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〃Of course I am。〃
〃They don't work。〃
I sighed impatiently—this was something I'd already inferred from the sign。
〃How much？〃
〃If you really want one； just take it。 My mom made my dad move them down to
the road so they'd get
picked up with the garbage。〃
I glanced at the bikes again and saw that they were resting on a pile of yard
clippings and dead branches。
〃Are you positive about that？〃
〃Sure； you want to ask her？〃
It was probably better not to involve adults who might mention this to
Charlie。
〃No； I believe you。〃
〃You want me to help you？〃 he offered。 〃They're not light。〃
〃Okay； thanks。 I only need one； though。〃
〃Might as well take both；〃 the boy said。 〃Maybe you could scavenge some
parts。〃
He followed me out into the downpour and helped me load both of the heavy
bikes into the back of my
truck。 He seemed eager to be rid of them； so I didn't argue。
〃What are you going to do with them； anyway？〃 he asked。 〃They haven't worked
in years。〃
〃I kind of guessed that；〃 I said； shrugging。 My spur…of…the…moment whim hadn't
e with a plan intact。
〃Maybe I'll take them to Dowling's。〃
He snorted。 〃Dowling would charge more to fix them than they'd be worth
running。〃
I couldn't argue with that。 John Dowling had earned a reputation for his
pricing； no one went to him
except in an emergency。 Most people preferred to make the drive up to Port
Angeles； if their car was
able。 I'd been very lucky on that front—I'd been worried； when Charlie first
gifted me my ancient truck；
that I wouldn't be able to afford to keep it running。 But I'd never had a
single problem with it； other than
the screaming…loud engine and the fifty…five…mile…per…hour maximum speed
limit。 Jacob Black had kept it
in great shape when it had belonged to his father； Billy
Inspiration hit like a bolt of lightning—not unreasonable； considering the
storm。 〃You know what？ That's
okay。 I know someone who builds cars。〃
〃Oh。 That's good。〃 He smiled in relief。
He waved as I pulled away； still smiling。 Friendly kid。
I drove quickly and purposefully now； in a hurry to get home before there was
the slightest chance of
Charlie appearing； even in the highly unlikely event that he might knock off
early。 I dashed through the
house to the phone； keys still in hand。
〃Chief Swan； please；〃 I said when the deputy answered。 〃It's Bella。〃
〃Oh； hey； Bella；〃 Deputy Steve said affably。 〃I'll go get him。〃
I waited。
〃What's wrong； Bella？〃 Charlie demanded as soon as he picked up the phone。
〃Can't I call you at work without there being an emergency？〃
He was quiet for a minute。 〃You never have before。 Is there an emergency？〃
〃No。 I just wanted directions to the Blacks' place—I'm not sure I can
remember the way。 I want to visit
Jacob。 I haven't seen him in months。〃
When Charlie spoke again； his voice was much happier。 〃That's a great idea；
Bells。 Do you have a pen？〃
The directions he gave me were very simple。 I assured him that I would be back
for dinner； though he
tried to tell me not to hurry。 He wanted to join me in La Push； and I wasn't
having that。
So it was with a deadline that I drove too quickly through the storm…darkened
streets out of town。 I
hoped I could get Jacob alone。 Billy would probably tell on me if he knew what
I was up to。
While I drove； I worried a little bit about Billy's reaction to seeing me。 He
would be too pleased。 In
Billy's mind； no doubt； this had all worked out better than he had dared to
hope。 His pleasure and relief
would only remind me of the one I couldn't bear to be reminded of。 Not again
today； I pleaded silently。
I was spent。
The Blacks' house was vaguely familiar； a small wooden place with narrow
windows； the dull red paint
making it resemble a tiny barn。 Jacob's head peered out of the window before I
could even get out of the
truck。 No doubt the familiar roar of the engine had tipped him off to my
approach。 Jacob had been very
grateful when Charlie bought Billy's truck for me； saving Jacob from having to
drive it when he came of
age。 I liked my truck very much； but Jacob seemed to consider the speed
restrictions a shorting。
He met me halfway to the house。
〃Bella！〃 His excited grin stretched wide across his face； the bright teeth
standing in vivid contrast to the
deep russet color of his skin。 I'd never seen his hair out of its usual
ponytail before。 It fell like black satin
curtains on either side of his broad face。
Jacob had grown into some of his potential in the last eight months。 He'd
passed that point where the soft
muscles of childhood hardened into the solid； lanky build of a teenager； the
tendons and veins had
bee prominent under the red…brown skin of his arms； his hands。 His face was
still sweet like I
remembered it； though it had hardened； too—the planes of his cheekbones
sharper； his jaw squared off；
all childish roundness gone。
〃Hey； Jacob！〃 I felt an unfamiliar surge of enthusiasm at his smile。 I
realized that I was pleased to see him。
This knowledge surprised me。
I smiled back； and something clicked silently into place； like two
corresponding puzzle pieces。 I'd
forgotten how much I really liked Jacob Black。
He stopped a few feet away from me； and I stared up at him in surprise；
leaning my head back though
the rain pelted my face。
〃You grew again！〃 I accused in amazement。
He laughed； his smile widening impossibly。 〃Six five；〃 he announced with self
…satisfaction。 His voice was
deeper； but it had the husky tone I remembered。
〃Is it ever going to stop？〃 I shook my head in disbelief。 〃You're huge。〃
〃Still a beanpole； though。〃 He grimaced。 〃e inside！ You're getting all
wet。〃
He led the way； twisting his hair in his big hands as he walked。 He pulled a
rubber band from his hip
pocket and wound it around the bundle。
〃Hey； Dad；〃 he called as he ducked to get through the front door。 〃Look who
stopped by。〃
Billy was in the tiny square living room； a book in his hands。 He set the book
in his lap and wheeled
himself forward when he saw me。
〃Well； what do you know！ It's good to see you； Bella。〃
We shook hands。 Mine was lost in his wide grasp。
〃What brings you out here？ Everything okay with Charlie？〃
〃Yes； absolutely。 I just wanted to see Jacob—I haven't seen him in forever。〃
Jacob's eyes brightened at my words。 He was smiling so big it looked like it
would hurt his cheeks。
〃Can you stay for dinner？〃 Billy was eager； too。
〃No； I've got to feed Charlie； you know。〃
〃I'll call him now；〃 Billy suggested。 〃He's always invited。〃
I laughed to hide my disfort。 〃It's not like you'll never see me again。 I
promise I'll be back again
soon—so much you'll get sick of me。〃 After all； if Jacob could fix the bike；
someone had to teach me
how to ride it。
Billy chuckled in response。 〃Okay； maybe next time。〃
〃So； Bella； what do you want to do？〃 Jacob asked。
〃Whatever。 What were you doing before I interrupted？〃 I was strangely
fortable here。 It was familiar；
but only distantly。 There were no painful reminders of the recent past。
Jacob hesitated。 〃I was just heading out to work on my car； but we can do
something else〃
〃No； that's perfect！〃 I interrupted。 〃I'd love to see your car。〃
〃Okay；〃 he said； not convinced。 〃It's out back； in the garage。〃
Even better； I thought to myself。 I waved at Billy。 〃See you later。〃
A thick stand of trees and shrubbery concealed his garage from the house。 The
garage was no more than
a couple of big preformed sheds that had been bolted together with their
interior walls knocked out。
Under this shelter； raised on cinder blocks； was what looked to me like a
pleted automobile。 I
recognized the symbol on the grille； at least。
〃What kind of Volkswagen is that？〃 I asked。
〃It's an old Rabbit—1986； a classic。〃
〃How's it going？〃
〃Almost finished；〃 he said cheerfully。 And then his voice dropped into a lower
key。 〃My dad made good
on his promise last spring。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said。
He seemed to understand my reluctance to open the subject。 I tried not to
remember last May at the
prom。 Jacob had been bribed by his father with money and car parts to deliver
a message there。 Billy
wanted me to stay a safe distance from the most important person in my life。
It turned out that his
concern was； in the end； unnecessary。 I was all too safe now。
But I was going to see what I could do to change that。
〃Jacob； what do you know about motorcycles？〃 I asked。
He shrugged。 〃Some。 My friend Embry has a dirt bike。 We work on it together
sometimes。 Why？〃
〃Well〃 I pursed my lips as I considered。 I wasn't sure if he could keep his
mouth shut； but I didn't have
many other options。 〃I recently acquired a couple of bikes； and they're not in
the greatest condition。 I
wonder if you could get them running？〃
〃Cool。〃 He seemed truly pleased by the challenge。 His face glowed。 〃I'll give
it a try。〃
I held up one finger in warning。 〃The thing is；〃 I explained； 〃Charlie doesn't
approve of motorcycles。
Honestly； he'd probably bust a vein in his forehead if he knew about this。 So
you can't tell Billy。〃
〃Sure； sure。〃 Jacob smiled。 〃I understand。〃
〃I'll pay you；〃 I