〃We　could　try　another　method；〃　Carlisle　said　quietly。
  〃No；〃　Bella　whispered。　〃No；111　try　this　first。　We　don't　have　time。。。。〃
  At　first　I　thought　she'd　finally　gotten　a　clue　and　was　worried　about　herself；　but　then　her　hand　fluttered
  feebly　against　her　stomach。
  Bellareached　out　and　took　the　cup　from　him。　Her　hand　shook　a　little；　and　I　could　hear　the　sloshing　from
  inside。　She　tried　to　prop　herself　up　on　one　elbow；　but　she　could　barely　lift　her　head。　A　whisper　of　heat
  brushed　down　my　spine　as　I　saw　how　frail　she'd　gotten　in　less　than　a　day。
  Rosalie　put　her　arm　under　Bella's　shoulders；　supporting　her　head；　too；　like　you　did　with　a　newborn。
  Blondie　was　all　about　the　babies。
  〃Thanks；〃　Bella　whispered。　Her　eyes　flickered　around　at　us。　Still　aware　enough　to　feel　self…conscious。　If
  she　wasn't　so　drained；　I'd　bet　she'd've　blushed。
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  〃Don't　mind　them；〃　Rosalie　murmured。
  It　made　me　feel　awkward。　I　should've　left　when　Bella'd　offered　the　chance。　I　didn't　belong　here；　being
  part　of　this。　I　thought　about　ducking　out；　but　then　I　realized　a　move　like　that　would　only　make　this　worse
  for　Bella—make　it　harder　for　her　to　go　through　with　it。　She'd　figure　I　was　too　disgusted　to　stay。　Which
  was　almost　true。
  Still。　While　I　wasn't　going　to　claim　responsibility　for　this　idea；　I　didn't　want　to　jinx　it；　either。
  Bella　lifted　the　cup　to　her　face　and　sniffed　at　the　end　of　the　straw。　She　flinched；　and　then　made　a　face。
  〃Bella；　sweetheart；　we　can　find　an　easier　way；〃　Edward　said；　holding　his　hand　out　for　the　cup。
  〃Plug　your　nose；〃　Rosalie　suggested。　She　glared　at　Edward's　hand　like　she　might　take　a　snap　at　it。　I
  wished　she　would。　I　bet　Edward　wouldn't　take　that　sitting　down；　and　I'd　love　to　see　Blondie　lose　a　limb。
  〃No；　that's　not　it。　It's　just　that　it—〃Bella　sucked　in　a　deep　breath。　〃It　smells　good；〃　she　admitted　in　a　tiny
  voice。
  I　swallowed　hard；　fighting　to　keep　the　disgust　off　my　face。
  〃That's　a　good　thing；〃　Rosalie　told　Bella　eagerly。　〃That　means　we're　on　the　right　track。　Give　it　a　try。〃
  Given　Blondie's　new　expression；　I　was　surprised　she　didn't　break　into　a　touchdown　dance。
  Bella　shoved　the　straw　between　her　lips；　squeezed　her　eyes　shut；　and　wrinkled　her　nose。　I　could　hear　the
  blood
  slopping　around　in　the　cup　again　as　her　hand　shook。　She　sipped　at　it　for　a　second；　and　then　moaned
  quietly　with　her　eyes　still　closed。
  Edward　and　I　stepped　forward　at　the　same　time。　He　touched　her　face。　I　clenched　my　hands　behind　my
  back。
  〃Bella；　love—〃
  Tm　okay；〃　she　whispered。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　stared　up　at　him。　Her　expression　was。。。　apologetic。
  Pleading。　Scared。　〃It　tastes　good；　too。〃
  Acid　churned　in　my　stomach；　threatening　to　overflow。　I　ground　my　teeth　together。
  〃That's　good；〃　Blondie　repeated；　still　jazzed。　〃A　good　sign。〃
  Edward　just　pressed　his　hand　to　her　cheek；　curling　his　fingers　around　the　shape　of　her　fragile　bones。
  Bella　sighed　and　put　her　lips　to　the　straw　again。　She　took　a　real　pull　this　time。　The　action　wasn't　as　weak
  as　everything　else　about　her。　Like　some　instinct　was　taking　over。
  〃How's　your　stomach？　Do　you　feel　nauseated？〃　Carlisle　asked。
  Bella　shook　her　head。　〃No；　I　don't　feel　sick；〃　she　whispered。　〃There's　a　first；　eh？〃
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  Rosalie　beamed。　〃Excellent。〃
  〃I　think　it's　a　bit　early　for　that；　Rose；〃　Carlisle　murmured。
  Bella　gulped　another　mouthful　of　blood。　Then　she　flashed　a　look　at　Edward。　〃Does　this　screw　my　total？〃
  she　whispered。　〃Or　do　we　start　counting　after　I'm　a　vampire？〃
  〃No　one　is　counting；　Bella。　In　any　case；　no　one　died　for　this。〃　He　smiled　a　lifeless　smile。　〃Your　record　is
  still　clean。〃
  They'd　lost　me。
  〃I'll　explain　later；〃　Edward　said；　so　low　the　words　were　just　a　breath。
  〃What？〃　Bella　whispered。
  〃Just　talking　to　myself；〃　he　lied　smoothly。
  If　he　succeeded　with　this；　if　Bella　lived；　Edward　wasn't　going　to　be　able　to　get　away　with　so　much　when
  her　senses　were　as　sharp　as　his。　He'd　have　to　work　on　the　honesty　thing。
  Edward's　lips　twitched；　fighting　a　smile。
  Bella　chugged　a　few　more　ounces；　staring　past　us　toward　the　window。　Probably　pretending　we　weren't
  here。　Or　maybe　just　me。　No　one　else　in　this　group　would　be　disgusted　by　what　she　was　doing。　Just　the
  opposite—they　were　probably　having　a　tough　time　not　ripping　the　cup　away　from　her。
  Edward　rolled　his　eyes。
  Jeez；　how　did　anyone　stand　living　with　him？　It　was　really　too　bad　he　couldn't　hear　Bella's　thoughts。　Then
  he'd　annoy　the　crap　out　of　her；　too；　and　she'd　get　tired　of　him。
  Edward　chuckled　once。　Bella's　eyes　flicked　to　him　immediately；　and　she　half…smiled　at　the　humor　in　his
  face。　I　would　guess　that　wasn't　something　she'd　seen　in　a　while。
  〃Something　funny？〃　she　breathed。
  〃Jacob；〃　he　answered。
  She　looked　over　with　another　weary　smile　for　me。　〃Jake's　a　crack…up；〃　she　agreed。
  Great；　now　I　was　the　court　jester。　〃Bada　bing〃　I　mumbled　in　weak　rim…shot　impression。
  She　smiled　again；　and　then　took　another　swig　from　the　cup。　I　flinched　when　the　straw　pulled　at　empty
  air；　making　a　loud　sucking　sound。
  〃I　did　it；〃　she　said；　sounding　pleased。　Her　voice　was　clearer—rough；　but　not　a　whisper　for　the　first　time
  today。　〃If　I　keep　this　down；　Carlisle；　will　you　take　the　needles　out　of　me？〃
  〃As　soon　as　possible；〃　he　promised。　〃Honestly；　they　aren't　doing　that　much　good　where　they　are。〃
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  Rosalie　patted　Bella's　forehead；　and　they　exchanged　a　hopeful　glance。
  And　anyone　could　see　it—the　cup　full　of　human　blood　had　made　an　immediate　difference。　Her　color　was
  returning—there　was　a　tiny　hint　of　pink　in　her　waxy　cheeks。　Already　she　didn't　seem　to　need　Rosalie's
  support　so　much　anymore。　Her　breathing　was　easier；　and　I　would　swear　her　heartbeat　was　stronger；
  more　even。
  Everything　accelerated。
  That　ghost　of　hope　in　Edward's　eyes　had　turned　into　the　real　thing。
  〃Would　you　like　more？〃　Rosalie　pressed。
  Bella's　shoulders　slumped。
  Edward　flashed　a　glare　at　Rosalie　before　he　spoke　to　Bella。　〃You　don't　have　to　drink　more　right　away。〃
  〃Yeah；　I　know。　But。。。　I　want　to〃　she　admitted　glumly。
  Rosalie　pulled　her　thin；　sharp　fingers　through　Bella's　lank　hair。　〃You　don't　need　to　be　embarrassed　about
  that；　Bella。　Your　body　has　cravings。　We　all　understand　that。〃　Her　tone　was　soothing　at　first；　but　then　she
  added　harshly；　〃Anyone　who　doesn't　understand　shouldn't　be　here。〃
  Meant　for　me；　obviously；　but　I　wasn't　going　to　let　Blondie　get　to　me。　I　was　glad　Bella　felt　better。　So
  what　if　the　means　grossed　me　out？　It　wasn't　like　I'd　said　anything。
  Carlisle　took　the　cup　from　Bella's　hand。　〃I'll　be　right　back。〃
  Bella　stared　at　me　while　he　disappeared。
  〃Jake；　you　look　awful；〃　she　croaked。
  〃Look　who's　talking。〃
  〃Seriously—when's　the　last　time　you　slept？〃
  I　thought　about　that　for　a　second。　〃Huh。　I'm　not　actually　sure。〃
  〃Aw；　Jake。　Now　I'm　messing　with　your　health；　too。　Don't　be　stupid。〃
  I　gritted　my　teeth。　She　was　allowed　to　kill　herself　for　a　monster；　but　I　wasn't　allowed　to　miss　a　few
  nights'　sleep　to　watch　her　do　it？
  〃Get　some　rest；　please；〃　she　went　on。　〃There're　a　few　beds　upstairs—you're　welcome　to　any　of　them。〃
  The　look　on　Rosalie's　face　made　it　clear　that　I　wasn't　welcome　to　one　of　them。　It　made　me　wonder　what
  Sleepless　Beauty　needed　a　bed　for　anyway。　Was　she　that　possessive　of　her　props？
  〃Thanks；　Bells；　but　I'd　rather　sleep　on　the　ground。　Away　from　the　stench；　you　know。〃
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  She　grimaced。　〃Right。〃
  Carlisle　was　back　then；　and　Bella　reached　out　for　the　blood；　absentminded；　like　she　was　thinking　of
  something　else。　With　the　same　distracted　expression；　she　started　sucking　it　down。
  She　really　was　looking　better。　She　pulled　herself　forward；　being　careful　of　the　tubes；　and　scooted　into　a
  sitting　position。　Rosalie　hovered；　her　hands　ready　to　catch　Bella　if　she　sagged。　But　Bella　didn't　need　her。
  Taking　deep　breaths　in　between　swallows；　Bella　finished　the　second　cup　quickly。
  〃How　do　you　feel　now？〃　Carlisle　asked。
  〃Not　sick。　Sort　of　hungry。。。　only　I'm　not　sure　if　I'm　hungry　or　thirsty；　you　know？〃
  〃Carlisle；　just　look　at　her；〃　Rosalie　murmured；　so　smug　she　should　have　canary　feathers　on　her　lips。　〃This
  is　obviously　what　her　body　wants。　She　should　drink　more。〃
  〃She's　still　human；　Rosalie。　She　needs　food；　too。　Let's　give　her　a　little　while　to　see　how　this　affects　her；
  and　then　maybe