g　the　subject　would　be　worse。

He　opened　my　door　for　me。

〃How　do　you　feel？〃

〃Perfect；〃　I　lied；　cringing　as　the　sound　of　the　slamming　door　echoed　in　my

head。

We　walked　in　silence；　he　shortening　his　stride　to　match　mine。　There　were　so

many　questions　I　wanted　to

ask；　but　most　of　those　questions　would　have　to　wait；　because　chey　were　for

Alice：　How　was　Jasper　this

morning？　What　had　they　said　when　I　was　gone？　What　had　Rosalie　said？　And　most

importantly；　what

could　she　see　happening　now　in　her　strange；　imperfect　visions　of　the　future？

Could　she　guess　what

Edward　was　thinking；　why　he　was　so　gloomy？　Was　there　a　foundation　for　the

tenuous；　instinctive　fears

that　I　couldn't　seem　to　shake？

The　morning　passed　slowly。　I　was　impatient　to　see　Alice；　though　I　wouldn't　be

able　to　really　talk　to　her

with　Edward　there。　Edward　remained　aloof。　Occasionally　he　would　ask　about　my

arm；　and　I　would　lie。

Alice　usually　beat　us　to　lunch；　she　didn't　have　to　keep　pace　with　a　sloth　like

me。　But　she　wasn't　at　the

table；　waiting　with　a　tray　of　food　she　wouldn't　eat。

Edward　didn't　say　anything　about　her　absence。　I　wondered　to　myself　if　her

class　was　running　late—until　I

saw　Conner　and　Ben；　who　were　in　her　fourth　hour　French　class。

〃Where's　Alice？〃　I　asked　Edward　anxiously。

He　looked　at　the　granola　bar　he　was　slowly　pulverizing　between　his　fingertips

while　he　answered。　〃She's

with　Jasper。〃

〃Is　he　okay？〃

〃He's　gone　away　for　a　while。〃

〃What？　Where？〃

Edward　shrugged。　〃Nowhere　in　particular。〃

〃And　Alice；　too；〃　I　said　with　quiet　desperation。　Of　course；　if　Jasper　needed

h