looking stuffed elk head while Charlie ate prime rib and talked over the back of the seat to Tyler Crowley’s
parents。 It was noisy — everyone there had just e from graduation； and most were chatting across the
aisles and over the boothtops like Charlie。
I had my back to the front windows； and I resisted the urge to turn around and search for the eyes I could
feel on me now。 I knew I wouldn’t be able to see anything。 Just as I knew there was no chance that he would
leave me unguarded； even for a second。 Not after this。
Dinner dragged。 Charlie； busy socializing； ate too slowly。 I picked at my burger； stuffing pieces of it into
my napkin when I was sure his attention was somewhere else。 It all seemed to take a very long time； but when
I looked at the clock — which I did more often than necessary — the hands hadn’t moved much。
Finally Charlie got his change back and put a tip on the table。 I stood up。
“In a hurry？” he asked me。
“I want to help Alice set things up；” I claimed。
“Okay。” He turned away from me to say goodnight to everyone。 I went out to wait by the cruiser。
I leaned against the passenger door； waiting for Charlie to drag himself away from the impromptu party。 It
was almost dark in the parking lot； the clouds so thick that there was no telling if the sun had set or not。 The air
felt heavy； like it was about to rain。
Something moved in the shadows。
My gasp turned into a sigh of relief as Edward appeared out of the gloom。
Without a word； he pulled me tightly against his chest。 One cool hand found my chin； and pulled my face
up so that he could press his hard lips to mine。 I could feel the tension in his jaw。
“How are you？” I asked as soon as he let me breathe。
“Not so great；” he murmured。 “But I’ve got a handle on myself。 I’m sorry that I lost it back there。”
“My fault。 I should have waited to tell you。”
“No；” he disagreed。 “This is something I needed to know。 I can’t believe I didn’t see it！”
“You’ve got a lot on your mind。”
“And you don’t？”
He suddenly kissed me again； not letting me answer。 He pulled away after just a second。 “Charlie’s on his
way。”
“I’ll have him drop me at your house。”
“I’ll follow you there。”
“That’s not really necessary；” I tried to say； but he was already gone。
“Bella？” Charlie called from the doorway of the restaurant； squinting into the darkness。
“I’m out here。”
Charlie sauntered out to the car； muttering about impatience。
“So； how do you feel？” he asked me as we drove north along the highway。 “It’s been a big day。”
“I feel fine；” I lied。
He laughed； seeing through me easily。 “Worried about the party？” he guessed。
“Yeah；” I lied again。
This time he didn’t notice。 “You were never one for the parties。”
“Wonder where I got that from；” I murmured。
Charlie chuckled。 “Well； you look really nice。 I wish I’d thought to get you something。 Sorry。”
“Don’t be silly； Dad。”
“It’s not silly。 I feel like I don’t always do everything for you that I should。”
“That’s ridiculous。 You do a fantastic job。 World’s best dad。 And 。 。 。” It wasn’t easy to talk about
feelings with Charlie； but I persevered after clearing my throat。 “And I’m really glad I came to live with you；
Dad。 It was the best idea I ever had。 So don’t worry — you’re just experiencing postgraduation pessimism。”
He snorted。 “Maybe。 But I’m sure I slipped up in a few places。 I mean； look at your hand！”
I stared down blankly at my hands。 My left hand rested lightly on the dark brace I rarely thought about。
My broken knuckle didn’t hurt much anymore。
“I never thought I needed to teach you how to throw a punch。 Guess I was wrong about that。”
“I thought you were on Jacob’s side？”
“No matter what side I’m on； if someone kisses you without your permission； you should be able to make
your feelings clear without hurting yourself。 You didn’t keep your thumb inside your fist； did you？”
“No； Dad。 That’s kind of sweet in a weird way； but I don’t think lessons would have helped。 Jacob’s
head is really hard。”
Charlie laughed。 “Hit him in the gut next time。”
“Next time？” I asked incredulously。
“Aw； don’t be too hard on the kid。 He’s young。”
“He’s obnoxious。”
“He’s still your friend。”
“I know。” I sighed。 “I don’t really know what the right thing to do here is； Dad。”
Charlie nodded slowly。 “Yeah。 The right thing isn’t always real obvious。 Sometimes the right thing for one
person is the wrong thing for someone else。 So 。 。 。 good luck figuring that out。”
“Thanks；” I muttered dryly。
Charlie laughed again； and then frowned。 “If this party gets too wild 。 。 。 ；” he began。
“Don’t worry about it； Dad。 Carlisle and Esme are going to be there。 I’m sure you can e； too； if you
want。”
Charlie grimaced as he squinted through the windshield into the night。 Charlie enjoyed a good party just
about as much as I did。
“Where’s the turnoff； again？” he asked。 “They ought to clear out their drive — it’s impossible to find in the
dark。”
“Just around the next bend； I think。” I pursed my lips。 “You know； you’re right — it is impossible to find。
Alice said she put a map in the invitation； but even so； maybe everyone will get lost。” I cheered up slightly at
the idea。
“Maybe；” Charlie said as the road curved to the east。 “Or maybe not。”
The black velvet darkness was interrupted ahead； just where the Cullens’ drive should be。 Someone had
wrapped the trees on either side in thousands of twinkle lights； impossible to miss。
“Alice；” I said sourly。
“Wow；” Charlie said as we turned onto the drive。 The two trees at the entry weren’t the only ones lit。
Every twenty feet or so； another shining beacon guided us toward the big white house。 All the way — all three
miles of the way。
“She doesn’t do things halfway； does she？” Charlie mumbled in awe。
“Sure you don’t want to e in？”
“Extremely sure。 Have fun； kid。”
“Thanks so much； Dad。”
He was laughing to himself as I got out and shut the door。 I watched him drive away； still grinning。 With a
sigh； I marched up the stairs to endure my party。
17。 ALLIANCE
“BELLA？”
Edward’s soft voice came from behind me。 I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps； his hair
windblown from running。 He pulled me into his arms at once； just like he had in the parking lot； and kissed me
again。
This kiss frightened me。 There was too much tension； too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine
— like he was afraid we only had so much time left to us。
I couldn’t let myself think about that。 Not if I was going to have to act human for the next several hours。 I
pulled away from him。
“Let’s get this stupid party over with；” I mumbled； not meeting his eyes。
He put his hands on either side of my face； waiting until I looked up。
“I won’t let anything happen to you。”
I touched his lips with the fingers of my good hand。 “I’m not worried about myself so much。”
“Why am I not surprised by that？” he muttered to himself。 He took a deep breath； and then he smil