again；　〃I　made　you　a　promise。　I　had　no　idea　it　would　be　so　hard　to　keep；　but

that　doesn't　mean　I'm　not

going　to　try。〃

He　saw　the　inprehension　in　my　face。　〃After　that　stupid　movie；〃　he　reminded

me。　〃I　promised　you　that

I　wouldn't　ever　hurt　you　So　I　really　blew　it　this　afternoon；　didn't　I？〃

〃I　know　you　didn't　want　to　do　it；　Jake。　It's　okay。〃

〃Thanks；　Bella。〃　He　took　my　hand。　〃I'm　going　to　do　what　I　can　to　be　here　for

you；　just　like　I　promised。〃

He　grinned　at　me　suddenly。　The　grin　was　not　mine；　nor　Sam's；　but　some　strange

bination　of　the　two。

〃It　would　really　help　if　you　could　figure　this　out　on　your　own；　Bella。　Put

some　honest　effort　into　it。〃

I　made　a　weak　grimace。　〃I'll　try。〃

〃And　I'll　try　to　see　you　soon。〃　He　sighed。　〃And　they'll　try　to　talk　me　out　of

that。〃

〃Don't　listen　to　them。〃

〃I'll　try。〃　He　shook　his　head；　as　if　he　doubted　his　success。　〃e　and　tell　me

as　soon　as　you　figure　it　out。〃

Something　occurred　to　him　just　then；　something　that　made　his　hands　shake。　〃If

you　if　you　want　to。〃

〃Why　wouldn't　I　want　to　see　you？〃

His　face　turned　hard　and　bitter；　one　hundred　percent　the　face　that　belonged　to

Sam。　〃Oh；　I　can　think　of　a

reason；〃　he　said　in　a　harsh　tone。　〃Look；　I　really　have　to　go。　Could　you　do

something　for　me？〃

I　just　nodded；　frightened　of　the　change　in　him。

〃At　least　call　me—if　you　don't　want　to　see　me　again。　Let　me　know　if　it's　like

that。〃

〃That　won't　happen—〃

He　raised　one　hand；　cutting　me　off。　〃Just　let　me　know。〃

He　stood　and　headed　for　the　window。

〃Don't　be　an　idiot；　Jake；〃　I　plained。　〃You'll　break　your　leg。　Use　the　door。

Charlie's