to be after an answer to something； or he wouldn’t have been bugging Charlie so persistently。
Why would my attendance record matter to him； though？
I tried to think about it in a logical way。 So； if I hadn’t been going to school tomorrow； what would be the
problem with that； from Jacob’s perspective？ Charlie had given me a little grief about missing a day of school
so close to finals； but I’d convinced him that one Friday wasn’t going to derail my studies。 Jake would hardly
care about that。
My brain refused to e up with any brilliant insights。 Maybe I was missing some vital piece of
information。
What could have changed in the past three days that was so important that Jacob would break his long
streak of refusing to answer my phone calls and contact me？ What difference could three days make？
I froze in the middle of the kitchen。 The package of icy hamburger in my hands slipped through my numb
fingers。 It took me a slow second to miss the thud it should have made against the floor。
Edward had caught it and thrown it onto the counter。 His arms were already around me； his lips at my ear。
“What’s wrong？”
I shook my head； dazed。
Three days could change everything。
Hadn’t I just been thinking about how impossible college was？ How I couldn’t be anywhere near people
after I’d gone through the painful threeday conversion that would set me free from mortality； so that I could
spend eternity with Edward？ The conversion that would make me forever a prisoner to my own thirst。 。 。 。
Had Charlie told Billy that I’d vanished for three days？ Had Billy jumped to conclusions？ Had Jacob
really been asking me if I was still human？ Making sure that the werewolves’ treaty was unbroken — that
none of the Cullens had dared to bite a human 。 。 。 bite； not kill 。 。 。 ？
But did he honestly think I would e home to Charlie if that was the case？
Edward shook me。 “Bella？” he asked； truly anxious now。
“I think 。 。 。 I think he was checking；” I mumbled。 “Checking to make sure。 That I’m human； I mean。”
Edward stiffened； and a low hiss sounded in my ear。
“We’ll have to leave；” I whispered。 “Before。 So that it doesn’t break the treaty。 We won’t ever be able to
e back。”
His arms tightened around me。 “I know。”
“Ahem。” Charlie cleared his voice loudly behind us。
I jumped； and then pulled free of Edward’s arms； my face getting hot。 Edward leaned back against the
counter。 His eyes were tight。 I could see worry in them； and anger。
“If you don’t want to make dinner； I can call for a pizza；” Charlie hinted。
“No； that’s okay； I’m already started。”
“Okay；” Charlie said。 He propped himself against the doorframe； folding his arms。
I sighed and got to work； trying to ignore my audience。
“If I asked you to do something； would you trust me？” Edward asked； an edge to his soft voice。
We were almost to school。 Edward had been relaxed and joking just a moment ago； and now suddenly
his hands were clenched tight on the steering wheel； his knuckles straining in an effort not to snap it into pieces。
I stared at his anxious expression — his eyes were far away； like he was listening to distant voices。
My pulse sped in response to his stress； but I answered carefully。 “That depends。”
We pulled into the school lot。
“I was afraid you would say that。”
“What do you want me to do； Edward？”
“I want you to stay in the car。” He pulled into his usual spot and turned the engine off as he spoke。 “I want
you to wait here until I e back for you。”
“But 。 。 。 why？”
That was when I saw him。 He would have been hard to miss； towering over the students the way he did；
even if he hadn’t been leaning against his black motorcycle； parked illegally on the sidewalk。
“Oh。”
Jacob’s face was a calm mask that I recognized well。 It was the face he used when he was determined to
keep his emotions in check； to keep himself under control。 It made him look like Sam； the oldest of the
wolves； the leader of the Quileute pack。 But Jacob could never quite manage the perfect serenity Sam always
exuded。
I’d forgotten how much this face bothered me。 Though I’d gotten to know Sam pretty well before the
Cullens had e back — to like him； even — I’d never been able to pletely shake the resentment I felt
when Jacob mimicked Sam’s expression。 It was a stranger’s face。 He wasn’t my Jacob when he wore it。
“You jumped to the wrong conclusion last night；” Edward murmured。 “He asked about school because he
knew that I would be where you were。 He was looking for a safe place to talk to me。 A place with witnesses。”
So I’d misinterpreted Jacob’s motives last night。 Missing information； that was the problem。 Information
like why in the world Jacob would want to talk to Edward。
“I’m not staying in the car；” I said。
Edward groaned quietly。 “Of course not。 Well； let’s get this over with。”
Jacob’s face hardened as we walked toward him； hand in hand。
I noticed other faces； too — the faces of my classmates。 I noticed how their eyes widened as they took in
all six foot seven inches of Jacob’s long body； muscled up the way no normal sixteenandahalfyearold ever
had been。 I saw those eyes rake over his tight black tshirt — shortsleeved； though the day was
unseasonably cool — his ragged； greasesmeared jeans； and the glossy black bike he leaned against。 Their
eyes didn’t linger on his face — something about his expression had them glancing quickly away。 And I
noticed the wide berth everyone gave him； the bubble of space that no one dared to encroach on。
With a sense of astonishment； I realized that Jacob looked dangerous to them。 How odd。
Edward stopped a few yards away from Jacob； and I could tell that he was unfortable having me so
close to a werewolf。 He drew his hand back slightly； pulling me halfway behind his body。
“You could have called us；” Edward said in a steelhard voice。
“Sorry；” Jacob answered； his face twisting into a sneer。 “I don’t have any leeches on my speed dial。”
“You could have reached me at Bella’s house； of course。”
Jacob’s jaw flexed； and his brows pulled together。 He didn’t answer。
“This is hardly the place； Jacob。 Could we discuss this later？”
“Sure； sure。 I’ll stop by your crypt after school。” Jacob snorted。 “What’s wrong with now？”
Edward looked around pointedly； his eyes resting on the witnesses who were just barely out of hearing
range。 A few people were hesitating on the sidewalk； their eyes bright with expectation。 Like they were hoping
a fight might break out to alleviate the tedium of another Monday morning。 I saw Tyler Crowley nudge Austin
Marks； and they both paused on their way to class。
“I already know what you came to say；” Edward reminded Jacob in voice so low that I could barely make
it out。 “Message delivered。 Consider us warned。”
Edward glanced down at me for a fleeting second with worried eyes。
“Warned？” I asked blankly。 “What are you talking about？”
“You didn’t tell her？” Jacob asked； his eyes widening with disbelief。 “What； were you afraid she’d take
our side？”
“Please drop it； Jacob