got　it。　'Bye。〃

Jacob　hung　up　on　me。

I　sighed　and　let　my　head　hang　back；　staring　at　the　ceiling。　〃That's　going　to

be　a　problem。〃

Alice　squeezed　my　hand。　〃They　aren't　excited　I'm　here。〃

〃Not　especially。　But　it's　none　of　their　business　anyway。〃

Alice　put　her　arm　around　me。　〃So　what　do　we　do　now？〃　she　mused。　She　seemed　to

talk　to　herself　for　a

moment。　〃Things　to　do。　Loose　ends　to　tie。〃

〃What　things　to　do？〃

Her　face　was　suddenly　careful。　〃I　don't　know　for　sure　I　need　to　see

Carlisle。〃

Would　she　leave　so　soon？　My　stomach　dropped。

〃Could　you　stay？〃　I　begged。　〃Please？　For　just　a　little　while。　I've　missed　you

so　much。〃　My　voice　broke。

〃If　you　think　that's　a　good　idea。〃　Her　eyes　were　unhappy。

〃I　do。　You　can　stay　here—Charlie　would　love　that。〃

〃I　have　a　house；　Bella。〃

I　nodded；　disappointed　but　resigned。　She　hesitated；　studying　me。

〃Well；　I　need　to　go　get　a　suitcase　of　clothes；　at　the　very　least。〃

I　threw　my　arms　around　her。　〃Alice；　you're　the　best！〃

〃And　I　think　I'll　need　to　hunt。　Immediately；〃　she　added　in　a　strained　voice。

〃Oops。〃　I　took　a　step　back。

〃Can　you　stay　out　of　trouble　for　one　hour？〃　she　asked　skeptically。　Then；

before　I　could　answer；　she　held

up　one　finger　and　closed　her　eyes。　Her　face　went　smooth　and　blank　for　a　few

seconds。

And　then　her　eyes　opened　and　she　answered　her　own　question。　〃Yes；　you'll　be

fine。　For　tonight；

anyway。〃　She　grimaced。　Even　making　faces；　she　looked　like　an　angel。

〃You'll　e　back？〃　I　asked　in　a　small　voice。

〃I　promise—one　hour。〃

I　glanced　at　the　clock　over　the　kitchen　table。　She　laughed　and　leaned　in

quickly　to　kiss　me