of　the　interior。　I　knew　the　feel　of　the　powerful　engine　purring　through　the　frame。　I　knew　the　rich　smell　of
  the　leather　seats　and　the　way　the　extra…dark　tint　made　noon　look　like　dusk　through　those　windows。
  It　was　Carlisle's　car。
  〃Stop！〃　I　cried　again；　louder　this　time；　because　Jacob　was　gunning　the　truck　down　the　street。
  〃What？！〃
  〃It's　not　Victoria。　Stop；　stop！　I　want　to　go　back。〃
  He　stomped　on　the　brake　so　hard　I　had　to　catch　myself　against　the　dashboard。
  〃What？〃　he　asked　again；　aghast。　He　stared　at　me　with　horror　in　his　eyes。
  〃It's　Carlisle's　car！　It's　the　Cullens。　I　know　it。〃
  He　watched　dawn　break　across　my　face；　and　a　violent　tremor　rocked　his　frame。
  〃Hey；　calm　down；　Jake。　It's　okay。　No　danger；　see？　Relax。〃
  〃Yeah；　calm；〃　he　panted；　putting　his　head　down　and　closing　his　eyes。　While　he　concentrated　on　not
  exploding　into　a　wolf；　I　stared　out　the　back　window　at　the　black　car。
  It　was　just　Carlisle；　I　told　myself。　Don't　expect　anything　more。　Maybe　Esme…　Stop　right　there；　I　told
  myself。　Just　Carlisle。　That　was　plenty。　More　than　I'd　ever　hoped　to　have　again。
  〃There's　a　vampire　in　your　house；〃　Jacob　hissed。　〃And　you　want　to　go　back？〃
  I　glanced　at　him；　ripping　my　unwilling　eyes　off　the　Mercedes—terrified　that　it　would　disappear　the　second
  I　looked　away。
  〃Of　course；〃　I　said；　my　voice　blank　with　surprise　at　his　question。　Of　course　I　wanted　to　go　back。
  Jacob's　face　hardened　while　I　stared　at　him；　congealing　into　the　bitter　mask　that　I'd　thought　was　gone　for
  good。　Just　before　he　had　the　mask　in　place；　I　caught　the　spasm　of　betrayal　that　flashed　in　his　eyes。　His
  hands　were　still　shaking。　He　looked　ten　years　older　than　me。
  He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃You're　sure　it's　not　a　trick？〃　he　asked　in　a　slow；　heavy　voice。
  〃It's　not　a　trick。　It's　Carlisle。　Take　me　back！〃
  A　shudder　rippled　through　his　wide　shoulders；　but　his　eyes　were　flat　and　emotionless。　〃No。〃
  〃Jake；　it's　okay—〃
  〃No。　Take　yourself　back；　Bella。〃　His　voice　was　a　slap—I　flinched　as　the　sound　of　it　struck　me。　His　jaw
  clenched　and　unclenched。
  〃Look；　Bella；〃　he　said　in　the　same　hard　voice。　〃I　can't　go　back。　Treaty　or　no　treaty；　that's　my　enemy　in
  there。〃
  〃It's　not　like　that—〃
  〃I　have　to　tell　Sam　right　away。　This　changes　things。　We　can't　be　caught　on　their　territory。〃
  〃Jake；　it's　not　a　war！〃
  He　didn't　listen。　He　put　the　truck　in　neutral　and　jumped　out　the　door；　leaving　it　running。
  〃Bye；　Bella；〃　he　called　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃I　really　hope　you　don't　die。〃　He　sprinted　into　the
  darkness；　shaking　so　hard　that　his　shape　seemed　blurred；　he　disappeared　before　I　could　open　my　mouth
  to　call　him　back。
  Remorse　pinned　me　against　the　seat　for　one　long　second。　What　had　I　just　done　to　Jacob'？
  But　remorse　couldn't　hold　me　very　long。
  I　slid　across　the　seat　and　put　the　truck　back　in　drive。　My　hands　were　shaking　almost　as　hard　as　Jake's
  had　been；　and　this　took　a　minute　of　concentration。　Then　I　carefully　turned　the　truck　around　and　drove　it
  back　to　my　house。
  It　was　very　dark　when　I　turned　off　the　headlights。　Charlie　had　left　in　such　a　hurry　that　he'd　forgotten　to
  leave　the　porch　lamp　on。　I　felt　a　pang　of　doubt；　staring　at　the　house；　deep　in　shadow。　What　if　it　was　a
  trick？
  I　looked　back　at　the　black　car；　almost　invisible　in　the　night。　No。　I　knew　that　car。
  Still；　my　hands　were　shaking　even　worse　than　before　as　I　reached　for　the　key　above　the　door。　When　I
  grabbed　the　doorknob　to　unlock　it；　it　twisted　easily　under　my　hand。　I　let　the　door　fall　open。　The　hallway
  was　black。
  I　wanted　to　call　out　a　greeting；　but　my　throat　was　too　dry。　I　couldn't　quite　seem　to　catch　my　breath。
  I　took　a　step　inside　and　fumbled　for　the　light　switch。　It　was　so　black—like　the　black　water…　Where　was
  that　switch？
  Just　like　the　black　water；　with　the　orange　flame　flickering　impossibly　on　top　of　it。　Flame　that　couldn't　be　a
  fire；　but　what　then…　？　My　fingers　traced　the　wall；　still　searching；　still　shaking—
  Suddenly；　something　Jacob　had　told　me　this　afternoon　echoed　in　my　head；　finally　sinking　in…　She　took
  off　into　the　water；　he'd　said。　The　bloodsuckers　have　the　advantage　there。　That's　why　I　raced　home
  —I　was　afraid　she　was　going　to　double　back　swimming。
  My　hand　froze　in　its　searching；　my　whole　body　froze　into　place；　as　I　realized　why　I　recognized　the
  strange　orange　color　on　the　water。
  Victoria's　hair；　blowing　wild　in　the　wind；　the　color　of　fire…
  She'd　been　right　there。　Right　there　in　the　harbor　with　me　and　Jacob。　If　Sam　hadn't　been　there；　if　it　had
  been　just　the　two　of　us…　？　I　couldn't　breathe　or　move。
  The　light　flicked　on；　though　my　frozen　hand　had　still　not　found　the　switch。
  I　blinked　into　the　sudden　light；　and　saw　that　someone　was　there；　waiting　for　me。
  17。　VISITOR
  UNNATURALLY　STILL　AND　WHITE；　WITH　LARGE　BLACK　EYES　intent　on　my　face；　my　visitor
  waited　perfectly　motionless　in　the　center　of　the　halt；　beautiful　beyond　imagining。
  My　knees　trembled　for　a　second；　and　I　nearly　fell。　Then　I　hurled　myself　at　her。
  〃Alice；　oh；　Alice！〃　I　cried；　as　I　slammed　into　her。
  I'd　forgotten　how　hard　she　was；　it　was　like　running　headlong　into　a　wall　of　cement。
  〃Bella？〃　There　was　a　strange　mingling　of　relief　and　confusion　in　her　voice。
  I　locked　my　arms　around　her；　gasping　to　inhale　as　much　of　the　scent　of　her　skin　as　possible。　It　wasn't　like
  anything　else—not　floral　or　spice；　citrus　or　musk。　No　perfume　in　the　world　could　compare。　My　memory
  hadn't　done　it　justice。
  I　didn't　notice　when　the　gasping　turned　into　something　else—I　only　realized　I　was　sobbing　when　Alice
  dragged　me　to　the　living　room　couch　and　pulled　me　into　her　lap。　It　was　like　curling　up　into　a　cool　stone；
  but　a　stone　that　was　contoured　comfortingly　to　the　shape　of　my　body。　She　rubbed　my　back　in　a　gentle
  rhythm；　waiting　for　me　to　get　control　of　myself。
  〃I'm…　sorry；〃　I　blubbered。　〃I'm　just…　so　happy…　to　see　you！〃
  〃It's　okay；　Bella。　Everything's　okay。〃
  〃Yes；〃　I　bawled。　And；　for　once；　it　seemed　that　way。
  Alice　sighed。　〃I'd　forgotten　how　exuberant　you　are；〃　she　said；　and　her　tone　was　disapproving。
  I　looked　up　at　her　through　my　streaming　eyes。　Alice's　neck　was　tight；　straining　away　from　me；　her　lips
  pressed　together　firmly。　Her　eyes　were　black　as　pitch。
  〃Oh；〃　I　puffed；　as　I　realized　the　problem。　She　was　thirsty。　And　I　smelled　appetizing。　It　had　been　a　while
  since　I'd　had　to　think　about　that　kind　of　thing。　〃Sorry。〃
  〃It's　my　own　fault。　It's　been　too　long　since　I　hunted。　I　shouldn't　let　myself　get　so　thirsty。　But　I　was　in　a
  hurry　today。〃　The　look　she　directed　at　me　then　was　a　glare。　〃Speaking　of　which；　would　you　like　to
  explain　to　me　how　you're　alive？〃
  That　brought　me　up　short　and　stopped　the　sobs。　I　realized　what　must　have　happened　immediately；　and
  why　Alice　was　here。
  I　swallowed　loudly。　〃You　saw　me　fall。〃
  〃No；〃　she　disagreed；　her　eyes　narrowing。　〃I　saw　you　jump。〃
  I　pursed　my　lips　as　I　tried　to　think　of　an　explanation　that　wouldn't　sound　nuts。
  Alice　shook　her　head。　〃I　told　him　this　would　happen；　but　he　didn't　believe　me。　'Bella　promised；'〃　her
  voice　imitated　his　so　perfectly　that　I　iroze　in　shock　while　the　pain　ripped　through　my　torso。　〃'Don't　be
  looking　for　her　future；　either；'〃　she　continued　to　quote　him。　'〃We've　done　enough　damage。〃
  〃But　just　because　I'm　not　looking；　doesn't　mean　I　don't　see〃　she　went　on。　〃I　wasn't　keeping　tabs　on　you；
  I　swear；　Bella。　It's　just　that　I'm　alreacy　attuned　to　you…　when　I　saw　you　jumping；　I　didn't　think；　I　just　got
  on　a　plane。　I　knew　I　would　be　too　late；　but　I　couldn't　do　nothing。　And　then　I　get　here；　thinking　maybe　I
  could　help　Charlie　somehow；　and　you　drive　up。〃　She　shook　her　head；　this　time　in　confusion。　Her　voice
  was　strained。　〃I　saw　you　go　into　the　water　and　I　waited　and　waited　for　you　to　come　up；　but　you　didn't。
  What　happened？　And　how　could　you　do　that　to　Charlie？　Did　you　stop　to　think　what　this　would　do　to
  him？　And　my　brother？　Do　you　have　any　idea　what　Edward—〃
  I　cut　her　off　then；　as　soon　as　she　said　his　name。　I'd　let　her　go　on；　even　after　I　realized　the
  misunderstanding　she　was　under；　just　to　hear　the　perfect　bell　tone　of　her　voice。　But　it　was　time　to
  interrupt。
  〃Alice；　I　wasn't　committing　suicide。〃
  She　eyed　me　dubiously。　〃Are　you　saying　you　didn't　jump　off　a　cliff？〃
  〃No；　but…〃　I　grimaced。　〃It　was　for　recreational　purposes　only。〃
  Her　expression　hardened。
  〃I'd　seen　some　of　Jacob's　friends　cliff　diving；〃　I　insisted。　〃It　looked　like…　fun；　and　I　was　bored…〃
  She　waited。
  〃I　didn't　think　about　how　the　storm　would　affect　the　currents。　Actually；　I　didn't　think　about　the　water
  much　at　all。〃
  Alice　didn't　buy　it。　I　could　see　that　she　still　thought　I　had　been　trying　to　kill　myself。　I　decided　to　redirect。
  〃So　if　you　saw　me　go　in；　why　didn't　you　see　Jacob？〃
  She　cocked　her　head　to　the　side；　distracted。
  I　continued。　〃It's　true　that　I　probably　would　have　drowned　if　Jacob　hadn't　jumped　in　after　me。　Well；
  okay；　there's　no　probably　about　it。　But　he　did；　and　he　pulled　me　out；　and　I　guess　he　towed　me　back　to
  shore；　though　I　was　kind　of　out　for　that　part。　It　couldn't　have　been　more　than　a　min