t　over　my　shoulder。

Dad；　I　wrote。　I'm　with　Alice。　Edward's　in　trouble。　You　can　ground　me　when　I

get　back。　I　know　it's

a　bad　time。　So　sorry。　Love　you　so　much。　Bella。

〃Don't　go；〃　Jacob　whispered。　The　anger　was　all　gone　now　that　Alice　was　out　of

sight。

I　wasn't　about　to　waste　time　arguing　with　him。　〃Please；　please；　please　take

care　of　Charlie；〃　I　said　as　I

dashed　back　out　to　the　front　room。　Alice　was　waiting　in　the　doorway　with　a　bag

over　her　shoulder。

〃Get　your　wallet—you'll　need　ID。　Please　tell　me　you　have　a　passport。　I　don't

have　time　to　forge　one。〃

I　nodded　and　then　raced　up　the　stairs；　my　knees　weak　with　gratitude　that　my

mother　had　wanted　to

marry　Phil　on　a　beach　in　Mexico。　Of　course；　like　all　her　plans；　it　had　fallen

through。　But　not　before　I'd

made　all　the　practical　arrangements　I　could　for　her。

I　tore　through　my　room。　I　stuffed　my　old　wallet；　a　clean　T…shirt；　and

sweatpants　into　my　backpack；　and

then　threw　my　toothbrush　on　top。　I　hurled　myself　back　down　the　stairs。　The

sense　of　deja　vu　was　nearly

stifling　by　this　point。　At　least；　unlike　the　last　time—when　I'd　run　away　from

Forks　to　escape　thirsty

vampires　rather　than　to　find　them—I　wouldn't　have　to　say　goodbye　to　Charlie

in　person。

Jacob　and　Alice　were　locked　in　some　kind　of　confrontation　in　front　of　the　open

door；　standing　so　far

apart　you　wouldn't　assume　at　first　that　they　were　having　a　conversation。

Neither　one　seemed　to　notice　my

noisy　reappearance。

〃You　might　control　yourself　on　occasion；　but　these