rrow？〃　Sundays　were　the　bane　of　my　existence。　There　was

never　enough

homework　to　keep　me　busy。

Quil　nudged　Embry's　arm　and　they　exchanged　grins。

Jacob　smiled　in　delight。　〃That　would　be　great！〃

〃If　you　make　a　list；　we　can　go　shop　for　parts；〃　I　suggested。

Jacob's　face　fell　a　little。　〃I'm　still　not　sure　I　should　let　you　pay　for

everything。〃

I　shook　my　head。　〃No　way。　I'm　bankrolling　this　party。　You　just　have　to　supply

the　labor　and　expertise。〃

Embry　rolled　his　eyes　at　Quil。

〃That　doesn't　seem　right；〃　Jacob　shook　his　head。

〃Jake；　if　I　took　these　to　a　mechanic；　how　much　would　he　charge　me？〃　I　pointed

out。

He　smiled。　〃Okay；　you're　getting　a　deal。〃

〃Not　to　mention　the　riding　lessons；〃　I　added。

Quil　grinned　widely　at　Embry　and　whispered　something　I　didn't　catch。　Jacob's

hand　flashed　out　to　smack

the　back　of　Quil's　head。　〃That's　it；　get　out；〃　he　muttered。

〃No；　really；　I　have　to　go；〃　I　protested；　heading　for　the　door。　〃I'll　see　you

tomorrow；　Jacob。〃

As　soon　as　I　was　out　of　sight；　I　heard　Quil　and　Embry　chorus；　〃Wooooo！〃

The　sound　of　a　brief　scuffle　followed；　interspersed　with　an　〃ouch〃　and　a

〃hey！〃

〃If　either　of　you　set　so　much　as　one　toe　on　my　land　tomorrow〃　I　heard　Jacob

threaten。　His　voice　was

lost　as　I　walked　through　the　trees。

I　giggled　quietly。　The　sound　made　my　eyes　widen　in　wonder。　I　was　laughing；

actually　laughing；　and　there

wasn't　even　anyone　watching。　I　felt　so　weightless　that　I　laughed　again；　just

make　the　feeling　last　longer。

I　beat　Charlie　home。　When　he　walked　in　I　was　just　taking　the　fried　chicken　out

of　the　pan　and　laying　it　on

a　pile　of