acted　this　way。　〃What's　it　to

you？〃

He　wrinkled　his　nose　again　like　he　smelled　something　unpleasant。　〃Where's　your

'friend'？〃　I　could　hear

the　quotation　marks　in　his　tone。

〃She　had　some　errands　to　run。　Look；　Jacob；　what　do　you　want？〃

Something　about　the　room　seemed　to　make　him　edgier—his　long　arms　were

quivering。　He　didn't　answer

my　question。　Instead　he　moved　on　to　the　kitchen；　his　restless　eyes　darting

everywhere。

I　followed　him。　He　paced　back　and　forth　along　the　short　counter。

〃Hey；〃　I　said；　putting　myself　in　his　way。　He　stopped　pacing　and　stared　down　at

me。　〃What's　your

problem？〃

〃I　don't　like　having　to　be　here。〃

That　stung。　I　winced；　and　his　eyes　tightened。

〃Then　I'm　sorry　you　had　to　e；〃　I　muttered。　〃Why　don't　you　tell　me　what　you

need　so　you　can　leave？〃

〃I　just　have　to　ask　you　a　couple　of　questions。　It　shouldn't　take　long。　We　have

to　get　back　for　the　funeral。〃

〃Okay。　Get　it　over　with　then。〃　I　was　probably　overdoing　it　with　the

antagonism；　but　I　didn't　want　him　to

see　how　much　this　hurt。　I　knew　I　wasn't　being　fair。　After　all；　I'd　picked　the

bloodsucker　over　him　last

night。　I'd　hurt　him　first。

He　took　a　deep　breath；　and　his　trembling　fingers　were　suddenly　still。　His　face

smoothed　into　a　serene

mask。

〃One　of　the　Cullens　is　staying　here　with　you；〃　he　stated。

〃Yes。　Alice　Cullen。〃

He　nodded　thoughtfully。　〃How　long　is　she　here　for？〃

〃As　long　as　she　wants　to　be。〃　The　belligerence　was　still　there　in　my　tone。

〃It's　an　open　invitation。〃

〃Do　you　think　you　could　please　explain　to　her　about　the　other　one—

Victoria？〃

I　paled。　〃I　told　h