depressed　as　I　considered　all　the　uninterrupted　alone　time。　If　he　could　just

last　through　the　school　year；

Charlie　wouldn't　be　able　to　object。　We　could　go　away　to　college；　or　pretend

that's　what　we　were　doing；

like　Rosalie　and　Emmett　this　year。　Surely　Edward　could　wait　a　year。　What　was　a

year　to　an　immortal？　It

didn't　even　seem　like　that　much　to　me。

I　was　able　to　talk　myself　into　enough　posure　to　handle　getting　out　of　the

truck　and　walking　to　the

store。　Mike　Newton　had　beaten　me　here　today；　and　he　smiled　and　waved　when　I

came　in。　I　grabbed　my

vest；　nodding　vaguely　in　his　direction。　I　was　still　imagining　pleasant

scenarios　that　consisted　of　me　running

away　with　Edward　to　various　exotic　locales。

Mike　interrupted　my　fantasy。　〃How　was　your　birthday？〃

〃Ugh；〃　I　mumbled。　〃I'm　glad　it's　over。〃

Mike　looked　at　me　from　the　corners　of　his　eyes　like　I　was　crazy。

Work　dragged。　I　wanted　to　see　Edward　again；　praying　that　he　would　be　past　the

worst　of　this；　whatever

it　was　exactly；　by　the　time　I　saw　him　again。　It's　nothing；　I　told　myself　over

and　over　again。　Everything　will

go　back　to　normal。

The　relief　I　felt　when　I　turned　onto　my　street　and　saw　Edward's　silver　car

parked　in　front　of　my　house

was　an　overwhelming；　heady　thing。　And　it　bothered　me　deeply　that　it　should　be

that　way。

I　hurried　through　the　front　door；　calling　out　before　I　was　pletely　inside。

〃Dad？　Edward？〃

As　I　spoke；　I　could　hear　the　distinctive　theme　music　from　ESPN's　SportsCenter

ing　from　the　living

room。

〃In　here；〃　Charlie　called。

I　hung　my　raincoat　on　its　peg　and　hurried　around　the　corner。