned in such a way that the total weight is 1.0. In this case, the weights fo r the criteria are as follows; Cost= 0.30, service=0.25, taste=0.2, convenience= 0.15, nutrition= 0.10. The total for the criteria = 1.0. The criteria ranking for each of the restaurant alternatives A, B, C and D are designed in such a way that the highest rank is 4. The score for each alternative is calculated as follows; Score = (Rating * assigned weight). The total score is obtained from the sum of all the scores. Based on the cost, convenience, service, taste and nutrition criteria, the restaurant options A, B, C, and D are ranked as follows; Criteria Ranking/Ranking Restaurant Options Cost Service Taste Convenience Nutrition A 3 4 1 3 2 B 2 1 2 4 4 C 4 2 3 1 3 D 1 3 4 2 1 The scores are calculated and tabulated as follows; Alternatives A B C D Criteria Weight Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Cost 0.30 3 0.9 2 0.6 4 1.2 1 0.3 Service 0.25 4 1.0 1 0.25 2 0.5 3 0.75 Taste 0.20 1 0.2 3 0.6 3 0.6 4 0.8 Convenience 0.15 3 0.45 4 0.6 3 0.45 2 0.3 Nutrition 0.10 2 0. 2 4 0.4 3 0.3 1 0.1 TOTAL 1.0 13 2.75 14 2.45 15 3.05 11 3.15 NB: Score= Rating* Weight. Explanation of ratings and scores After summing up the ratings for the four restaurant alternatives, alternative C has the highest rating of 15 followed by B with 14 while D has the lowest sum rating of 11. However, when the total scores are calculated from the rating and the weights, D has the highest score of 3.15 while B has the lowest score of 2.45. The total weighting for the criteria was calculated as 1.0. In terms of the cost criteria, restaurant alternative C attains the highest score of 1.2 while D receives the lowest score with a 0.3 score. In terms of service, alternative A receives the highest score with 1.0 while alternative B receives the lowest score with 0.25. Alternative D scores the highest in terms of the taste criteria with a score of 0.8 while A scores the lowest with 0.2. Alternatives B and C receive the same score in terms of convenience though they differ in other criteri a. Alternative B is the best in terms of convenience with a score of 0.6 while alternative D is the worst with a score of 0.3. Alternative A and C attain the same score in terms of convenience with a score of 0.45. In terms of the nutrition criteria which has the lowest weight among the other criteria, alternative B receives the highest score with 0.4 while alternative D receives the lowest with a 0.1 score. Choosing the best alternative The

List and describe the seven steps of selling. Give an example of each Essay

List and describe the seven steps of selling. Give an example of each step. CH12 - Essay Example In the case of a school principal, ask the number of uniforms needed, sizes and colors. Overcoming objections involves eliminating all customers’ doubts by answering all questions they have concerning the product. A customer, for example, hiring one of your taxi cars can ask how long the car has been operating, its fuel consumption, any mechanical problems, and whether it is licensed (Silver & Howard, 2006). In this step, the customer makes a commitment and ends up buying the product. Give out your product as you receive the cash (Silver & Howard, 2006). A polite way of doing so would be, for example, asking, â€Å"Will you family be comfortable with the Toyota corolla?† In this step, the seller makes compliments and presents ideas that can lead to additional product sales. Normally, the suggested sales have a relationship with the original purchase (Silver & Howard, 2006). You can, for example, recommend the customer who hires your taxi to fuel it in a nearby filling station where you have shares. For success in business, entrepreneurs should stay in touch with customers even after making the sales. Follow-ups include making phone calls, sending emails, and wishing them happy birthdays. Such actions help retain customers (Silver & Howard,

Social Imapct of Photography Essay Example for Free

Social Imapct of Photography Essay In politics, images have always made governments very nervous because of their powerfully persuasive and propagandistic potentialities. (In 1835 – before photography – the Emperor Louis-Philippe banned caricatures, describing them as ‘acts of violence’ too dangerous to go unchecked†¦) Then along came the photographic image: swift, visceral, intense, realistic, and clothed in an authenticity unlike any mode of illustration before. Not even a masterpiece painting possessed the lifelike and painfully truthful nature so capable of producing responses resembling human reactions to actual sight of people, things, places and situations. If (as described) pen and line illustrations and painting and sculpture evoked varied and often violent responses from especially the Church and State, photographs made both these Institutions more nervous still. Still today, photographs are feared by politicians. In South African Israeli and Chinese histories, not to speak of American and European ones, proves of  this ‘nervousness’ (to put it mildly!) can be found. Prohibitions against photographs testify directly to their power. Suppression works†¦ The existence of certain photographs in our own recent history have changed and re-directed the courses of whole nations. Likewise, the absence of photographs can have great consequences. This is illustrated by the following: In India, in 1946, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the leader of the then Moslem League, was diagnosed, through X-ray photography, as having severe tuberculosis. He had only about two or three years to live†¦ Yet, he swore his doctor to secrecy concerning the state of his health. The X-rays were locked away, and he continued his work towards the creation of the Moslem State of Pakistan, which he successfully accomplished in August of 1947. It is surmised that had his sickness become known (as borne out by the X-ray photographs) his political support might not have been strong enough to result in the establishment of Pakistan†¦ In this, the very late 20th century, we know full well (from first hand experience) the influence – both positive and negative – of photography. In fact: almost like an addict is under the influence of his drug, so are we (as Citizens of the World) under the constant, unrelenting influence of photographs. Photography came into a world that was already crazy about pictures and drove it positively ‘mad’. We have become collectively addicted. Photographs took up residence in our daily lives; they moved in, and they practically took over. It is now indeed impossible to imagine life without them†¦ Photographs sell newspapers and magazines. This is a truth that became evident already in 1842 with The Illustrated London News, the world’s first (at first non-photographic) illustrated magazine. It was a weekly magazine. Others followed in vast numbers, so that when photography arrived, the scene was already set for its use. Until the 1890’s, all of the illustrations were lithographs and engravings, but from about this time onwards, the halftone, and photography took over. In one week in 1899, The Illustrated London News carried twenty-eight photographs and only nineteen drawings. And this led to the inevitable happening: Photographs soon became superabundant, transient and superfluous, as, perhaps, some say, it still is today. A photograph has power only if the right people see it in the right context at the right time. It must answer some need, belief, and expectations of its times. If the audience is not ready for the message, the image may be seen, but the message will not be recognized. (Like telling a child about sex when he or she is too young to understand; they hear what their age permits, and ignore the rest!). Certain categories can be created corresponding to the types of photograph and what kind of influence they exert – revelation, proof, political persuasion, social reform, etc. – but these categories are not rigid and necessarily exclusive to a photograph of a different category. These are the suggested categories, as identified by Vicky Goldberg in her book, The Power of Photography (Goldberg, G. 1991. The power of photography. New York: Abbeville Press). 1. The photograph as a proof and witness. 2. The photograph as a revelation of discovery. 3. The photograph as a detective. 4. The photograph as a political tool. 5. The photograph as a recorder of fame and celebrity. 6. The photograph as an icon. 7.The photograph as a medium for social reform. 8.The photograph as catalyst. This lecture comes to you as an adaptation and very much condensed interpretation of the Introduction from the abovementioned book. Acknowledgement is hereby given. Also: See it as an introduction to Assignment 06. (Refer to the separate Assignment Briefing). I have scanned and converted to pdf my copy of the book. See the additional pdf document file titled ‘vic200s 2014_p09_additional’.

Development of Taylor Swift

Development of Taylor Swift Taylor Swift: Pinnacle of the Music Industry Billboard, a popular news source for music, interviewed the successful singer Sam Smith and he gave his opinion on another artist he has become quite fond of; he says, â€Å" Taylor Swift is amazing†¦ Shes a role model. I really respect her. And she manages to sell a lot of records and make a lot of people happy financially, but also to keep that soulfulness, that honesty (‘Sam Smith: Taylor Swift Is Amazing’). Taylor Swift was raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania where she had discovered her passion for music and started her music career at the age of 14 after moving to Nashville. She is currently a 25-year-old singer-songwriter who is famous for country and pop music. Having only been in the music industry for a short 10 years, Taylor Swift was able to frequently top the charts with her new songs and in 2010 and at the age of 20, became the youngest artist in history to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Currently holding the title of top-selling digital a rtist in music history, Taylor Swift’s rise to fame is credited to not only her incredible music but also to her successful business tactics. Although some critics may say, â€Å"I don’t really care for Taylor Swift†¦ [She] has a very dull public personaâ€Å" (Juzwiak). Taylor Swift is a successful businesswoman, her ability to target her audience very well with her songs has allowed her to consistently become a hit artist, and her public actions has made her a favorite among fans. Being a successful and popular artist in today’s culture is a difficult task. It no longer depends on solely musical talent but also on other factors. Barbara A. Stremikis, the author of â€Å"The Personal Characteristics and Environmental Circumstances of Successful Women Musicians† presents data that analyzes the qualities and factors that many successful musicians have. â€Å"Results of the study indicate that in addition to family support of musical talent, women who are to become successful musicians must be highly motivated, self-directed, and single minded in their determination to achieve their goal. They must be independent thinkers who are unconcerned about conforming to gender stereotypes and able to withstand difficult experiences related to gender and their career† (Stremikis). The results of this study coincide with Taylor Swift’s background and qualities. Also to note in the study, â€Å"Probabilistic Diffusion Tractography Reveals Improvem ent Of Structural Network In Musicians that correlates improved brain activity in musicians, â€Å"in long-term musical training and performance may contribute to the improved efficiency of communication between brain regions with sensory, motor, and emotional functions† (Li). Taylor Swift’s motivation for music is evident in the early years of her musical career. She has consistently shown persistence, ingenuity, and intelligence starting at a young age. Being taught how to play the guitar at the age of 12, Taylor Swift quickly fell in love with music and had started to write her own pieces. Following that, she had started playing at small venues and her family, showing support for her musical aspiration, moved to Nashville, Tennessee where 14-year-old Taylor Swift started her quick journey to the top. Taylor Swift has shown that she is an independent thinker unconcerned about conforming to gender stereotypes by being open about personal aspects of her own life that a re revealed through her songs and unafraid of criticism. Taylor Swift continually releases songs that empower individuals and creates an atmosphere of acceptance towards those who are independent and encourages individuality. For example, her song â€Å"Shake It Off† is about how one shouldn’t let bullies get the best of them and that they should always be themselves no matter the obstacles they face. Taylor Swift has made many bright business decisions that has allowed her to further succeed in her career. Taylor Swift made a bold statement to one of the biggest music streaming giants by removing her music from Spotify. â€Å"Taylor Swift has broken up with someone else this time with one of the music industrys largest players, Spotify† (SPOTI-FIRED! Swift Yanks Her Work From Streaming Giant†). This decision was bred out of the framework that music-streaming services do not compensate artists enough. This action was a smart business endeavor because it shows that she is not allowing herself to be taken advantage of financially. She is setting an example for future artists to rethink their participation in streaming services, as they will become more prevalent in today’s music culture. Another advantageous business decision was the decision to trademark her popular phrase ‘Shake It Off’, among others. She chose to make the decision so that third p arties would not be able to benefit monetarily off of her success. â€Å"’What she is trying to do is to protect individual phrases within her lyrics where those lyrics have become catchphrases’ explains Alexander Ross, a partner at law firm Wiggin who specializes in music. ‘Once you have a trademarked phrase you have the right to stop someone else using it on things like merchandising’ (Forde). Not only has Taylor Swift had and will continue to have successful business endeavors, but she also has perfected the ability to successfully target her audience. How successfully one is able to accurately relate their music to their audience is a good indication of how successful that artist will become. Taylor Swift is an artist who knows how to target her audience. Her music becomes something any listener can relate to. Ranging from topics of bullying to heartbreak, everyone knows someone who has personally gone through this or has gone through it himself or herself. One of her songs ‘Blank Space’ is about an unsuccessful relationship, a topic all can understand. Her talent for making her music become more of a ‘us’ or ‘I’ kind of story rather than a ‘her’ story has allowed her music to appeal to a wide variety of the population. Taylor Swift is one of the few artists in today’s culture that has frequently been able to have most of her songs that are released make it to the top charts. This is due to her not her music being catchy and upbeat, but also relatable to many. Another exam ple of her talent is her recent top-charter ‘Shake It Off.’ This song has reached millions due to the message that it is okay to be yourself. This is something that many young fans can relate to, which has become a huge portion of her fan base. Some critics may say that Taylor Swift has a dull public persona. Although many have bashed upon Taylor Swift’s public persona, her public actions show differently: â€Å"When a heartbroken teenager named Kasey was dumped by her boyfriend via text, she reached out to someone she knew had experience with breakups: Taylor Swift. Kasey, who was clearly unable to sleep, posted a plaintive note on her Tumblr account at 2:09 a.m. Tuesday. (Girl, weve all been there.) ‘Taylor Swift, I hope you see this,’ she wrote to the Style singer. ‘Weve been together for four months. He just texted me and told me he was done with me. Gave me no reason and kept trying to get me to do irrational things to get him back. Now hes calling me names and I just feel crumbled. I dont know what to do.’ Within hours, Swift, 25, left her first comment. ‘He ended it, just like that?’ she wrote incredulously† (Helling). The conversation had lasted hours more and Swift was able to not only give advice to this girl that she has accumulated over the years, but was also generous enough to make a break-up playlist for this young fan in need of advice. Knowing that social media is a big contributor to today’s communication: â€Å"Swift has become a social-media maven, taking full advantage of the Taylor-made outlet for mixing and mingling with millennials. ‘The younger generation is very good at communicating about themselves,’ Catanach said. ‘My students are starting to see that theyre very good with the me stories and not so much with the we stories. ‘I think what makes Taylor so successful on social media is the fact that she is the me and the we story. She is her own brand. Shes very generous with fans and very inclusive. Fans feels like theyre included in the world.’† (Fassnacht). Taylor Swift has used social media to make fans feel like they are a part of her world. While many other celebrities personally manage their social media, Taylor Swift is able to personally respond to many further aiding in her positive public persona that she continues to uphold. Taylor Swift is the pinnacle of successful artists of this generation. Through 10 years of being in the music industry, Taylor has shown that she is a force to be reckoned with. With a popular status, a positive public persona, a great business sense, and the ability to target an audience successfully, Taylor Swift has become one of the most successful singers of all time. Her journey to the top was one of perseverance, strategy, and individuality. Works Cited Fassnacht, Jon. Taylor Swift, Renaissance Woman. Editorial. Reading Eagle. Reading Eagle Company, 08 Dec. 2014. Web. 12 Feb. 2015 Forde, Eammon. Taylor Swifts This Sick Beat May Be the Worlds First Trademarked Lyric. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. Helling, Steve. Taylor Swift Gives Breakup Advice to a Teenage Fan – and Its Awesome. People. Time Inc., 12 Feb. 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. Juzwiak, Rich. â€Å"Taylor Swift’s New Album Hurts My Ears.† Gawker. Kinja, 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. Li, Jianfu, et al. Probabilistic Diffusion Tractography Reveals Improvement Of Structural Network In Musicians. Plos ONE 9.8 (2014): 1-10. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Mar. 2015. Sam Smith: Taylor Swift Is Amazing' Billboard. Billboard, 28 Jan. 2015. Web. 22 Feb. 2015. SPOTI-FIRED! Swift Yanks Her Work From Streaming Giant. Daily News. n.p., 4 Nov. 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2015 Stremikis, Barbara A. The Personal Characteristics And Environmental Circumstances Of Successful Women Musicians. Creativity Research Journal 14.1 (2002): 85-92. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.

Essay --

â€Å"Vision without hard work is just dreaming. Hard work without vision is just wasting time but hard work along with vision creates wonders.† This famous saying has been the ‘Divine Force’ throughout my life, helping me to lead the way to a successful track. Right from my childhood I was captivated by the power of electronics that has been influencing human life. I always thought of its possibility and this curiosity motivated me to learn more about the functioning of the electronic devices. The all time fascinating cell phones attracted and created interest in me towards learning the possible ways of communication that takes place with the help of Satellites. The enthusiastic I was eager to know about the concept behind their functioning and in due course of time the basic questions were answered but many new complex questions started haunting me and so is the reason for me to take up Electronics as my stream during the term of under graduation. During my schooling, I had special interest towards Mathematics and Science. The first sense of my achievement came when I stood among the top two students of my school in the Secondary School Examination (10th standard). I secured 92.16 percentage (%) and scored 97 on a scale of 100 in Mathematics. My predilection for Mathematics prompted me to opt Physics, Chemistry and Math, as my major subjects in the Higher Secondary Examination (10+2) where I worked even harder and could complete it with an aggregate of 89.6 Percentage (%) . I always felt that Engineering would be the right area for me to survey, learn and understand the fundamentals of science in order to create and enhance even the petty aspects of technology and sue for its application both in practical and real purposes. So I had... ...truly shape myself into a professional to reach your standards. It is my desire rather than coincidence that I apply to your university and I believe that I would be a suitable applicant for Research work in the university since I’ve always been inclined towards practical tasks and also exhibits the everlasting quest to learn more all the time. In return, I assure that the university will find me a student, who would contribute to the excellent track record. My admission to your university will provide me to move towards my career objectives. I can perform to my best and meet the high standards set by your university. I request you kindly to consider me for any form of financial assistance, as it would be of great help to me. In an anticipation that you would consider my request so as to pursue my higher education in a well equipped and reputed University as yours.

Variety of Love Relationships in Shakespeares As You Like It Essay

The Variety of Love Relationships in Shakespeare's As You Like It  Ã‚   One of the main concerns of man throughout the centuries has probably been to define the concept of love and to understand the complexities that govern love relationships among people. William Shakespeare seems to have been fully aware of the need and interest in love, since his work transcends time and place. Love is the central concern in As You Like It. This comedy presents different attitudes towards love, which may be derived from the conversations among its characters and from the romantic attachments portrayed in it. By comparing the different love relations in the play, one may further appreciate important facts about the concept of love. Moreover, love is also depicted as the force that rules over all kinds of human ties other than the romantic ones, namely familial bonds and friendship. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the concept of love portrayed in As You Like It, and to explore the different varieties of love relationships among its characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A reading of As You Like It may lead us to an understanding of the concept of love as embodying different ideas, which might be observed through the characters of the play. These ideas, love's wealth, love's truth, and love's order, are expressed in the characters' perceptions of love and in the way they relate to one another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the interpretations attributed to the concept of love in this comedy, and often portrayed in Shakespeare's plays, is that of love as a kind of richness, as a commercial enterprise in which men and women trade. Under this light, the bond beaten lovers gains a mercantilistic value and may thus be regarded as a kind of contract... ...portrayed in Shakespeare's   As You Like It, and   to examine the love relationships in it. Through a careful observation of the characters' perceptions about love, and of the way they engage in love relationships, we may conclude that the concept of love may be attributed different meanings, depending on individual and personal beliefs. Our conclusion may be derived from the various types of comic relations: familial, sexual, romantic, and friendship. Works Cited and Consulted Howard, Jean E., "Intoduction to As You Like It." The Norton Shakespeare Ed. Stephen Greenblatt, et.al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997. Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W.W. Norton Company, 1997. Sparknotes. As You Like It, by William Shakespeare. 8 Nov. 2004 http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/asyoulikeit/

Twilight 3. PHENOMENON

3. PHENOMENON When I opened my eyes in the morning, something was different. It was the light. It was still the gray-green light of a cloudy day in the forest, but it was clearer somehow. I realized there was no fog veiling my window. I jumped up to look outside, and then groaned in horror. A fine layer of snow covered the yard, dusted the top of my truck, and whitened the road. But that wasn't the worst part. All the rain from yesterday had frozen solid – coating the needles on the trees in fantastic, gorgeous patterns, and making the driveway a deadly ice slick. I had enough trouble not falling down when the ground was dry; it might be safer for me to go back to bed now. Charlie had left for work before I got downstairs. In a lot of ways, living with Charlie was like having my own place, and I found myself reveling in the aloneness instead of being lonely. I threw down a quick bowl of cereal and some orange juice from the carton. I felt excited to go to school, and that scared me. I knew it wasn't the stimulating learning environment I was anticipating, or seeing my new set of friends. If I was being honest with myself, I knew I was eager to get to school because I would see Edward Cullen. And that was very, very stupid. I should be avoiding him entirely after my brainless and embarrassing babbling yesterday. And I was suspicious of him; why should he lie about his eyes? I was still frightened of the hostility I sometimes felt emanating from him, and I was still tongue-tied whenever I pictured his perfect face. I was well aware that my league and his league were spheres that did not touch. So I shouldn't be at all anxious to see him today. It took every ounce of my concentration to make it down the icy brick driveway alive. I almost lost my balance when I finally got to the truck, but I managed to cling to the side mirror and save myself. Clearly, today was going to be nightmarish. Driving to school, I distracted myself from my fear of falling and my unwanted speculations about Edward Cullen by thinking about Mike and Eric, and the obvious difference in how teenage boys responded to me here. I was sure I looked exactly the same as I had in Phoenix. Maybe it was just that the boys back home had watched me pass slowly through all the awkward phases of adolescence and still thought of me that way. Perhaps it was because I was a novelty here, where novelties were few and far between. Possibly my crippling clumsiness was seen as endearing rather than pathetic, casting me as a damsel in distress. Whatever the reason, Mike's puppy dog behavior and Eric's apparent rivalry with him were disconcerting. I wasn't sure if I didn't prefer being ignored. My truck seemed to have no problem with the black ice that covered the roads. I drove very slowly, though, not wanting to carve a path of destruction through Main Street. When I got out of my truck at school, I saw why I'd had so little trouble. Something silver caught my eye, and I walked to the back of the truck – carefully holding the side for support – to examine my tires. There were thin chains crisscrossed in diamond shapes around them. Charlie had gotten up who knows how early to put snow chains on my truck. My throat suddenly felt tight. I wasn't used to being taken care of, and Charlie's unspoken concern caught me by surprise. I was standing by the back corner of the truck, struggling to fight back the sudden wave of emotion the snow chains had brought on, when I heard an odd sound. It was a high-pitched screech, and it was fast becoming painfully loud. I looked up, startled. I saw several things simultaneously. Nothing was moving in slow motion, the way it does in the movies. Instead, the adrenaline rush seemed to make my brain work much faster, and I was able to absorb in clear detail several things at once. Edward Cullen was standing four cars down from me, staring at me in horror. His face stood out from a sea of faces, all frozen in the same mask of shock. But of more immediate importance was the dark blue van that was skidding, tires locked and squealing against the brakes, spinning wildly across the ice of the parking lot. It was going to hit the back corner of my truck, and I was standing between them. I didn't even have time to close my eyes. Just before I heard the shattering crunch of the van folding around the truck bed, something hit me, hard, but not from the direction I was expecting. My head cracked against the icy blacktop, and I felt something solid and cold pinning me to the ground. I was lying on the pavement behind the tan car I'd parked next to. But I didn't have a chance to notice anything else, because the van was still coming. It had curled gratingly around the end of the truck and, still spinning and sliding, was about to collide with me again. A low oath made me aware that someone was with me, and the voice was impossible not to recognize. Two long, white hands shot out protectively in front of me, and the van shuddered to a stop a foot from my face, the large hands fitting providentially into a deep dent in the side of the van's body. Then his hands moved so fast they blurred. One was suddenly gripping under the body of the van, and something was dragging me, swinging my legs around like a rag doll's, till they hit the tire of the tan car. A groaning metallic thud hurt my ears, and the van settled, glass popping, onto the asphalt – exactly where, a second ago, my legs had been. It was absolutely silent for one long second before the screaming began. In the abrupt bedlam, I could hear more than one person shouting my name. But more clearly than all the yelling, I could hear Edward Cullen's low, frantic voice in my ear. â€Å"Bella? Are you all right?† â€Å"I'm fine.† My voice sounded strange. I tried to sit up, and realized he was holding me against the side of his body in an iron grasp. â€Å"Be careful,† he warned as I struggled. â€Å"I think you hit your head pretty hard.† I became aware of a throbbing ache centered above my left ear. â€Å"Ow,† I said, surprised. â€Å"That's what I thought.† His voice, amazingly, sounded like he was suppressing laughter. â€Å"How in the†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I trailed off, trying to clear my head, get my bearings. â€Å"How did you get over here so fast?† â€Å"I was standing right next to you, Bella,† he said, his tone serious again. I turned to sit up, and this time he let me, releasing his hold around my waist and sliding as far from me as he could in the limited space. I looked at his concerned, innocent expression and was disoriented again by the force of his gold-colored eyes. What was I asking him? And then they found us, a crowd of people with tears streaming down their faces, shouting at each other, shouting at us. â€Å"Don't move,† someone instructed. â€Å"Get Tyler out of the van!† someone else shouted. There was a flurry of activity around us. I tried to get up, but Edward's cold hand pushed my shoulder down. â€Å"Just stay put for now.† â€Å"But it's cold,† I complained. It surprised me when he chuckled under his breath. There was an edge to the sound. â€Å"You were over there,† I suddenly remembered, and his chuckle stopped short. â€Å"You were by your car.† His expression turned hard. â€Å"No, I wasn't.† â€Å"I saw you.† All around us was chaos. I could hear the gruffer voices of adults arriving on the scene. But I obstinately held on to our argument; I was right, and he was going to admit it. â€Å"Bella, I was standing with you, and I pulled you out of the way.† He unleashed the full, devastating power of his eyes on me, as if trying to communicate something crucial. â€Å"No.† I set my jaw. The gold in his eyes blazed. â€Å"Please, Bella.† â€Å"Why?† I demanded. â€Å"Trust me,† he pleaded, his soft voice overwhelming. I could hear the sirens now. â€Å"Will you promise to explain everything to me later?† â€Å"Fine,† he snapped, abruptly exasperated. â€Å"Fine,† I repeated angrily. It took six EMTs and two teachers – Mr. Varner and Coach Clapp – to shift the van far enough away from us to bring the stretchers in. Edward vehemently refused his, and I tried to do the same, but the traitor told them I'd hit my head and probably had a concussion. I almost died of humiliation when they put on the neck brace. It looked like the entire school was there, watching soberly as they loaded me in the back of the ambulance. Edward got to ride in the front. It was maddening. To make matters worse, Chief Swan arrived before they could get me safely away. â€Å"Bella!† he yelled in panic when he recognized me on the stretcher. â€Å"I'm completely fine, Char – Dad,† I sighed. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with me.† He turned to the closest EMT for a second opinion. I tuned him out to consider the jumble of inexplicable images churning chaotically in my head. When they'd lifted me away from the car, I had seen the deep dent in the tan car's bumper – a very distinct dent that fit the contours of Edward's shoulders†¦ as if he had braced himself against the car with enough force to damage the metal frame†¦ And then there was his family, looking on from the distance, with expressions that ranged from disapproval to fury but held no hint of concern for their brother's safety. I tried to think of a logical solution that could explain what I had just seen – a solution that excluded the assumption that I was insane. Naturally, the ambulance got a police escort to the county hospital. I felt ridiculous the whole time they were unloading me. What made it worse was that Edward simply glided through the hospital doors under his own power. I ground my teeth together. They put me in the emergency room, a long room with a line of beds separated by pastel-patterned curtains. A nurse put a pressure cuff on my arm and a thermometer under my tongue. Since no one bothered pulling the curtain around to give me some privacy, I decided I wasn't obligated to wear the stupid-looking neck brace anymore. When the nurse walked away, I quickly unfastened the Velcro and threw it under the bed. There was another flurry of hospital personnel, another stretcher brought to the bed next to me. I recognized Tyler Crowley from my Government class beneath the bloodstained bandages wrapped tightly around his head. Tyler looked a hundred times worse than I felt. But he was staring anxiously at me. â€Å"Bella, I'm so sorry!† â€Å"I'm fine, Tyler – you look awful, are you all right?† As we spoke, nurses began unwinding his soiled bandages, exposing a myriad of shallow slices all over his forehead and left cheek. He ignored me. â€Å"I thought I was going to kill you! I was going too fast, and I hit the ice wrong†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He winced as one nurse started dabbing at his face. â€Å"Don't worry about it; you missed me.† â€Å"How did you get out of the way so fast? You were there, and then you were gone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Umm†¦ Edward pulled me out of the way.† He looked confused. â€Å"Who?† â€Å"Edward Cullen – he was standing next to me.† I'd always been a terrible liar; I didn't sound convincing at all. â€Å"Cullen? I didn't see him†¦ wow, it was all so fast, I guess. Is he okay?† â€Å"I think so. He's here somewhere, but they didn't make him use a stretcher.† I knew I wasn't crazy. What had happened? There was no way to explain away what I'd seen. They wheeled me away then, to X-ray my head. I told them there was nothing wrong, and I was right. Not even a concussion. I asked if I could leave, but the nurse said I had to talk to a doctor first. So I was trapped in the ER, waiting, harassed by Tyler's constant apologies and promises to make it up to me. No matter how many times I tried to convince him I was fine, he continued to torment himself. Finally, I closed my eyes and ignored him. He kept up a remorseful mumbling. â€Å"Is she sleeping?† a musical voice asked. My eyes flew open. Edward was standing at the foot of my bed, smirking. I glared at him. It wasn't easy – it would have been more natural to ogle. â€Å"Hey, Edward, I'm really sorry -† Tyler began. Edward lifted a hand to stop him. â€Å"No blood, no foul,† he said, flashing his brilliant teeth. He moved to sit on the edge of Tyler's bed, facing me. He smirked again. â€Å"So, what's the verdict?† he asked me. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with me at all, but they won't let me go,† I complained. â€Å"How come you aren't strapped to a gurney like the rest of us?† â€Å"It's all about who you know,† he answered. â€Å"But don't worry, I came to spring you.† Then a doctor walked around the corner, and my mouth fell open. He was young, he was blond†¦ and he was handsomer than any movie star I'd ever seen. He was pale, though, and tired-looking, with circles under his eyes. From Charlie's description, this had to be Edward's father. â€Å"So, Miss Swan,† Dr. Cullen said in a remarkably appealing voice, â€Å"how are you feeling?† â€Å"I'm fine,† I said, for the last time, I hoped. He walked to the lightboard on the wall over my head, and turned it on. â€Å"Your X-rays look good,† he said. â€Å"Does your head hurt? Edward said you hit it pretty hard.† â€Å"It's fine,† I repeated with a sigh, throwing a quick scowl toward Edward. The doctor's cool fingers probed lightly along my skull. He noticed when I winced. â€Å"Tender?† he asked. â€Å"Not really.† I'd had worse. I heard a chuckle, and looked over to see Edward's patronizing smile. My eyes narrowed. â€Å"Well, your father is in the waiting room – you can go home with him now. But come back if you feel dizzy or have trouble with your eyesight at all.† â€Å"Can't I go back to school?† I asked, imagining Charlie trying to be attentive. â€Å"Maybe you should take it easy today.† I glanced at Edward. â€Å"Does he get to go to school?† â€Å"Someone has to spread the good news that we survived,† Edward said smugly. â€Å"Actually,† Dr. Cullen corrected, â€Å"most of the school seems to be in the waiting room.† â€Å"Oh no,† I moaned, covering my face with my hands. Dr. Cullen raised his eyebrows. â€Å"Do you want to stay?† â€Å"No, no!† I insisted, throwing my legs over the side of the bed and hopping down quickly. Too quickly – I staggered, and Dr. Cullen caught me. He looked concerned. â€Å"I'm fine,† I assured him again. No need to tell him my balance problems had nothing to do with hitting my head. â€Å"Take some Tylenol for the pain,† he suggested as he steadied me. â€Å"It doesn't hurt that bad,† I insisted. â€Å"It sounds like you were extremely lucky,† Dr. Cullen said, smiling as he signed my chart with a flourish. â€Å"Lucky Edward happened to be standing next to me,† I amended with a hard glance at the subject of my statement. â€Å"Oh, well, yes,† Dr. Cullen agreed, suddenly occupied with the papers in front of him. Then he looked away, at Tyler, and walked to the next bed. My intuition flickered; the doctor was in on it. â€Å"I'm afraid that you'll have to stay with us just a little bit longer,† he said to Tyler, and began checking his cuts. As soon as the doctor's back was turned, I moved to Edward's side. â€Å"Can I talk to you for a minute?† I hissed under my breath. He took a step back from me, his jaw suddenly clenched. â€Å"Your father is waiting for you,† he said through his teeth. I glanced at Dr. Cullen and Tyler. â€Å"I'd like to speak with you alone, if you don't mind,† I pressed. He glared, and then turned his back and strode down the long room. I nearly had to run to keep up. As soon as we turned the corner into a short hallway, he spun around to face me. â€Å"What do you want?† he asked, sounding annoyed. His eyes were cold. His unfriendliness intimidated me. My words came out with less severity than I'd intended. â€Å"You owe me an explanation,† I reminded him. â€Å"I saved your life – I don't owe you anything.† I flinched back from the resentment in his voice. â€Å"You promised.† â€Å"Bella, you hit your head, you don't know what you're talking about.† His tone was cutting. My temper flared now, and I glared defiantly at him. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with my head.† He glared back. â€Å"What do you want from me, Bella?† â€Å"I want to know the truth,† I said. â€Å"I want to know why I'm lying for you.† â€Å"What do you think happened?† he snapped. It came out in a rush. â€Å"All I know is that you weren't anywhere near me – Tyler didn't see you, either, so don't tell me I hit my head too hard. That van was going to crush us both – and it didn't, and your hands left dents in the side of it – and you left a dent in the other car, and you're not hurt at all – and the van should have smashed my legs, but you were holding it up†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I could hear how crazy it sounded, and I couldn't continue. I was so mad I could feel the tears coming; I tried to force them back by grinding my teeth together. He was staring at me incredulously. But his face was tense, defensive. â€Å"You think I lifted a van off you?† His tone questioned my sanity, but it only made me more suspicious. It was like a perfectly delivered line by a skilled actor. I merely nodded once, jaw tight. â€Å"Nobody will believe that, you know.† His voice held an edge of derision now. â€Å"I'm not going to tell anybody.† I said each word slowly, carefully controlling my anger. Surprise flitted across his face. â€Å"Then why does it matter?† â€Å"It matters to me,† I insisted. â€Å"I don't like to lie – so there'd better be a good reason why I'm doing it.† â€Å"Can't you just thank me and get over it?† â€Å"Thank you.† I waited, fuming and expectant. â€Å"You're not going to let it go, are you?† â€Å"No.† â€Å"In that case†¦ I hope you enjoy disappointment.† We scowled at each other in silence. I was the first to speak, trying to keep myself focused. I was in danger of being distracted by his livid, glorious face. It was like trying to stare down a destroying angel. â€Å"Why did you even bother?† I asked frigidly. He paused, and for a brief moment his stunning face was unexpectedly vulnerable. â€Å"I don't know,† he whispered. And then he turned his back on me and walked away. I was so angry, it took me a few minutes until I could move. When I could walk, I made my way slowly to the exit at the end of the hallway. The waiting room was more unpleasant than I'd feared. It seemed like every face I knew in Forks was there, staring at me. Charlie rushed to my side; I put up my hands. â€Å"There's nothing wrong with me,† I assured him sullenly. I was still aggravated, not in the mood for chitchat. â€Å"What did the doctor say?† â€Å"Dr. Cullen saw me, and he said I was fine and I could go home.† I sighed. Mike and Jessica and Eric were all there, beginning to converge on us. â€Å"Let's go,† I urged. Charlie put one arm behind my back, not quite touching me, and led me to the glass doors of the exit. I waved sheepishly at my friends, hoping to convey that they didn't need to worry anymore. It was a huge relief- the first time I'd ever felt that way – to get into the cruiser. We drove in silence. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I barely knew Charlie was there. I was positive that Edward's defensive behavior in the hall was a confirmation of the bizarre things I still could hardly believe I'd witnessed. When we got to the house, Charlie finally spoke. â€Å"Um†¦ you'll need to call Ren? ¦e.† He hung his head, guilty. I was appalled. â€Å"You told Mom!† â€Å"Sorry.† I slammed the cruiser's door a little harder than necessary on my way out. My mom was in hysterics, of course. I had to tell her I felt fine at least thirty times before she would calm down. She begged me to come home – forgetting the fact that home was empty at the moment – but her pleas were easier to resist than I would have thought. I was consumed by the mystery Edward presented. And more than a little obsessed by Edward himself. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I wasn't as eager to escape Forks as I should be, as any normal, sane person would be. I decided I might as well go to bed early that night. Charlie continued to watch me anxiously, and it was getting on my nerves. I stopped on my way to grab three Tylenol from the bathroom. They did help, and, as the pain eased, I drifted to sleep. That was the first night I dreamed of Edward Cullen.