ing　into　the　pattern　of　things　in　La　Push。　I'd　spent　Sunday

mostly　on　the　beach；　while

Charlie　hung　out　with　Billy　at　the　Blacks'　house。　I　was　supposed　to　be　with

Jacob；　but　Jacob　had　other

things　to　do；　so　I　wandered　alone；　keeping　the　secret　from　Charlie。

When　Jacob　dropped　in　to　check　on　me；　he　apologized　for　ditching　me　so　much。

He　told　me　his

schedule　wasn't　always　this　crazy；　but　until　Victoria　was　stopped；　the　wolves

were　on　red　alert。

When　we　walked　along　the　beach　now；　he　always　held　my　hand。

This　made　me　brood　over　what　Jared　had　said；　about　Jacob　involving　his

〃girlfriend。〃　I　supposed　that　that

was　exactly　what　it　looked　like　from　the　outside。　As　long　as　Jake　and　I　knew

how　it　really　was；　I

shouldn't　let　those　kinds　of　assumptions　bother　me。　And　maybe　they　wouldn't；

if　I　hadn't　known　that

Jacob　would　have　loved　for　things　to　be　what　they　appeared。　But　his　hand　felt

nice　as　it　warmed　mine；

and　I　didn't　protest。

I　worked　Tuesday　afternoon—Jacob　followed　me　on　his　bike　to　make　sure　I

arrived　safely—and　Mike

noticed。

〃Are　you　dating　that　kid　from　La　Push？　The　sophomore？〃　He　asked；　poorly

disguising　the　resentment　in

his　tone。

I　shrugged。　〃Not　in　the　technical　sense　of　the　word。　I　do　spent　most　of　my

time　with　Jacob；　though。　He's

my　best　friend。〃

Mike's　eyes　narrowed　shrewdly。　〃Don't　kid　yourself；　Bella。　The　guy's　head　over

heels　for　you。〃

〃I　know；〃　I　sighed。　〃Life　is　plicated。〃

〃And　girls　are　cruel；〃　Mike　said　under　his　breath。

I　supposed　that　was　an　easy　assumption　to　make；　too。

That　night；　Sam　and　Emily　joined　Charlie　and　me　for　desse