ourselves—if　Emmett　could　get　his　hands　on　him；　we　might　be　able　to　stop　him

long　enough　to　convince

him　you're　alive。　But　we　can't　sneak　up　on　Edward。　And　if　he　sees　us　ing

for　him；　he'll　just　act　that

much　faster。　He'll　throw　a　Buiclc　through　a　wall　or　something；　and　the　Volturi

will　take　him　down。

〃That's　the　second　reason　of　course；　the　reason　I　couldn't　say　to　Jasper。

Because　if　they're　there　and　the

Volturi　kill　Edward；　they'll　fight　them。　Bella。〃　She　opened　her　eyes　and

stared　at　me；　beseeching。　〃If　there

were　any　chance　we　could　win　if　there　were　a　way　that　the　four　of　us　could

save　my　brother　by

fighting　for　him；　maybe　it　would　be　different。　But　we　can't；　and；　Bella；　I

can't　lose　Jasper　like　that。〃

I　realized　why　her　eyes　begged　for　my　understanding。　She　was　protecting

Jasper；　at　our　expense；　and

maybe　at　Edward's；　too。　I　understood；　and　I　did　not　think　badly　of　her。　I

nodded。

〃Couldn't　Edward　hear　you；　though。'〃　I　asked。　〃Wouldn't　he　know；　as　soon　as　he

heard　your　thoughts；

that　I　was　alive；　that　there　was　no　point　to　this？〃

Not　that　there　was　any　justification；　either　way。　I　still　couldn't　believe

that　he　was　capable　of　reacting　like

this。　It　made　no　sense！　I　remembered　with　painful　clarity　his　words　that　day

on　the　sofa；　while　we

watched　Romeo　and　Juliet　kill　themselves；　one　after　the　other。　I　wasn't　going

to　live　without　you；　he'd

said；　as　if　it　should　be　such　an　obvious　conclusion。　But　the　words　he　had

spoken　in　the　forest　as　he'd　left

me　had　canceled　all　that　out—forcefully。

〃If　he　were　listening；〃　she　explained。　〃But　believe　it　or　not；　it's　possibl