all her with every single detail from Forks High's 
generic graduation. Finally, I had to use my desperate need to study for finals to get off the 
phone. 

Edward's patience was endless. He waited politely through the whole conversation, just 
playing with my hair and smiling whenever I looked up. It was probably superficial to notice 
such things while I had so many more important things to think about, but his smile still 
knocked the breath out of me. He was so beautiful that it made it hard sometimes to think 
about anything else, hard to concentrate on Phil's troubles or RenÃ©e's apologies or hostile 
vampire armies. I was only human. 

As soon as I hung up, I stretched onto my tiptoes to kiss him. He put his hands around my 
waist and lifted me onto the kitchen counter, so I wouldn't have to reach as far. That worked 
for me. I locked my arms around his neck and melted against his cold chest. 

Too soon, as usual, he pulled away. 

I felt my face slip into a pout. He laughed at my expression as he extricated himself from my 
arms and legs. He leaned against the counter next to me and put one arm lightly around my 
shoulders. 

"I know you think that I have some kind of perfect, unyielding self-control, but that's not 
actually the case." 

"I wish," I sighed. 

And he sighed, too. 

"After school tomorrow," he said, changing the subject, "I'm going hunting with Carlisle, 
Esme, and Rosalie. Just for a few hours - we'll stay close. Alice, Jasper, and Emmett should 
be able to keep you safe." 

"Ugh," I grumbled. Tomorrow was the first day of finals, and it was only a half-day. I had 
Calculus and History - the only two challenges in my line-up - so I'd have almost the whole 
day without him, and nothing to do but worry. "I hate being babysat." 

"It's temporary," he promised. 

"Jasper will be bored. Emmett will make fun of me." 

"They'll be on their best behavior." 

 

"Right," I grumbled. 

And then it occurred to me that I did have one option besides babysitters. "You know . . . I 
haven't been to La Push since the bonfire." 

I watched his face carefully for any change in expression. His eyes tightened the tiniest bit. 

"I'd be safe enough there," I reminded him. 

He thought about it for a few seconds. "You're probably right." 

His face was calm, but just a little too smooth. I almost asked if he'd rather I stayed here, but 
then I thought of the ribbing Emmett would no doubt dish out, and I changed the subject. 
"Are you thirsty already?" I asked, reaching up to stroke the light shadow beneath his eye. 
His irises were still a deep gold. 

"Not really." He seemed reluctant to answer, and that surprised me. I waited for an 
explanation. 

"We want to be as strong as possible," he explained, still reluctant. "We'll probably hunt 
again on the way, looking for big game." 

"That makes you stronger?" 

He searched my face for something, but there was nothing to find but curiosity. 

"Yes," he finally said. "Human blood makes us the strongest, though only fractionally. 
Jasper's been thinking about cheating - adverse as he is to the idea, he's nothing if not 
practical - but he won't suggest it. He knows what Carlisle will say." 

"Would that help?" I asked quietly. 

"It doesn't matter. We aren't going to change who we are." 

I frowned. If something helped even the odds . . . and then I shuddered, realizing I was 
willing to have a stranger die to protect him. I was horrified at myself, but not entirely able to 
deny it, either. 

He changed the subject again. "That's why they're so strong, of course. The newborns are full 
of human blood - their own blood, reacting to the change. It lingers in the tissues and 
strengthens them. Their bodies use it up slowly, like Jasper said, the strength starting to 
wane after about a year." 

"How strong willI be?" 

He grinned. "Stronger than I am." 

"Stronger than Emmett?" 

 

The grin got bigger. "Yes. Do me a favor and challenge him to an arm-wrestling match. It 
would be a good experience for him." 

I laughed. It sounded so ridiculous. 

Then I sighed and hopped down from the counter, because I really couldn't put it off any 
longer. I had to cram, and cram hard. Luckily I had Edward's help, and Edward was an 
excellent tutor - since he knew absolutely everything. I figured my biggest problem would be 
just focusing on the tests. If I didn't watch myself, I might end up writing my History essay 
on the vampire wars of the South. 

I took a break to call Jacob, and Edward seemed just as comfortable as he had when I was on 
the phone with RenÃ©e. He played with my hair again. 

Though it was the middle of the afternoon, my call woke Jacob up, and he was grouchy at 
first. He cheered right up when I asked if I could visit the next day. The Quileute school was 
already out for the summer, so he told me to come over as early as I could. I was pleased to 
have an option besides being babysat. There was a tiny bit more dignity in spending the day 
with Jacob. 

Some of that dignity was lost when Edward insisted again on delivering me to the border line 
like a child being exchanged by custodial guardians. 

"So how do you feel you did on your exams?" Edward asked on the way, making small talk. 

"History was easy, but I don't know about the Calculus. It seemed like it was making sense, 
so that probably means I failed." 

He laughed. "I'm sure you did fine. Or, if you're really worried, I could bribe Mr. Varner to 
give you an A." 

"Er, thanks, but no thanks." 

He laughed again, but suddenly stopped when we turned the last bend and saw the red car 
waiting. He frowned in concentration, and then, as he parked the car, he sighed. 

"What's wrong?" I asked, my hand on the door. 

He shook his head. "Nothing." His eyes were narrowed as he stared through the windshield 
toward the other car. I'd seen that look before. 

"You're notlistening to Jacob, are you?" I accused. 

"It's not easy to ignore someone when he's shouting." 

"Oh." I thought about that for a second. "What's he shouting?" I whispered. 

 

"I'm absolutely certain he'll mention it himself," Edward said in a wry tone. 

I would have pressed the issue, but then Jacob honked his horn - two quick impatient honks. 

"That's impolite," Edward growled. 

"That's Jacob," I sighed, and I hurried out before Jacob did something to really set Edward's 
teeth on edge. 

I waved to Edward before I got into the Rabbit and, from that distance, it looked like he was 
truly upset about the honking thing . . . or whatever Jacob was thinking about. But my eyes 
were weak and made mistakes all the time. 

I wanted Edward to come to me. I wanted to make both of them get out of their cars and 
shake hands and be friends - be Edward and Jacob rather thanvampire andwerewolf. It was as 
if I had those two stubborn magnets in my hands again, and I was holding them together, 
trying to force nature to reverse herself. . . . 

I sighed, and climbed in Jacob's car. 

"Hey, Bells." Jake's tone was cheerful, but his voice dragged. I examined his face as he 
started down the road, driving a little faster than I did, but slower than Edward, on his way 
back to La Push. 

Jacob looked different, maybe even sick. His eyelids drooped and his face was drawn. His 
shaggy hair stuck out in random directions; it was almost to his chin in some places. 

"Are you all right, Jake?" 

"Just tired," he managed to get out before he was overcome by a massive yawn. When he 
finished, he asked, "What do you want to do today?" 

I eyed him for a moment. "Let's just hang out at your place for now," I suggested. He didn't 
look like he was up for much more than that. "We can ride our bikes later." 

"Sure, sure," he said, yawning again. 

Jacob's house was vacant, and that felt strange. I realized I thought of Billy as a nearly 
permanent fixture there. 

"Where's your dad?" 

"Over at the Clearwaters'. He's been hanging out there a lot since Harry died. Sue gets 
lonely." 

Jacob sat down on the old couch that was no bigger than a loveseat and squished himself to 
the side to make room for me. 

 

"Oh. That's nice. Poor Sue." 

"Yeah . . . she's having some trouble. . . ." He hesitated. "With her kids." 

"Sure, it's got to be hard on Seth and Leah, losing their dad. . . ." 

"Uh-huh," he agreed, lost in thought. He picked up the remote and flipped on the TV 
without seeming to think about it. He yawned. 

"What's with you, Jake? You're like a zombie." 

"I got about two hours of sleep last night, and four the night before," he told me. He 
stretched his long arms slowly, and I could hear the joints crack as he flexed. He settled his 
left arm along the back of the sofa behind me, and slumped back to rest his head against the 
wall. "I'm exhausted." 

"Why aren't you sleeping?" I asked. 

He made a face. "Sam's being difficult. He doesn't trust your bloodsuckers. I've been running 
double shifts for two weeks and nobody's touched me yet, but he still doesn't buy it. So I'm 
on my own for now." 

"Double shifts? Is this because you're trying to watch out forme? Jake, that's wrong! You 
need to sleep. I'll be fine." 

"It's no big deal." His eyes were abruptly more alert. "Hey, did you ever find out who was in 
your room? Is there anything new?" 

I ignored the second question. "No, we didn't find anything out about my, um, visitor." 

"Then I'll be around," he said as his eyes slid closed. 

"Jake . . . ," I started to whine. 

"Hey, it's the least I can do - I offered eternal servitude, remember. I'm your slave for life." 

"I don't want a slave!" 

His eyes didn't open. "Whatdo you want, Bella?" 

"I want my friend Jacob - and I don't want him half-dead, hurting himself in some misguided 
attempt -" 

He cut me