〃　he　said；　more　calm　now；　but　clearly　in　a

hurry　to　get　me　out　of　here。

〃Just　in　case　Charlie　wakes　up　early。〃

I　looked　at　Carlisle。　〃After　graduation？〃

〃You　have　my　word。〃

I　took　a　deep　breath；　smiled；　and　turned　back　to　Edward。　〃Okay。　You　can　take

me　home。〃

Edward　rushed　me　out　of　the　house　before　Carlisle　could　promise　me　anything

else。　He　took　me　out　the

back；　so　I　didn't　get　to　see　what　was　broken　in　the　living　room。

It　was　a　quiet　trip　home。　I　was　feeling　triumphant；　and　a　little　smug。　Scared

stiff；　too；　of　course；　but　I　tried

not　to　think　about　that　part。　It　did　me　no　good　to　worry　about　the　pain—the

physical　or　the

emotional—so　I　wouldn't。　Not　until　I　absolutely　had　to。

When　we　got　to　my　house；　Edward　didn't　pause。　He　dashed　up　the　wall　and

through　my　window　in　half　a

second。　Then　he　pulled　my　arms　frcm　around　his　neck　and　set　me　on　the　bed。

I　thought　I　had　a　pretty　good　idea　of　what　he　was　thinking；　but　his　expression

surprised　me。　Instead　of

furious；　it　was　calculating。　He　paced　silently　back　and　forth　across　my　dark

room　while　I　watched　with

growing　suspicion。

〃Whatever　you're　planning；　it's　not　going　to　work；〃　I　told　him。

〃Shh。　I'm　thinking。〃

〃Ugh；〃　I　groaned；　throwing　myself　back　on　the　bed　and　pulling　the　quilt　over

my　head。

There　was　no　sound；　but　suddenly　he　was　there。　He　flipped　the　cover　back　so　he

could　see　me。　He　was

lying　next　to　me。　His　hand　reached　up　to　brush　my　hair　from　my　cheek。

〃If　you　don't　mind；　I'd　much　rather　you　didn't　hide　your　face。　I've　lived

without　it　for　as　long　as　I　can

stand。　Now　tell　me　something。〃

〃Wh