〃Five　foot　four　is　perfectly　average。〃　I　sniffed。　〃It's　not　my　fault　you're　a

freak。〃

We　bantered　like　that　till　Hoquiam；　still　arguing　over　the　correct　formula　to

determine　age—I　lost　two

more　years　because　I　didn't　know　how　to　change　a　tire；　but　gained　one　back　for

being　in　charge　of　the

bookkeeping　at　my　house—until　we　were　in　Checker；　and　Jacob　had　to

concentrate　again。　We　found

everything　left　on　his　list；　and　Jacob　felt　confident　that　he　could　make　a　lot

of　progress　with　our　haul。

By　the　time　we　got　back　to　La　Push；　I　was　twenty…three　and　he　was　thirty—he

was　definitely　weighting

skills　in　his　favor。

I　hadn't　forgotten　the　reason　for　what　I　was　doing。　And；　even　though　I　was

enjoying　myself　more　than　I'd

thought　possible；　there　was　no　lessening　of　my　original　desire。　I　still　wanted

to　cheat。　It　was　senseless；

and　I　really　didn't　care。　I　was　going　to　be　as　reckless　as　I　could　possibly

manage　in　Forks。　I　would　not

be　the　only　keeper　of　an　empty　contract。　Getting　to　spend　time　with　Jacob　was

just　a　much　bigger　perk

than　I'd　expected。

Billy　wasn't　back　yet；　so　we　didn't　have　to　be　sneaky　about　unloading　our

day's　spoils。　As　soon　as　we

had　everything　laid　out　on　the　plastic　floor　next　to　Jacob's　toolbox；　he　went

right　to　work；　still　talking　and

laughing　while　his　fingers　bed　expertly　through　the　metal　pieces　in　front

of　him。

Jacob's　skill　with　his　hands　was　fascinating。　They　looked　too　big　for　the

delicate　tasks　they　performed

with　ease　and　precision。　While　he　worked；　he　seemed　almost　graceful。　Unlike

when　he　was　on　his　feet；

there；　his　height　an