nestly；　I'll　be　grounded　for　weeks　as　it　is。　How　much

more　trouble　can　I　really

getin？〃

〃None。　He'll　blame　me；　not　you。〃

〃If　you　have　a　better　idea；　I'm　all　ears。〃

〃Stay　here；〃　he　suggested；　but　his　expression　wasn't　hopeful。

〃No　dice。　But　you　go　ahead　and　make　yourself　at　home；〃　I　encouraged；　surprised

at　how　natural　my

teasing　sounded；　and　headed　for　the　door。

He　was　there　before　me；　blocking　my　way。

I　frowned；　and　turned　for　the　window。　It　wasn't　really　that　far　to　the　ground；

and　it　was　mostly　grass

beneath

〃Okay；〃　he　sighed。　〃I'll　give　you　a　ride。〃

I　shrugged。　〃Either　way。　But　you　probably　should　be　there；　too。〃

〃And　why　is　that？〃

〃Because　you're　extraordinarily　opinionated；　and　I'm　sure　you'll　want　a　chance

to　air　your　views。〃

〃My　views　on　which　subject？〃　He　asked　through　his　teeth。

〃This　isn't　just　about　you　anymore。　You're　not　the　center　of　the　universe；　you

know。〃　My　own　personal

universe　was；　of　course；　a　different　story。　〃If　you're　going　to　bring　the

Volturi　down　on　us　over　something

as　stupid　as　leaving　me　human；　then　your　family　ought　to　have　a　say。〃

〃A　say　in　what？〃　he　asked；　each　word　distinct。

〃My　mortality。　I'm　putting　it　to　a　vote。〃

24。　VOTE

HE　WAS　NOT　PLEASED；　THAT　MUCH　WAS　EASY　TO　READ　in　his　face。　But；　without

further

argument；　he　took　me　in　his　arms　and　sprang　lithely　from　my　window；　landing

without　the　slightest　jolt；

like　a　cat。　It　was　a　little　bit　farther　down　than　I'd　imagined。

〃All　right　then；〃　he　said；　his　voice　seething　with　disapproval。　〃Up　you　go。〃

He　helped　me　onto　his　back；　and　took　off　running。　Even　after　all