garbled　with　exhaustion。

〃Let　her　make　amends；〃　Esme　pleaded。　〃We'll　ride　with　Alice　and　Jasper。〃

Edward　glowered　at　the　absurdly　lovely　blond　vampire　waiting　for　us。

〃Please；　Edward；〃　I　said。　I　didn't　want　to　ride　with　Rosalie　any　more　than　he

seemed　to；　but　I'd　caused

more　than　enough　discord　in　his　family。

He　sighed；　and　towed　me　toward　the　car。

Emmett　and　Rosalie　got　in　the　front　seat　without　speaking；　while　Edward　pulled

me　in　the　back　again。　I

knew　I　wasn't　going　to　be　able　to　fight　my　eyelids　anymore；　and　I　laid　my　head

against　his　chest　in　defeat；

letting　them　close。　I　felt　the　car　purr　to　life。

〃Edward；〃　Rosalie　began。

〃I　know。〃　Edward's　brusque　tone　was　not　generous。

〃Bella？〃　Rosalie　asked　softly。

My　eyelids　fluttered　open　in　shock。　It　was　the　first　time　she'd　ever　spoken

directly　to　me。

〃Yes；　Rosalie？〃　I　asked；　hesitant。

〃I'm　so　very　sorry；　Bella。　I　feel　wretched　about　every　part　of　this；　and　so

grateful　that　you　were　brave

enough　to　go　save　my　brother　after　what　I　did。　Please　say　you'll　forgive　me。〃

The　words　were　awkward；　stilted　because　of　her　embarrassment；　but　they　seemed

sincere。

〃Of　course；　Rosalie；〃　I　mumbled；　grasping　at　any　chance　to　make　her　hate　me　a

little　less。　〃It's　not　your

fault　at　all。　I'm　the　one　who　jumped　off　the　damn　cliff。　Of　course　I　forgive

you。〃

The　words　came　out　like　mush。

〃It　doesn't　count　until　she's　conscious；　Rose；〃　Emmett　chuckled。

〃I'm　conscious；〃　I　said；　it　just　sounded　like　a　garbled　sigh。

〃Let　her　sleep；〃　Edward　insisted；　but　his　voice　was　a　little　warmer。

It　was　quiet　then；　except　for　the　gentle　thrum　of　the