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〃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 continued。
This offended him。 〃No。 I want to help。 You can't pay me。〃
〃Well… how about a trade； then？〃 I was making this up as I went； but it seemed reasonable enough。 〃I
only need one bike—and I'll need lessons； too。 So how about this？ I'll give you the other bike； and then
you can teach me。〃
〃Swee…eet。〃 He made the word into two syllables。
〃Wait a sec—are you legal yet？ When's your birthday？〃
〃You missed it；〃 he teased； narrowing his eyes in mock resentment。 〃I'm sixteen。〃
〃Not that your age ever stopped you before；〃 I muttered。 〃Sorry about your birthday。〃
〃Don't worry about it。 I missed yours。 What are you； forty？〃
I sniffed。 〃Close。〃
〃We'll have a joint party to make up for it。〃
〃Sounds like a date。〃
His eyes sparkled at the word。
I needed to reign in the enthusiasm before I gave him the wrong idea—it was just that it had been a long
time since I'd felt so light and buoyant。 The rarity of the feeling made it more difficult to manage。
〃Maybe when the bikes are finished—our present to ourselves；〃 I added。
〃Deal。 When will you bring them down？〃
I bit my lip； embarrassed。 〃They're in my truck now；〃 I admitted。
〃Great。〃 He seemed to mean it。
〃Will Billy see if we bring them around？〃
He winked at me。 〃We'll be sneaky。〃
We eased around from the east； sticking to the trees when we were in view of the windows； affecting a
casual…looking stroll； just in case。 Jacob unloaded the bikes swiftly from the truck bed； wheeling them
one by one into the shrubbery where I hid。 It looked too easy for him—I'd remembered the bikes being
much； much heavier than that。
〃These aren't half bad；〃 Jacob appraised as we pushed them through the cover of the trees。 〃This one
here will actually be worth something when I'm done—it's an old Harley Sprint。〃
〃That one's yours； then。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃These are going to take some cash； though；〃 he said； frowning down at the blackened metal。 〃We'll have
to save up for parts first。〃
〃We nothing；〃 I disagreed。 〃If you're doing this for free； I'll pay for the parts。〃
〃I don't know…〃 he muttered。
〃I've got some money saved。 College fund； you know。〃 College； schmollege； I thought to myself。 It
wasn't like I'd saved up enough to go anywhere special—and besides； I had no desire to leave Forks
anyway。 What difference would it make if I skimmed a little bit off the top？
Jacob just nodded。 This all made perfect sense to him。
As we skulked back to the makeshift garage； I contemplated my luck。 Only a teenage boy would agree
to this： deceiving both our parents while repairing dangerous vehicles using money meant for my college
education。 He didn't see anything wrong with that picture。 Jacob was a gift from the gods。
6。 FRIENDS
THE MOTORCYCLES DIDN'T NEED TO BE HIDDEN ANY further than simply placing them in
Jacob's shed。 Billy's wheelchair couldn't maneuver the uneven ground separating it from the house。
Jacob started pulling the first bike—the red one； which was destined for me—to pieces immediately。 He
opened up the passenger door of the Rabbit so I could sit on the seat instead of the ground。 While he
worked； Jacob chattered happily； needing only the lightest of nudges from me to keep the conversation
rolling。 He updated me on the progress of his sophomore year of school； running on about his classes and
his two best friends。
〃Quil and Embry？〃 I interrupted。 〃Those are unusual names。〃
Jacob chuckled。 〃Quil's is a hand…me…down； and I think Embry got named after a soap opera star。 I can't
say anything； though。 They fight dirty if you start on their names—they'll tag team you。〃
〃Good friends。〃 I raised one eyebrow。
〃No； they are。 Just don't mess with their names。〃
Just then a call echoed in the distance。 〃Jacob？〃 someone shouted。
〃Is that Billy？〃 I asked。
〃No。〃 Jacob ducked his head； and it looked like he was blushing under his brown skin。 〃Speak of the
devil；〃 he mumbled； 〃and the devil shall appear。〃
〃Jake？ Are you out here？〃 The shouting voice was closer now。
〃Yeah！〃 Jacob shouted back； and sighed。
We waited through the short silence until two tall； dark…skinned boys strolled around the corner into the
shed。
One was slender； and almost as tall as Jacob。 His black hair was chin…length and parted down the
middle； one side tucked behind his left ear while the right side swung free。 The shorter boy was more
burly。 His white T…shirt strained over his well…developed chest； and he seemed gleefully conscious of that
fact。 His hair was so short it was almost a buzz。
Both boys stopped short when they saw me。 The thin boy glanced swiftly back and forth between Jacob
and me； while the brawny boy kept his eyes on me； a slow smile spreading across his face。
〃Hey； guys；〃 Jacob greeted them halfheartedly。
〃Hey； Jake；〃 the short one said without looking away from me。 I had to smile in response； his grin was so
impish。 When I did； he winked at me。 〃Hi； there。〃
〃Quil； Embry—this is my friend； Bella。〃
Quil and Embry； I still didn't know which was which； exchanged a loaded look。
〃Charlie's kid； right？〃 the brawny boy asked me； holding out his hand。
〃That's right；〃 I confirmed； shaking hands with him。 His grasp was firm； it looked like he was flexing his
bicep。
〃I'm Quil Ateara；〃 he announced grandly before releasing my hand。
〃Nice to meet you； Quil。〃
〃Hey； Bella。 I'm Embry； Embry Call—you probably already figured that out； though。〃 Embry smiled a shy
smile and waved with one hand； which he then shoved in the pocket of his jeans。
I nodded。 〃Nice to meet you； too。〃
〃So what are you guys doing？〃 Quil asked； still looking at me。
〃Bella and I are going to fix up these bikes；〃 Jacob explained inaccurately。 But bikes seemed to be the
magic word。 Both boys went to examine Jacob's project； drilling him with educated questions。 Many of
the words they used were unfamiliar to me； and I figured I'd have to have a Y chromosome to really
understand the excitement。
They were still immersed in talk of parts and pieces when I decided that I needed to head back home
before Charlie showed up here。 With a sigh； I slid out of the Rabbit。
Jacob looked up； apologetic。 〃We're boring you； aren't we？〃
〃Naw。〃 And it wasn't a lie。 I was enjoying myself—how strange。 〃I just have to go cook dinner for
Charlie。〃
〃Oh… well； I'll finish taking these apart tonight and figure out what more we'll need to get started
rebuilding them。 When do you want to work on them again？〃
〃Could I come back tomorrow？〃 Sundays were the bane of my existence。 There was never enough
homework to keep me busy。
Quil nudged Embry's arm and they exchanged grins。
Jacob smiled in delight。 〃That would be great！〃
〃If you make a list； we can go shop for parts；〃 I suggested。
Jacob's face fell a little。 〃I'm still not sure I should let you pay for everything。〃
I shook my head。 〃No way。 I'm bankrolling this party。 You just have to supply the labor and expertise。〃
Embry rolled his eyes at Quil。
〃That doesn't seem right；〃 Jacob shook his head。
〃Jake； if I took these to a mechanic； how much would he charge me？〃 I pointed out。
He smiled。 〃Okay； you're getting a deal。〃
〃Not to mention the riding lessons；〃 I added。
Quil grinned widely at Embry and whispered something I didn't catch。 Jacob's hand flashed out to smack
the back of Quil's head。 〃That's it； get out；〃 he muttered。
〃No； really； I have to go；〃 I protested； heading for the door。 〃I'll see you tomorrow； Jacob。〃
As soon as I was out of sight； I heard Quil and Embry chorus； 〃Wooooo！〃
The sound of a brief scuffle f