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〃You're a good storyteller；〃 I plimented him； still staring into the
waves。
〃Pretty crazy stuff； though； isn't it？ No wonder my dad doesn't want us
to talk about it to anyone。〃
I couldn't control my expression enough to look at him yet。 〃Don't worry；
I won't give you away。〃
〃I guess I just violated the treaty；〃 he laughed。
〃I'll take it to the grave；〃 I promised； and then I shivered。
〃Seriously； though； don't say anything to Charlie。 He was pretty mad at
my dad when he heard that some of us weren't going to the hospital since
Dr。 Cullen started working there。〃
〃I won't； of course not。〃
〃So do you think we're a bunch of superstitious natives or what？〃 he
asked in a playful tone； but with a hint of worry。 I still hadn't looked
away from the ocean。
I turned and smiled at him as normally as I could。
〃No。 I think you're very good at telling scary stories； though。 I still
have goose bumps； see？〃 I held up my arm。
〃Cool。〃 He smiled。
And then the sound of the beach rocks clattering against each other
warned us that someone was approaching。 Our heads snapped up at the same
time to see Mike and Jessica about fifty yards away； walking toward us。
〃There you are； Bella；〃 Mike called in relief； waving his arm over his
head。
〃Is that your boyfriend？〃 Jacob asked； alerted by the jealous edge in
Mike's voice。 I was surprised it was so obvious。
〃No； definitely not；〃 I whispered。 I was tremendously grateful to Jacob；
and eager to make him as happy as possible。 I winked at him； carefully
turning away from Mike to do so。 He smiled； elated by my inept flirting。
〃So when I get my license…〃 he began。
〃You should e see me in Forks。 We could hang out sometime。〃 I felt
guilty as I said this； knowing that I'd used him。 But I really did like
Jacob。 He was someone I could easily be friends with。
Mike had reached us now； with Jessica still a few paces back。 I could see
his eyes appraising Jacob； and looking satisfied at his obvious youth。
〃Where have you been？〃 he asked； though the answer was right in front of
him。
〃Jacob was just telling me some local stories；〃 I volunteered。 〃It was
really interesting。〃
I smiled at Jacob warmly； and he grinned back。
〃Well；〃 Mike paused； carefully reassessing the situation as he watched
our camaraderie。 〃We're packing up — it looks like it's going to rain
soon。〃
We all looked up at the glowering sky。 It certainly did look like rain。
〃Okay。〃 I jumped up。 〃I'm ing。〃
〃It was nice to see you again；〃 Jacob said； and I could tell he was
taunting Mike just a bit。
〃It really was。 Next time Charlie es down to see Billy； I'll e；
too；〃 I promised。
His grin stretched across his face。 〃That would be cool。〃
〃And thanks；〃 I added earnestly。
I pulled up my hood as we tramped across the rocks toward the parking
lot。 A few drops were beginning to fall； making black spots on the stones
where they landed。 When we got to the Suburban the others were already
loading everything back in。 I crawled into the backseat by Angela and
Tyler； announcing that I'd already had my turn in the shotgun position。
Angela just stared out the window at the escalating storm； and Lauren
twisted around in the middle seat to occupy Tyler's attention； so I could
simply lay my head back on the seat and close my eyes and try very hard
not to think。
===========================================================================
7。 NIGHTMARE
I told Charlie I had a lot of homework to do； and that I didn't want
anything to eat。 There was a basketball game on that he was excited
about； though of course I had no idea what was special about it； so he
wasn't aware of anything unusual in my face or tone。
Once in my room； I locked the door。 I dug through my desk until I found
my old headphones； and I plugged them into my little CD player。 I picked
up a CD that Phil had given to me for Christmas。 It was one of his
favorite bands； but they used a little too much bass and shrieking for my
tastes。 I popped it into place and lay down on my bed。 I put on the
headphones； hit Play； and turned up the volume until it hurt my ears。 I
closed my eyes； but the light still intruded； so I added a pillow over
the top half of my face。
I concentrated very carefully on the music； trying to understand the
lyrics； to unravel the plicated drum patterns。 By the third time I'd
listened through the CD； I knew all the words to the choruses； at least。
I was surprised to find that I really did like the band after all； once I
got past the blaring noise。 I'd have to thank Phil again。
And it worked。 The shattering beats made it impossible for me to think —
which was the whole purpose of the exercise。 I listened to the CD again
and again； until I was singing along with all the songs； until； finally；
I fell asleep。
I opened my eyes to a familiar place。 Aware in some corner of my
consciousness that I was dreaming； I recognized the green light of the
forest。 I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks somewhere
nearby。 And I knew that if I found the ocean； I'd be able to see the sun。
I was trying to follow the sound； but then Jacob Black was there； tugging
on my hand； pulling me back toward the blackest part of the forest。
〃Jacob？ What's wrong？〃 I asked。 His face was frightened as he yanked with
all his strength against my resistance； I didn't want to go into the dark。
〃Run； Bella； you have to run！〃 he whispered； terrified。
〃This way； Bella！〃 I recognized Mike's voice calling out of the gloomy
heart of the trees； but I couldn't see him。
〃Why？〃 I asked； still pulling against Jacob's grasp； desperate now to
find the sun。
But Jacob let go of my hand and yelped； suddenly shaking； falling to the
dim forest floor。 He twitched on the ground as I watched in horror。
〃Jacob！〃 I screamed。 But he was gone。 In his place was a large redbrown
wolf with black eyes。 The wolf faced away from me； pointing toward the
shore； the hair on the back of his shoulders bristling； low growls
issuing from between his exposed fangs。
〃Bella； run！〃