one　piece　of　news　I　could　think　of；　try　as　I　might　not　to。　And

then　the　pieces　snapped

together。　〃Because　the　Cullens　left；〃　I　whispered。　〃They　don't　like　the

Cullens　in　La　Push—I'd　forgotten

about　that。〃

The　Quileutes　had　their　superstitions　about　the　〃cold　ones；〃　the　blood…

drinkers　that　were　enemies　to　their

tribe；　just　like　they　had　their　legends　of　the　great　flood　and　wolf…men

ancestors。　Just　stories；　folklore；　to

most　of　them。　Then　there　were　the　few　that　believed。　Charlie's　good　friend

Billy　Black　believed；　though

even　Jacob；　his　own　son；　thought　he　was　full　of　stupid　superstitions。　Billy

had　warned　me　to　stay　away

from　the　Cullens

The　name　stirred　something　inside　me；　something　that　began　to　claw　its　way

toward　the　surface；

something　I　knew　I　didn't　want　to　face。

〃It's　ridiculous；〃　Charlie　spluttered。

We　sat　in　silence　for　a　moment。　The　sky　was　no　longer　black　outside　the

window。　Somewhere　behind

the　rain；　the　sun　was　beginning　to　rise。

〃Bella？〃　Charlie　asked。

I　looked　at　him　uneasily。

〃He　left　you　alone　in　the　woods？〃　Charlie　guessed。

I　deflected　his　question。　〃How　did　you　know　where　to　find　me？〃　My　mind　shied

away　from　the　inevitable

awareness　that　was　ing；　ing　quickly　now。

〃Your　note；〃　Charlie　answered。　surprised。　He　reached　into　the　back　pocket　of

his　jeans　and　pulled　out　a

much…abused　piece　of　paper。　It　was　dirty　and　damp；　with　multiple　creases　from

being　opened　and

refolded　many　times。　He　unfolded　it　again；　and　held　it　up　as　evidence。　The

messy　handwriting　was

remarkably　close　to　my　own。

Going　for　a　walk　with　Edward；　up　t