everything　remained；　untouched　and　forgotten；　behind　them。

Just　like　me。

I　turned　my　back　on　the　gaping　emptiness　and　hurried　to　my　truck。　I　nearly

ran。　I　was　anxious　to　be

gone；　to　get　back　to　the　human　world。　I　felt　hideously　empty；　and　I　wanted　to

see　Jacob。　Maybe　I　was

developing　a　new　kind　of　sickness；　another　addiction；　like　the　numbness

before。　I　didn't　care。　I　pushed

my　truck　as　fast　as　it　would　go　as　I　barreled　toward　my　fix。

Jacob　was　waiting　for　me。　My　chest　seemed　to　relax　as　soon　as　I　saw　him；

making　it　easier　to　breathe。

〃Hey；　Bella；〃　he　called。

I　smiled　in　relief。　〃Hey；　Jacob；〃　I　waved　at　Billy；　who　was　looking　out　the

window。

〃Let's　get　to　work；〃　Jacob　said　in　a　low　but　eager　voice。

I　was　somehow　able　to　laugh。　〃You　seriously　aren't　sick　of　me　yet？〃　I

wondered。　He　must　be　starting　to

ask　himself　how　desperate　I　was　for　pany。

Jacob　led　the　way　around　the　house　to　his　garage。

〃Nope。　Not　yet。〃

〃Please　let　me　know　when　I　start　getting　on　your　nerves。　I　don't　want　to　be　a

pain。〃

〃Okay。〃　He　laughed；　a　throaty　sound。　〃I　wouldn't　hold　your　breath　for　that；

though。〃

When　I　walked　into　the　garage；　I　was　shocked　to　see　the　red　bike　standing　up；

looking　like　a　motorcycle

rather　than　a　pile　of　jagged　metal。

〃Jake；　you're　amazing；〃　I　breathed。

He　laughed　again。　〃I　get　obsessive　when　I　have　a　project。〃　He　shrugged。　〃If　I

had　any　brains　I'd　drag　it

out　a　little　bit。〃

〃Why？〃

He　looked　down；　pausing　for　so　long　that　I　wondered　if　he　hadn