little　too　old　for　this　kind　of

thing？〃

〃Yeah。　He　was　supposed　to　go　to　college；　but　he　stayed。　And　no　one　gave　him

any　crap　about　it；　either。

The　whole　council　pitched　a　fit　when　my　sister　turned　down　a　partial

scholarship　and　got　married。　But；　oh

no；　Sam　Uley　can　do　no　wrong。〃

His　face　was　set　in　unfamiliar　lines　of　outrage—outrage　and　something　else　I

didn't　recognize　at　first。

〃It　all　sounds　really　annoying　and　strange。　But　I　don't　get　why　you're

taking　it　so　personally。〃　I　peeked

over　at　his　face；　hoping　I　hadn't　offended　him。　He　was　suddenly　calm；　staring

out　the　side　window。

〃You　just　missed　the　turn；〃　he　said　in　an　even　voice。

I　executed　a　very　wide　U…turn；　nearly　hitting　a　tree　as　my　circle　ran　the

truck　halfway　off　the　road。

〃Thanks　for　the　heads…up；〃　I　muttered　as　I　started　up　the　side　road。

〃Sorry；　I　wasn't　paying　attention。〃

It　was　quiet　for　a　brief　minute。

〃You　can　stop　anywhere　along　here；〃　he　said　softly。

I　pulled　over　and　cut　the　engine。　My　ears　rang　in　the　silence　that　followed。

We　both　got　out；　and　Jacob

headed　around　to　the　back　to　get　the　bikes。　I　tried　to　read　his　expression。

Something　more　was　bothering

him。　I'd　hit　a　nerve。

He　smiled　halfheartedly　as　he　pushed　the　red　bike　to　my　side。　〃Happy　late

birthday。　Are　you　ready　for

this？〃

〃I　think　so。〃　The　bike　suddenly　looked　intimidating；　frightening；　as　I

realized　I　would　soon　be　astride　it。

〃We'll　take　it　slow；〃　he　promised。　I　gingerly　leaned　the　motorcycle　against

the　truck's　fender　while　he

went　to　get　his。

〃Jake〃I　hesitated　as　he　came　back　around　the　truck。