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strange orange color on the water。
Victoria's hair； blowing wild in the wind； the color of fire…
She'd been right there。 Right there in the harbor with me and Jacob。 If Sam hadn't been there； if it had
been just the two of us… ？ I couldn't breathe or move。
The light flicked on； though my frozen hand had still not found the switch。
I blinked into the sudden light； and saw that someone was there； waiting for me。
17。 VISITOR
UNNATURALLY STILL AND WHITE； WITH LARGE BLACK EYES intent on my face； my visitor
waited perfectly motionless in the center of the halt； beautiful beyond imagining。
My knees trembled for a second； and I nearly fell。 Then I hurled myself at her。
〃Alice； oh； Alice！〃 I cried； as I slammed into her。
I'd forgotten how hard she was； it was like running headlong into a wall of cement。
〃Bella？〃 There was a strange mingling of relief and confusion in her voice。
I locked my arms around her； gasping to inhale as much of the scent of her skin as possible。 It wasn't like
anything else—not floral or spice； citrus or musk。 No perfume in the world could pare。 My memory
hadn't done it justice。
I didn't notice when the gasping turned into something else—I only realized I was sobbing when Alice
dragged me to the living room couch and pulled me into her lap。 It was like curling up into a cool stone；
but a stone that was contoured fortingly to the shape of my body。 She rubbed my back in a gentle
rhythm； waiting for me to get control of myself。
〃I'm… sorry；〃 I blubbered。 〃I'm just… so happy… to see you！〃
〃It's okay； Bella。 Everything's okay。〃
〃Yes；〃 I bawled。 And； for once； it seemed that way。
Alice sighed。 〃I'd forgotten how exuberant you are；〃 she said； and her tone was disapproving。
I looked up at her through my streaming eyes。 Alice's neck was tight； straining away from me； her lips
pressed together firmly。 Her eyes were black as pitch。
〃Oh；〃 I puffed； as I realized the problem。 She was thirsty。 And I smelled appetizing。 It had been a while
since I'd had to think about that kind of thing。 〃Sorry。〃
〃It's my own fault。 It's been too long since I hunted。 I shouldn't let myself get so thirsty。 But I was in a
hurry today。〃 The look she directed at me then was a glare。 〃Speaking of which； would you like to
explain to me how you're alive？〃
That brought me up short and stopped the sobs。 I realized what must have happened immediately； and
why Alice was here。
I swallowed loudly。 〃You saw me fall。〃
〃No；〃 she disagreed； her eyes narrowing。 〃I saw you jump。〃
I pursed my lips as I tried to think of an explanation that wouldn't sound nuts。
Alice shook her head。 〃I told him this would happen； but he didn't believe me。 'Bella promised；'〃 her
voice imitated his so perfectly that I iroze in shock while the pain ripped through my torso。 〃'Don't be
looking for her future； either；'〃 she continued to quote him。 '〃We've done enough damage。〃
〃But just because I'm not looking； doesn't mean I don't see〃 she went on。 〃I wasn't keeping tabs on you；
I swear； Bella。 It's just that I'm alreacy attuned to you… when I saw you jumping； I didn't think； I just got
on a plane。 I knew I would be too late； but I couldn't do nothing。 And then I get here； thinking maybe I
could help Charlie somehow； and you drive up。〃 She shook her head； this time in confusion。 Her voice
was strained。 〃I saw you go into the water and I waited and waited for you to e up； but you didn't。
What happened？ And how could you do that to Charlie？ Did you stop to think what this would do to
him？ And my brother？ Do you have any idea what Edward—〃
I cut her off then； as soon as she said his name。 I'd let her go on； even after I realized the
misunderstanding she was under； just to hear the perfect bell tone of her voice。 But it was time to
interrupt。
〃Alice； I wasn't mitting suicide。〃
She eyed me dubiously。 〃Are you saying you didn't jump off a cliff？〃
〃No； but…〃 I grimaced。 〃It was for recreational purposes only。〃
Her expression hardened。
〃I'd seen some of Jacob's friends cliff diving；〃 I insisted。 〃It looked like… fun； and I was bored…〃
She waited。
〃I didn't think about how the storm would affect the currents。 Actually； I didn't think about the water
much at all。〃
Alice didn't buy it。 I could see that she still thought I had been trying to kill myself。 I decided to redirect。
〃So if you saw me go in； why didn't you see Jacob？〃
She cocked her head to the side； distracted。
I continued。 〃It's true that I probably would have drowned if Jacob hadn't jumped in after me。 Well；
okay； there's no probably about it。 But he did； and he pulled me out； and I guess he towed me back to
shore； though I was kind of out for that part。 It couldn't have been more than a minute that I was under
before he grabbed me。 How e you didn't see that？〃
She frowned in perplexity。 〃Someone pulled you out？〃
〃Yes。 Jacob saved me。〃
I watched curiously as an enigmatic range of emotions flitted across her face。 Something was bothering
her—her imperfect vision？ But I wasn't sure。 Then she deliberately leaned in and sniffed my shoulder。
I froze。
〃Don't be ridiculous；〃 she muttered； sniffing at me some more。
〃What are you doing？〃
She ignored my question。 〃Who was with you out there just now？ It sounded like you were arguing。〃
〃Jacob Black。 He's… sort of my best friend； I guess。 At least； he was…〃 I thought of Jacob's angry；
betrayed face； and wondered what he was to me now。
Alice nodded； seeming preoccupied。
〃What？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she said。 〃I'm not sure what it means。〃
〃Well； I'm not dead； at least。〃
She rolled her eyes。 〃He was a fool to think you could survive alone。 I've never seen anyone so prone to
lifethreatening idiocy。〃
〃I survived；〃 I pointed out。
She was thinking of something else。 〃So； if the currents were too much for you； how did this Jacob
manage？〃
〃Jacob is… strong。〃
She heard the reluctance in my voice； and her eyebrows rose。
I gnawed on my lip for a second。 Was this a secret； or not？ And if it was； then who was my greate