attract accidents like a mag。 So… try not to fall into the ocean or
get run over or anything； all right？〃 He smiled crookedly。
The helplessness had faded as he spoke。 I glared at him。
〃I'll see what I can do；〃 I snapped as I jumped out into the rain。 I
slammed the door behind me with excessive force。
He was still smiling as he drove away。
===========================================================================
6。 SCARY STORIES
As I sat in my room； trying to concentrate on the third act of Macbeth； I
was really listening for my truck。 I would have thought； even over the
pounding rain； I could have heard the engine's roar。 But when I went to
peek out the curtain — again — it was suddenly there。
I wasn't looking forward to Friday； and it more than lived up to my
nonexpectations。 Of course there were the fainting ments。 Jessica
especially seemed to get a kick out of that story。 Luckily Mike had kept
his mouth shut； and no one seemed to know about Edward's involvement。 She
did have a lot of questions about lunch； though。
〃So what did Edward Cullen want yesterday？〃 Jessica asked in Trig。
〃I don't know；〃 I answered truthfully。 〃He never really got to the point。〃
〃You looked kind of mad；〃 she fished。
〃Did I？〃 I kept my expression blank。
〃You know； I've never seen him sit with anyone but his family before。
That was weird。〃
〃Weird；〃 I agreed。 She seemed annoyed； she flipped her dark curls
impatiently — I guessed she'd been hoping to hear something that would
make a good story for her to pass on。
The worst part about Friday was that； even though I knew he wasn't going
to be there； I still hoped。 When I walked into the cafeteria with Jessica
and Mike； I couldn't keep from looking at his table； where Rosalie；
Alice； and Jasper sat talking； heads close together。 And I couldn't stop
the gloom that engulfed me as I realized I didn't know how long I would
have to wait before I saw him again。
At my usual table； everyone was full of our plans for the next day。 Mike
was animated again； putting a great deal of trust in the local weatherman
who promised sun tomorrow。 I'd have to see that before I believed it。 But
it was warmer today — almost sixty。 Maybe the outing wouldn't be
pletely miserable。
I intercepted a few unfriendly glances from Lauren during lunch； which I
didn't understand until we were all walking out of the room together。 I
was right behind her； just a foot from her slick； silver blond hair； and
she was evidently unaware of that。
〃…don't know why Bella〃 — she sneered my name — 〃doesn't just sit with
the Cullens from now on。〃
I heard her muttering to Mike。 I'd never noticed what an unpleasant；
nasal voice she had； and I was surprised by the malice in it。 I really
didn't know her well at all； certainly not well enough for her to dislike
me — or so I'd thought。 〃She's my friend； she sits with us；〃 Mike
whispered back loyally； but also a bit territorially。 I paused to let
Jess and Angela pass me。 I didn't want to hear any more。
That night at dinner； Charlie seemed enthusiastic about my trip to La
Push in the morning。 I think he felt guilty for leaving me home alone on
the weekends； but he'd spent too many years building his habits to break
them now。 Of course he knew the names of all the kids going； and their
parents； and their greatgrandparents； too； probably。 He seemed to
approve。 I wondered if he would approve of my plan to ride to Seattle
with Edward Cullen。 Not that I was going to tell him。
〃Dad； do you know a place called Goat Rocks or something like that？ I
think it's south of Mount Rainier；〃 I asked casually。
〃Yeah — why？〃
I shrugged。 〃Some kids were talking about camping there。〃
〃It's not a very good place for camping。〃 He sounded surprised。 〃Too many
bears。 Most people go there during the hunting season。〃
〃Oh；〃 I murmured。 〃Maybe I got the name wrong。〃
I meant to sleep in； but an unusual brightness woke me。 I opened my eyes
to see a clear yellow light streaming through my window。 I couldn't
believe it。 I hurried to the window to check； and sure enough； there was
the sun。 It was in the wrong place in the sky； too low； and it didn't
seem to be as close as it should be； but it was definitely the sun。
Clouds ringed the horizon； but a large patch of blue was visible in the
middle。 I lingered by the window as long as I could； afraid that if I
left the blue would disappear again。
The Newtons' Olympic Outfitters store was just north of town。 I'd seen
the store； but I'd never stopped there — not having much need for any
supplies required for being outdoors over an extended period of time。 In
the parking lot I recognized Mike's Suburban and Tyler's Sentra。 As I
pulled up next to their vehicles； I could see the group standing around
in front of the Suburban。 Eric was there； along with two other boys I had
class with； I was fairly sure their names were Ben and Conner。 Jess was
there； flanked by Angela and Lauren。 Three other girls stood with them；
including one I remembered falling over in Gym on Friday。 That one gave
me a dirty look as I got out of the truck； and whispered something to
Lauren。 Lauren shook out her cornsilk hair and eyed me scornfully。
So it was going to be one of those days。
At least Mike was happy to see me。
〃You came！〃 he called； delighted。 〃And I said it would be sunny today；
didn't I？〃
〃I told you I was ing；〃 I reminded him。
〃We're just waiting for Lee and Samantha… unless you invited someone；〃
Mike added。
〃Nope；〃 I lied lightly； hoping I wouldn't get caught in the lie。 But also
wishing that a miracle would occur； and Edward would appear。
Mike looked satisfied。
〃Will you ride in my car？ It's that or Lee's mom's minivan。〃
〃Sure。〃
He smiled blissfully。 It was so easy to make Mike happy。
〃You can have shotgun；〃 he promised。 I hid my chagrin。 It wasn't as
simple to make Mike and Jessica happy at the same time。 I could see
Jessica glowering at us now。
The numbers worked out in my favor； though。 Lee brought two extra people；
and suddenly every seat was necessary。 I managed to wedge Jess in between
Mike and me in the front seat of the Suburban。 Mike could have been more
graceful about it； but at least Jess seemed appeased。
It was only fifteen miles to La Push from Forks； with gorgeous； dense
green forests edging the road most of the way and the wide Quillayute
River snaking beneath it twice。 I was glad I had the window seat。 We'd
rolled the windows down — the Suburban was a bit claustrophobic with nine
people in it — and I tried to absorb as much sunlight as possible。
I'd been to the beaches around La Push many times during my Forks summers
with Charlie； so the milelong crescent of First Beach was familiar to
me。 It was still breathtaking。 The water was dark gray； even in the
sunlight； whitecapped and heaving to the gray； rocky shore。 Islands rose
out of the steel harbor waters with sheer cliff sides； reaching to uneven
summits； and crowned with austere； soaring firs。 The beach had only a
thin border of actual sand at the water's edge； after which it grew into
millions of large； smooth stones that looked uniformly gray from a
distance； but close up were every shade a stone could be： terracotta；
sea green； lavender； blue gray； dull gold。 The tide line was strewn with
huge driftwood trees； bleached bone white in the salt waves； some piled
together against the edge of the forest fringe； some lying solitary； just
out of reach of the waves。
There was a brisk wind ing off the waves； cool and briny。 Pelicans
floated on the swells while seagulls and a lone eagle wheeled above them。
The clouds still circled the sky； threatening to invade at any moment；
but for now the sun shone bravely in its halo of blue sky。
We picked our way down to the beach； Mike leading the way to a ring of
driftwood logs that had obviously been used for parties like ours before。
There was a fire circle already in place； filled with black ashes。 Eric
and the boy I thought was named Ben gathered broken branches of driftwood
from the drier piles against the forest edge； and soon had a
teepeeshaped construction built atop the old cinders。
〃Have you ever seen a driftwood fire？〃 Mike asked me。 I was sitting on
one of the bonecolored benches； the other girls clustered； gossiping
excitedly； on either side of me。 Mike kneeled by the fire； lighting one
of the smaller sticks with a cigarette lighter。
〃No；〃 I said as he placed the blazing twig carefully against the teepee。
〃You'll like this then — watch the colors。〃 He lit another small branch
and laid it alongside the first。 The flames started to lick quickly up
the dry wood。
〃It's blue；〃 I said in surprise。
〃The salt does it。 Pretty； isn't it？〃 He lit one more piece； placed it
where the fire hadn't yet caught； and then came to sit by me。 Thankfully；
Jess was on his other side。 She turned to him and claimed his attention。
I watched the strange blue and green flames crackle toward the sky。
After a half hour of chatter； some of the boys wanted to hike to the
nearby tidal pools。 It was a dilemma。 On the one hand； I loved the tide
pools。 They had fascinated me since I was a child； they were one of the
only things I ever looked forward to when I had to e to Forks。 On the
other hand； I'd also fallen into them a lot。 Not a big deal when you're
seven and with your dad。 It reminded me of Edward's request — that I not
fall into the ocean。
Lauren was the one who made my decision for me。 She didn't want to hike；
and she was definitely wearing the wrong shoes for it。 Most of the other
girls besides Angela and Jessica decided to stay on the beach as well。 I
waited until Tyler and Eric had mitted to remaining with them before I
got up quietly to join the prohiking group。 Mike gave me a huge smile
when he saw that I was ing。
The hike wasn't too long； though I hated to lose the sky in the woods。
The green light of the forest was strangely at odds with the adolescent
laughter； too murky and ominous to be in ha