er；　she　would　go。

〃Yes。　She'll　be　gone　for　a　while。　She　was　trying　to　convince　him　to　go　to

Denali。〃

Denali　was　where　the　one　other　band　of　unique　vampires—good　ones　like　the

Cullens—lived。　Tanya　and

her　family。　I'd　heard　of　them　now　and　again。　Edward　had　run　to　them　last

winter　when　my　arrival　had

made　Forks　difficult　for　him。　Laurent；　the　most　civilized　member　of　James's

little　coven；　had　gone　there

rather　than　siding　with　James　against　the　Cullens。　It　made　sense　for　Alice　to

encourage　Jasper　to　go

there。

I　swallowed；　trying　to　dislodge　the　sudden　lump　in　my　throat。　The　guilt　made

my　head　bow　and　my

shoulders　slump。　I'd　run　them　out　of　their　home；　just　like　Rosalie　and　Emmett。

I　was　a　plague。

〃Is　your　arm　bothering　you？〃　he　asked　solicitously。

〃Who　cares　about　my　stupid　arm？〃　I　muttered　in　disgust。

He　didn't　answer；　and　I　put　my　head　down　on　the　table。

By　the　end　of　the　day；　the　silence　was　being　ridiculous。　I　didn't　want　to

be　the　one　to　break　it；　but

apparently　that　was　my　only　choice　if　I　ever　wanted　him　to　talk　to　me　again。

〃You'll　e　over　later　tonight？〃　I　asked　as　he　walked　me—silently—to　my

truck。　He　always　came　over。

〃Later？〃

It　pleased　me　that　he　seemed　surprised。　〃I　have　to　work。　I　had　to　trade　with

Mrs。　Newton　to　get

yesterday　off。〃

〃Oh；〃　he　murmured。

〃So　you'll　e　over　when　I'm　home；　though；　right？〃　I　hated　that　I　felt

suddenly　unsure　about　this。

〃If　you　want　me　to。〃

〃I　always　want　you；〃　I　reminded　him；　with　perhaps　a　little　more　intensity　than

the　conversation　required。

I　expected　he　would　laugh；　or　smile；　or　react　somehow