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heard　she　was　pretty　incoherent　for　a　while—seeing　things　even。　　I　know　the　doctors　were　
worried？〃　
That's　how　it　should　have　gone。　　That's　what　I　owed　my　family。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
76　

〃I'm　surprised　to　see　you　in　class；　Edward。　　I　heard　you　were　involved　in　that　
awful　accident　this　morning。〃　
〃I　wasn't　hurt。〃　　No　smile。　
Mr。　Banner　shifted　his　weight　from　foot　to　foot；　uncomfortable。　
〃Do　you　have　any　idea　how　Tyler　Crowley　and　Bella　Swan　are？　　I　heard　there　
were　some　injuries？〃　
I　shrugged。　　〃I　wouldn't　know。〃　
Mr。　Banner　cleared　his　throat。　　〃Er；　right？〃　he　said；　my　cold　stare　making　his　
voice　sound　a　bit　strained。　
He　walked　quickly　back　to　the　front　of　classroom　and　began　his　lecture。　
It　was　the　wrong　thing　to　do。　　Unless　you　looked　at　it　from　a　more　obscure　point　
of　view。　
It　just　seemed　so？so　unchivalrous　to　slander　the　girl　behind　her　back；　especially　
when　she　was　proving　more　trustworthy　than　I　could　have　dreamed。　　She　hadn't　said　
anything　to　betray　me；　despite　having　good　reason　to　do　so。　　Would　I　betray　her　when　she　
had　done　nothing　but　keep　my　secret？　
I　had　a　nearly　identical　conversation　with　Mrs。　Goff—just　in　Spanish　rather　than　
in　English—and　Emmett　gave　me　a　long　look。　
I　hope　you　have　a　good　explanation　for　what　happened　today。　　Rose　is　on　the　
warpath。　
I　rolled　my　eyes　without　looking　at　him。　
I　actually　had　come　up　with　a　perfectly　sound　explanation。　　Just　suppose　I　hadn't　
done　anything　to　stop　the　van　from　crushing　the　girl？　　I　recoiled　from　that　thought。　　But　
if　she　had　been　hit；　if　she'd　been　mangled　and　bleeding；　the　red　fluid　spilling；　wasting　on　
the　blacktop；　the　scent　of　the　fresh　blood　pulsing　through　the　air　？　
I　shuddered　again；　but　not　just　in　horror。　　Part　of　me　shivered　in　desire。　　No；　I　
would　not　have　been　able　to　watch　her　bleed　without　exposing　us　all　in　a　much　more　
flagrant　and　shocking　way。　
It　was　a　perfectly　sound　excuse？but　I　wouldn't　use　it。　　It　was　too　shameful。　
And　I　hadn't　thought　of　it　until　long　after　the　fact；　regardless。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
77　

Look　out　for　Jasper；　Emmett　went　on；　oblivious　to　my　reverie。　　He's　not　as　
angry？but　he's　more　resolved。　
I　saw　what　he　meant；　and　for　a　moment　the　room　swam　around　me。　　My　rage　was　
so　all…consuming　that　a　red　haze　clouded　my　vision。　　I　thought　I　would　choke　on　it。　
SHEESH；　EDWARD！　　GET　A　GRIP！　　Emmett　shouted　at　me　in　his　head。　　His　
hand　came　down　on　my　shoulder；　holding　me　in　my　seat　before　I　could　jump　to　my　feet。　
He　rarely　used　his　full　strength—there　was　rarely　a　need；　for　he　was　so　much　stronger　
than　any　vampire　any　of　us　had　ever　encountered—but　he　used　it　now。　　He　gripped　my　
arm；　rather　than　pushing　me　down。　　If　he'd　been　pushing；　the　chair　under　me　would　have　
collapsed。　
EASY！　　He　ordered。　
I　tried　to　calm　myself；　but　it　was　hard。　　The　rage　burned　in　my　head。　
Jasper's　not　going　to　do　anything　until　we　all　talk。　　I　just　thought　you　should　
know　the　direction　he's　headed。　
I　concentrated　on　relaxing；　and　I　felt　Emmett's　hand　loosen。　
Try　not　to　make　more　of　a　spectacle　of　yourself。　　You're　in　enough　trouble　as　it　is。　
I　took　a　deep　breath　and　Emmett　released　me。　
I　searched　around　the　room　routinely；　but　our　confrontation　had　been　so　short　and　
silent　that　only　a　few　people　sitting　behind　Emmett　had　even　noticed。　　None　of　them　
knew　what　to　make　of　it；　and　they　shrugged　it　off。　　The　Cullens　were　freaks—everyone　
knew　that　already。　
Damn；　kid；　you're　a　mess；　Emmett　added；　sympathy　in　his　tone。　
〃Bite　me；〃　I　muttered　under　my　breath；　and　I　heard　his　low　chuckle。　
Emmett　didn't　hold　grudges；　and　I　probably　ought　to　be　more　grateful　for　his　easy　
going　nature。　　But　I　could　see　that　Jasper's　intentions　made　sense　to　Emmett；　that　he　was　
considering　how　it　might　be　the　best　course　of　action。　
The　rage　simmered；　barely　under　control。　　Yes；　Emmett　was　stronger　than　I　was；　
but　he'd　yet　to　beat　me　in　a　wrestling　match。　　He　claimed　that　this　was　because　I　cheated；　
but　hearing　thoughts　was　just　as　much　a　part　of　who　I　was　as　his　immense　strength　was　a　
part　of　him。　　We　were　evenly　matched　in　a　fight。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
78　

A　fight？　　Was　that　where　this　was　headed？　　Was　I　going　to　fight　with　my　family　
over　a　human　I　barely　knew？　
I　thought　about　that　for　a　moment；　thought　about　the　fragile　feel　of　the　girl's　body　
in　my　arms　in　juxtaposition　with　Jasper；　Rose；　and　Emmett—supernaturally　strong　and　
fast；　killing　machines　by　nature？　
Yes；　I　would　fight　for　her。　　Against　my　family。　　I　shuddered。　
But　it　wasn't　fair　to　leave　her　undefended　when　I　was　the　one　who'd　put　her　in　
danger。　
I　couldn't　win　alone；　though；　not　against　the　three　of　them；　and　I　wondered　who　
my　allies　would　be。　
Carlisle；　certainly。　　He　would　not　fight　anyone；　but　he　would　be　wholly　against　
Rose's　and　Jasper's　designs。　　That　might　be　all　I　needed。　　I　would　see？　
Esme；　doubtful。　　She　would　not　side　against　me　either；　and　she　would　hate　to　
disagree　with　Carlisle；　but　she　would　be　for　any　plan　that　kept　her　family　intact。　　Her　first　
priority　would　not　be　rightness；　but　me。　　If　Carlisle　was　the　soul　of　our　family；　then　Esme　
was　the　heart。　　He　gave　us　a　leader　who　deserved　following；　she　made　that　following　into　
an　act　of　love。　　We　all　loved　each　other—even　under　the　fury　I　felt　toward　Jasper　and　
Rose　right　now；　even　planning　to　fight　them　to　save　the　girl；　I　knew　that　I　loved　them。　
Alice？I　had　no　idea。　　It　would　probably　depend　on　what　she　saw　coming。　　She　
would　side　with　the　winner；　I　imagined。　
So；　I　would　have　to　do　this　without　help。　　I　wasn't　a　match　for　them　alone；　but　I　
wasn't　going　to　let　the　girl　be　hurt　because　of　me。　　That　might　mean　evasive　action？　
My　rage　dulled　a　bit　with　the　sudden；　black　humor。　　I　could　imagine　how　the　girl　
would　react　to　my　kidnapping　her。　　Of　course；　I　rarely　guessed　her　reactions　right—but　
what　other　reaction　could　she　have　besides　terror？　
I　wasn't　sure　how　to　manage　that；　though—kidnapping　her。　　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　
stand　being　close　to　her　for　very　long。　　Perhaps　I　would　just　deliver　her　back　to　her　
mother。　　Even　that　much　would　be　fraught　with　danger。　　For　her。　
And　also　for　me；　I　realized　suddenly。　　If　I　were　to　kill　her　by　accident？　　I　wasn't　
certain　exactly　how　much　pain　that　would　cause　me；　but　I　knew　it　would　be　multifaceted　
and　intense。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
79　

The　time　passed　quickly　while　I　mulled　over　all　the　complications　ahead　of　me：　
the　argument　waiting　for　me　at　home；　the　conflict　with　my　family；　the　lengths　I　might　be　
forced　to　go　to　afterward？　
Well；　I　couldn't　complain　that　life　outside　this　school　was　monotonous　any　more。　
The　girl　had　changed　that　much。　
Emmett　and　I　walked　silently　to　the　car　when　the　bell　rang。　　He　was　worrying　
about　me；　and　worrying　about　Rosalie。　　He　knew　whose　side　he　would　have　to　choose　in　
a　quarrel；　and　it　bothered　him。　
The　others　were　waiting　for　us　in　the　car；　also　silent。　　We　were　a　very　quiet　group。　
Only　I　could　hear　the　shouting。　
Idiot！　　Lunatic！　　Moron！　　Jackass！　　Selfish；　irresponsible　fool！　　Rosalie　kept　up　a　
constant　stream　of　insults　at　the　top　of　her　mental　lungs。　　It　made　it　hard　to　hear　the　
others；　but　I　ignored　her　as　best　I　could。　
Emmett　was　right　about　Jasper。　　He　was　sure　of　his　course。　
Alice　was　troubled；　worrying　about　Jasper；　flipping　through　images　of　the　future。　
No　matter　which　direction　Jasper　came　at　the　girl；　Alice　always　saw　me　there；　blocking　
him。　　Interesting？neither　Rosalie　nor　Emmett　was　with　him　in　these　visions。　　So　Jasper　
planned　to　work　alone。　　That　would　even　things　up。　
Jasper　was　the　best；　certainly　the　most　experienced　fighter　among　us。　　My　one　
advantage　lay　in　that　I　could　hear　his　moves　before　he　made　them。　
I　had　never　fought　more　than　playfully　with　Emmett　or　Jasper—just　horsing　
around。　　I　felt　sick　at　the　thought　of　really　trying　to　hurt　Jasper？　
No；　not　that。　　Just　to　block　him。　　That　was　all。　
I　concentrated　on　Alice；　memorizing　Jasper's　different　avenues　of　attack。　
As　I　did　that；　her　visions　shifted；　moving　further　and　further　away　from　the　
Swan's　house。　　I　was　cutting　him　off　earlier？　
Stop　that；　Edward！　　It　can't　happen　this　way。　　I　won't　let　it。　
I　didn't　answer　her；　I　just　kept　watching。　
She　began　searching　farther　ahead；　into　the　misty；　unsure　realm　of　distant　
possibilities。　　Everything　was　shadowy　and　vague。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
80　

The　entire　way　home；　the　charged　silence　did　not　lift。　　I　parked　in　the　big　garage　
off　the　house；　Carlisle's　Mercedes　was　there；　next　to　Emmett's　big　jeep；　Rose's　M3　and　
my　Vanquish。　　I　was　glad　Carlisle　was　already　home—this　silence　would　end　
explosively；　and　I　wanted　him　there　when　that　happened。　
We　went　straight　to　the　dining　room。　
The　room　was；　of　course；　never　used　for　its　intended　purpose。　　But　it　was　
furnished　with　a　long　oval　mahogany　table　surrounded　by　chairs—we　were　scrupulous　
about　having　all　the　correct　props　in　place。　　Carlisle　liked　to　use　it　as　a　conference　room。　
In　a　group　with　such　strong　and　disparate　personalities；　sometimes　it　was　necessary　to　
discuss　things　in　a　calm；　seated　manner。　
I　had　a　feeling　that　the　setting　was　not　going　to　help　much　today。　
Carlisle　sat　in　his　usual　seat　at　the　eastern　head　of　the　room。　　Esme　was　beside　
him—they　held　hands　on　top　of　the　table。　
Esme's　eyes　were　on　me；　their　golden　depths　full　of　concern。　
Stay。　　It　was　her　only　thought。　
I　wished　I　could　smile　at　the　woman　who　was　truly　a　mother　to　me；　but　I　had　no　
reassurances　for　her　now。　
I　sat　on　Carlisle's　other　side。　　Esme　reached　around　him　to　put　her　free　hand　on　
my　shoulder。　　She　had　no　idea　of　what　was　about　to　start；　she　was　just　worrying　about　
me。　
Carlisle　had　a　better　sense　of　what　was　coming。　　His　lips　were　pressed　tightly　
together　and　his　forehead　was　creased。　　The　expression　looked　too　old　for　his　young　face。　
As　everyone　else　sat；　I　could　see　the　lines　being　drawn。　
Rosalie　sat　directly　across　from　Carlisle；　on　the　other　end　of　the　long　table。　　She　
glared　at　me；　never　looking　away。　
Emmett　sat　beside　her；　his　face　and　thoughts　both　wry。　
Jasper　hesitated；　and　then　went　to　stand　against　the　wall　behind　Rosalie。　　He　was