. I feel like I dont really understand your relationship. Like theres some secret Im missing. . . .

I think youre imagining things, Mom, I said quickly, struggling to keep my voice light. There was a flutter in my stomach. Id forgotten how much my mothersaw . Something about her simple view of the world cut through all the distractions and pierced right to the truth of things. This had never been a problem before. Until now, there had never been a secret I couldnt tell her.

Its not just him. She set her lips defensively. I wish you could see how you move around him.

What do you mean?

The way you move  you orient yourself around him without even thinking about it. When he moves, even a little bit, you adjust your position at the same time. Like magnets . . . or gravity. Youre like a . . . satellite, or something. Ive never seen anything like it.

She pursed her lips and stared down.

Dont tell me, I teased, forcing a smile. Youre reading mysteries again, arent you? Or is it sci-fi this time?

Rene flushed a delicate pink. Thats beside the point.

Found anything good?

Well, there was one  but that doesnt matter. Were talking about you right now.

You should stick to romance, Mom. You know how you freak yourself out.

Her lips turned up at the corners. Im being silly, arent I?

For half a second I couldnt answer. Rene was so easily swayed. Sometimes it was a good thing, because not all of her ideas were practical. But it pained me to see how quickly she caved in to my trivializing, especially since she was dead right this time.

She looked up, and I controlled my expression.

Not silly  just being a mom.

She laughed and then gestured grandly toward the white sands stretching to the blue water.

And all this isnt enough to get you to move back in with your silly mom?

I wiped my hand dramatically across my forehead, and then pretended to wring my hair out.

You get used to the humidity, she promised.

You can get used to rain, too, I countered.

She elbowed me playfully and then took my hand as we walked back to her car.

Other than her worries about me, she seemed happy enough. Content. She still looked at Phil with goo-goo eyes, and that was comforting. Surely her life was full and satisfying. Surely she didnt miss me that much, even now. . . .

Edwards icy fingers brushed my cheek. I looked up, blinking, coming back to the present. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

Were home, Sleeping Beauty. Time to awake.

We were stopped in front of Charlies house. The porch light was on and the cruiser was parked in the driveway. As I examined the house, I saw the curtain twitch in the living room window, flashing a line of yellow light across the dark lawn.

I sighed. Of course Charlie was waiting to pounce.

Edward must have been thinking the same thing, because his expression was stiff and his eyes remote as he came to get my door for me.

How bad? I asked.

Charlies not going to be difficult, Edward promised, his voice level with no hint of humor. He missed you.

My eyes narrowed in doubt. If that was the case, then why was Edward tensed as if for a battle?

My bag was small, but he insisted on carrying it into the house. Charlie held the door open for us.

Welcome home, kid! Charlie shouted like he really meant it. How was Jacksonville?

Moist. And buggy.

So Rene didnt sell you on the University of Florida?

She tried. But Id rather drink water than inhale it.

Charlies eyes flickered unwillingly to Edward. Did you have a nice time?

Yes, Edward answered in a serene voice. Rene was very hospitable.

Thats . . . um, good. Glad you had fun. Charlie turned away from Edward and pulled me in for an unexpected hug.

Impressive, I whispered in his ear.

He rumbled a laugh. I really missed you, Bells. The food around here sucks when youre gone.

Ill get on it, I said as he let me go.

Would you call Jacob first? Hes been bugging me every five minutes since six oclock this morning. I promised Id have you call him before you even unpacked.

I didnt have to look at Edward to feel that he was too still, too cold beside me. So this was the cause of his tension.

Jacob wants to talk to me?

Pretty bad, Id say. He wouldnt tell me what it was about  just said it was important.

The phone rang then, shrill and demanding.

Thats him again, Id bet my next paycheck, Charlie muttered.

I got it. I hurried to the kitchen.

Edward followed after me while Charlie disappeared into the living room.

I grabbed the phone mid-ring, and twisted around so that I was facing the wall. Hello?

Youre back, Jacob said.

His familiar husky voice sent a wave of wistfulness through me. A thousand memories spun in my head, tangling together  a rocky beach strewn with driftwood trees, a garage made of plastic sheds, warm sodas in a paper bag, a tiny room with one too-small shabby loveseat. The laughter in his deep-set black eyes, the feverish heat of his big hand around mine, the flash of his white teeth against his dark skin, his face stretching into the wide smile that had always been like a key to a secret door where only kindred spirits could enter.

It felt sort of like homesickness, this longing for the place and person who had sheltered me through my darkest night.

I cleared the lump from my throat. Yes, I answered.

Why didnt you call me? Jacob demanded.

His angry tone instantly got my back up. Because Ive been in the house for exactly four seconds and your call interrupted Charlie telling me that youd called.

Oh. Sorry.

Sure. Now, why are you harassing Charlie?

I need to talk to you.

Yeah, I figured out that part all by myself. Go ahead.

There was a short pause.

You going to school tomorrow?

I frowned to myself, unable to make sense of this question. Of course I am. Why wouldnt I?

I dunno. Just curious.

Another pause.

So what did you want to talk about, Jake?

He hesitated. Nothing really, I guess. I . . . wanted to hear your voice.

Yeah, I know. Imso glad you called me, Jake. I . . . But I didnt know what more to say. I wanted to tell him I was on my way to La Push right now. And I couldnt tell him that.

I have to go, he said abruptly.

What?

Ill talk to you soon, okay?

But Jake 

He was already gone. I listened to the dial tone with disbelief.

That was short, I muttered.

Is everything all right? Edward asked. His voice was low and careful.

I turned slowly to face him. His expression was perfectly smooth  impossible to read.

I dont know. I wonder what that was about. It didnt make sense that Jacob had been hounding Charlie all day just to ask me if I was going to school. And if hed wanted to hear my voice, then why did he hang up so quickly?

Your guess is probably better than mine, Edward said, the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Mmm, I murmured. That was true. I knew Jake inside and out. It shouldnt be that complicated to figure out his motivations.

With my thoughts miles away  about fifteen miles away, up the road to La Push  I started combing through the fridge, assembling ingredients for Charlies dinner. Edward leaned against the counter, and I was distantly aware that his eyes were on my face, but too preoccupied to worry about what he saw there.

The school thing seemed like the key to me. That was the only real question Jake had asked. And he had to be after an answer to something, or he wouldnt have been bugging Charlie so persistently.

Why would my attendance record matter to him, though?

I tried to think about it in a logical way. So, if Ihadnt been going to school tomorrow, what would be the problem with that, from Jacobs perspective? Charlie had given me a little grief about missing a day of school so close to finals, but Id convinced him that one Friday wasnt going to derail my studies. Jake would hardly care about that.

My brain refused to come up with