。　〃I'd　forgotten　how　exuberant　you　are；〃　she　said；　and　her　tone

was　disapproving。

I　looked　up　at　her　through　my　streaming　eyes。　Alice's　neck　was　tight；

straining　away　from　me；　her　lips

pressed　together　firmly。　Her　eyes　were　black　as　pitch。

〃Oh；〃　I　puffed；　as　I　realized　the　problem。　She　was　thirsty。　And　I　smelled

appetizing。　It　had　been　a　while

since　I'd　had　to　think　about　that　kind　of　thing。　〃Sorry。〃

〃It's　my　own　fault。　It's　been　too　long　since　I　hunted。　I　shouldn't　let　myself

get　so　thirsty。　But　I　was　in　a

hurry　today。〃　The　look　she　directed　at　me　then　was　a　glare。　〃Speaking　of

which；　would　you　like　to

explain　to　me　how　you're　alive？〃

That　brought　me　up　short　and　stopped　the　sobs。　I　realized　what　must　have

happened　immediately；　and

why　Alice　was　here。

I　swallowed　loudly。　〃You　saw　me　fall。〃

〃No；〃　she　disagreed；　her　eyes　narrowing。　〃I　saw　you　jump。〃

I　pursed　my　lips　as　I　tried　to　think　of　an　explanation　that　wouldn't　sound

nuts。

Alice　shook　her　head。　〃I　told　him　this　would　happen；　but　he　didn't　believe　me。

'Bella　promised；'〃　her

voice　imitated　his　so　perfectly　that　I　iroze　in　shock　while　the　pain　ripped

through　my　torso。　〃'Don't　be

looking　for　her　future；　either；'〃　she　continued　to　quote　him。　'〃We've　done

enough　damage。〃

〃But　just　because　I'm　not　looking；　doesn't　mean　I　don't　see〃　she　went　on。　〃I

wasn't　keeping　tabs　on　you；

I　swear；　Bella。　It's　just　that　I'm　alreacy　attuned　to　you　when　I　saw　you

jumping；　I　didn't　think；　I　just　got

on　a　plane。　I　knew　I　would　be　too　late；　but　I　couldn't　do　nothing。　And　then　I

get　here；　thinking　maybe　I

could　help　Charli