thank　me　later；　when　you've　opened　them。〃

Esme　and　Carlisle　both　said　a　quiet　goodnight。　I　could　see　them　stealing　quick

glances　at　their　impassive

son；　much　like　I　was。

It　was　a　relief　to　be　outside；　I　hurried　past　the　lanterns　and　the　roses；　now

unwele　reminders。

Edward　kept　pace　with　me　silently。　He　opened　the　passenget　side　for　me；　and　I

climbed　in　without

plaint。

On　the　dashboard　was　a　big　red　ribbon；　stuck　to　the　new　stereo。　I　pulled　it

off；　throwing　it　to　the　floor。

As　Edward　slid　into　the　other　side；　I　kicked　the　ribbon　under　my　seat。

He　didn't　look　at　me　or　the　stereo。　Neither　of　us　switched　it　on；　and　the

silence　was　somehow　intensified

by　the　sudden　thunder　of　the　engine。　He　drove　too　fast　down　the　dark；

serpentine　lane。

The　silence　was　making　me　insane。

〃Say　something；〃　I　finally　begged　as　he　turned　onto　the　freeway。

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　say？〃　he　asked　in　a　detached　voice。

I　cringed　at　his　remoteness。　'Tell　me　you　forgive　me。〃

That　brought　a　flicker　of　life　to　his　face—a　flicker　of　anger。　〃Forgive　you？

For　what？〃

〃If　I'd　been　more　careful；　nothing　would　have　happened。〃

〃Bella；　you　gave　yourself　a　paper　cut—that　hardly　deserves　the　death

penalty。〃

〃It's　still　my　fault。〃

My　words　opened　up　the　floodgate。

〃Your　fault？　If　you'd　cut　yourself　at　Mike　Newton's　house；　with　Jessica　there

and　Angela　and　your　other

normal　friends；　the　worst　that　could　possibly　have　happened　would　be　what？

Maybe　they　couldn't　find

you　a　bandage？　If　you'd　tripped　and　knocked　over　a　pile　of　glass　plates　on

your　own—without　someone

throwing　you　into　them