 down again, Bella?

I glared at him fiercely. No, Emmett. I punched a werewolf in the face.

Emmett blinked, and then burst into a roar of laughter.
As Edward led me past them, Rosalie spoke from under the car.

Jaspers going to win the bet, she said smugly.

Emmetts laughter stopped at once, and he studied me with appraising eyes.

What bet? I demanded, pausing.

Lets get you to Carlisle, Edward urged. He was staring at Emmett. His head shook infinitesimally.

What bet?I insisted as I turned on him.

Thanks, Rosalie, he muttered as he tightened his arm around my waist and pulled me toward the
house.

Edward . . . , I grumbled.

Its infantile, he shrugged. Emmett and Jasper like to gamble.

Emmett will tell me. I tried to turn, but his arm was like iron around me.

He sighed. Theyre betting on how many times you . . . slip up in the first year.

Oh. I grimaced, trying to hide my sudden horror as I realized what he meant. They have a bet about
how many people Ill kill?

Yes, he admitted unwillingly. Rosalie thinks your temper will turn the odds in Jaspers favor.

I felt a little high. Jaspers betting high.

It will make him feel better if you have a hard time adjusting. Hes tired of being the weakest link.

Sure. Of course it will. I guess I could throw in a few extra homicides, if it makes Jasper happy. Why
not? I was babbling, my voice a blank monotone. In my head, I was seeing newspaper headlines, lists of
names. . . .

 He squeezed me. You dont need to worry about it now. In fact, you dont have to worry about it ever,
if you dont want to.

 I groaned, and Edward, thinking it was the pain in my hand that bothered me, pulled me faster toward
the house.

My handwas broken, but there wasnt any serious damage, just a tiny fissure in one knuckle. I didnt
want a cast, and Carlisle said Id be fine in a brace if I promised to keep it on. I promised.

 Edward could tell I was out of it as Carlisle worked to fit a brace carefully to my hand. He worried
aloud a few times that I was in pain, but I assured him that that wasnt it.

As if I needed  or even had room for  one more thing to worry about.
 All of Jaspers stories about newly created vampires had been percolating in my head since hed
explained his past. Now those stories jumped into sharp focus with the news of his and Emmetts wager.
I wondered randomly what they were betting. What was a motivating prize when you had everything?

 Id always known that I would be different. I hoped that I would be as strong as Edward said I would
be. Strong and fast and, most of all, beautiful. Someone who could stand next to Edward and feel like
she belonged there.

Id been trying not to think too much about the other things that I would be. Wild. Bloodthirsty. Maybe I
would not be able to stop myself from killing people. Strangers, people who had never harmed me.
People like the growing number of victims in Seattle, whod had families and friends and futures. People
whod hadlives. And I could be the monster who took that away from them.

 But, in truth, I could handle that part  because I trusted Edward, trusted him absolutely, to keep me
from doing anything I would regret. I knew hed take me to Antarctica and hunt penguins if I asked him
to. And I would do whatever it took to be a good person. A good vampire. That thought would have
made me giggle, if not for this new worry.

Because, if I really were somehow like that  like the nightmarish images of newborns that Jasper had
painted in my head  could I possibly beme ? And if all I wanted was to kill people, what would
happen to the things I wantednow ?

 Edward was so obsessed with me not missing anything while I was human. Usually, it seemed kind of
silly. There werent many human experiences that I worried about missing. As long as I got to be with
Edward, what else could I ask for?

I stared at his face while he watched Carlisle fix my hand. There was nothing in this world that I wanted
more than him. Would that,could that, change?

Was there a human experience that I wasnot willing to give up?




16. EPOCH

IHAVE NOTHING TO WEAR! I MOANED TO MYSELF.

 Every item of clothing I owned was strewn across my bed; my drawers and closets were bare. I stared
into the empty recesses, willing something suitable to appear.

 My khaki skirt lay over the back of the rocking chair, waiting for me to discover something that went
with it just exactly right. Something that would make me look beautiful and grown up. Something that said
special occasion. I was coming up empty.

It was almost time to go, and I was still wearing my favorite old sweats. Unless I could find something
better here  and the odds werent looking good at this point  I was going to graduate in them.

I scowled at the pile of clothes on my bed.

The kicker was that I knew exactly what I would have worn if it were still available  my kidnapped
red blouse. I punched the wall with my good hand.

Stupid, thieving, annoying vampire! I growled.

What did I do? Alice demanded.

She was leaning casually beside the open window as if shed been there the whole time.

Knock, knock, she added with a grin.

Is it really so hard to wait for me to get the door?

 She threw a flat, white box onto my bed. Im just passing through. I thought you might need something
to wear.

I looked at the big package lying on top of my unsatisfying wardrobe and grimaced.

Admit it, Alice said. Im a lifesaver.

Youre a lifesaver, I muttered. Thanks.

 Well, its nice to get something right for a change. You dont know how irritating it is  missing things
the way I have been. I feel so useless. So . . . normal. She cringed in horror of the word.

I cant imagine how awful that must feel. Being normal? Ugh.

She laughed. Well, at least this makes up for missing your annoying thief  now I just have to figure
out what Im not seeing in Seattle.

 When she said the words that way  putting the two situations together in one sentence  right then it
clicked. The elusive something that had been bothering me for days, the important connection that I
couldnt quite put together, suddenly became clear. I stared at her, my face frozen with whatever
expression was already in place.

 Arent you going to open it? she asked. She sighed when I didnt move immediately, and tugged the
top of the box off herself. She pulled something out and held it up, but I couldnt concentrate on what it
was. Pretty, dont you think? I picked blue, because I know its Edwards favorite on you.

I wasnt listening.

Its the same, I whispered.

 What is? she demanded. You dont have anything like this. For crying out loud, you only own one
skirt!

No, Alice! Forget the clothes, listen!

You dont like it? Alices face clouded with disappointment.

Listen, Alice, dont you see? Its thesame ! The one who broke in and stole my things, and the new
vampires in Seattle. Theyre together!
The clothes slipped from her fingers and fell back into the box.

Alice focused now, her voice suddenly sharp. Why do you think that?

 Remember what Edward said? About someone using the holes in your vision to keep you from seeing
the newborns? And then what you said before, about the timing being too perfect  how careful my thief
was to make no contact, as if he knew you would see that. I think you were right, Alice, I think he did
know. I think he was using those holes, too. And what are the odds thattwo different people not only
know enough about you to do that, but also decided to do it at exactly the same time? No way. Its one
person. The same one. The one who is making the army is the one who stole my scent.

 Alice wasnt accustomed to being taking by surprise. She froze, and was still for so long that I started
counting in my head as I waited. She didnt move for two minutes straight. Then her eyes refocused on
me.

Youre right, she said in a hollow tone. Of course youre right. And when you put it that way. . . .

 Edward had it wrong, I whispered. It was a test . . . to see if it would work. If he could get in and out
safely as long as he didnt do anything you would be watching out for. Like trying to kill me. . . . And he
didnt take my things to prove hed found me. He stole my scent . . . so thatothers could find me.

Her eyes were wide with shock. I was right, and I could see that she knew it, too.

Oh, no, she mouthed.

 I was through expecting my emotions to make sense anymore. As I processed the fact that someone had
created an army of vampires  the army that had gruesomely murdered dozens of people in Seattle 
for the express purpose of destroyingme, I felt a spasm of relief.

Part of it was finally solving that irritating feeling that I was missing something vital.

But the larger part was something else entirely.

Well, I whispered, everyone can relax. Nobodys trying to exterminate the Cullens after all.

 If you think that one thing has changed, youre absolutely wrong, Alice said through her teeth. If
someone wants one of us, theyre going to have to go through the rest of us to get to her.

Thanks, Alice. But at least we know what theyre really after. That has to help.

Maybe, she muttered. She started pacing back and forth across my room.

Thud, thud a fist hammered against my door.

I jumped. Alice didnt seem to notice.

Arent you ready yet? Were gonna be late! Charlie complained, sounding edgy. Charlie hated
occasions about as much as I did. In his case, a lot of the problem was having to dress up.

Almost. Give me a minute, I said hoarsely.
He was quiet for half a second. Are you crying?

No. Im nervous. Go away.

I heard him clump down the stairs.

I have to go, Alice whispered.

Why?

Edward is coming. If he hears this . . .

 Go, go! I urged immediately. Edward would go berserk when he knew. I couldnt keep it from him for
long, but maybe the graduation ceremony wasnt the best time for his reaction.

Put it on, Alice commanded as she flitted out the window.

I did what she said, dressing in a daze.

 Id been planning to do something more sophisticated with my hair, but time was up, so it hung straight
and boring as on any other day. It didnt matter. I didnt bother to look in the mirror, so I had no idea
how Alices sweater and skirt ensemble worked. That didnt matter, either. I threw the ugly yellow
polyester graduation robe over my arm and hurried down the stairs.

You look nice, Charlie said, already gruff with suppressed emotion. Is that new?

Yeah, I mumbled, trying to concentrate. Alice gave it to me. Thanks.

 Edward arrived just a few minutes after his sister left. It wasnt enough time for me to pull together a
calm fa?ade. But, since we were riding in the cruiser with Charlie, he never had a chance to ask me what
was wrong.

 Charlie had gotten stubborn last week when hed learned that I was intending to ride with Edward to the
graduation ceremony. And I could see his point  parents should have some rights come graduation
day. Id conceded with good grace, and Edward had cheerfully suggested that we all go together. Since
Carlisle and Esme had no problem with this, Charlie couldnt come up with a compelling objection; hed
agreed with poor grace. And now Edward rode in the backseat of my fathers police car, behind the
fiberglass divider, with an amused expression  probably due to my fathers amused expression, and the
grin that widened every time Charlie stole a glance at Edward in his rearview mirror. Which almost
certainly meant that Charlie was imagining things that would get him in trouble with me if he said them out
loud.

Are you all right? Edward whispered when he helped me from the front seat in the school parking lot.

Nervous, I answered, and it wasnt even a lie.

You are so beautiful, he said.

 He looked like he wanted to say more, but Charlie, in an obvious maneuver that he meant to be subtle,
shrugged in between us and put his arm around my shoulders.
Are you excited? he asked me.

Not really, I admitted.

Bella, this is a big deal. Youre graduating from high school. Its the real world for you now. College.
Living on your own. . . . Youre not my little girl anymore. Charlie choked up a bit at the end.

Dad, I moaned. Please dont get all weepy on me.

Whos weepy? he growled. Now, why arent you excited?

I dont know, Dad. I guess it hasnt hit yet or something.

Its good that Alice is throwing this party. You need something to perk you up.

Sure. A partys exactly what I need.

 Charlie laughed at my tone and squeezed my shoulders. Edward looked at the clouds, his face
thoughtful.

My father had to leave us at the back door of the gym and go around to the main entrance with the rest
of the parents.

 It was pandemonium as Ms. Cope from the front office and Mr. Varner the math teacher tried to line
everyone up alphabetically.

Up front, Mr. Cullen, Mr. Varner barked at Edward.

Hey, Bella!

I looked up to see Jessica Stanley waving at me from the back of the line with a smile on her face.

Edward kissed me quickly, sighed, and went to go stand with the Cs. Alice wasnt there. What was she
going to do? Skip graduation? What poor timing on my part. I should have waited to figure things out
until after this was over with.

Down here, Bella! Jessica called again.

 I walked down the line to take my place behind Jessica, mildly curious as to why she was suddenly so
friendly. As I got closer, I saw Angela five people back, watching Jessica with the same curiosity.

Jess was babbling before I was in earshot.

 . . . so amazing. I mean, it seems like we just met, and now were graduating together, she gushed.
Can you believe its over? I feel like screaming!

So do I, I muttered.

This is all just so incredible. Do you remember your first day here? We were friends, like, right away.
From the first time we saw each other. Amazing. And now Im off to California and youll be in Alaska
and Im going to miss you so much! You have to promise that well get together sometimes! Im so glad
youre having a party. Thats perfect. Because we really havent spent much time together in a while and
now were all leaving. . . .

She droned on and on, and I was sure the sudden return of our friendship was due to graduation
nostalgia and gratitude for the party invite, not that Id had anything to do with that. I paid attention as
well as I could while I shrugged into my robe. And I found that I was glad that things could end on a
good note with Jessica.

Because it was an ending, no matter what Eric, the valedictorian, had to say about commencement
meaning beginning and all the rest of the trite nonsense. Maybe more for me than for the rest, but we
were all leaving something behind us today.

 It went so quickly. I felt like Id hit the fast forward button. Were we supposed to march quite that fast?
And then Eric was speed talking in his nervousness, the words and phrases running together so they
didnt make sense anymore. Principal Greene started calling names, one after the other without a long
enough pause between; the front row in the gymnasium was rushing to catch up. Poor Ms. Cope was all
thumbs as she tried to give the principal the right diploma to hand to the right student.

 I watched as Alice, suddenly appearing, danced across the stage to take hers, a look of deep
concentration on her face. Edward followed behind, his expression confused, but not upset. Only the two
of them could carry off the hideous yellow and still look the way they did. They stood out from the rest of
the crowd, their beauty and grace otherworldly. I wondered how Id ever fallen for their human farce. A
couple of angels, standing there with wings intact, would be less conspicuous.

 I heard Mr. Greene call my name and I rose from my chair, waiting for the line in front of me to move. I
was conscious of cheering in the back of the gym, and I looked around to see Jacob pulling Charlie to his
feet, both of them hooting in encouragement. I could just make out the top of Billys head beside Jakes
elbow. I managed to throw them an approximation of a smile.

 Mr. Greene finished with the list of names, and then continued to hand out diplomas with a sheepish grin
as we filed past.

Congratulations, Miss Stanley, he mumbled as Jess took hers.

Congratulations, Miss Swan, he mumbled to me, pressing the diploma into my good hand.

Thanks, I murmured.

And that was it.

I went to stand next to Jessica with the assembled graduates. Jess was all red around the eyes, and she
kept blotting her face with the sleeve of her robe. It took me a second to understand that she was crying.

 Mr. Greene said something I didnt hear, and everyone around me shouted and screamed. Yellow hats
rained down. I pulled mine off, too late, and just let it fall to the ground.

Oh, Bella! Jess blubbered over the sudden roar of conversation. I cant believe were done.

I cant believe its all over, I mumbled.
She threw her arms around my neck. You have to promise we wont lose touch.

I hugged her back, feeling a little awkward as I dodged her request. Im so glad I know you, Jessica. It
was a good two years.

 It was, she sighed, and sniffed. Then she dropped her arms. Lauren! she squealed, waving over her
head and pushing through the massed yellow gowns. Families were beginning to converge, pressing us
tighter together.

 I caught sight of Angela and Ben, but they were surrounded by their families. I would congratulate them
later.

I craned my head, looking for Alice.

 Congratulations, Edward whispered in my ear, his arms winding around my waist. His voice was
subdued; hed been in no hurry for me to reach this particular milestone.

Um, thanks.

You dont look like youre over the nerves yet, he noted.

Not quite yet.

Whats left to worry about? The party? It wont be that horrible.

Youre probably right.

Who are you looking for?

My searching wasnt quite as subtle as Id thought. Alice  where is she?

She ran out as soon as she had her diploma.

His voice took on a new tone. I looked up to see his confused expression as he stared toward the back
door of the gym, and I made an impulse decision  the kind I really should think twice about, but rarely
did.

Worrying about Alice? I asked.

Er . . . He didnt want to answer that.

What was she thinking about, anyway? To keep you out, I mean.

 His eyes flashed down to my face, and narrowed in suspicion. She was translating the Battle Hymn of
the Republic into Arabic, actually. When she finished that, she moved on to Korean sign language.

I laughed nervously. I suppose thatwould keep her head busy enough.

You know what shes hiding from me, he accused.

Sure. I smiled a weak smile. Im the one who came up with it.
He waited, confused.

I looked around. Charlie would be on his way through the crowd now.

Knowing Alice, I whispered in a rush, shell probably try to keep this from you until after the party.
But since Im all for the party being canceled  well, dont go berserk, regardless, okay? Its always
better to know as much as possible. It has to help somehow.

What are you talking about?

I saw Charlies head bob up over the other heads as he searched for me. He spotted me and waved.

Just stay calm, okay?

He nodded once, his mouth a grim line.

 In hurried whispers I explained my reasoning to him. I think youre wrong about things coming at us
from all sides. I think its mostly coming at us from one side . . . and I think its coming at me, really. Its
all connected, it has to be. Its just one person whos messing with Alices visions. The stranger in my
room was a test, to see if someone could get around her. Its got to be the same one who keeps
changing his mind, and the newborns, and stealing my clothes  all of it goes together. My scent is for
them.

His face had turned so white that I had a hard time finishing.

But no ones coming for you, dont you see? This is good  Esme and Alice and Carlisle, no one
wants to hurt them!

His eyes were huge, wide with panic, dazed and horrified. He could see that I was right, just as Alice
had.

I put my hand on his cheek. Calm, I pleaded.

Bella! Charlie crowed, pushing his way past the close-packed families around us.

 Congratulations, baby! He was still yelling, even though he was right at my ear now. He wrapped his
arms around me, ever so slyly shuffling Edward off to the side as he did so.

 Thanks, I muttered, preoccupied by the expression on Edwards face. He still hadnt gained control.
His hands were halfway extended toward me, like he was about to grab me and make a run for it. Only
slightly more in control of myself than he was, running didnt seem like such a terrible idea to me.

Jacob and Billy had to take off  did you see that they were here? Charlie asked, taking a step back,
but keeping his hands on my shoulders. He had his back to Edward  probably an effort to exclude
him, but that was fine at the moment. Edwards mouth was hanging open, his eyes still wide with dread.

Yeah, I assured my father, trying to pay enough attention. Heard them, too.

It was nice of them to show up, Charlie said.
Mm-hmm.

 Okay, so telling Edward had been a really bad idea. Alice was right to keep her thoughts clouded. I
should have waited till we were alone somewhere, maybe with the rest of his family. And nothing
breakable close by  like windows . . . cars . . . school buildings. His face brought back all my fear and
then some. Though his expression was past the fear now  it was pure fury that was suddenly plain on
his features.

So where do you want to go out for dinner? Charlie asked. The skys the limit.

I can cook.

Dont be silly. Do you want to go to the Lodge? he asked with an eager smile.

I did not particularly enjoy Charlies favorite restaurant, but, at this point, what was the difference? I
wasnt going to be able to eat anyway.

Sure, the Lodge, cool, I said.

 Charlie smiled wider, and then sighed. He turned his head halfway toward Edward, without really
looking at him.

You coming, too, Edward?

 I stared at him, my eyes beseeching. Edward pulled his expression together just before Charlie turned to
see why he hadnt gotten an answer.

No, thank you, Edward said stiffly, his face hard and cold.

Do you have plans with your parents? Charlie asked, a frown in his voice. Edward was always more
polite than Charlie deserved; the sudden hostility surprised him.

Yes. If youll excuse me. . . . Edward turned abruptly and stalked away through the dwindling crowd.
He moved just a little bit too fast, too upset to keep up his usually perfect charade.

What did I say? Charlie asked with a guilty expression.

Dont worry about it, Dad, I reassured him. I dont think its you.

Are you two fighting again?

Nobodys fighting. Mind your own business.

Youare my business.

I rolled my eyes. Lets go eat.

 The Lodge was crowded. The place was, in my opinion, overpriced and tacky, but it was the only thing
close to a formal restaurant in town, so it was always popular for events. I stared morosely at a
depressed-looking stuffed elk head while Charlie ate prime rib and talked over the back of the seat to
Tyler Crowleys parents. It was noisy  everyone there had just come from graduation, and most were
chatting across the aisles and over the booth-tops like Charlie.

 I had my back to the front windows, and I resisted the urge to turn around and search for the eyes I
could feel on me now. I knew I wouldnt be able to see anything. Just as I knew there was no chance
that he would leave me unguarded, even for a second. Not after this.

Dinner dragged. Charlie, busy socializing, ate too slowly. I picked at my burger, stuffing pieces of it into
my napkin when I was sure his attention was somewhere else. It all seemed to take a very long time, but
when I looked at the clock  which I did more often than necessary  the hands hadnt moved much.

Finally Charlie got his change back and put a tip on the table. I stood up.

In a hurry? he asked me.

I want to help Alice set things up, I claimed.

Okay. He turned away from me to say goodnight to everyone. I went out to wait by the cruiser.

 I leaned against the passenger door, waiting for Charlie to drag himself away from the impromptu party.
It was almost dark in the parking lot, the clouds so thick that there was no telling if the sun had set or not.
The air felt heavy, like it was about to rain.

Something moved in the shadows.

My gasp turned into a sigh of relief as Edward appeared out of the gloom.

Without a word, he pulled me tightly against his chest. One cool hand found my chin, and pulled my face
up so that he could press his hard lips to mine. I could feel the tension in his jaw.

How are you? I asked as soon as he l