Edward　was　in　the　armchair；　my　father　on　the　sofa。　Both　had　their　eyes　trained

on　the　TV。　The　focus　was

normal　for　my　father。　Not　so　much　for　Edward。

〃Hi；〃　I　said　weakly。

〃Hey；　Bella；〃　my　father　answered；　eyes　never　moving。　〃We　just　had　cold　pizza。

I　think　it's　still　on　the

table。〃

〃Okay。〃

I　waited　in　the　doorway。　Finally；　Edward　looked　over　at　me　with　a　polite

smile。　〃I'll　be　right　behind　you；〃

he　promised。　His　eyes　strayed　back　to　the　TV。

I　stared　for　another　minute；　shocked。　Neither　one　seemed　to　notice。　I　could

feel　something；　panic　maybe；

building　up　in　my　chest。　I　escaped　to　the　kitchen。

The　pizza　held　no　interest　for　me。　I　sat　in　my　chair；　pulled　my　knees　up；　and

wrapped　my　arms　around

them。　Something　was　very　wrong；　maybe　more　wrong　than　I'd　realized。　The　sounds

of　male　bonding　and

banter　continued　from　the　TV　set。

I　tried　to　get　control　of　myself；　to　reason　with　myself。

What's　the　worst　that　can　happen？　I　flinched。　That　was　definitely　the　wrong

question　to　ask。　I　was

having　a　hard　time　breathing　right。

Okay；　I　thought　again；　what's　the　worst　I　can　live　through？　I　didn't　like　that

question　so　much；　either。

But　I　thought　through　the　possibilities　I'd　considered　today。

Staying　away　from　Edward's　family。　Of　course；　he　wouldn't　expect　Alice　to　be

part　of　that。　But　if　Jasper

was　off　limits；　that　would　lessen　the　time　I　could　have　with　her。　I　nodded　to

myself—I　could　live　with

that。

Or　going　away。　Maybe　he　wouldn't　want　to　wait　till　the　end　of　the　school　year；

maybe　it　would　have　to

be　now。

In　front　of　me；　on　the　table；　my　presents　f