problems　with　his　friend。

〃You've　been　hanging　out　with　me　a　lot；〃　I　reminded　him；　feeling　selfish。　I'd

been　monopolizing　him。

〃No；　that's　not　it。　It's　not　just　me—it's　Quil；　too；　and　everyone。　Embry

missed　a　week　of　school；　but　he

was　never　home　when　we　tried　to　see　him。　And　when　he　came　back；　he　looked　he

looked　freaked

out。　Terrified。　Quil　and　I　both　tried　to　get　him　to　tell　us　what　was　wrong；

but　he　wouldn't　talk　to　either

one　of　us。〃

I　stared　at　Jacob；　biting　my　lip　anxiously—he　was　really　frightened。　But　he

didn't　look　at　me。　He　watched

his　own　foot　kicking　the　rubber　as　if　it　belonged　to　someone　else。　The　tempo

increased。

〃Then　this　week；　out　of　nowhere；　Embry's　hanging　out　with　Sam　and　the　rest　of

them。　He　was　out　on　the

cliffs　today。〃　His　voice　was　low　and　tense。

He　finally　looked　at　me。　〃Bella；　they　bugged　him　even　more　than　they　bother

me。　He　didn't　want　anything

to　do　with　them。　And　now　Embry's　following　Sam　around　like　he's　joined　a　cult。

〃And　that's　the　way　it　was　with　Paul。　Just　exactly　the　same。　He　wasn't　friends

with　Sam　at　all。　Then　he

stopped　ing　to　school　for　a　few　weeks；　and；　when　he　came　back；　suddenly　Sam

owned　him。　I　don't

know　what　it　means。　I　can't　figure　it　out；　and　I　feel　like　I　have　to；　because

Embry's　my　friend　and

Sam's　looking　at　me　funny　。　。　and〃　He　trailed　off。

〃Have　you　talked　to　Billy　about　this？〃　I　asked。　His　horror　was　spreading　to

me。　I　had　chills　running　on　the

back　of　my　neck。

Now　there　was　anger　on　his　face。　〃Yes；〃　he　snorted。　〃That　was　helpful。〃

〃What　did　he　say？〃

Jacob's　expression　was　sarcastic；　and　when