〃Can　you　understand　that　I　might　have　the　same　kind　of…　situation？〃　He　was　struggling　again；　seeming　to
  fight　for　the　right　words。　〃Sometimes；　loyalty　gets　in　the　way　of　what　you　want　to　do。　Sometimes；　it's　not
  your　secret　to　tell。〃
  So；　I　couldn't　argue　with　that。　He　was　exactly　right—I　had　a　secret　that　wasn't　mine　to　tell；　yet　a　secret　I
  felt　bound　to　protect。　A　secret　that；　suddenly；　he　seemed　to　know　all　about。
  I　still　didn't　see　how　it　applied　to　him；　or　Sam；　or　Billy。　What　was　it　to　them；　now　that　the　Cullens　were
  gone？
  〃I　don't　know　why　you　came　here；　Jacob；　if　you　were　just　going　to　give　me　riddles　instead　of　answers。〃
  〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　whispered。　〃This　is　so　frustrating。〃
  We　looked　at　each　other　for　a　long　moment　in　the　dark　room；　both　our　faces　hopeless。
  〃The　part　that　kills　me；〃　he　said　abruptly；　〃is　that　you　already　know。　I　already　told　yon　everything！〃
  〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
  He　sucked　in　a　startled　breath；　and　then　leaned　toward　me；　his　face　shifting　from　hopelessness　to　blazing
  intensity　in　a　second。　He　stared　fiercely　into　my　eyes；　and　his　voice　was　fast　and　eager。　He　spoke　the
  words　right　into　my　face；　his　breath　was　as　hot　as　his　skin。
  〃I　think　I　see　a　way　to　make　this　work　out—because　you　know　this；　Bella！　I　can't　tell　you；　but　if　you
  guessed　it！　That　would　let　me　right　off　the　hook！〃
  〃You　want　me　to　guess？　Guess　what？〃
  〃My　secret！　You　can　do　it—you　know　the　answer！〃
  I　blinked　twice；　trying　to　clear　my　head。　I　was　so　tired。　Nothing　he　said　made　sense。
  He　took　in　my　blank　expression；　and　then　his　face　tensed　with　effort　again。　〃Hole　on；　let　me　see　if　I　give
  you　some　help；〃　he　said。　Whatever　he　was　trying　to　do；　it　was　so　hard　he　was　panting。
  〃Help？〃　I　asked；　trying　to　keep　up。　My　lids　wanted　to　slip　closed；　but　I　forced　them　open。
  〃Yeah；〃　he　said；　breathing　hard。　〃Like　clues。〃
  He　took　my　face　in　his　enormous；　too…warm　hands　and　held　it　just　a　few　inches　from　his。　He　stared　into
  my　eyes　while　he　whispered；　as　if　to　communicate　something　besides　the　words　he　spoke。
  〃Remember　the　first　day　we　met—on　the　beach　in　La　Push？〃
  〃Of　course　I　do。〃
  〃Tell　me　about　it。〃
  I　took　a　deep　breath　and　tried　to　concentrate。　〃You　asked　about　my　truck…〃
  He　nodded；　urging　me　on。
  〃We　talked　about　the　Rabbit…〃
  〃Keep　going。〃
  〃We　went　for　a　walk　down　the　beach…〃　My　cheeks　were　growing　warm　under　his　palms　as　I
  remembered；　but　he　wouldn't　notice；　hot　as　his　skin　was。　I'd　asked　him　to　walk　with　me；　flirting　ineptly
  but　successfully；　in　order　to　pump　him　for　information。
  He　was　nodding；　anxious　for　more。
  My　voice　was　nearly　soundless。　〃You　told　me　scary　stories…　Quileute　legends。〃
  He　closed　his　eyes　and　opened　them　again。　〃Yes。〃　The　word　was　tense；　fervent；　like　he　was　on　the　edge
  of　something　vital。　He　spoke　slowly；　making　each　word　distinct。　〃Do　you　remember　what　I　said？〃
  Even　in　the　dark；　he　must　be　able　to　see　the　change　in　the　color　of　my　face。　How　could　I　ever　forget
  that？　Without　realizing　what　he　was　doing；　Jacob　had　told　me　exactly　what　I　needed　to　know　that
  day—that　Edward　was　a　vampire。
  He　looked　at　me　with　eyes　that　knew　too　much。　〃Think　hard；〃　he　told　me。
  〃Yes；　I　remember；〃　I　breathed。
  He　inhaled　deeply；　struggling。　〃Do　you　remember　all　the　stor—〃　He　couldn't　finish　the　question。　His
  mouth　popped　open　like　something　had　stuck　in　his　throat。
  〃All　the　stories？〃　I　asked。
  He　nodded　mutely。
  My　head　churned。　Only　one　story　really　mattered。　I　knew　he'd　begun　with　others；　but　I　couldn't
  remember　the　inconsequential　prelude；　especially　not　while　my　brain　was　so　clouded　with　exhaustion。　I
  started　to　shake　my　head。
  Jacob　groaned　and　jumped　off　the　bed。　He　pressed　his　fists　against　his　forehead　and　breathed　fast　and
  angry。　〃You　know　this；　you　know　this；〃　he　muttered　to　himself。
  〃Jake？　Jake；　please；　I'm　exhausted。　I'm　no　good　at　this　right　now。　Maybe　in　the　morning…〃
  He　took　a　steadying　breath　and　nodded。　〃Maybe　it　will　come　back　to　you。　I　guess　I　understand　why　you
  only　remember　the　one　story；〃　he　added　in　a　sarcastic；　bitter　tone。　He　plunked　back　onto　the　mattress
  beside　me。　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　ask　you　a　question　about　that？〃　he　asked；　still　sarcastic。　〃I've　been　dying　ro
  know。〃
  〃A　question　about　what？〃　I　asked　warily。
  〃About　the　vampire　story　I　told　you。〃
  I　stared　at　him　with　guarded　eyes；　unable　to　answer。　He　asked　his　question　anyway。
  〃Did　you　honestly　not　know？〃　he　asked　me；　his　voice　turning　husky。　〃Was　I　the　one　who　told　you　what
  he　was？〃
  How　did　he　know　this？　Why　did　he　decide　to　believe；　why　now？　My　teeth　clenched　together。　I　stared
  back　at　him；　no　intention　of　speaking。　He　could　see　that。
  〃See　what　I　mean　about　loyalty？〃　he　murmured；　even　huskier　now。　〃It's　the　same　for　me；　only　worse。
  You　can't　imagine　how　tight　I'm　bound…〃
  I　didn't　like　that—didn't　like　the　way　his　eyes　closed　as　if　he　were　in　pain　when　he　spoke　of　being　bound。
  More　than　dislike—I　realized　I　hated　it；　hated　anything　that　caused　him　pain。　Hated　it　fiercely。
  Sam's　face　filled　my　mind。
  For　me；　this　was　all　essentially　voluntary。　I　protected　the　Cullens'　secret　out　of　love；　unrequited；　but　true。
  For　Jacob；　it　didn't　seem　to　be　that　way。
  〃Isn't　there　any　way　for　you　to　get　free？〃　I　whispered；　touching　the　rough　edge　at　the　back　of　his　shorn
  hair。
  His　hands　began　to　tremble；　but　he　didn't　open　his　eyes。　〃No。　I'm　in　this　for　life。　A　life　sentence。〃　A　bleak
  laugh。　〃Longer；　maybe。〃
  〃No；　Jake；〃　I　moaned。　〃What　if　we　ran　away？　Just　you　and　me。　What　if　we　left　home；　and　left　Sam
  behind？〃
  〃It's　not　something　I　can　run　away　from；　Bella；〃　he　whispered。　〃I　would　run　with　you；　though；　if　I　could。〃
  His　shoulders　were　shaking　now；　too。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃Look；　I've　got　to　leave。〃
  〃Why？〃
  〃For　one　thing；　you　look　like　you're　going　to　pass　out　at　any　second。　You　need　your　sleep—I　need　you
  firing　on　all　pistons。　You're　going　to　figure　this　out；　you　have　to。〃
  〃And　why　else？〃
  He　frowned。　〃I　had　to　sneak　out—I'm　not　supposed　to　see　you。　They've　got　to　be　wondering　where　I
  am。〃　His　mouth　twisted。　〃I　suppose　I　should　go　let　them　know。〃
  〃You　don't　have　to　tell　them　anything；〃　I　hissed。
  〃All　the　same；　I　will。〃
  The　anger　flashed　hot　inside　me。　〃I　hate　them！〃
  Jacob　looked　at　me　with　wide　eyes；　surprised。　〃No；　Bella。　Don't　hate　the　guys。　It's　not　Sam's　or　any　of
  the　others'　faults。　I　told　you　before—it's　me。　Sam　is　actually…　well；　incredibly　cool。　Jared　and　Paul　are
  great；　too；　though　Paul　is　kind　of…　And　Embry's　always　been　my　friend。　Nothing's　changed　there—the
  only　thing　that　hasn't　changed。　I　feel　really　bad　abour　the　things　I　used　to　think　about　Sam…〃
  〃Sam　was　incredibly　cool。〃　I　glared　at　him　in　disbelief；　but　let　it　go。
  〃Then　why　aren't　you　supposed　to　see　me？〃　I　demanded。
  〃It's　not　safe；〃　he　mumbled　looking　down。
  His　words　sent　a　thrill　of　fear　through　me。
  Did　he　know　that；　too？　Nobody　knew　that　besides　me。　But　he　was　right—it　was　the　middle　of　the　night；
  the　perfect　time　for　hunting。　Jacob　shouldn't　be　here　in　my　room。　If　someone　came　for　me；　I　had　：o　be
  alone。
  〃If　I　thought　it　was　too…　too　risky；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　wouldn't　have　come。　But　Bella；〃　he　looked　at　me
  again；　〃I　made　you　a　promise。　I　had　no　idea　it　would　be　so　hard　to　keep；　but　that　doesn't　mean　I'm　not
  going　to　try。〃
  He　saw　the　incomprehension　in　my　face。　〃After　that　stupid　movie；〃　he　reminded　me。　〃I　promised　you　that
  I　wouldn't　ever　hurt　you…　So　I　really　blew　it　this　afternoon；　didn't　I？〃
  〃I　know　you　didn't　want　to　do　it；　Jake。　It's　okay。〃
  〃Thanks；　Bella。〃　He　took　my　hand。　〃I'm　going　to　do　what　I　can　to　be　here　for　you；　just　like　I　promised。〃
  He　grinned　at　me　suddenly。　The　grin　was　not　mine；　nor　Sam's；　but　some　strange　combination　of　the　two。
  〃It　would　really　help　if　you　could　figure　this　out　on　your　own；　Bella。　Put　some　honest　effort　into　it。〃
  I　made　a　weak　grimace。　〃I'll　try。〃
  〃And　I'll　try　to　see　you　soon。〃　He　sighed。　〃And　they'll　try　to　talk　me　out　of　that。〃
  〃Don't　listen　to　them。〃
  〃I'll　try。〃　He　shook　his　head；　as　if　he　doubted　his　success。　〃Come　and　tell　me　as　soon　as　you　figure　it　out。〃
  Something　occurred　to　him　just　then；　something　that　made　his　hands　shake。　〃If　you…　if　you　want　to。〃
  〃Why　wouldn't　I　want　to　see　you？〃
  His　face　turned　hard　and　bitter；　one　hundred　percent　the　face　that　belonged　to　Sam。　〃Oh；　I　can　think　of　a
  reason；〃　he　said　in　a　harsh　tone。　〃Look；　I　really　have　to　go。　Could　you　do　something　for　me？〃
  I　just　nodded；　frightened　of　the　change　in　him。
  〃At　least　call　me—if　you　don't　want　to　see　me　again。　Let　me　know　if　it's　like　that。〃
  〃That　won't　happen—〃
  He　raised　one　hand；　cutting　me　off。　〃Just　let　me　know。〃
  He　stood　and　headed　for　the　window。
  〃Don't　be　an　idiot；　Jake；〃　I　complained。　〃You'll　break　your　leg。　Use　the　door。　Charlie's　not　going　to　catch
  you。〃
  〃I　won't　get　hurt；〃　he　muttered；　but　he　turned　for　the　door。　He　hesitated　as　he　passed　me；　staring　at　me
  with　an　expression　like　something　was　stabbing　him。　He　held　one　hand　out；　pleading。
  I　took　his　hand；　and　sudd