the　voice　in　my　head　began　to　fade；　until　I　heard　it　no　more。　Quietly；　I　panicked。　I　threw　myself　into　the
  search　for　the　meadow　with　slightly　frenzied　intensity。　I　racked　my　brain　for　other　adrenaline…producing
  activities。
  I　didn't　keep　track　of　the　days　：hat　passed—there　was　no　reason；　as　I　tried　to　live　as　much　in　the　present
  as　possible；　no　past　fading；　no　future　impending。　So　I　was　surprised　by　the　date　when　Jacob　brought　it
  up　on　one　of　our　homework　days。　He　was　waiting　when　I　pulled　up　in　front　of　his　house。
  〃Happy　Valentine's　Day；〃　Jacob　said；　smiling；　but　ducking　his　head　as　he　greeted　me。
  He　held　out　a　small；　pink　box；　balancing　it　on　his　palm。　Conversation　hearts。
  〃Well；　I　feel　like　a　schmuck；〃　I　mumbled。　〃Is　today　Valentine's　Day？〃
  Jacob　shook　his　head　with　mock　sadness。　〃You　can　be　so　out　of　it　sometimes。　Yes；　it　is　the　fourteenth
  day　of　February。　So　are　you　going　to　be　my　Valentine？　Since　you　didn't　get　me　a　fifty…cent　box　of　candy；
  it's　the　least　you　can　do。〃
  I　started　to　feel　uncomfortable。　The　words　were　teasing；　but　only　on　the　surface。
  〃What　exactly　does　that　entail？〃　I　hedged。
  〃The　usual—slave　for　life；　that　kind　of　thing。〃
  〃Oh；　well；　if　that's　all…〃　I　took　the　candy。　But　I　was　trying　to　think　of　some　way　to　make　the　boundaries
  clear。　Again。　They　seemed　to　get　blurred　a　lot　with　Jacob。
  〃So；　what　are　we　doing　tomorrow？　Hiking；　or　the　ER？〃
  〃Hiking；〃　I　decided。　〃You're　not　the　only　one　who　can　be　obsessive。　I'm　starting　to　think　I　imagined　that
  place…〃　I　frowned　into　space。
  〃We'll　find　it；〃　he　assured　me。　〃Bikes　Friday？〃　he　offered。
  I　saw　a　chance　and　took　it　without　taking　time　to　think　it　through。
  〃I'm　going　to　a　movie　Friday。　I've　been　promising　my　cafeteria　crowd　that　I　would　go　out　forever。〃　Mike
  would　be　pleased。
  But　Jacob's　face　fell。　I　caught　the　expression　in　his　dark　eyes　before　he　dropped　them　to　look　at　the
  ground。
  〃You'll　come　too；　right？〃　I　added　quickly。　〃Or　will　it　be　too　much　of　a　drag　with　a　bunch　of　boring
  seniors？〃　So　much　for　my　chance　to　put　some　distance　between　us。　I　couldn't　stand　hurting　Jacob；　we
  seemed　to　be　connected　in　an　odd　way；　and　his　pain　set　off　little　stabs　of　my　own。　Also；　the　idea　of
  having　his　company　for　the　ordeal—I　had　promised　Mike；　but　really　didn't　feel　any　enthusiasm　at　the
  thought　of　following　through—was　just　too　tempting。
  〃You'd　like　me　to　come；　with　your　friends　there？〃
  〃Yes；〃　I　admitted　honestly；　knowing　as　I　continued　that　I　was　probably　shooting　myself　in　the　foot　with
  my　words。　〃I'll　have　a　lot　more　fun　if　you're　there。　Bring　Quil；　and　we'll　make　it　a　party。〃
  〃Quil's　gonna　freak。　Senior　girls。〃　He　chortled　and　rolled　his　eyes。　I　didn't　mention　Embry；　and　neither　did
  he。　I　laughed；　too。　〃I'll　try　to　get　hin　a　good　selection。〃
  I　broached　the　subject　with　Mike　in　English。
  〃Hey；　Mike；〃　I　said　when　class　was　over。　〃Are　you　free　Friday　night？〃
  He　looked　up；　his　blue　eyes　instantly　hopeful。　〃Yeah；　I　am。　You　want　to　go　out？〃
  I　worded　my　reply　carefully。　〃I　was　thinking　about　getting　a　group〃—I　emphasized　the　word—〃together
  to　go　see　Crosshairs。〃　I'd　done　my　homework　this　time—even　reading　the　movie　spoilers　to　be　sure　I
  wouldn't　be　caught　off　guard。　This　movie　was　supposed　to　be　a　bloodbath　from　start　to　finish。　I　wasn't　so
  recovered　that　I　could　stand　to　sit　through　a　romance。　〃Does　that　sound　like　fun？〃
  〃Sure；〃　he　agreed；　visibly　less　eager。
  〃Cool。〃
  After　a　second；　he　perked　back　up　to　near　his　former　excitement　level。　〃How　about　we　get　Angela　and
  Ben？　Or　Eric　and　Katie？〃
  He　was　determined　to　make　this　some　kind　of　double　date；　apparently。
  〃How　about　both？〃　I　suggested　〃And　Jessica；　too；　of　course。　And　Tyler　and　Conner；　and　maybe
  Lauren；〃　I　tacked　on　grudgingly。　I　had　promised　Quil　variety。
  〃Okay；〃　Mike　muttered；　foiled。
  〃And；〃　I　continued；　〃I've　got　a　couple　of　friends　from　La　Push　I'm　inviting。　So　it　sounds　like　we'll　need
  your　Suburban　if　everyone　comes。〃
  Mike's　eyes　narrowed　in　suspicion。
  〃These　are　the　friends　you　spend　all　your　time　studying　with　now？〃
  〃Yep；　the　very　ones；〃　I　answered　cheerfully。　〃Though　you　could　look　at　it　as　tutoring—they're　only
  sophomores。〃
  〃Oh；〃　Mike　said；　surprised。　After　a　second　of　thought；　he　smiled。
  In　the　end；　though；　the　Suburban　wasn't　necessary。
  Jessica　and　Lauren　claimed　to　be　busy　as　soon　as　Mike　let　it　slip　that　I　was　involved　in　the　planning。　Eric
  and　Katie　already　had　plans—it　was　their　three…week　anniversary　or　something。　Lauren　got　to　Tyler　and
  Conner　before　Mike　could；　so　those　two　were　also　busy。　Even　Quil　was　out—grounded　for　fighting　at
  school。　In　the　end；　only　Angela　and　Ben；　and；　of　course　Jacob；　were　able　to　go。
  The　diminished　numbers　didn't　dampen　Mike's　anticipation；　though。　It　was　all　he　could　talk　about　Friday。
  〃Are　you　sure　you　don't　want　to　see　Tomorrow　and　Forever　instead？〃　he　asked　at　lunch；　naming　the
  current　romantic　comedy　that　was　ruling　the　box　office。　〃Rotten　Tomatoes　gave　it　a　better　review。〃
  〃I　want　to　see　Crosshairs〃　I　insisted。　〃I'm　in　the　mood　for　action。　Bring　on　the　blood　and　guts！〃
  〃Okay。〃　Mike　turned　away；　but　not　before　I　saw　his　maybe…she's…crazy…after…all　expression。
  When　I　got　home　from　school；　a　very　familiar　car　was　parked　in　front　of　my　house。　Jacob　was　leaning
  against　the　hood；　a　huge　grin　lighting　up　his　face。
  〃No　way！〃　I　shouted　as　I　jumped　out　of　the　truck。　〃You're　done！　I　can't　believe　it！　You　finished　the
  Rabbit！〃
  He　beamed。　〃Just　last　night。　This　is　the　maiden　voyage。〃
  〃Incredible。〃　I　held　my　hand　up　for　a　high　five。
  He　smacked　his　hand　against　mine；　but　left　it　there；　twisting　his　fingers　through　mine。　〃So　do　I　get　to　drive
  tonight？〃
  〃Definitely；〃　I　said；　and　then　I　sighed。
  〃What's　wrong？〃
  〃I'm　giving　up—I　can't　top　this　one。　So　you　win。　You're　oldest。〃
  He　shrugged；　unsurprised　by　my　capitulation。　〃Of　course　I　am。〃
  Mike's　Suburban　chugged　around　the　corner。　I　pulled　my　hand　out　of　Jacob's；　and　he　nude　a　face　that　I
  wasn't　meant　to　see。
  〃I　remember　this　guy；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice　as　Mike　parked　across　the　street。　〃The　one　who　thought
  you　were　his　girlfriend。　Is　he　still　confused？〃
  I　raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Some　people　are　hard　to　discourage。〃
  〃Then　again；〃　Jacob　said　thoughtfully；　〃sometimes　persistence　pays　off。〃
  〃Most　of　the　time　it's　just　annoying；　though。〃
  Mike　got　out　of　his　car　and　crossed　the　road。
  〃Hey；　Bella；〃　he　greeted　me；　and　then　his　eyes　turned　wary　as　he　looked　up　at　Jacob。　I　glanced　briefly　at
  Jacob；　too；　trying　to　be　objective。　He　really　didn't　look　like　a　sophomore　at　all。　He　was　just　so
  big—Mike's　head　barely　cleared　Jacob's　shoulder；　I　didn't　even　want　to　think　where　I　measured　next　to
  him—and　then　his　face　was　older…looking　than　it　used　to　be；　even　a　month　ago。
  〃Hey；　Mike！　Do　you　remember　Jacob　Black？〃
  〃Not　really。〃　Mike　held　out　his　hand。
  〃Old　family　friend；〃　Jacob　introduced　himself；　shaking　hands。　They　locked　hands　with　more　force　than
  necessary。　When　their　grip　broke；　Mike　flexed　his　fingers。
  I　heard　the　phone　ringing　from　the　kitchen。
  〃I'd　better　get　that—it　might　be　Charlie；〃　I　told　them；　and　dashed　inside。
  It　was　Ben。　Angela　was　sick　with　the　stomach　flu；　and　he　didn't　feel　like　coming　without　her。　He
  apologized　for　bailing　on　us。
  I　walked　slowly　back　to　the　waiting　boys；　shaking　my　head。　I　really　hoped　Angela　would　feel　better
  soon；　but　I　had　to　admit　that　I　was　selfishly　upset　by　this　development。　Just　the　three　of　us；　Mike　and
  Jacob　and　me；　together　for　the　evening—this　had　worked　out　brilliantly；　I　thought　with　grim　sarcasm。
  It　didn't　seem　like　Jake　and　Mike　had　made　any　progress　towards　friendship　in　my　absence。　They　were
  several　yards　apart；　facing　away　from　each　other　as　they　waited　for　me；　Mike's　expression　was　sullen；
  though　Jacob's　was　cheerful　as　always。
  〃Ang　is　sick；〃　I　told　them　glumly。　〃She　and　Ben　aren't　coming。〃
  〃I　guess　the　flu　is　making　another　round。　Austin　and　Conner　were　out　today；　too。　Maybe　we　should　do
  this　another　time；〃　Mike　suggested。
  Before　I　could　agree；　Jacob　spoke。
  〃I'm　still　up　for　it。　But　if　you'd　rather　to　stay　behind；　Mike—〃
  〃No；　I'm　coming；〃　Mike　interrupted。　〃I　was　just　thinking　of　Angela　and　Ben。　Let's　go。〃　He　started　toward
  his　Suburban。
  〃Hey；　do　you　mind　if　Jacob　drives？〃　I　asked。　〃I　told　him　he　could—he　just　finished　his　car。　He　built　it
  from　scratch；　all　by　himself；〃　I　bragged；　proud　as　a　PTA　mom　with　a　student　on　the　principal's　list。
  〃Fine；〃　Mike　snapped。
  〃All　right；　then；〃　Jacob　said；　as　if　that　settled　everything。　He　seemed　more　comfortable　than　anyone　else。
  Mike　climbed　in　the　backseat　of　the　Rabbit　with　a　disgusted　expression。
  Jacob　was　his　normal　sunny　self；　chattering　away　until　I'd　all　but　forgotten　Mike　sulking　silently　in　the
  back。
  And　then　Mike　changed　his　strategy。　He　leaned　forward；　resting　his　chin　on　the　shoulder　of　my　seat；　his
  cheek　almost　touched　mine。　I　shifted　away；　turning　my　back　toward　the　window。
  〃Doesn't　the　radio　work　in　this　thing？〃　Mike　asked　with　a　hint　of　petulance；　interrupti