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the voice in my head began to fade； until I heard it no more。 Quietly； I panicked。 I threw myself into the
search for the meadow with slightly frenzied intensity。 I racked my brain for other adrenaline…producing
activities。
I didn't keep track of the days ：hat passed—there was no reason； as I tried to live as much in the present
as possible； no past fading； no future impending。 So I was surprised by the date when Jacob brought it
up on one of our homework days。 He was waiting when I pulled up in front of his house。
〃Happy Valentine's Day；〃 Jacob said； smiling； but ducking his head as he greeted me。
He held out a small； pink box； balancing it on his palm。 Conversation hearts。
〃Well； I feel like a schmuck；〃 I mumbled。 〃Is today Valentine's Day？〃
Jacob shook his head with mock sadness。 〃You can be so out of it sometimes。 Yes； it is the fourteenth
day of February。 So are you going to be my Valentine？ Since you didn't get me a fifty…cent box of candy；
it's the least you can do。〃
I started to feel uncomfortable。 The words were teasing； but only on the surface。
〃What exactly does that entail？〃 I hedged。
〃The usual—slave for life； that kind of thing。〃
〃Oh； well； if that's all…〃 I took the candy。 But I was trying to think of some way to make the boundaries
clear。 Again。 They seemed to get blurred a lot with Jacob。
〃So； what are we doing tomorrow？ Hiking； or the ER？〃
〃Hiking；〃 I decided。 〃You're not the only one who can be obsessive。 I'm starting to think I imagined that
place…〃 I frowned into space。
〃We'll find it；〃 he assured me。 〃Bikes Friday？〃 he offered。
I saw a chance and took it without taking time to think it through。
〃I'm going to a movie Friday。 I've been promising my cafeteria crowd that I would go out forever。〃 Mike
would be pleased。
But Jacob's face fell。 I caught the expression in his dark eyes before he dropped them to look at the
ground。
〃You'll come too； right？〃 I added quickly。 〃Or will it be too much of a drag with a bunch of boring
seniors？〃 So much for my chance to put some distance between us。 I couldn't stand hurting Jacob； we
seemed to be connected in an odd way； and his pain set off little stabs of my own。 Also； the idea of
having his company for the ordeal—I had promised Mike； but really didn't feel any enthusiasm at the
thought of following through—was just too tempting。
〃You'd like me to come； with your friends there？〃
〃Yes；〃 I admitted honestly； knowing as I continued that I was probably shooting myself in the foot with
my words。 〃I'll have a lot more fun if you're there。 Bring Quil； and we'll make it a party。〃
〃Quil's gonna freak。 Senior girls。〃 He chortled and rolled his eyes。 I didn't mention Embry； and neither did
he。 I laughed； too。 〃I'll try to get hin a good selection。〃
I broached the subject with Mike in English。
〃Hey； Mike；〃 I said when class was over。 〃Are you free Friday night？〃
He looked up； his blue eyes instantly hopeful。 〃Yeah； I am。 You want to go out？〃
I worded my reply carefully。 〃I was thinking about getting a group〃—I emphasized the word—〃together
to go see Crosshairs。〃 I'd done my homework this time—even reading the movie spoilers to be sure I
wouldn't be caught off guard。 This movie was supposed to be a bloodbath from start to finish。 I wasn't so
recovered that I could stand to sit through a romance。 〃Does that sound like fun？〃
〃Sure；〃 he agreed； visibly less eager。
〃Cool。〃
After a second； he perked back up to near his former excitement level。 〃How about we get Angela and
Ben？ Or Eric and Katie？〃
He was determined to make this some kind of double date； apparently。
〃How about both？〃 I suggested 〃And Jessica； too； of course。 And Tyler and Conner； and maybe
Lauren；〃 I tacked on grudgingly。 I had promised Quil variety。
〃Okay；〃 Mike muttered； foiled。
〃And；〃 I continued； 〃I've got a couple of friends from La Push I'm inviting。 So it sounds like we'll need
your Suburban if everyone comes。〃
Mike's eyes narrowed in suspicion。
〃These are the friends you spend all your time studying with now？〃
〃Yep； the very ones；〃 I answered cheerfully。 〃Though you could look at it as tutoring—they're only
sophomores。〃
〃Oh；〃 Mike said； surprised。 After a second of thought； he smiled。
In the end； though； the Suburban wasn't necessary。
Jessica and Lauren claimed to be busy as soon as Mike let it slip that I was involved in the planning。 Eric
and Katie already had plans—it was their three…week anniversary or something。 Lauren got to Tyler and
Conner before Mike could； so those two were also busy。 Even Quil was out—grounded for fighting at
school。 In the end； only Angela and Ben； and； of course Jacob； were able to go。
The diminished numbers didn't dampen Mike's anticipation； though。 It was all he could talk about Friday。
〃Are you sure you don't want to see Tomorrow and Forever instead？〃 he asked at lunch； naming the
current romantic comedy that was ruling the box office。 〃Rotten Tomatoes gave it a better review。〃
〃I want to see Crosshairs〃 I insisted。 〃I'm in the mood for action。 Bring on the blood and guts！〃
〃Okay。〃 Mike turned away； but not before I saw his maybe…she's…crazy…after…all expression。
When I got home from school； a very familiar car was parked in front of my house。 Jacob was leaning
against the hood； a huge grin lighting up his face。
〃No way！〃 I shouted as I jumped out of the truck。 〃You're done！ I can't believe it！ You finished the
Rabbit！〃
He beamed。 〃Just last night。 This is the maiden voyage。〃
〃Incredible。〃 I held my hand up for a high five。
He smacked his hand against mine； but left it there； twisting his fingers through mine。 〃So do I get to drive
tonight？〃
〃Definitely；〃 I said； and then I sighed。
〃What's wrong？〃
〃I'm giving up—I can't top this one。 So you win。 You're oldest。〃
He shrugged； unsurprised by my capitulation。 〃Of course I am。〃
Mike's Suburban chugged around the corner。 I pulled my hand out of Jacob's； and he nude a face that I
wasn't meant to see。
〃I remember this guy；〃 he said in a low voice as Mike parked across the street。 〃The one who thought
you were his girlfriend。 Is he still confused？〃
I raised one eyebrow。 〃Some people are hard to discourage。〃
〃Then again；〃 Jacob said thoughtfully； 〃sometimes persistence pays off。〃
〃Most of the time it's just annoying； though。〃
Mike got out of his car and crossed the road。
〃Hey； Bella；〃 he greeted me； and then his eyes turned wary as he looked up at Jacob。 I glanced briefly at
Jacob； too； trying to be objective。 He really didn't look like a sophomore at all。 He was just so
big—Mike's head barely cleared Jacob's shoulder； I didn't even want to think where I measured next to
him—and then his face was older…looking than it used to be； even a month ago。
〃Hey； Mike！ Do you remember Jacob Black？〃
〃Not really。〃 Mike held out his hand。
〃Old family friend；〃 Jacob introduced himself； shaking hands。 They locked hands with more force than
necessary。 When their grip broke； Mike flexed his fingers。
I heard the phone ringing from the kitchen。
〃I'd better get that—it might be Charlie；〃 I told them； and dashed inside。
It was Ben。 Angela was sick with the stomach flu； and he didn't feel like coming without her。 He
apologized for bailing on us。
I walked slowly back to the waiting boys； shaking my head。 I really hoped Angela would feel better
soon； but I had to admit that I was selfishly upset by this development。 Just the three of us； Mike and
Jacob and me； together for the evening—this had worked out brilliantly； I thought with grim sarcasm。
It didn't seem like Jake and Mike had made any progress towards friendship in my absence。 They were
several yards apart； facing away from each other as they waited for me； Mike's expression was sullen；
though Jacob's was cheerful as always。
〃Ang is sick；〃 I told them glumly。 〃She and Ben aren't coming。〃
〃I guess the flu is making another round。 Austin and Conner were out today； too。 Maybe we should do
this another time；〃 Mike suggested。
Before I could agree； Jacob spoke。
〃I'm still up for it。 But if you'd rather to stay behind； Mike—〃
〃No； I'm coming；〃 Mike interrupted。 〃I was just thinking of Angela and Ben。 Let's go。〃 He started toward
his Suburban。
〃Hey； do you mind if Jacob drives？〃 I asked。 〃I told him he could—he just finished his car。 He built it
from scratch； all by himself；〃 I bragged； proud as a PTA mom with a student on the principal's list。
〃Fine；〃 Mike snapped。
〃All right； then；〃 Jacob said； as if that settled everything。 He seemed more comfortable than anyone else。
Mike climbed in the backseat of the Rabbit with a disgusted expression。
Jacob was his normal sunny self； chattering away until I'd all but forgotten Mike sulking silently in the
back。
And then Mike changed his strategy。 He leaned forward； resting his chin on the shoulder of my seat； his
cheek almost touched mine。 I shifted away； turning my back toward the window。
〃Doesn't the radio work in this thing？〃 Mike asked with a hint of petulance； interrupti