Carlisle option； but now that I knew there was a chance that Edward would change me himself； I wanted
it bad。 He was such a cheater。
My door cracked open。
〃Morning； Dad。〃
〃Oh； hey； Bella。〃 He sounded embarrassed at getting caught。 〃I didn't know you were awake。〃
〃Yeah。 I've just been waiting ior you to wake up so I could take a shower。〃 I started to get up。
〃Hold on；〃 Charlie said； flipping the light on。 I blinked in the sudden brightness； and carefully kept my
eyes away from the closet。 〃Let's talk for a minute first。〃
I couldn't control my grimace。 I'd forgotten to ask Alice for a good excuse。
〃You know you're in trouble。〃
〃Yeah； I know。〃
〃I just about went crazy these last three days。 I e home from Harry's funeral； and you're gone。
Jacob could only tell me that you'd run off with Alice Cullen； and that he thought you were in trouble。
You didn't leave me a number； and you didn't call。 I didn't know where you were or when—or if—you
were ing back。 Do you have any idea how… how…〃 He couldn't finish the sentence。 He sucked in a
sharp breath and moved on。 〃Can you give me one reason why I shouldn't ship you off to Jacksonville
this second？〃
My eyes narrowed。 So it was going to be threats； was it？ Two could play at that game。 I sat up； pulling
the quilt around me。 〃Because I won't go。〃
〃Now just one minute； young lady—〃
〃Look； Dad； I accept plete responsibility for my actions； and you have the right to ground me for as
long as you want。 I will also do all the chores and laundry and dishes until you think I've learned my
lesson。 And I guess you're within your rights if you want to kick me out； too—but that won't make me to
go to Florida。〃
His face turned bright red。 He took a few deep breaths before he answered。
〃Would you like to explain where you've been？〃
Oh； crap。 〃There was… an emergency。〃
He raised his eyebrows in expectation of my brilliant explanation。
I filled my cheeks with air and then blew it out noisily。 〃I don't know what to tell you； Dad。 It was mostly
a misunderstanding。 He said； she said。 It got out of hand。〃
He waited with a distrustful expression。
〃See； Alice told Rosalie about me jumping off the cliff…〃 I was scrambling frantically to make this work；
to keep it as close to the truth as possible so that my inability to lie convincingly would not undermine the
excuse； but before I could go on； Charlie's expression reminded me that he didn't know arything about
thecliff。
Major oops。 As if I wasn't already toast。
〃I guess I didn't tell you about that；〃 I choked out。 〃It was nothing。 Just messing around； swimming with
Jake。 Anyway； Rosalie told Edward； and he was upset。 She sort of accidentally made it sound like I wa？
trying to kill myself or something。 He wouldn't answer his phone； so Alice dragged me to… L。A。； to
explain in person。〃 I shrugged； desperately hoping that he would not be so distracted by my slip that he'd
miss the brilliant explanation I'd provided。
Charlie's face was frozen。 〃Were you trying to kill yourself； Bella？〃
〃No； of course not。 Just having fun with Jake。 Cliff diving。 The La Push kids do it all the time。 Like I said；
nothing。〃
Charlie's face heated up—from frozen to hot with fury。 〃What's it to Edward Cullen anyway？〃 he barked。
〃All this time； he's just left you dangling without a word—〃
I interrupted him。 〃Another misunderstanding。〃
His face flushed again。 〃So is he back then？〃
〃I'm not sure what the exact plan is。 I think they all are。〃
He shook his head； the vein in his forehead pulsing。 〃I want you to stay away from him； Bella。 I don't trust
him。 He's rotten for you。 I won't let him mess you up like that again。〃
〃Fine；〃 I said curtly。
Charlie rocked back onto his heels。 〃Oh。〃 He scrambled for a second； exhaling loudly in surprise。 〃I
thought you were going to be difficult。〃
〃I am。〃 I stared straight into his eyes。 〃I meant； 'Fine； I'll move out。'〃
His eyes bulged； his face turned puce。 My resolve wavered as I started to worry about his health。 He
was no younger than Harry…
〃Dad； I don't want to move out；〃 I said in a softer tone。 〃I love you。 I know you're worried； but you need
to trust me on this。 And you're going to have to ease up on Edward if you want me to stay。 Do you want
me to live here or not？〃
〃That's not fair； Bella。 You know I want you to stay。〃
〃Then be nice to Edward； because he's going to be where I am。〃 I said it with confidence。 The conviction
of my epiphany was still strong。
〃Not under my roof；〃 Charlie stormed。
I sighed a heavy sigh。 〃Look； I'm not going to give you any more ultimatums tonight—or I guess it's this
morning。 Just think about it for a few days； okay？ But keep in mind that Edward and I are sort of a
package deal。〃
〃Bella—〃
〃Think it over；〃 I insisted。 〃And while you're doing that； could you give me some privacy？ I really need a
shower。〃
Charlie's face was a strange shade of purple； but he left； slamming the door behind him。 I heard him
stomp furiously down the stairs。
I threw off my quilt； and Edward was already there； sitting in the rocking chair as if he d been present
through the whole conversation。
〃Sorry about that；〃 I whispered。
〃It's not as if I don't deserve far worse；〃 he murmured。 〃Don't start anything with Charlie over me； please。
〃
〃Don't worry about it；〃 I breathed as I gathered up my bathroom things and a set of clean clothes。 〃I will
start exactly as much as is necessary； and no more than that。 Or are you trying to tell me I have nowhere
to go？〃 I widened my eyes with false alarm。
〃You'd move in with a house full of vampires？〃
〃That's probably the safest place for someone like me。 Besides…〃 I grinned。 〃If Charlie kicks me out；
then there's no need for a graduation deadline； is there？〃
His jaw tightened。 〃So eager for eternal damnation；〃 he muttered。
〃You know you don't really believe that。〃
〃Oh； don't I？〃 he fumed。
〃No。 You don't。〃
He glowered at me and started to speak； but I cut him off。
〃If you really believed that you'd lost your soul； then when I found you in Volterra； you would have
realized immediately what was happening； instead of thinking we were both dead together。 But you
didn't—you said 'Amazing。 Carlisle was right；'〃 I reminded him； triumphant。 〃There's hope in you； after
all。〃
For once； Edward was speechless。
〃So let's both just be hopeful； all right？〃 I suggested。 〃Not that it matters。 If you stay； I don't need
heaven。〃
He got up slowly； and came to put his hands on either side of my face as he stared into my eyes。
〃Forever；〃 he vowed； still a little staggered。
〃That's all I'm asking for；〃 I said； and stretched up on my toes so that I could press my lips to his。
EPILOGUE TREATY
ALMOST EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL—THE GOOD； prezombie normal—in less
time than I would have believed possible。 The hospital weled Carlisle back with eager arms； not even
bothering to conceal their delight that Esme had found life in L。A。 so little to her liking。 Thanks to the
Calculus test I'd missed while abroad