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negotiable age for being a good cook。
Friday was the garage； and Saturday； after my shift at Newton's； was homework again。 Charlie felt
secure enough in my sanity to spend the day fishing with Harry。 When he got back； we were all
done—feeling very sensible and mature about it； too—and watching Monster Garage on the Discovery
Channel。
〃I probably ought to go。〃 Jacob sighed。 〃It's later than I thought。〃
〃Okay； fine；〃 I grumbled。 〃I'll take you home。〃
He laughed at my unwilling expression—it seemed to please him。
〃Tomorrow； back to work；〃 I said as soon as we were safe in the truck。 〃What time do you want me to
come up？〃
There was an unexplained excitement in his answering smile。 〃I'll call you first； okay？〃
〃Sure。〃 I frowned to myself； wondering what was up。 His smile widened。
I cleaned the house the next morning—waiting for Jacob to call and trying to shake off the Litest
nightmare。 The scenery had changed。 Last night I'd wandered in a wide sea of ferns interspersed with
huge hemlock trees。 There was nothing else there； and I was lost； wandering aimless and alone； searching
for nothing。 I wanted to kick myself for the stupid field trip last week。 I shoved the dream out of my
conscious mind； hoping it would stay locked up somewhere and not escape again。
Charlie was outside washing the cruiser； so when the phone rang； I dropped the toilet brush and ran
downstairs to answer it。
〃Hello？〃 I asked breathlessly。
〃Bella；〃 Jacob said； a strange； formal tone to his voice。
〃Hey； Jake。〃
〃I believe that… we have a date〃 he said； his tone thick with implications。
It took me a second before I got it。 〃They're done？ I can't believe it！〃 What perfect timing。 I needed
something to distract me from nightmares and nothingness。
〃Yeah； they run and everything。〃
〃Jacob； you are absolutely； without a doubt； the most talented and wonderful person I know。 You get ten
years for this one。〃
〃Cool！ I'm middle…aged now。〃
I laughed。 〃I'm on my way up！〃
I threw the cleaning supplies under the bathroom counter and grabbed my jacket。
〃Headed to see Jake；〃 Charlie said when I ran past him。 It wasn't really a question。
〃Yep；〃 I replied as I jumped in my truck。
〃I'll be at the station later；〃 Charlie called after me。
〃Okay；〃 I yelled back； turning the key。
Charlie said something else； but I couldn't hear him clearly over the roar of the engine。 It sounded sort of
like； 〃Where's the fire？〃
I parked my truck off to the side of the Blacks' house； close to the trees； to make it easier for us to sneak
the bikes out。 When I got out； a splash of color caught my eye—two shiny motorcycles； one red； one
black； were hidden under a spruce； invisible from the house。 Jacob was prepared。
There was a piece of blue ribbon tied in a small bow around each of the handlebars。 I was laughing at
that when Jacob ran out of the house。
〃Ready？〃 he asked in a low voice； his eyes sparkling。
I glanced over his shoulder； and there was no sign of Billy。
〃Yeah；〃 I said； but I didn't feel quite as excited as before； I was trying to imagine myself actually on the
motorcycle。
Jacob loaded the bikes into the bed of the truck with ease； laying them carefully on their sides so they
didn't show。
〃Let's go；〃 he said； his voice higher than usual with excitement。 〃I know the perfect spot—no one will
catch us there。〃
We drove south out of town。 The dirt road wove in and out of the forest—sometimes there was nothing
but trees； and then there would suddenly be a breathtaking glimpse of the Pacific Ocean； reaching to the
horizon； dark gray under the clouds。 We were above the shore； on top of the cliffs that bordered the
beach here and the view seemed to stretch on forever。
I was driving slowly； so that I could safely stare out across the ocean now and then； as the road wound
closer to the sea cliffs。 Jacob was talking about finishing the bikes； but his descriptions were getting
technical； so I wasn't paying close attention。
That was when I noticed four figures standing on a rocky ledge； much too close to the precipice。 I
couldn't tell from the distance how old they were； but I assumed they were men。 Despite the chill in the
air today； they seemed to be wearing only shorts。
As I watched； the tallest person stepped closer to the brink。 I slowed automatically； my foot hesitating
over the brake pedal。
And then he threw himself off the edge。
〃No！〃 I shouted； stomping down on the brake。
〃What's wrong？〃 Jacob shouted back； alarmed。
〃That guy—he just jumped off the cliff！ Why didn't they stop him？ We've got to call an ambulance！〃 I
threw open my door and started to get out； which made no sense at all。 The fastest way to a phone was
to drive back to Billy's。 But I couldn't believe what I'd just seen。 Maybe； subconsciously； I hoped I
would see something different without the glass of the windshield in the way。
Jacob laughed； and I spun to stare at him wildly。 How could he be so calloused； so cold…blooded？
〃They're just cliff diving； Bella。 Recreation。 La Push doesn't have a mall； you know。〃 He was teasing； but
there was a strange note of irritation in his voice。
〃Cliff diving？〃 I repeated； dazed。 I stared in disbelief as a second figure stepped to the edge； paused； and
then very gracefully leaped into space。 He fell for what seemed like an eternity to me； finally cutting
smoothly into the dark gray waves below。
〃Wow。 It's so high。〃 I slid back into my seat； still staring wide…eyed at the two remaining divers。 〃It must
be a hundred feet。〃
〃Well； yeah； most of us jump from lower down； that rock that juts out from the cliff about halfway。〃 He
pointed out his window。 The place he indicated did seem much more reasonable。 〃Those guys are insane。
Probably showing off how tough they are。 I mean； really； it's freezing today。 That water can't feel good。〃
He made a disgruntled face； as if the stunt personally offended him。 It surprised me a little。 I would have
thought Jacob was nearly impossible to upset。
〃You jump off the cliff？〃 I hadn't missed the 〃us。〃
〃Sure； sure。〃 He shrugged and grinned。 〃It's fun。 A little scary； kind of a rush。〃
I looked back at the cliffs； where the third figure was pacing the edge。 I'd never witnessed anything so
reckless in all my life。 My eyes widened； and I smiled。 〃Jake； you have to take me cliff diving。〃
He frowned back at me； his face disapproving。 〃Bella； you just wanted to call an ambulance for Sam；〃 he
reminded me。 I was surprised that he could tell who it was from this distance。
〃I want to try；〃 I insisted； start ing to get out of the car again。
Jacob grabbed my wrist。 〃Not today； all right？ Can we at least wait for a warmer day？〃
〃Okay； fine；〃 I agreed。 With the door open； the glacial breeze was raising goose bumps on my arm。 〃But
I want to go soon。〃
〃Soon。〃 He rolled his eyes。 〃Sometimes you're a little strange； Bella。 Do you know that？〃
I sighed。 〃Yes。〃
〃And we're not jumping off the top。〃
I watched； fascinated； as the third boy made a running start and flung himself farther into the empty air
than the other two。 He twisted and cartwheeled through space as he fell； like he was skydiving。 He
looked absolutely free—unthinking and utterly irresponsible。
〃Fine；〃 I agreed。 〃Not the first time； anyway。〃
Now Jacob sighed。
〃Are we going to try out the bikes or not？〃 he demanded。
〃Okay； okay；〃 I said； tearing my eyes away from the last person waiting on the cliff。 I put my seat belt
back on and closed the door。 The engine was still running； roaring as it idled。 We started down the road
again。
〃So who were those guys—the crazy ones？〃 I wondered。
He made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat。 〃The La Push gang。〃
〃You have a gang？〃 I asked。 I realized that I sounded impressed。
He laughed once at my reaction。 〃Not like that。 I swear； they're like hall monitors gone bad。 They don't
start fights； they keep the peace。〃 He snorted。 〃There was this guy from up somewhere by the Makah
rez； big guy too； scary…looking。 Well； word got around that he was selling meth to kids； and Sam Uley
and his disciples ran him off our land。 They're all about our land； and tribe pride… it's getting
ridiculous。 The worst part is that the council takes them seriously。 Embry said that the council actually
meets with Sam。〃 He shook his head； face full of resentment。 〃Embry also heard from Leah Clearwater
that they call themselves 'protectors' or something like that。〃
Jacob's hands were clenched into fists； as if he'd like to hit something。 I'd never seen this side of him。
I was surprised to hear Sam Uley's name。 I didn't want it to bring back the images from my nightmare； so
I made a quick observation to distract myself。 〃You don't like them very much。〃
〃Does it show？〃 he asked sarcastically。
〃Well… It doesn't sound like they're doing anything bad。〃 I tried to soothe him； to make him cheerful
again。 〃Just sort of annoyingly goody…two…shoes for a gang。〃
〃Yeah。 Annoying is a good word。 They're always showing off—like the cliff thing。 They act like…