rt　of　a

package　deal。〃

〃Bella—〃

〃Think　it　over；〃　I　insisted。　〃And　while　you're　doing　that；　could　you　give　me

some　privacy？　I　really　need　a

shower。〃

Charlie's　face　was　a　strange　shade　of　purple；　but　he　left；　slamming　the　door

behind　him。　I　heard　him

stomp　furiously　down　the　stairs。

I　threw　off　my　quilt；　and　Edward　was　already　there；　sitting　in　the　rocking

chair　as　if　he　d　been　present

through　the　whole　conversation。

〃Sorry　about　that；〃　I　whispered。

〃It's　not　as　if　I　don't　deserve　far　worse；〃　he　murmured。　〃Don't　start　anything

with　Charlie　over　me；　please。

〃

〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　I　breathed　as　I　gathered　up　my　bathroom　things　and　a

set　of　clean　clothes。　〃I　will

start　exactly　as　much　as　is　necessary；　and　no　more　than　that。　Or　are　you

trying　to　tell　me　I　have　nowhere

to　go？〃　I　widened　my　eyes　with　false　alarm。

〃You'd　move　in　with　a　house　full　of　vampires？〃

〃That's　probably　the　safest　place　for　someone　like　me。　Besides〃　I　grinned。

〃If　Charlie　kicks　me　out；

then　there's　no　need　for　a　graduation　deadline；　is　there？〃

His　jaw　tightened。　〃So　eager　for　eternal　damnation；〃　he　muttered。

〃You　know　you　don't　really　believe　that。〃

〃Oh；　don't　I？〃　he　fumed。

〃No。　You　don't。〃

He　glowered　at　me　and　started　to　speak；　but　I　cut　him　off。

〃If　you　really　believed　that　you'd　lost　your　soul；　then　when　I　found　you　in

Volterra；　you　would　have

realized　immediately　what　was　happening；　instead　of　thinking　we　were　both　dead

together。　But　you

didn't—you　said　'Amazing。　Carlisle　was　right；'〃　I　reminded　him；　triumphant。

〃There's　hope　in　you；　after

all。〃