〃Promise？〃

〃Promise。〃

I　felt　his　arms　wind　around　me；　and　I　leaned　against　his　chest；　still

sniffling。　〃This　sucks。〃

〃Yeah。〃　Then　he　sniffed　my　hair　and　said；　〃Ew。〃

〃What？〃　I　demanded。　I　looked　up　to　see　that　his　nose　was　wrinkled　again。　〃Why

does　everyone　keep

doing　that　to　me？　I　don't　smell！〃

He　smiled　a　little。　〃Yes；　you　do—you　smell　like　them。　Blech。　Too　sweet—

sickly　sweet。　And　icy。　It

burns　my　nose。〃

〃Really？〃　That　was　strange。　Alice　smelled　unbelievably　wonderful。　To　a　human；

anyway。　〃But　why　would

Alice　think　I　smelled；　too；　then？〃

That　wiped　his　smile　away。　〃Huh。　Maybe　I　don't　smell　so　good　to　her；　either。

Huh。〃

〃Well；　you　both　smell　fine　to　me。〃　I　rested　my　head　against　him　again。　I　was

going　to　miss　him　terribly

when　he　walked　out　my　door。　It　was　a　nasty　catch…22—on　the　one　hand；　I　wanted

Alice　to　stay　forever。

I　was　going　to　die—metaphorically—when　she　left　me。　But　how　was　I　supposed

to　go　without　seeing

Jake　for　any　length　of　time？　What　a　mess；　I　thought　again。

〃I'll　miss　you；〃　Jacob　whispered；　echoing　my　thoughts。　〃Every　minute。　I　hope

she　leaves　soon。〃

〃It　really　doesn't　have　to　be　that　way；　Jake。〃

He　sighed。　〃Yes；　it　really　does。　Bella。　You　love　her。　So　I'd　better　not　get

anywhere　near　her。　I'm　not

sure　that　I'm　even…tempered　enough　to　handle　that。　Sam　would　be　mad　if　I　broke

the　treaty；　and〃—his

voice　turned　sarcastic—〃you　probably　wouldn't　like　it　too　much　if　I　killed

your　friend。〃

I　recoiled　from　him　when　he　said　that；　but　he　only　tightened　his　arms；

refusing　to　let　me　escape。　〃There's

no　point　in　avoiding　the