s　of　twisted　metal　that　he　found；　I　was　just　impressed　that　he　could　tell

what　they　were　supposed　to

be。

From　there　we　went　to　the　Checker　Auto　Parts　down　in　Hoquiam。　In　my　truck；　it

was　more　than　a　two

hour　drive　south　on　the　winding　freeway；　but　the　time　passed　easily　with

Jacob。　He　chattered　about　his

friends　and　his　school；　and　I　found　myself　asking　questions；　not　even

pretending；　truly　curious　to　hear

what　he　had　to　say。

〃I'm　doing　all　the　talking；〃　he　plained　after　a　long　story　about　Quil　and

the　trouble　he'd　stirred　up　by

asking　out　a　senior's　steady　girlfriend。　〃Why　don't　you　take　a　turn？　What's

going　on　in　Forks？　It　has　to　be

more　exciting　than　La　Push。〃

〃Wrong；〃　I　sighed。　〃There's　really　nothing。　Your　friends　are　a　lot　more

interesting　than　mine。　I　like　your

friends。　Quil's　funny。〃

He　frowned。　〃I　think　Quil　likes　you；　too。〃

I　laughed。　〃He's　a　little　young　for　me。〃

Jacob's　frown　deepened。　〃He's　not　that　much　younger　than　you。　It's　just　a　year

and　a　few　months。〃

I　had　a　feeling　we　weren't　talking　about　Quil　anymore。　I　kept　my　voice　light；

teasing。　〃Sure；　but；

considering　the　difference　in　maturity　between　guys　and　girls；　don't　you　have

to　count　that　in　dog　years？

What　does　that　make　me；　about　twelve　years　older？〃

He　laughed；　rolling　his　eyes。　〃Okay；　but　if　you're　going　to　get　picky　like

that；　you　have　to　average　in　size；

too。　You're　so　small；　I'll　have　to　knock　ten　years　off　your　total。〃

〃Five　foot　four　is　perfectly　average。〃　I　sniffed。　〃It's　not　my　fault　y