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〃She is；〃 I agreed wholeheartedly。
She glanced over her shoulder at Edward； lying with his eyes closed in
the chair。 〃You didn't tell me you had such good friends in Forks。〃
I cringed； and then moaned。
〃What hurts？〃 she demanded anxiously； turning back to me。 Edward's eyes
flashed to my face。
〃It's fine；〃 I assured them。 〃I just have to remember not to move。〃 He
lapsed back into his phony slumber。
I took advantage of my mother's momentary distraction to keep the subject
from returning to my lessthancandid behavior。 〃Where's Phil？〃 I asked
quickly。
〃Florida — oh； Bella！ You'll never guess！ Just when we were about to
leave； the best news！〃
〃Phil got signed？〃 I guessed。
〃Yes！ How did you guess！ The Suns； can you believe it？〃
〃That's great； Mom；〃 I said as enthusiastically as I could manage； though
I had little idea what that meant。
〃And you'll like Jacksonville so much；〃 she gushed while I stared at her
vacantly。 〃I was a little bit worried when Phil started talking about
Akron； what with the snow and everything； because you know how I hate the
cold； but now Jacksonville！ It's always sunny； and the humidity really
isn't that bad。 We found the cutest house； yellow； with white trim； and a
porch just like in an old movie； and this huge oak tree； and it's just a
few minutes from the ocean； and you'll have your own bathroom —〃
〃Wait； Mom！〃 I interrupted。 Edward still had his eyes closed； but he
looked too tense to pass as asleep。 〃What are you talking about？ I'm not
going to Florida。 I live in Forks。〃
〃But you don't have to anymore； silly；〃 she laughed。 〃Phil will be able
to be around so much more now… we've talked about it a lot； and what I'm
going to do is trade off on the away games； half the time with you； half
the time with him。〃
〃Mom。〃 I hesitated； wondering how best to be diplomatic about this。 〃I
want to live in Forks。 I'm already settled in at school； and I have a
couple of girlfriends〃 — she glanced toward Edward again when I reminded
her of friends； so I tried another direction — 〃and Charlie needs me。
He's just all alone up there； and he can't cook at all。〃
〃You want to stay in Forks？〃 she asked； bewildered。 The idea was
inconceivable to her。 And then her eyes flickered back toward Edward。
〃Why？〃
〃I told you — school； Charlie — ouch！〃 I'd shrugged。 Not a good idea。
Her hands fluttered helplessly over me； trying to find a safe place to
pat。 She made do with my forehead； it was unbandaged。
〃Bella； honey； you hate Forks；〃 she reminded me。
〃It's not so bad。〃
She frowned and looked back and forth between Edward and me； this time
very deliberately。
〃Is it this boy？〃 she whispered。
I opened my mouth to lie； but her eyes were scrutinizing my face； and I
knew she would see through that。
〃He's part of it；〃 I admitted。 No need to confess how big a part。 〃So；
have you had a chance to talk with Edward？〃 I asked。
〃Yes。〃 She hesitated； looking at his perfectly still form。 〃And I want to
talk to you about that。〃
Uhoh。 〃What about？〃 I asked。
〃I think that boy is in love with you；〃 she accused； keeping her voice
low。
〃I think so； too；〃 I confided。
〃And how do you feel about him？〃 She only poorly concealed the raging
curiosity in her voice。
I sighed； looking away。 As much as I loved my mom； this was not a
conversation I wanted to have with her。 〃I'm pretty crazy about him。〃
There — that sounded like something a teenager with her first boyfriend
might say。
〃Well； he seems very nice； and； my goodness； he's incredibly
goodlooking； but you're so young； Bella…〃 Her voice was unsure； as far
as I could remember； this was the first time since I was eight that she'd
e close to trying to sound like a parental authority。 I recognized the
reasonablebutfirm tone of voice from talks I'd had with her about men。
〃I know that； Mom。 Don't worry about it。 It's just a crush；〃 I soothed
her。
〃That's right；〃 she agreed； easily pleased。
Then she sighed and glanced guiltily over her shoulder at the big； round
clock on the wall。
〃Do you need to go？〃
She bit her lip。 〃Phil's supposed to call in a little while… I didn't
know you were going to wake up…〃
〃No problem； Mom。〃 I tried to tone down the relief so she wouldn't get
her feelings hurt。 〃I won't be alone。〃
〃I'll be back soon。 I've been sleeping here； you know；〃 she announced；
proud of herself。
〃Oh； Mom； you don't have to do that！ You can sleep at home — I'll never
notice。〃 The swirl of painkillers in my brain was making it hard to
concentrate even now； though； apparently； I'd been sleeping for days。
〃I was too nervous；〃 she admitted sheepishly。 〃There's been some crime in
the neighborhood； and I don't like being there alone。〃
〃Crime？〃 I asked in alarm。
〃Someone broke into that dance studio around the corner from the house
and burned it to the ground — there's nothing left at all！ And they left
a stolen car right out front。 Do you remember when you used to dance
there； honey？〃
〃I remember。〃 I shivered； and winced。
〃I can stay； baby； if you need me。〃
〃No； Mom； I'll be fine。 Edward will be with me。〃
She looked like that might be why she wanted to stay。 〃I'll be back
tonight。〃 It sounded as much like a warning as it sounded like a promise；
and she glanced at Edward again as she said it。
〃I love you； Mom。〃
〃I love you； too； Bella。 Try to be more careful when you walk； honey； I
don't want to lose you。〃
Edward's eyes stayed closed； but a wide grin flashed across his face。
A nurse came bustling in then to check all my tubes and wires。 My mother
kissed my forehead； patted my gauzewrapped hand； and left。
The nurse was checking the paper readout on my heart monitor。
〃Are you feeling anxious； honey？ Your heart rate got a little high there。〃
〃I'm fine；〃 I assured her。
〃I'll tell your RN that you're awake。 She'll be in to see you in a
minute。〃
As soon as she closed the door； Edward was at my side。
〃You stole a car？〃 I raised my eyebrows。
He smiled； unrepentant。 〃It was a good car； very fas