“Congratulations； Miss Swan；” he mumbled to me； pressing the diploma into my good hand。
“Thanks；” I murmured。
And that was it。
I went to stand next to Jessica with the assembled graduates。 Jess was all red around the eyes； and she
kept blotting her face with the sleeve of her robe。 It took me a second to understand that she was crying。
Mr。 Greene said something I didn’t hear； and everyone around me shouted and screamed。 Yellow hats
rained down。 I pulled mine off； too late； and just let it fall to the ground。
“Oh； Bella！” Jess blubbered over the sudden roar of conversation。 “I can’t believe we’re done。”
“I can’t believe it’s all over；” I mumbled。
She threw her arms around my neck。 “You have to promise we won’t lose touch。”
I hugged her back； feeling a little awkward as I dodged her request。 “I’m so glad I know you； Jessica。 It
was a good two years。”
“It was；” she sighed； and sniffed。 Then she dropped her arms。 “Lauren！” she squealed； waving over her
head and pushing through the massed yellow gowns。 Families were beginning to converge； pressing us tighter
together。
I caught sight of Angela and Ben； but they were surrounded by their families。 I would congratulate them
later。
I craned my head； looking for Alice。
“Congratulations；” Edward whispered in my ear； his arms winding around my waist。 His voice was
subdued； he’d been in no hurry for me to reach this particular milestone。
“Um； thanks。”
“You don’t look like you’re over the nerves yet；” he noted。
“Not quite yet。”
“What’s left to worry about？ The party？ It won’t be that horrible。”
“You’re probably right。”
“Who are you looking for？”
My searching wasn’t quite as subtle as I’d thought。 “Alice — where is she？”
“She ran out as soon as she had her diploma。”
His voice took on a new tone。 I looked up to see his confused expression as he stared toward the back
door of the gym； and I made an impulse decision — the kind I really should think twice about； but rarely did。
“Worrying about Alice？” I asked。
“Er 。 。 。” He didn’t want to answer that。
“What was she thinking about； anyway？ To keep you out； I mean。”
His eyes flashed down to my face； and narrowed in suspicion。 “She was translating the Battle Hymn of the
Republic into Arabic； actually。 When she finished that； she moved on to Korean sign language。”
I laughed nervously。 “I suppose that would keep her head busy enough。”
“You know what she’s hiding from me；” he accused。
“Sure。” I smiled a weak smile。 “I’m the one who came up with it。”
He waited； confused。
I looked around。 Charlie would be on his way through the crowd now。
“Knowing Alice；” I whispered in a rush； “she’ll probably try to keep this from you until after the party。 But
since I’m all for the party being canceled — well； don’t go berserk； regardless； okay？ It’s always better to
know as much as possible。 It has to help somehow。”
“What are you talking about？”
I saw Charlie’s head bob up over the other heads as he searched for me。 He spotted me and waved。
“Just stay calm； okay？”
He nodded once； his mouth a grim line。
In hurried whispers I explained my reasoning to him。 “I think you’re wrong about things ing at us from
all sides。 I think it’s mostly ing at us from one side 。 。 。 and I think it’s ing at me； really。 It’s all
connected； it has to be。 It’s just one person who’s messing with Alice’s visions。 The stranger in my room was
a test； to see if someone could get around her。 It’s got to be the same one who keeps changing his mind； and
the newborns； and stealing my clothes — all of it goes together。 My scent is for them。”
His face had turned so white that I had a hard time finishing。
“But no one’s ing for you； don’t you see？ This is good — Esme and Alice and Carlisle； no one wants
to hurt them！”
His eyes were huge； wide with panic； dazed and horrified。 He could see that I was right； just as Alice had。
I put my hand on his cheek。 “Calm；” I pleaded。
“Bella！” Charlie crowed； pushing his way past the closepacked families around us。
“Congratulations； baby！” He was stillyelling； even though he was right at my ear now。 He wrapped his
arms around me； ever so slyly shuffling Edward off to the side as he did so。
“Thanks；” I muttered； preoccupied by the expression on Edward’s face。 He still hadn’t gained control。 His
hands were halfway extended toward me； like he was about to grab me and make a run for it。 Only slightly
more in control of myself than he was； running didn’t seem like such a terrible idea to me。
“Jacob and Billy had to take off — did you see that they were here？” Charlie asked； taking a step back；
but keeping his hands on my shoulders。 He had his back to Edward — probably an effort to exclude him； but
that was fine at the moment。 Edward’s mouth was hanging open； his eyes still wide with dread。
“Yeah；” I assured my father； trying to pay enough attention。 “Heard them； too。”
“It was nice of them to show up；” Charlie said。
“Mmhmm。”
Okay； so telling Edward had been a really bad idea。 Alice was right to keep her thoughts clouded。 I
should have waited till we were alone somewhere； maybe with the rest of his family。 And nothing breakable
close by — like windows 。 。 。 cars 。 。 。 school buildings。 His face brought back all my fear and then some。
Though his expression was past the fear now — it was pure fury that was suddenly plain on his features。
“So where do you want to go out for dinner？” Charlie asked。 “The sky’s the limit。”
“I can cook。”
“Don’t be silly。 Do you want to go to the Lodge？” he asked with an eager smile。
I did not particularly enjoy Charlie’s favorite restaurant； but； at this point； what was the difference？ I
wasn’t going to be able to eat anyway。
“Sure； the Lodge； cool；” I said。
Charlie smiled wider； and then sighed。 He turned his head halfway toward Edward； without really looking
at him。
“You ing； too； Edward？”
I stared at him； my eyes beseeching。 Edward pulled his expression together just before Charlie turned to
see why he hadn’t gotten an answer。
“No； thank you；” Edward said stiffly； his face hard and cold。
“Do you have plans with your parents？” Charlie asked； a frown in his voice。 Edward was always more
polite than Charlie deserved； the sudden hostility surprised him。
“Yes。 If you’ll excuse me。 。 。 。” Edward turned abruptly and stalked away through the dwindling crowd。
He moved just a little bit too fast； too upset to keep up his usually perfect charade。
“What did I say？” Charlie asked with a guilty expression。
“Don’t worry about it； Dad；” I reassured him。 “I don’t think it’s you。”
“Are you two fighting again？”
“Nobody’s fighting。 Mind your own business。”
“You are my business。”
I rolled my eyes。 “Let’s go eat。”
The Lodge was crowded。 The place was； in my opinion； overpriced and tacky； but it was the only thing
close to a formal restaurant in town； so it was always popular for events。 I stared morosely at a depressed
looking stuffed elk head while Charlie ate prime rib and talked over the back of the seat