"Deluded -- what a perfect description!"
"Be nice. You could accept my apology, you know."
"Fine. Apology accepted. Now, if you'll just excuse me for a moment . . ."
"Okay," he mumbled, and his voice was so different from before that I stoppd searching for Alice and scrutinized his face. He was staring at the floor, hiding his eyes. His lower lip jutted out just a little bit.
"I guess you'd rather be with your real friends," he said in the same defeated tone. "I get it."
I groaned. "Aw, Jake, you know that's not fair."
"Do I?"
"You should." I leaned forward, peering up, trying to look into his eyes. He looked up then, over my head, avoiding my gaze.
"Jake?"
He refused to look at me.
"Hey, you said you made me something, right?" I asked. "Was that just talk? Where's my present?" My attempt to fake enthusiasm was pretty sad, but it worked. He rolled his eyes and then grimaced at me.
I kept up the lame pretense, holding my hand open in front of me. "I'm waiting."
"Right," he grumbled sarcastically. But he also reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out a small bag of a loose-woven, multi-colored fabric. It was tied shut with leather drawstrings. He set it on my palm.
"Hey, that's pretty, Jake. Thanks!"
He sighed. "The present is inside, Bella."
"Oh."
I had some trouble with the strings. He sighed again and took it from me, sliding the ties open with one easy tug of the right cord. I held my hand out for it, but he turned the bag upside down and shook something silver into my hand. Metal links clinked quietly against each other.
"I didn't make the bracelet," he admitted. "Just the charm."
Fastened to one of the links of the silver bracelet was a tiny wooden carving. I held it between my fingers to look at it closer. It was amazing the amount of detail involved in the little figurine -- the miniature wolf was utterly realistic. It was even carved out of some red-brown wood that matched the color of his skin.
"It's beautiful," I whispered. "You made this? How?"
He shrugged. "It's something Billy taught me. He's better at it than I am."
"That's hard to believe," I murmured, turning the tiny wolf around and around in my fingers.
"Do you really like it?"
"Yes! It's unbelievable, Jake."
He smiled, happily at first, but then the expression soured. "Well, I figured that maybe it would make you remember me once in a while. You know how it is, out of sight, out of mind."
I ignored the attitude. "Here, help me put it on."
I held out my left wrist, since the right was stuck in the brace. He fastened the catch easily, though it looked too delicate for his big fingers to manage.
"You'll wear it?" he asked.
"Of course I will."
He grinned at me -- it was the happy smile that I loved to see him wear.
I returned it for a moment, but then my eyes shot reflexively around the room again, anxiously scanning the crowd for some sign of Edward or Alice.
"Why're you so distracted?" Jacob wondered.
"It's nothing," I lied, trying to concentrate. "Thanks for the present, really. I love it."
"Bella?" His brows pulled together, throwing his eyes deep into their shadow. "Something's going on, isn't it?"
"Jake, I . . . no, there's nothing."
"Don't lie to me, you suck at lying. You should tell me what's going on. We want to know these things," he said, slipping into the plural at the end.
He was probably right; the wolves would certainly be interested in what was happening. Only I wasn't sure what that was yet. I wouldn't know for sure until I found Alice.
"Jacob, I will tell you. Just let me figure out what's happening, okay? I need to talk to Alice."
Understanding lit his expression. "The psychic saw something."
"Yes, just when you showed up."
"Is this about the bloodsucker in your room?" he murmured, pitching his voice below the thrum of the music.
"It's related," I admitted.
He processed that for a minute, leaning his head to one side while he read my face. "You know something you're not telling me . . . something big."
What was the point in lying again? He knew me too well. "Yes."
Jacob stared at me for one short moment, and then turned to catch his pack brothers' eyes where they stood in the entry, awkward and uncomfortable. When they took in his expression, they started moving, weaving their way agilely through the partiers, almost like they were dancing, too. In half a minute, they stood on either side of Jacob, towering over me.
"Now. Explain," Jacob demanded.
Embry and Quil looked back and forth between our faces, confused and wary.
"Jacob, I don't know everything." I kept searching the room, now for a rescue. They had me backed into a corner in every sense.
"What you do know, then."
They all folded their arms across their chests at exactly the same moment. It was a little bit funny, but mostly menacing.
And then I caught sight of Alice descending the stairs, her white skin glowing in the purple light.
"Alice!" I squeaked in relief.
She looked right at me as soon as I called her name, despite the thudding bass that should have drowned my voice. I waved eagerly, and watched her face as she took in the three werewolves leaning over me. Her eyes narrowed.
But, before that reaction, her face was full of stress and fear. I bit my lip as she skipped to my side.
Jacob, Quil, and Embry all leaned away from her with uneasy expressions. She put her arm around my waist.
"I need to talk to you," she murmured into my ear.
"Er, Jake, I'll see you later . . . ," I mumbled as we eased around them.
Jacob threw his long arm out to block our way, bracing his hand against the wall. "Hey, not so fast."
Alice stared up at him, eyes wide and incredulous. "Excuse me?"
"Tell us what's going on," he demanded in a growl.
Jasper appeared quite literally out of nowhere. One second it was just Alice and me against the wall, Jacob blocking our exit, and then Jasper was standing on the other side of Jake's arm, his expression terrifying.
Jacob slowly pulled his arm back. It seemed like the best move, going with the assumption that he wanted to keep that arm.
"We have a right to know," Jacob muttered, still glaring at Alice.
Jasper stepped in between them, and the three werewolves braced themselves.
"Hey, hey," I said, adding a slightly hysterical chuckle. "This is a party, remember?"
Nobody paid any attention to me. Jacob glared at Alice while Jasper glowered at Jacob. Alice's face was suddenly thoughtful.
"It's okay, Jasper. He actually has a point."
Jasper did not relax his position.
I was sure the suspense was going to make my head explode in about one second. "What did you see, Alice?"
She stared at Jacob for one second, and then turned to me, evidently having chosen to let them hear.
"The decision's been made."
"You're going to Seattle?"
"No."
I felt the color drain out of my face. My stomach lurched. "They're coming here," I choked out.
The Quileute boys watched silently, reading every unconscious play of emotion on our faces. They were rooted in place, and yet not completely still. All three pairs of hands were trembling.
"Yes."
"To Forks," I whispered.
"Yes."
"For?"
She nodded, understanding my question. "One carried your red shirt."
I tried to swallow.
Jasper's expression was disapproving. I could tell he didn't like discussing this in front of the werewolves, but he had something he needed to say. "We can't let them come that far. There aren't enough of us to protect the town."
"I know," Alice said, her face suddenly
desolate. "But it doesn't matter where we stop them. There still won't be enough of us, and some of them will come here to search."
"No!" I whispered.
The noise of the party overwhelmed the sound of my denial. All around us, my friends and neighbors and petty enemies ate and laughed and swayed to the music, oblivious to the fact that they were about to face horror, danger, maybe death. Because of me.
"Alice," I mouthed her name. "I have to go, I have to get away from here."
"That won't help. It's not like we're dealing with a tracker. They'll still come looking here first."
"Then I have to go to meet them!" If my voice hadn't been so hoarse and strained, it might have been a shriek. "If they find what they're looking for, maybe they'll go away and not hurt anyone else!"
"Bella!" Alice protested.
"Hold it," Jacob ordered in a low, forceful voice. "What is coming?"
Alice turned her icy gaze on him. "Our kind. Lots of them."
"Why?"
"For Bella. That's all we know."
"There are too many for you?" he asked.
Jasper bridled. "We have a few advantages, dog. It will be an even fight."
"No," Jacob said, and a strange, fierce half-smile spread across his face. "It won't be even."
"Excellent!" Alice hissed.
I stared, still frozen in horror, at Alice's new expression. Her face was alive with exultation, all the despair wiped clean from her perfect features.
She grinned at Jacob, and he grinned back.
"Everything just disappeared, of course," she told him in a smug voice. "That's inconvenient, but, all things considered, I'll take it."
"We'll have to coordinate," Jacob said. "It won't be easy for us. Still, this is our job more than yours."
"I wouldn't go that far, but we need the help. We aren't going to be picky."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait," I interrupted them.
Alice was on her toes, Jacob leaning down toward her, both of their faces lit up with excitement, both of their noses wrinkled against the smell. They looked at me impatiently.
"Coordinate?" I repeated through my teeth.
"You didn't honestly think you were going to keep us out of this?" Jacob asked.
"You are staying out of this!"
"Your psychic doesn't think so."
"Alice -- tell them no!" I insisted. "They'll get killed!"
Jacob, Quil, and Embry all laughed out loud.
"Bella," Alice said, her voice soothing, placating, "separately we all could get killed. Together --"
"It'll be no problem," Jacob finished her sentence. Quil laughed again.
"How many?" Quil asked eagerly.
"No!" I shouted.
Alice didn't even look at me. "It changes -- twenty-one today, but the numbers are going down."
"Why?" Jacob asked, curious.
"Long story," Alice said, suddenly looking around the room. "And this isn't the place for it."
"Later tonight?" Jacob pushed.
"Yes," Jasper answered him. "We were already planning a . . . strategic meeting. If you're going to fight with us, you'll need some instruction."
The wolves all made a disgruntled face at the last part.
"No!" I moaned.
"This will be odd," Jasper said thoughtfully. "I never considered working together. This has to be a first."
"No doubt about that," Jacob agreed. He was in a hurry now. "We've got to get back to Sam. What time?"
"What's too late for you?"
All three rolled their eyes. "What time?" Jacob repeated.
"Three o'clock?"
"Where?"
"About ten miles due north of the Hoh Forest ranger station. Come at it from the west and you'll be able to follow our scent in."
"We'll be there."
They turned to leave.
"Wait, Jake!" I called after him. "Please! Don't do this!"
He paused, turning back to grin at me, while Quil and Embry headed impatiently for the door. "Don't be ridiculous, Bells. You're giving me a much better gift than the one I gave you."
"No!" I shouted again. The sound of an electric guitar drowned my cry.
He didn't respond; he hurried to catch up with his friends, who were already gone. I watched helplessly as Jacob disappeared.
18. INSTRUCTION
"THAT HAD TO BE THE LONGEST PARTY IN THE HISTORY of the world," I complained on the way home.
Edward didn't seem to disagree. "It's over now," he said, rubbing my arm soothingly.
Because I was the only one who needed soothing. Edward was fine now -- all the Cullens were fine.
They'd all reassured me; Alice reaching up to pat my head as I left, eyeing Jasper meaningfully until a flood of peace swirled around me, Esme kissing my forehead and promising me everything was all right, Emmett laughing boisterously and asking why I was the only one who was allowed to fight with werewolves. . . . Jacob's solution had them all relaxed, almost euphoric after the long weeks of stress. Doubt had been replaced with confidence. The party had ended on a note of true celebration.
Not for me.
Bad enough -- horrible -- that the Cullens would fight for me. It was already too much that I would have to allow that. It already felt like more than I could bear.
Not Jacob, too. Not his foolish, eager brothers -- most of them even younger than I was. They were just oversized, over-muscled children, and they looked forward to this like it was picnic on the beach. I could not have them in danger, too. My nerves felt frayed and exposed. I didn't know how much longer I could restrain the urge to scream out loud.
I whispered now, to keep my voice under control. "You're taking me with you tonight."
"Bella, you're worn out."
"You think I could sleep?"
He frowned. "This is an experiment. I'm not sure if it will be possible for us all to . . . cooperate. I don't want you in the middle of that."
As if that didn't make me all the more anxious to go. "If you won't take me, then I'll call Jacob."
His eyes tightened. That was a low blow, and I knew it. But there was no way I was being left behind.
He didn't answer; we were at Charlie's house now. The front light was on.
"See you upstairs," I muttered.
I tiptoed in the front door. Charlie was asleep in the living room, overflowing the too-small sofa, and snoring so loudly I could have ripped a chainsaw to life and it wouldn't have wakened him.
I shook his shoulder vigorously.
"Dad! Charlie!"
He grumbled, eyes still closed.
"I'm home now -- you're going to hurt your back sleeping like that. C'mon, time to move."
It took a few more shakes, and his eyes never did open all the way, but I managed to get him off the couch. I helped him up to his bed, where he collapsed on top of the covers, fully dressed, and started snoring again.
He wasn't going to be looking for me anytime soon.
Edward waited in my room while I washed my face and changed into jeans and a flannel shirt. He watched me unhappily from the rocking chair as I hung the outfit Alice had given me in my closet.
"Come here," I said, taking his hand and pulling him to my bed.
I pushed him down on the bed and then curled up against his chest. Maybe he was right and I was tired enough to sleep. I wasn't going to let him sneak off without me.
He tucked my quilt in around me, and then held me close.
"Please relax."
"Sure."
"This is going to work, Bella. I can feel it."
My teeth locked together.
He was still radiating relief. Nobody but me cared if Jacob and his friends got hurt. Not even Jacob and his friends. Especially not them.
He could tell I was about to lose it. "Listen to me, Bella. This is going to be easy. The newborns will be completely taken by surprise. They'll have no more idea that werewolves even exist than you did. I've seen how they act in a group, the way Jasper remembers. I truly
believe that the wolves' hunting techniques will work flawlessly against them. And with them divided and confused, there won't be enough for the rest of us to do. Someone may have to sit out," he teased.
"Piece of cake," I mumbled tonelessly against his chest.
"Shhh," he stroked my cheek. "You'll see. Don't worry now."
He started humming my lullaby, but, for once, it didn't calm me.
People -- well, vampires and werewolves really, but still -- people I loved were going to get hurt. Hurt because of me. Again. I wished my bad luck would focus a little more carefully. I felt like yelling up at the empty sky: It's me you want -- over here! Just me!
I tried to think of a way that I could do exactly that -- force my bad luck to focus on me. It wouldn't be easy. I would have to wait, bide my time. . . .
I did not fall asleep. The minutes passed quickly, to my surprise, and I was still alert and tense when Edward pulled us both up into a sitting position.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay and sleep?"
I gave him a sour look.
He sighed, and scooped me up in his arms before he jumped from my window.
He raced through the black, quiet forest with me on his back, and even in his run I could feel the elation. He ran the way he did when it was just us, just for enjoyment, just for the feel of the wind in his hair. It was the kind of thing that, during less anxious times, would have made me happy.
When we got to the big open field, his family was there, talking casually, relaxed. Emmett's booming laugh echoed through the wide space now and then. Edward set me down and we walked hand in hand toward them.
It took me a minute, because it was so dark with the moon hidden behind the clouds, but I realized that we were in the baseball clearing. It was the same place where, more than a year ago, that first lighthearted evening with the Cullens had been interrupted by James and his coven. It felt strange to be here again -- as if this gathering wouldn't be complete until James and Laurent and Victoria joined us. But James and Laurent were never coming back. That pattern wouldn't be repeated. Maybe all the patterns were broken.
Yes, someone had broken out of their pattern. Was it possible that the Volturi were the flexible ones in this equation?
I doubted it.
Victoria had always seemed like a force of nature to me -- like a hurricane moving toward the coast in a straight line -- unavoidable, implacable, but predictable. Maybe it was wrong to limit her that way. She had to be capable of adaptation.
"You know what I think?" I asked Edward.
He laughed. "No."