her　sleep〃

I　could　almost　see　him　shuddering。　I　shuddered；　too；　remembering。　And　then　I

sighed。　I　hadn't　fooled　him

at　all；　not　for　one　second。

〃I'm　so　sorry；　Charlie；〃　Alice　said；　voice　glum。

〃It's　not　your　fault。〃　The　way　he　said　it　made　it　perfectly　clear　that　he　was

holding　someone　responsible。

〃You　were　always　a　good　friend　to　her。〃

〃She　seems　better　now；　though。〃

〃Yeah。　Ever　since　she　started　hanging　out　with　Jacob　Black；　I've　noticed　a

real　improvement。　She　has

some　color　in　her　cheeks　when　she　es　home；　some　light　in　her　eyes。　She's

happier。〃　He　paused；　and

his　voice　was　different　when　he　spoke　again。　〃He's　a　year　or　so　younger　than

her；　and　I　know　she　used

to　think　of　him　as　a　friend；　but　I　think　maybe　it's　something　more　now；　or

headed　that　direction；　anyway。〃

Charlie　said　this　in　a　tone　that　was　almost　belligerent。　It　was　a　warning；　not

for　Alice；　but　for　her　to　pass

along。　〃Jake's　old　for　his　years；〃　he　continued；　still　sounding　defensive。

〃He's　taken　care　of　his　father

physically　the　way　Bella　took　care　of　her　mother　emotionally。　It　matured　him。

He's　a　good…looking　kid；

too—takes　after　his　mom's　side。　He's　good　for　Bella；　you　know；〃　Charlie

insisted。

〃Then　it's　good　she　has　him；〃　Alice　agreed。

Charlie　sighed　out　a　big　gust　of　air；　folding　quickly　to　the　lack　of

opposition。　〃Okay；　so　I　guess　that's

overstating　things。　I　don't　know　even　with　Jacob；　now　and　then　I　see

something　in　her　eyes；　and　I

wonder　if　I've　ever　grasped　how　much　pain　she's　really　in　It's　not　normal；

Alice；　and　it　it　frightens　me。

Not　normal　at　all。　Not　like　someone　l