d　big　feet　made　him　nearly　as　dangerous　as　I　was。

Quil　and　Embry　did　not　show　up；　so　maybe　his　threat　yesterday　had　been　taken

seriously。

The　day　passed　too　quickly。　It　got　dark　outside　the　mouth　of　the　garage　before

I　was　expecting　it；　and

then　we　heard　Billy　calling　for　us。

I　jumped　up　to　help　Jacob　put　things　away；　hesitating　because　I　wasn't　sure

what　I　should　touch。

〃Just　leave　it；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　work　on　it　later　tonight。〃

〃Don't　forget　your　schoolwork　or　anything；〃　I　said；　feeling　a　little　guilty。　I

didn't　want　him　to　get　in　trouble。

That　plan　was　just　for　me。

〃Bella？〃

Both　our　heads　snapped　up　as　Charlie's　familiar　voice　wafted　through　the

trees；　sounding　closer　than　the

house。

〃Shoot；〃　I　muttered。　〃ing！〃　I　yelled　toward　the　house。

〃Let's　go。〃　Jacob　smiled；　enjoying　the　cloak…and…dagger。　He　snapped　the　light

off；　and　for　a　moment　I

was　blind。　Jacob　grabbed　my　hand　and　towed　me　out　of　the　garage　and　through

the　trees；　his　feet　finding

the　familiar　path　easily。　His　hand　was　rough；　and　very　warm。

Despite　the　path；　we　were　both　tripping　over　our　feet　in　the　darkness。　So　we

were　also　both　laughing

when　the　house　came　into　view。　The　laughter　did　not　go　deep；　it　was　light　and

superficial；　but　still　nice。　I

was　sure　he　wouldn't　notice　the　faint　hint　of　hysteria。　I　wasn't　used　to

laughing；　and　it　felt　right　and　also

very　wrong　at　the　same　time。

Charlie　was　standing　under　the　little　back　porch；　and　Billy　was　sitting　in　the

doorway　behind　them。

〃Hey；　Dad；〃　we　both　said　at　the　same　time；　and　that　started　us　laughing　again。

Charlie　stared　at　me　with　wide