don't　you　stop

pushing　your　luck　and　go　to　sleep？〃

〃Fine；〃　I　agreed；　snuggling　closer　to　him。　I　really　did　feel　exhausted。　It　had

been　a　long　day　in　so　many

ways；　yet　I　felt　no　sense　of　relief　at　its　end。　Almost　as　if　something　worse

was　ing　tomorrow。　It　was　a

silly　premonition—what　could　be　worse　than　today？'　Just　the　shock　catching　up

with　me；　no　doubt。

Trying　to　be　sneaky　about　it；　I　pressed　my　injured　arm　against　his　shoulder；

so　his　cool　skin　would　sooth

the　burning。　It　felt　better　at　once。

I　was　halfway　asleep；　maybe　more；　when　I　realized　what　his　kiss　had　reminded

me　of：　last　spring；　when

he'd　had　to　leave　me　to　throw　James　off　my　trail；　Edward　had　kissed　me

goodbye；　not　knowing

when—or　if—we　would　see　each　other　again。　This　kiss　had　the　same　almost

painful　edge　for　some

reason　I　couldn't　imagine。　I　shuddered　into　unconsciousness；　as　if　I　were

already　having　a　nightmare。

3。　THE　END

I　FELT　ABSOLUTELY　HIDEOUS　IN　THE　MORNING。　I　HADN'T　slept　well；　my　arm　burned

and

my　head　ached。　It　didn't　help　my　outlook　that　Edward's　face　was　smooth　and

remote　as　he　kissed　my

forehead　quickly　and　ducked　out　my　window。　I　was　afraid　of　the　time　I'd　spent

unconscious；　afraid　that

he　might　have　been　thinking　about　right　and　wrong　again　while　he　watched　me

sleep。　The　anxiety　seemed

to　ratchet　up　the　intensity　of　the　pounding　in　my　head。

Edward　was　waiting　for　me　at　school；　as　usual；　but　his　face　was　still　wrong。

There　was　something　buried

in　his　eyes　that　I　couldn't　be　sure　of—and　it　scared　me。　I　didn't　want　to

bring　up　last　night；　but　I　wasn't

sure　if　avoidin