he rain softened, turned to mist.

I wont tell anyone, he promised.

Except every one of your friends.

He shook his head soberly and raised his right hand. I promise not to think about it.

I laughed. If I get hurt, it was because I tripped.

Whatever you say.

We rode our motorcycles on the back roads around La Push until the rain made them too muddy and Jacob insisted that he was going to pass out if he didnt eat soon. Billy greeted me easily when we got to the house, as if my sudden reappearance meant nothing more complicated than that Id wanted to spend the day with my friend. After we ate the sandwiches Jacob made, we went out to the garage and I helped him clean up the bikes. I hadnt been here in months  since Edward had returned  but there was no sense of import to it. It was just another afternoon in the garage.

This is nice, I commented when he pulled the warm sodas from the grocery bag. Ive missed this place.

He smiled, looking around at the plastic sheds bolted together over our heads. Yeah, I can understand that. All the splendor of the Taj Mahal, without the inconvenience and expense of traveling to India.

To Washingtons little Taj Mahal, I toasted, holding up my can.

He touched his can to mine.

Do you remember last Valentines Day? I think that was the last time you were here  the last time when things were still . . . normal, I mean.

I laughed. Of course I remember. I traded a lifetime of servitude for a box of conversation hearts. Thats not something Im likely to forget.

He laughed with me. Thats right. Hmm, servitude. Ill have to think of something good. Then he sighed. It feels like it was years ago. Another era. A happier one.

I couldnt agree with him. This was my happy era now. But I was surprised to realize how many things I missed from my own personal dark ages. I stared through the opening at the murky forest. The rain had picked up again, but it was warm in the little garage, sitting next to Jacob. He was as good as a furnace.

His fingers brushed my hand. Things have really changed.

Yeah, I said, and then I reached out and patted the back tire of my bike. Charlieused to like me. I hope Billy doesnt say anything about today. . . . I bit my lip.

He wont. He doesnt get worked up about things the way Charlie does. Hey, I never did apologize officially for that stupid move with the bike. Im real sorry about ratting you out to Charlie. I wish I hadnt.

I rolled my eyes. Me, too.

Im really, really sorry.

He looked at me hopefully, his wet, tangled black hair sticking up in every direction around his pleading face.

Oh, fine! Youre forgiven.

Thanks, Bells!

We grinned at each other for a second, and then his face clouded over.

You know that day, when I brought the bike over . . . Ive been wanting to ask you something, he said slowly. But also . . . not wanting to.

I held very still  a reaction to stress. It was a habit Id picked up from Edward.

Were you just being stubborn because you were mad at me, or were you really serious? he whispered.

About what? I whispered back, though I was sure I knew what he meant.

He glared at me. You know. When you said it was none of my business . . . if  if he bit you. He cringed visibly at the end.

Jake . . . My throat felt swollen. I couldnt finish.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Were you serious?

He was trembling just slightly. His eyes stayed closed.

Yes, I whispered.

Jacob inhaled, slow and deep. I guess I knew that.

I stared at his face, waiting for his eyes to open.

You know what this will mean? He demanded suddenly. You do understand that, dont you? What will happen if they break the treaty?

Well leave first, I said in a small voice.

His eyes flashed open, their black depths full of anger and pain. There wasnt a geographic limit to the treaty, Bella. Our great-grandfathers only agreed to keep the peace because the Cullens swore that they were different, that humans werent in danger from them. They promised they would never kill or change anyone ever again. If they go back on their word, the treaty is meaningless, and they are no different than any other vampires. Once thats established, when we find them again 

But, Jake, didnt you break the treaty already? I asked, grasping at straws. Wasnt part of it that you not tell people about the vampires? And you told me. So isnt the treaty sort of moot, anyhow?

Jacob didnt like the reminder; the pain in his eyes hardened into animosity. Yeah, I broke the treaty  back before I believed any of it. And Im sure they were informed of that. He glared sourly at my forehead, not meeting my shamed gaze. But its not like that gives them a freebie or anything. Theres no fault for a fault. They have only one option if they object to what I did. The same option well have when they break the treaty: to attack. To start the war.

He made it sound so inevitable. I shuddered.

Jake, it doesnt have to be that way.

His teeth ground together. Itis that way.

The silence after his declaration felt very loud.

Will you never forgive me, Jacob? I whispered. As soon as I said the words, I wished I hadnt. I didnt want to hear his answer.

You wont be Bella anymore, he told me. My friend wont exist. Therell be no one to forgive.

That sounds like ano,  I whispered.

We faced each other for an endless moment.

Is this goodbye then, Jake?

He blinked rapidly, his fierce expression melting in surprise. Why? We still have a few years. Cant we be friends until were out of time?

Years? No, Jake, not years. I shook my head, and laughed once without humor. Weeksis more accurate.

I was not expecting his reaction.

He was suddenly on his feet, and there was a loudpop as the soda can exploded in his hand. Soda flew everywhere, soaking me, like it was spraying from a hose.

Jake! I started to complain, but I fell silent when I realized that his whole body was quivering with anger. He glared at me wildly, a growling sound building in his chest.

I froze in place, too shocked to remember how to move.

The shaking rolled through him, getting faster, until it looked like he was vibrating. His shape blurred. . . .

And then Jacob gritted his teeth together, and the growling stopped. He squeezed his eyes tight in concentration; the quivering slowed until only his hands were shaking.

Weeks, Jacob said in a flat monotone.

I couldnt respond; I was still frozen.

He opened his eyes. They were beyond fury now.

Hes going to change you into a filthy bloodsucker in just a fewweeks ! Jacob hissed through his teeth.

Too stunned to take offense at his words, I just nodded mutely.

His face turned green under the russet skin.

Of course, Jake, I whispered after a long minute of silence. Hesseventeen, Jacob. And I get closer to nineteen every day. Besides, whats the point in waiting? Hes all I want. What else can I do?

Id meant that as a rhetorical question.

His words cracked like snaps of a whip. Anything. Anything else. Youd be better off dead. Id rather you were.

I recoiled like hed slapped me. It hurt worse than if he had.

And then, as the pain shot through me, my own temper burst into flame.

Maybe youll get lucky, I said bleakly, lurching to my feet. Maybe Ill get hit by a truck on my way back.

I grabbed my motorcycle and pushed it out into the rain. He didnt move as I passed him. As soon as I was on the small, muddy path, I climbed on and kicked the bike to life. The rear tire spit a fountain of mud toward the garage, and I hoped that it hit him.

I got absolutely soaked as I sped across the slick highway toward the Cullens house. The wind felt like it was freezing the rain against my skin, and my teeth were chattering before I was halfway there.

Motorcycles were too impractical for Washington. I would sell the stupid thing first chance I got.

I walked the bike into the Cullens cavernous garage and was unsurprised to f