〃She is;〃 I agreed wholeheartedly。
She glanced over her shoulder at Edward; lying with his eyes closed in
the chair。 〃You didn't tell me you had such good friends in Forks。〃
I cringed; and then moaned。
〃What hurts?〃 she demanded anxiously; turning back to me。 Edward's eyes
flashed to my face。
〃It's fine;〃 I assured them。 〃I just have to remember not to move。〃 He
lapsed back into his phony slumber。
I took advantage of my mother's momentary distraction to keep the subject
from returning to my lessthancandid behavior。 〃Where's Phil?〃 I asked
quickly。
〃Florida — oh; Bella! You'll never guess! Just when we were about to
leave; the best news!〃
〃Phil got signed?〃 I guessed。
〃Yes! How did you guess! The Suns; can you believe it?〃
〃That's great; Mom;〃 I said as enthusiastically as I could manage; though
I had little idea what that meant。
〃And you'll like Jacksonville so much;〃 she gushed while I stared at her
vacantly。 〃I was a little bit worried when Phil started talking about
Akron; what with the snow and everything; because you know how I hate the
cold; but now Jacksonville! It's always sunny; and the humidity really
isn't that bad。 We found the cutest house; yellow; with white trim; and a
porch just like in an old movie; and this huge oak tree; and it's just a
few minutes from the ocean; and you'll have your own bathroom —〃
〃Wait; Mom!〃 I interrupted。 Edward still had his eyes closed; but he
looked too tense to pass as asleep。 〃What are you talking about? I'm not
going to Florida。 I live in Forks。〃
〃But you don't have to anymore; silly;〃 she laughed。 〃Phil will be able
to be around so much more now… we've talked about it a lot; and what I'm
going to do is trade off on the away games; half the time with you; half
the time with him。〃
〃Mom。〃 I hesitated; wondering how best to be diplomatic about this。 〃I
want to live in Forks。 I'm already settled in at school; and I have a
couple of girlfriends〃 — she glanced toward Edward again when I reminded
her of friends; so I tried another direction — 〃and Charlie needs me。
He's just all alone up there; and he can't cook at all。〃
〃You want to stay in Forks?〃 she asked; bewildered。 The idea was
inconceivable to her。 And then her eyes flickered back toward Edward。
〃Why?〃
〃I told you — school; Charlie — ouch!〃 I'd shrugged。 Not a good idea。
Her hands fluttered helplessly over me; trying to find a safe place to
pat。 She made do with my forehead; it was unbandaged。
〃Bella; honey; you hate Forks;〃 she reminded me。
〃It's not so bad。〃
She frowned and looked back and forth between Edward and me; this time
very deliberately。
〃Is it this boy?〃 she whispered。
I opened my mouth to lie; but her eyes were scrutinizing my face; and I
knew she would see through that。
〃He's part of it;〃 I admitted。 No need to confess how big a part。 〃So;
have you had a chance to talk with Edward?〃 I asked。
〃Yes。〃 She hesitated; looking at his perfectly still form。 〃And I want to
talk to you about that。〃
Uhoh。 〃What about?〃 I asked。
〃I think that boy is in love with you;〃 she accused; keeping her voice
low。
〃I think so; too;〃 I confided。
〃And how do you feel about him?〃 She only poorly concealed the raging
curiosity in her voice。
I sighed; looking away。 As much as I loved my mom; this was not a
conversation I wanted to have with her。 〃I'm pretty crazy about him。〃
There — that sounded like something a teenager with her first boyfriend
might say。
〃Well; he seems very nice; and; my goodness; he's incredibly
goodlooking; but you're so young; Bella…〃 Her voice was unsure; as far
as I could remember; this was the first time since I was eight that she'd
e close to trying to sound like a parental authority。 I recognized the
reasonablebutfirm tone of voice from talks I'd had with her about men。
〃I know that; Mom。 Don't worry about it。 It's just a crush;〃 I soothed
her。
〃That's right;〃 she agreed; easily pleased。
Then she sighed and glanced guiltily over her shoulder at the big; round
clock on the wall。
〃Do you need to go?〃
She bit her lip。 〃Phil's supposed to call in a little while… I didn't
know you were going to wake up…〃
〃No problem; Mom。〃 I tried to tone down the relief so she wouldn't get
her feelings hurt。 〃I won't be alone。〃
〃I'll be back soon。 I've been sleeping here; you know;〃 she announced;
proud of herself。
〃Oh; Mom; you don't have to do that! You can sleep at home — I'll never
notice。〃 The swirl of painkillers in my brain was making it hard to
concentrate even now; though; apparently; I'd been sleeping for days。
〃I was too nervous;〃 she admitted sheepishly。 〃There's been some crime in
the neighborhood; and I don't like being there alone。〃
〃Crime?〃 I asked in alarm。
〃Someone broke into that dance studio around the corner from the house
and burned it to the ground — there's nothing left at all! And they left
a stolen car right out front。 Do you remember when you used to dance
there; honey?〃
〃I remember。〃 I shivered; and winced。
〃I can stay; baby; if you need me。〃
〃No; Mom; I'll be fine。 Edward will be with me。〃
She looked like that might be why she wanted to stay。 〃I'll be back
tonight。〃 It sounded as much like a warning as it sounded like a promise;
and she glanced at Edward again as she said it。
〃I love you; Mom。〃
〃I love you; too; Bella。 Try to be more careful when you walk; honey; I
don't want to lose you。〃
Edward's eyes stayed closed; but a wide grin flashed across his face。
A nurse came bustling in then to check all my tubes and wires。 My mother
kissed my forehead; patted my gauzewrapped hand; and left。
The nurse was checking the paper readout on my heart monitor。
〃Are you feeling anxious; honey? Your heart rate got a little high there。〃
〃I'm fine;〃 I assured her。
〃I'll tell your RN that you're awake。 She'll be in to see you in a
minute。〃
As soon as she closed the door; Edward was at my side。
〃You stole a car?〃 I raised my eyebrows。
He smiled; unrepentant。 〃It was a good car; very fast。〃
〃How was your nap?〃 I asked。
〃Interesting。〃 His eyes narrowed。
〃What?〃
He looked down while he answered。 〃I'm surprised。 I thought Florida… and
your mother… well; I thought that's what you would want。〃
I stared at him unprehendingly。 〃But you'd be stuck inside all day in
Florida。 You'd only be able to e out at night; just like a real
vampire。〃
He almost smiled; but not quite。 And then his face was grave。 〃I would
stay in Forks; Bella。 Or somewhere like it;〃 he explained。 〃Someplace
where I couldn't hurt you anymore。〃
It didn't sink in at first。 I continued to stare at him blankly as the
words one by one clicked into place in my head like a ghastly puzzle。 I
was barely conscious of the sound of my heart accelerating; though; as my
breathing became hyperventilation; I was aware of the sharp aching in my
protesting ribs。
He didn't say anything; he watched my face warily as the pain that had
nothing to do with broken bones; pain that was infinitely worse;
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