ith　Jake—said　you　were　pretty

upset；〃　he　explained　as　he　opened

my　door　for　me。

Then　he　looked　at　my　face。　A　kind　of　horrified　recognition　registered　in　his

expression。　I　tried　to　feel　my

face　from　the　inside　out；　to　know　what　he　was　seeing。　My　face　felt　empty　and

cold；　and　I　realized　what　it

would　remind　him　of。

〃That's　not　exactly　how　it　happened；〃　I　muttered。

Charlie　put　his　arm　around　me　and　helped　me　out　of　the　car。　He　didn't　ment

on　my　sodden　clothes。

〃Then　what　did　happen'〃　he　asked　when　we　were　inside。　He　pulled　the　afghan　off

the　back　of　the　sofa　as

he　spoke　and　wrapped　it　around　my　shoulders。　I　realized　I　was　shivering　still。

My　voice　was　lifeless。　〃Sam　Uley　says　Jacob　can't　be　my　friend　anymore。〃

Charlie　shot　me　a　strange　look。　〃Who　told　you　that？〃

〃Jacob；〃　I　stated；　though　that　wasn't　exactly　what　he'd　said。　It　was　still

true。

Charlie's　eyebrows　pulled　together。　〃You　really　think　there's　something　wrong

with　the　Uley　kid？〃

〃I　know　there　is。　Jacob　wouldn't　tell　me　what；　though。〃　I　could　hear　the　water

from　my　clothes　dripping

to　the　floor　and　splashing　on　the　linoleum。　〃I'm　going　to　go　change。〃

Charlie　was　lost　in　thought。　〃Okay；〃　he　said　absently。

I　decided　to　take　a　shower　because　I　was　so　cold；　but　the　hot　water　didn't

seem　to　affect　the

temperature　of　my　skin。　I　was　still　freezing　when　I　gave　up　and　shut　the　water

off。　In　the　sudden　quiet；　I

could　hear　Charlie　talking　to　someone　downstairs。　I　wrapped　a　towel　around　me；

and　cracked　the

bathroom　door。

Charlie's　voice　was　angry。　〃I'm　not　buying　that。　It　doesn't　make　any　sense。〃

It　was　qui