bitter； slightly resinous； but still pleasant — the high； keening sound
of the cicadas in July； the feathery barrenness of the trees； the very
size of the sky； extending whiteblue from horizon to horizon； barely
interrupted by the low mountains covered with purple volcanic rock。 The
hardest thing to explain was why it was so beautiful to me — to justify a
beauty that didn't depend on the sparse； spiny vegetation that often
looked half dead； a beauty that had more to do with the exposed shape of
the land； with the shallow bowls of valleys between the craggy hills； and
the way they held on to the sun。 I found myself using my hands as I tried
to describe it to him。
His quiet； probing questions kept me talking freely； forgetting； in the
dim light of the storm； to be embarrassed for monopolizing the
conversation。 Finally； when I had finished detailing my cluttered room at
home； he paused instead of responding with another question。
〃Are you finished？〃 I asked in relief。
〃Not even close — but your father will be home soon。〃
〃Charlie！〃 I suddenly recalled his existence； and sighed。 I looked out at
the raindarkened sky； but it gave nothing away。 〃How late is it？〃 I
wondered out loud as I glanced at the clock。 I was surprised by the time
— Charlie would be driving home now。
〃It's twilight；〃 Edward murmured； looking at the western horizon；
obscured as it was with clouds。 His voice was thoughtful； as if his mind
were somewhere far away。 I stared at him as he gazed unseeingly out the
windshield。
I was still staring when his eyes suddenly shifted back to mine。
〃It's the safest time of day for us；〃 he said； answering the unspoken
question in my eyes。 〃The easiest time。 But also the saddest； in a way…
the end of another day； the return of the night。 Darkness is so
predictable； don't you think？〃 He smiled wistfully。
〃I like the night。 Without the dark； we'd never see the stars。〃 I
frowned。 〃Not that you see them here much。〃
He laughed； and the mood abruptly lightened。
〃Charlie will be here in a few minutes。 So； unless you want to tell him
that you'll be with me Saturday…〃 He raised one eyebrow。
〃Thanks； but no thanks。〃 I gathered my books； realizing I was stiff from
sitting still so long。 〃So is it my turn tomorrow； then？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 His face was teasingly outraged。 〃I told you I wasn't
done； didn't I？〃
〃What more is there？〃
〃You'll find out tomorrow。〃 He reached across to open my door for me； and
his sudden proximity sent my heart into frenzied palpitations。
But his hand froze on the handle。
〃Not good；〃 he muttered。
〃What is it？〃 I was surprised to see that his jaw was clenched； his eyes
disturbed。
He glanced at me for a brief second。 〃Another plication；〃 he said
glumly。
He flung the door open in one swift movement； and then moved； almost
cringed； swiftly away from me。
The flash of headlights through the rain caught my attention as a dark
car pulled up to the curb just a few feet away； facing us。
〃Charlie's around the corner；〃 he warned； staring through the downpour at
the other vehicle。
I hopped out at once； despite my confusion and curiosity。 The rain was
louder as it glanced off my jacket。
I tried to make out the shapes in the front seat of the other car； but it
was too dark。 I could see Edward illuminated in the glare of the new
car's headlights； he was still staring ahead； his gaze locked on
something or someone I couldn't see。 His expression was a strange mix of
frustration and defiance。
Then he revved the engine； and the tires squealed against the wet
pavement。 The Volvo was out of sight in seconds。
〃Hey； Bella；〃 called a familiar； husky voice from the driver's side of
the little black car。
〃Jacob？〃 I asked； squinting through the rain。 Just then； Charlie's
cruiser swung around the corner； his lights shining on the occupants of
the car in front of me。
Jacob was already climbing out； his wide grin visible even through the
darkness。 In the passenger seat was a much older man； a heavyset man with
a memorable face — a face that overflowed； the cheeks resting against his
shoulders； with creases running through the russet skin like an old
leather jacket。 And the surprisingly familiar eyes； black eyes that
seemed at the same time both too young and too ancient for the broad face
they were set in。 Jacob's father； Billy Black。 I knew him immediately；
though in the more than five years since I'd seen him last I'd managed to
forget his name when Charlie had spoken of him my first day here。 He was
staring at me； scrutinizing my face； so I smiled tentatively at him。 His
eyes were wide； as if in shock or fear； his nostrils flared。 My smile
faded。
Another plication； Edward had said。
Billy still stared at me with intense； anxious eyes。 I groaned
internally。 Had Billy recognized Edward so easily？ Could he really
believe the impossible legends his son had scoffed at？
The answer was clear in Billy's eyes。 Yes。 Yes； he could。
===========================================================================
12。 BALANCING
〃Billy！〃 Charlie called as soon as he got out of the car。
I turned toward the house； beckoning to Jacob as I ducked under the
porch。 I heard Charlie greeting them loudly behind me。
〃I'm going to pretend I didn't see you behind the wheel； Jake；〃 he said
disapprovingly。
〃We get permits early on the rez；〃 Jacob said while I unlocked the door
and flicked on the porch light。
〃Sure you do；〃 Charlie laughed。
〃I have to get around somehow。〃 I recognized Billy's resonant voice
easily； despite the years。 The sound of it made me feel suddenly younger；
a child。
I went inside； leaving the door open behind me and turning on lights
before I hung up my jacket。 Then I stood in the door； watching anxiously
as Charlie and Jacob helped Billy out of the car and into his wheelchair。
I backed out of the way as the three of them hurried in； shaking off the
rain。
〃This is a surprise；〃 Charlie was saying。
〃It's been too long；〃 Billy answered。 〃I hope it's not a bad time。〃 His
dark eyes flashed up to me again； their expression unreadable。
〃No； it's great。 I hope you can stay for the game。〃
Jacob grinned。 〃I think that's the plan — our TV broke last week。〃
Billy made a face at his son。 〃And； of course； Jacob was anxious to see
Bella again；〃 he added。 Jacob scowled and ducked his head while I fought
back a surge of remorse。 Maybe I'd been too convincing on the beach。
〃Are you hungry？〃 I asked； turning toward the kitchen。 I was eager to
escape Billy's searching gaze。
〃Naw； we ate just before we came；〃 Jacob answered。
〃How about you； Charlie？〃 I called over my shoulder as I fled around the
corner。
〃Sure；〃 he replied； his voice moving in the direction of the front room
and the TV。 I could hear Billy's chair follow。
The grilled cheese sandwiches were in the frying pan and I was slicing up
a tomato when I sensed someone behind me。
〃So； how are things？〃 Jacob asked。
〃Pretty good。〃 I smiled。 His enthusiasm was hard to resist。 〃How about
you？ Did you finish your car？〃
〃No。〃 He frowned。 〃I still need parts。 We borrowed that one。〃 He pointed
with his thumb in the direction of the front yard。
〃Sorry。 I haven't seen any… what was it you were looking for？〃
〃Master cylinder。〃 He grinned。 〃Is something wrong with the truck？〃 he
added suddenly。
〃No。〃
〃Oh。 I just wondered because you weren't driving it。〃
I stared down at the pan； pulling up the edge of a sandwich to check the
bottom side。 〃I got a ride with a friend。〃
〃Nice ride。〃 Jacob's voice was admiring。 〃I didn't recognize the driver；
though。 I thought I knew most of the kids around here。〃
I nodded nonmittally； keeping my eyes down as I flipped sandwiches。
〃My dad seemed to know him from somewhere。〃
〃Jacob； could you hand me some plates？ They're in the cupboard over the
sink。〃
〃Sure。〃
He got the plates in silence。 I hoped he would let it drop now。
〃So who was it？〃 he asked； setting two plates on the counter next to me。
I sighed in defeat。 〃Edward Cullen。〃
To my surprise； he laughed。 I glanced up at him。 He looked a little
embarrassed。
〃Guess that explains it； then；〃 he said。 〃I wondered why my dad was
acting so strange。〃
〃That's right。〃 I faked an innocent expression。 〃He doesn't like the
Cullens。〃
〃Superstitious old man；〃 Jacob muttered under his breath。
〃You don't think he'd say anything to Charlie？〃 I couldn't help asking；
the words ing out in a low rush。
Jacob stared at me for a moment； and I couldn't read the expression in
his dark eyes。 〃I doubt it；〃 he finally answered。 〃I think Charlie chewed
him out pretty good last time。 They haven't spoken much since — tonight
is sort of a reunion； I think。 I don't think he'd bring it up again。〃
〃Oh；〃 I said； trying to sound indifferent。
I stayed in the front room after I carried the food out to Charlie；
pretending to watch the game while Jacob chattered at me。 I was really
listening to the men's conversation； watching for any sign that Billy was
about to rat me out； trying to think of ways to stop him if he began。
It was a long night。 I had a lot of homework that was going undone； but I
was afraid to leave Billy alone with Charlie。 Finally； the game ended。
〃Are you and your friends ing back to the beach soon？〃 Jacob asked as
he pushed his father over the lip of the threshold。
〃I'm not sure；〃 I hedged。
〃That was fun； Charlie；〃 Billy said。
〃e up for the next game；〃 Charlie encouraged。
〃Sure； sure；〃 Billy said。 〃We'll be here。 Have a good night。〃 His eyes
shifted to mine； and his smile disappeared。 〃You take care； Bella；〃 he
added seriously。
〃Thanks；〃 I muttered； looking away。
I headed for the stairs while Charlie waved from the doorway。
〃Wait； Bella；〃 he said。
I cringed。 Had Billy gotten something in before I'd joined them in the
living room？
But Charlie was relaxed； still grinning from the unexpected visit。
〃I didn't get a chance to talk to you tonight。 How was your day