on　to　ask　if　I'm　using　my　presents。　I

have　to　get　to　work

before　she　can　get　her　feelings　hurt。〃

〃Why　are　you　taking　pictures　of　me；　though？〃　he　grumbled。

〃Because　you're　so　handsome；〃　I　replied；　keeping　it　light。　〃And　because；　since

you　bought　the　camera；

you're　obligated　to　be　one　of　my　subjects。〃

He　mumbled　something　unintelligible。

〃Hey；　Edward；〃　I　said　with　admirable　indifference。　〃Take　one　of　me　and　my　dad

together。〃

I　threw　the　camera　toward　him；　carefully　avoiding　his　eyes；　and　knelt　beside

the　arm　of　the　sofa　where

Charlie's　face　was。　Charlie　sighed。

〃You　need　to　smile；　Bella；〃　Edward　murmured。

I　did　my　best；　and　the　camera　flashed。

〃Let　me　take　one　of　you　kids；〃　Charlie　suggested。　I　knew　he　was　just　trying　to

shift　the　camera's　focus

fromhimself。

Edward　stood　and　lightly　tossed　him　the　camera。

I　went　to　stand　beside　Edward；　and　the　arrangement　felt　formal　and　strange　to

me。　He　put　one　hand

lightly　on　my　shoulder；　and　I　wrapped　my　arm　more　securely　around　his　waist。　I

wanted　to　look　at　his

face；　but　I　was　afraid　to。

〃Smile；　Bella；〃　Charlie　reminded　me　again。

I　took　a　deep　breath　and　smiled。　The　flash　blinded　me。

〃Enough　pictures　for　tonight；〃　Charlie　said　then；　shoving　the　camera　into　a

crevice　of　the　sofa　cushions

and　rolling　over　it。　〃You　don't　have　to　use　the　whole　roll　now。〃

Edward　dropped　his　hand　from　my　shoulder　and　twisted　casually　out　of　my　arm。

He　sat　back　down　in

the　armchair。

I　hesitated；　and　then　went　to　sit　against　the　sofa　again。　I　was　suddenly　so

frightened　that　my　hands　were

shaking。　I　pressed　them　into　my　stom