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grab the knotted old sock that contained my secret cash hoard。
Charlie was pounding on my door。
〃Bella； are you okay？ What's going on？〃 His voice was frightened。
〃I'm going borne；〃 I shouted； my voice breaking in the perfect spot。
〃Did he hurt you？〃 His tone edged toward anger。
〃No！〃 I shrieked a few octaves higher。 I turned to my dresser； and Edward
was already there； silently yanking out armfuls of random clothes； which
he proceeded to throw to me。
〃Did he break up with you？〃 Charlie was perplexed。
〃No！〃 I yelled； slightly more breathless as I shoved everything into the
bag。 Edward threw another drawer's contents at me。 The bag was pretty
much full now。
〃What happened； Bella？〃 Charlie shouted through the door； pounding again。
〃I broke up with him！〃 I shouted back； jerking on the zipper of my bag。
Edward's capable hands pushed mine away and zipped it smoothly。 He put
the strap carefully over my arm。
〃I'll be in the truck — go！〃 he whispered； and pushed me toward the door。
He vanished out the window。
I unlocked the door and pushed past Charlie roughly； struggling with my
heavy bag as I ran down the stairs。
〃What happened？〃 he yelled。 He was right behind me。 〃I thought you liked
him。〃
He caught my elbow in the kitchen。 Though he was still bewildered； his
grip was firm。
He spun me around to look at him； and I could see in his face that he had
no intention of letting me leave。 I could think of only one way to
escape； and it involved hurting him so much that I hated myself for even
considering it。 But I had no time； and I had to keep him safe。
I glared up at my father； fresh tears in my eyes for what I was about to
do。
〃I do like him — that's the problem。 I can't do this anymore！ I can't put
down any more roots here！ I don't want to end up trapped in this stupid；
boring town like Mom！ I'm not going to make the same dumb mistake she
did。 I hate it — I can't stay here another minute！〃
His hand dropped from my arm like I'd electrocuted him。 I turned away
from his shocked； wounded face and headed for the door。
〃Bells； you can't leave now。 It's nighttime；〃 he whispered behind me。
I didn't turn around。 〃I'll sleep in the truck if I get tired。〃
〃Just wait another week；〃 he pled； still shellshocked。 〃Renée will be
back by then。〃
This pletely derailed me。 〃What？〃
Charlie continued eagerly； almost babbling with relief as I hesitated。
〃She called while you were out。 Things aren't going so well in Florida；
and if Phil doesn't get signed by the end of the week； they're going back
to Arizona。 The assistant coach of the Sidewinders said they might have a
spot for another shortstop。〃
I shook my head； trying to reassemble my nowconfused thoughts。 Every
passing second put Charlie in more danger。
〃I have a key；〃 I muttered； turning the knob。 He was too close； one hand
extended toward me； his face dazed。 I couldn't lose any more time arguing
with him。 I was going to have to hurt him further。
〃Just let me go； Charlie。〃 I repeated my mother's last words as she'd
walked out this same door so many years ago。 I said them as angrily as I
could manage； and I threw the door open。 〃It didn't work out； okay？ I
really； really hate Forks！〃
My cruel words did their job — Charlie stayed frozen on the doorstep；
stunned； while I ran into the night。 I was hideously frightened of the
empty yard。 I ran wildly for the truck； visualizing a dark shadow behind
me。 I threw my bag in the bed and wrenched the door open。 The key was
waiting in the ignition。
〃I'll call you tomorrow！〃 I yelled； wishing more than anything that I
could explain everything to him right then； knowing I would never be able
to。 I gunned the engine and peeled out。
Edward reached for my hand。
〃Pull over；〃 he said as the house； and Charlie； disappeared behind us。
〃I can drive；〃 I said through the tears pouring down my cheeks。
His long hands unexpectedly gripped my waist； and his foot pushed mine
off the gas pedal。 He pulled me across his lap； wrenching my hands free
of the wheel； and suddenly he was in the driver's seat。 The truck didn't
swerve an inch。
〃You wouldn't be able to find the house；〃 he explained。
Lights flared suddenly behind us。 I stared out the back window； eyes wide
with horror。
〃It's just Alice；〃 he reassured me。 He took my hand again。
My mind was filled with the image of Charlie in the doorway。 〃The
tracker？〃
〃He heard the end of your performance；〃 Edward said grimly。
〃Charlie？〃 I asked in dread。
〃The tracker followed us。 He's running behind us now。〃
My body went cold。
〃Can we outrun him？〃
〃No。〃 But he sped up as he spoke。 The truck's engine whined in protest。
My plan suddenly didn't feel so brilliant anymore。
I was staring back at Alice's headlights when the truck shuddered and a
dark shadow sprung up outside the window。
My bloodcurdling scream lasted a fraction of a second before Edward's
hand clamped down on my mouth。
〃It's Emmett！〃
He released my mouth； and wound his arm around my waist。
〃It's okay； Bella；〃 he promised。 〃You're going to be safe。〃
We raced through the quiet town toward the north highway。
〃I didn't realize you were still so bored with smalltown life；〃 he said
conversationally； and I knew he was trying to distract me。 〃It seemed
like you were adjusting fairly well — especially recently。 Maybe I was
just flattering myself that I was making life more interesting for you。〃
〃I wasn't being nice；〃 I confessed； ignoring his attempt at diversion；
looking down at my knees。 〃That was the same thing my mom said when she
left him。 You could say I was hitting below the belt。〃
〃Don't worry。 He'll forgive you。〃 He smiled a little； though it didn't
touch his eyes。
I stared at him desperately； and he saw the naked panic in my eyes。
〃Bella； it's going to be all right。〃
〃But it won't be all right when I'm not with you；〃 I whispered。
〃We'll be together again in a few days；〃 he said； tightening his arm
around me。 〃Don't forget that this was your idea。〃
〃It was the