He'd　thought　about　this　part；　too。　〃I'll　follow　after　as　soon　as　I　can。〃

〃That　is　seriously〃I　looked　for　the　right　word。　〃Sick。〃

〃Bella；　it's　the　only　right　way　left—〃

〃Let's　just　back　up　for　a　minute；〃　I　said；　feeling　angry　made　it　so　much

easier　to　be　clear；　decisive。　〃You

do　remember　the　Volturi；　right？　I　can't　stay　human　forever。　They'll　kill　me。

Even　if　they　don't　think　of　me

tillI'm　thirty〃—I　hissed　the　word—〃do　you　really　think　they'll　forget？〃

〃No；〃　he　answered　slowly；　shaking　his　head。　〃They　won't　forget。　But〃

〃But？〃

He　grinned　while　I　stared　at　him　warily。　Maybe　I　wasn't　the　only　crazy　one。

〃I　have　a　few　plans。〃

〃And　these　plans；〃　I　said；　my　voice　getting　more　acidic　with　each　word。　〃These

plans　all　center　around

me　staying　human。〃

My　attitude　hardened　his　expression。　〃Naturally。〃　His　tone　was　brusque；　his

divine　face　arrogant。

We　glowered　at　each　other　for　a　long　minute。

Then　I　took　a　deep　breath；　squared　my　shoulders；　I　pushed　his　arms　away　so

that　I　could　sit　up。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　leave？〃　he　asked；　and　it　made　my　heart　flutter　to　see　that

this　idea　hurt　him；　though

he　tried　not　to　show　it。

〃No；〃　I　told　him。　〃I'm　leaving。〃

He　watched　me　suspiciously　as　I　climbed　out　of　the　bed　and　fumbled　around　in

the　dark　room；　looking

for　my　shoes。

〃May　I　ask　where　you　are　going。'〃　he　asked。

〃I'm　going　to　your　house；〃　I　told　him；　still　feeling　around　blindly。

He　got　up　and　came　to　my　side。　〃Here　are　your　shoes。　How　did　you　plan　to　get

there？〃

〃My　truck。〃

〃That　will　probably　wake　Charlie；〃　he　offered　as　a　deterrent。

I　sighed。　〃I　know。　But　ho