His　face　was　smooth；

expressionless；　but　his　hands　shook。

〃He　asked　where　Charlie　was　and　I　told　him。　I　don't　think　I　broke　any　rules　of

etiquette。〃

〃You　listen　to　me；　Jacob　Black—〃

But　he　obviously　wasn't　listening。　He　looked　quickly　over　his　shoulder；　as　if

someone　had　called　his　name

from　the　other　room。　His　eyes　went　wide　and　his　body　stiff；　then　he　started

trembling。　I　listened　too；

automatically；　but　heard　nothing。

〃Bye；　Bells；〃　he　spit　out；　and　wheeled　toward　the　front　door。

I　ran　after　him。　〃What　is　it？〃

And　then　I　ran　into　him；　as　he　rocked　back　on　his　heels；　cussing　under　his

breath。　He　spun　around　again；

knocking　me　sideways。　I　bobbled　and　fell　to　the　floor；　my　legs　tangled　with

his。

〃Shoot；　ow！〃　I　protested　as　he　hurriedly　jerked　his　legs　free　one　at　a　time。

I　struggled　to　pull　myself　up　as　he　darted　for　the　back　door；　he　suddenly

froze　again。

Alice　stood　motionless　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。

〃Bella；〃　she　choked。

I　scrambled　to　my　feet　and　lurched　to　her　side。　Her　eyes　were　dazed　and　far

away；　her　face　drawn　and

whiter　than　bone。　Her　slim　body　trembled　to　an　inner　turmoil。

〃Alice；　what's　wrong？〃　I　cried。　I　put　my　hands　on　her　face；　trying　to　calm

her。

Her　eyes　focused　on　mine　abruptly；　wide　with　pain。

〃Edward；〃　was　all　she　whispered。

My　body　reacted　faster　than　my　mind　was　able　to　catch　up　with　the　implications

of　her　reply。　I　didn't　at

first　understand　why　the　room　was　spinning　or　where　the　hollow　roar　in　my　ears

was　ing　from。　My

mind　labored；　unable　to　make　sense　of　Alice's　bleak　face　and