e　bad　luck　is　my

fault？〃　I　was　getting　angrier。

〃How　dare　you　even　think　like　that？〃　The　idea　of　Edward　ceasing　to　exist；　even

if　I　were　dead；　was

impossiblypainful。

〃What　would　you　do；　if　the　situation　were　reversed？〃　he　asked。

〃That's　not　the　same　thing。〃

He　didn't　seem　to　understand　the　difference。　He　chuckled。

〃What　if　something　did　happen　to　you？〃　I　blanched　at　the　thought。　〃Would　you

want　me　to　go　off

myself？〃

A　trace　of　pain　touched　his　perfect　features。

〃I　guess　I　see　your　point　a　little；〃　he　admitted。　〃But　what　would　I　do

without　you？〃

〃Whatever　you　were　doing　before　I　came　along　and　plicated　your　existence。〃

He　sighed。　〃You　make　that　sound　so　easy。〃

〃It　should　be。　I'm　not　really　that　interesting。〃

He　was　about　to　argue；　but　then　he　let　it　go。　〃Moot　point；〃　he　reminded　me。

Abruptly；　he　pulled　himself

up　into　a　more　formal　posture；　shifting　me　to　the　side　so　that　we　were　no

longer　touching。

〃Charlie？〃　I　guessed。

Edward　smiled。　After　a　moment；　I　heard　the　sound　of　the　police　cruiser　pulling

into　the　driveway。　I

reached　out　and　took　his　hand　firmly。　My　dad　could　deal　with　that　much。

Charlie　came　in　with　a　pizza　box　in　his　hands。

〃Hey；　kids。〃　He　grinned　at　me。　〃I　thought　you'd　like　a　break　from　cooking　and

washing　dishes　for　your

birthday。　Hungry？〃

〃Sure。　Thanks；　Dad。〃

Charlie　didn't　ment　on　Edward's　apparent　lack　of　appetite。　He　was　used　to

Edward　passing　on

dinner。

〃Do　you　mind　if　I　borrow　Bella　for　the　evening？〃　Edward　asked　when　Charlie　and

I　were　done。

I　looked　at　Charlie　hopefully。　Maybe　he　had　some　concept　of　birthday