me　to　watch　this　alone？〃

〃No；　I'll　mostly　be　watching　you；　anyway。〃　His　fingers　traced　patterns　across

the　skin　of　my　arm；　raising

goose　bumps。　〃Will　you　cry？〃

〃Probably；〃　I　admitted；　〃if　I'm　paying　attention。〃

〃I　won't　distract　you　then。〃　But　I　felt　his　lips　on　my　hair；　and　it　was　very

distracting。

The　movie　eventually　captured　my　interest；　thanks　in　large　part　to　Edward

whispering　Romeo's　lines　in

my　ear—his　irresistible；　velvet　voice　made　the　actor's　voice　sound　weak　and

coarse　by　parison。　And

I　did　cry；　to　his　amusement；　when　Juliet　woke　and　found　her　new　husband　dead。

〃I'll　admit；　I　do　sort　of　envy　him　here；〃　Edward　said；　drying　the　tears　with　a

lock　of　my　hair。

〃She's　very　pretty。〃

He　made　a　disgusted　sound。　〃I　don't　envy　him　the　girl—just　the　ease　of　the

suicide；〃　he　clarified　in　a

teasing　tone。　〃You　humans　have　it　so　easy！　All　you　have　to　do　is　throw　down

one　tiny　vial　of　plant

extracts〃

〃What？〃　I　gasped。

〃It's　something　I　had　to　think　about　once；　and　I　knew　from　Carlisle's

experience　that　it　wouldn't　be

simple。　I'm　not　even　sure　how　many　ways　Carlisle　tried　to　kill　himself　in　the

beginning　after　he　realized

what　he'd　bee〃　His　voice；　which　had　grown　serious；　turned　light　again。

〃And　he's　clearly　still　in

excellent　health。〃

I　twisted　around　so　that　I　could　read　his　face。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃

I　demanded。　〃What　do　you

mean；　this　something　you　had　to　think　about　once？〃

〃Last　spring；　when　you　were　nearly　killed〃　He　paused　to　take　a　deep

breath；　snuggling　to　return　to

his　teasing　tone。　〃Of　course　I　was　trying　to　focus　on　finding　you