I sighed。 “But if that’s what you’re thinking 。 。 。”
“Don’t worry about me；” he insisted； smiling with deliberate cheer； too brightly。 “I know what I’m doing。
Just tell me if I’m upsetting you。”
“I don’t know。 。 。 。”
“C’mon； Bella。 Let’s go back to the house and get our bikes。 You’ve got to ride a motorcycle regularly to
keep it in tune。”
“I really don’t think I’m allowed。”
“By who？ Charlie or the blood — or him？”
“Both。”
Jacob grinned my grin； and he was suddenly the Jacob I missed the most； sunny and warm。
I couldn’t help grinning back。
The rain softened； turned to mist。
“I won’t tell anyone；” he promised。
“Except every one of your friends。”
He shook his head soberly and raised his right hand。 “I promise not to think about it。”
I laughed。 “If I get hurt； it was because I tripped。”
“Whatever you say。”
We rode our motorcycles on the back roads around La Push until the rain made them too muddy and
Jacob insisted that he was going to pass out if he didn’t eat soon。 Billy greeted me easily when we got to the
house； as if my sudden reappearance meant nothing more plicated than that I’d wanted to spend the day
with my friend。 After we ate the sandwiches Jacob made； we went out to the garage and I helped him clean up
the bikes。 I hadn’t been here in months — since Edward had returned — but there was no sense of import to
it。 It was just another afternoon in the garage。
“This is nice；” I mented when he pulled the warm sodas from the grocery bag。 “I’ve missed this
place。”
He smiled； looking around at the plastic sheds bolted together over our heads。 “Yeah； I can understand
that。 All the splendor of the Taj Mahal； without the inconvenience and expense of traveling to India。”
“To Washington’s little Taj Mahal；” I toasted； holding up my can。
He touched his can to mine。
“Do you remember last Valentine’s Day？ I think that was the last time you were here — the last time
when things were still 。 。 。 normal； I mean。”
I laughed。 “Of course I remember。 I traded a lifetime of servitude for a box of conversation hearts。 That’s
not something I’m likely to forget。”
He laughed with me。 “That’s right。 Hmm； servitude。 I’ll have to think of something good。” Then he sighed。
“It feels like it was years ago。 Another era。 A happier one。”
I couldn’t agree with him。 This was my happy era now。 But I was surprised to realize how many things I
missed from my own personal dark ages。 I stared through the opening at the murky forest。 The rain had
picked up again； but it was warm in the little garage； sitting next to Jacob。 He was as good as a furnace。
His fingers brushed my hand。 “Things have really changed。”
“Yeah；” I said； and then I reached out and patted the back tire of my bike。 “Charlie used to like me。 I
hope Billy doesn’t say anything about today。 。 。 。” I bit my lip。
“He won’t。 He doesn’t get worked up about things the way Charlie does。 Hey； I never did apologize
officially for that stupid move with the bike。 I’m real sorry about ratting you out to Charlie。 I wish I hadn’t。”
I rolled my eyes。 “Me； too。”
“I’m really； really sorry。”
He looked at me hopefully； his wet； tangled black hair sticking up in every direction around his pleading
face。
“Oh； fine！ You’re forgiven。”
“Thanks； Bells！”
We grinned at each other for a second； and then his face clouded over。
“You know that day； when I brought the bike over 。 。 。 I’ve been wanting to ask you something；” he said
slowly。 “But also 。 。 。 not wanting to。”
I held very still — a reaction to stress。 It was a habit I’d picked up from Edward。
“Were you just being stubborn because you were mad at me； or were you really serious？” he whispered。
“About what？” I whispered back； though I was sure I knew what he meant。
He glared at me。 “You know。 When you said it was none of my business 。 。 。 if — if he bit you。” He
cringed visibly at the end。
“Jake 。 。 。” My throat felt swollen。 I couldn’t finish。
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath。 “Were you serious？”
He was trembling just slightly。 His eyes stayed closed。
“Yes；” I whispered。
Jacob inhaled； slow and deep。 “I guess I knew that。”
I stared at his face； waiting for his eyes to open。
“You know what this will mean？” He demanded suddenly。 “You do understand that； don’t you？ What will
happen if they break the treaty？”
“We’ll leave first；” I said in a small voice。
His eyes flashed open； their black depths full of anger and pain。 “There wasn’t a geographic limit to the
treaty； Bella。 Our greatgrandfathers only agreed to keep the peace because the Cullens swore that they were
different； that humans weren’t in danger from them。 They promised they would never kill or change anyone
ever again。 If they go back on their word； the treaty is meaningless； and they are no different than any other
vampires。 Once that’s established； when we find them again —”
“But； Jake； didn’t you break the treaty already？” I asked； grasping at straws。 “Wasn’t part of it that you
not tell people about the vampires？ And you told me。 So isn’t the treaty sort of moot； anyhow？”
Jacob didn’t like the reminder； the pain in his eyes hardened into animosity。 “Yeah； I broke the treaty —
back before I believed any of it。 And I’m sure they were informed of that。” He glared sourly at my forehead；
not meeting my shamed gaze。 “But it’s not like that gives them a freebie or anything。 There’s no fault for a
fault。 They have only one option if they object to what I did。 The same option we’ll have when they break the
treaty： to attack。 To start the war。”
He made it sound so inevitable。 I shuddered。
“Jake； it doesn’t have to be that way。”
His teeth ground together。 “It is that way。”
The silence after his declaration felt very loud。
“Will you never forgive me； Jacob？” I whispered。 As soon as I said the words； I wished I hadn’t。 I didn’t
want to hear his answer。
“You won’t be Bella anymore；” he told me。 “My friend won’t exist。 There’ll be no one to forgive。”
“That sounds like a no；” I whispered。
We faced each other for an endless moment。
“Is this goodbye then； Jake？”
He blinked rapidly； his fierce expression melting in surprise。 “Why？ We still have a few years。 Can’t we be
friends until we’re out of time？”
“Years？ No； Jake； not years。” I shook my head； and laughed once without humor。 “Weeks is more
accurate。”
I was not expecting his reaction。
He was suddenly on his feet； and there was a loud pop as the soda can exploded in his hand。 Soda flew
everywhere； soaking me； like it was spraying from a hose。
“Jake！” I started to plain； but I fell silent when I realized that his whole body was quivering with anger。
He glared at me wildly； a growling sound building in his chest。
I froze in place； too shocked to remember how to move。
The shaking rolled through him； getting faster； until it looked like he was vibrating。 His shape blurred。 。 。 。
And then Jacob gritted his teeth together； and the growling stopped。 He squeezed his eyes tight i