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He was quiet for a moment。 I twisted my head to the side—too tired to hold it
up—to see his expression。
It surprised me。 His eyes were squinted; his teeth clenched; his forehead
wrinkled in effort。
〃What's wrong?〃 I asked。
He exhaled heavily; and I realized he'd been holding his breath; too。 〃I can't
do it;〃 he muttered;
frustrated。
〃Do what?〃
He ignored my question。 〃Look; Bella; haven't you ever had a secret that you
couldn't tell anyone?〃
He looked at me with knowing eyes; and my thoughts jumped immediately to the
Cullens。 I hoped my
expression didn't look guilty。
〃Something you felt like you had to keep from Charlie; from your mom ?〃 he
pressed。 〃Something you
won't even talk about with me? Not even now?〃
I felt my eyes tighten。 I didn't answer his question; though I knew he would
take that as a confirmation。
〃Can you understand that I might have the same kind of situation?〃 He was
struggling again; seeming to
fight for the right words。 〃Sometimes; loyalty gets in the way of what you
want to do。 Sometimes; it's not
your secret to tell。〃
So; I couldn't argue with that。 He was exactly right—I had a secret that
wasn't mine to tell; yet a secret I
felt bound to protect。 A secret that; suddenly; he seemed to know all about。
I still didn't see how it applied to him; or Sam; or Billy。 What was it to
them; now that the Cullens were
gone?
〃I don't know why you came here; Jacob; if you were just going to give me
riddles instead of answers。〃
〃I'm sorry;〃 he whispered。 〃This is so frustrating。〃
We looked at each other for a long moment in the dark room; both our faces
hopeless。
〃The part that kills me;〃 he said abruptly; 〃is that you already know。 I
already told yon everything!〃
〃What are you talking about?〃
He sucked in a startled breath; and then leaned toward me; his face shifting
from hopelessness to blazing
intensity in a second。 He stared fiercely into my eyes; and his voice was fast
and eager。 He spoke the
words right into my face; his breath was as hot as his skin。
〃I think I see a way to make this work out—because you know this; Bella! I
can't tell you; but if you
guessed it! That would let me right off the hook!〃
〃You want me to guess? Guess what?〃
〃My secret! You can do it—you know the answer!〃
I blinked twice; trying to clear my head。 I was so tired。 Nothing he said made
sense。
He took in my blank expression; and then his face tensed with effort again。
〃Hole on; let me see if I give
you some help;〃 he said。 Whatever he was trying to do; it was so hard he was
panting。
〃Help?〃 I asked; trying to keep up。 My lids wanted to slip closed; but I
forced them open。
〃Yeah;〃 he said; breathing hard。 〃Like clues。〃
He took my face in his enormous; too…warm hands and held it just a few inches
from his。 He stared into
my eyes while he whispered; as if to municate something besides the words
he spoke。
〃Remember the first day we met—on the beach in La Push?〃
〃Of course I do。〃
〃Tell me about it。〃
I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate。 〃You asked about my truck〃
He nodded; urging me on。
〃We talked about the Rabbit〃
〃Keep going。〃
〃We went for a walk down the beach〃 My cheeks were growing warm under his
palms as I
remembered; but he wouldn't notice; hot as his skin was。 I'd asked him to walk
with me; flirting ineptly
but successfully; in order to pump him for information。
He was nodding; anxious for more。
My voice was nearly soundless。 〃You told me scary stories Quileute legends。〃
He closed his eyes and opened them again。 〃Yes。〃 The word was tense; fervent;
like he was on the edge
of something vital。 He spoke slowly; making each word distinct。 〃Do you
remember what I said?〃
Even in the dark; he must be able to see the change in the color of my face。
How could I ever forget
that? Without realizing what he was doing; Jacob had told me exactly what I
needed to know that
day—that Edward was a vampire。
He looked at me with eyes that knew too much。 〃Think hard;〃 he told me。
〃Yes; I remember;〃 I breathed。
He inhaled deeply; struggling。 〃Do you remember all the stor—〃 He couldn't
finish the question。 His
mouth popped open like something had stuck in his throat。
〃All the stories?〃 I asked。
He nodded mutely。
My head churned。 Only one story really mattered。 I knew he'd begun with
others; but I couldn't
remember the inconsequential prelude; especially not while my brain was so
clouded with exhaustion。 I
started to shake my head。
Jacob groaned and jumped off the bed。 He pressed his fists against his
forehead and breathed fast and
angry。 〃You know this; you know this;〃 he muttered to himself。
〃Jake? Jake; please; I'm exhausted。 I'm no good at this right now。 Maybe in
the morning〃
He took a steadying breath and nodded。 〃Maybe it will e back to you。 I
guess I understand why you
only remember the one story;〃 he added in a sarcastic; bitter tone。 He plunked
back onto the mattress
beside me。 〃Do you mind if I ask you a question about that?〃 he asked; still
sarcastic。 〃I've been dying ro
know。〃
〃A question about what?〃 I asked warily。
〃About the vampire story I told you。〃
I stared at him with guarded eyes; unable to answer。 He asked his question
anyway。
〃Did you honestly not know?〃 he asked me; his voice turning husky。 〃Was I the
one who told you what
he was?〃
How did he know this? Why did he decide to believe; why now? My teeth clenched
together。 I stared
back at him; no intention of speaking。 He could see that。
〃See what I mean about loyalty?〃 he murmured; even huskier now。 〃It's the same
for me; only worse。
You can't imagine how tight I'm bound〃
I didn't like that—didn't like the way his eyes closed as if he were in pain
when he spoke of being bound。
More than dislike—I realized I hated it; hated anything that caused him pain。
Hated it fiercely。
Sam's face filled my mind。
For me; this was all essentially voluntary。 I protected the Cullens' secret
out of love; unrequited; but true。
For Jacob; it didn't seem to be that way。
〃Isn't there any way for you to get free?〃 I whispered; touching the