Dartmouth；　but　I　knew　better。

〃Emmett　wanted　to　be　here。〃

〃But　Rosalie？〃

〃I　know；　Bella。　Don't　worry；　she'll　be　on　her　best　behavior。〃

I　didn't　answer。　Like　I　could　just　not　worry；　that　easy。　Unlike　Alice；

Edward's　other　〃adopted〃　sister；　the

golden　blond　and　exquisite　Rosalie；　didn't　like　me　much。　Actually；　the　feeling

was　a　little　bit　stronger　than

just　dislike。　As　far　as　Rosalie　was　concerned；　I　was　an　unwele　intruder

into　her　family's　secret　life。

I　felt　horribly　guilty　about　the　present　situation；　guessing　that　Rosalie　and

Emmett's　prolonged　absence

was　my　fault；　even　as　I　furtively　enjoyed　not　having　to　see　her　Emmett；

Edward's　playful　bear　of　a

brother；　I　did　miss。　He　was　in　many　ways　just　like　the　big　brother　I'd　always

wanted　only　much；　much

more　terrifying。

Edward　decided　to　change　the　subject。　〃So；　if　you　won't　let　me　get　you　the

Audi；　isn't　there　anything　that

you'd　like　for　your　birthday？〃

The　words　came　out　in　a　whisper。　〃You　know　what　I　want。〃

A　deep　frown　carved　creases　into　his　marble　forehead。　He　obviously　wished　he'd

stuck　to　the　subject　of

Rosalie。

It　felt　like　we'd　had　this　argument　a　lot　today。

〃Not　tonight；　Bella。　Please。〃

〃Well；　maybe　Alice　will　give　me　what　I　want。〃

Edward　growled—a　deep；　menacing　sound。　〃This　isn't　going　to　be　your　last

birthday；　Bella；〃　he　vowed。

〃That's　not　fair！〃

I　thought　I　heard　his　teeth　clench　together。

We　were　pulling　up　to　the　house　now。　Bright　light　shined　from　every　window　on

the　first　two　floors。　A

long　line　of　glowing　Japanese　lanterns　hung　from　the　porch　eaves；　reflecting　a

so