s.

It shouldnt have surprised me to see him human. I wasnt sure why Id been looking for the big red-brown wolf.

Jacob seemed bigger again  no doubt a product of my expectations; I must have unconsciously been hoping to see the smaller Jacob from my memory, the easygoing friend who hadnt made everything so difficult. He had his arms folded across his bare chest, a jacket clutched in one fist. His face was expressionless as he watched us.

Edwards lips pulled down at the corners. There had to have been a better way to do this.

Too late now, I muttered glumly.

He sighed.

Hey, Jake, I greeted him when we got closer.

Hi, Bella.

Hello, Jacob, Edward said.

Jacob ignored the pleasantry, all business. Where do I take her?

Edward pulled a map from a side pocket on the pack and offered it to him. Jacob unfolded it.

Were here now, Edward said, reaching over to touch the right spot. Jacob recoiled from his hand automatically, and then steadied himself. Edward pretended not to notice.

And youre taking her up here, Edward continued, tracing a serpentine pattern around the elevation lines on the paper. Roughly nine miles.

Jacob nodded once.

When youre about a mile away, you should cross my path. That will lead you in. Do you need the map?

No, thanks. I know this area pretty well. I think I know where Im going.

Jacob seemed to have to work harder than Edward to keep the tone polite.

Ill take a longer route, Edward said. And Ill see you in a few hours.

Edward stared at me unhappily. He didnt like this part of the plan.

See you, I murmured.

Edward faded into the trees, heading in the opposite direction.

As soon as he was gone, Jacob turned cheerful.

Whats up, Bella? he asked with a big grin.

I rolled my eyes. Same old, same old.

Yeah, he agreed. Bunch of vampires trying to kill you. The usual.

The usual.

Well, he said as he shrugged into his jacket to free his arms. Lets get going.

Making a face, I took a small step closer to him.

He bent down and swept his arm behind my knees, knocking them out from under me. His other arm caught me before my head hit the ground.

Jerk, I muttered.

Jacob chuckled, already running through the trees. He kept a steady pace, a brisk jog that a fit human could keep up with . . . across a level plane . . . if they werent burdened with a hundred-plus pounds as he was.

You dont have to run. Youll get tired.

Running doesnt make me tired, he said. His breathing was even  like the fixed tempo of a marathoner. Besides, it will be colder soon. I hope he gets the camp set up before we get there.

I tapped my finger against the thick padding of his parka. I thought you didnt get cold now.

I dont. I brought this for you, just in case you werent prepared. He looked at my jacket, almost as if he were disappointed that I was. I dont like the way the weather feels. Its making me edgy. Notice how we havent seen any animals?

Um, not really.

I guess you wouldnt. Your senses are too dull.

I let that pass. Alice was worried about the storm, too.

It takes a lot to silence the forest this way. You picked a hell of a night for a camping trip.

It wasnt entirely my idea.

The pathless way he took began to climb more and more steeply, but it didnt slow him down. He leapt easily from rock to rock, not seeming to need his hands at all. His perfect balance reminded me of a mountain goat.

Whats with the addition to your bracelet? he asked.

I looked down, and realized that the crystal heart was facing up on my wrist.

I shrugged guiltily. Another graduation present.

He snorted. A rock. Figures.

A rock? I was suddenly reminded of Alices unfinished sentence outside the garage. I stared at the bright white crystal and tried to remember what Alice had been saying before . . . about diamonds. Could she have been trying to sayhes already got one on you ? As in, I was already wearing one diamond from Edward? No, that was impossible. The heart would have to be five carats or something crazy like that! Edward wouldnt 

So its been a while since you came down to La Push, Jacob said, interrupting my disturbing conjectures.

Ive been busy, I told him. And . . . I probably wouldnt have visited, anyway.

He grimaced. I thought you were supposed to be the forgiving one, and I was the grudge-holder.

I shrugged.

Been thinking about that last time a lot, have you?

Nope.

He laughed. Either youre lying, or you are the stubbornest person alive.

I dont know about the second part, but Im not lying.

I didnt like having this conversation under the present conditions  with his too-warm arms wrapped tightly around me and nothing at all I could do about it. His face was closer than I wanted it to be. I wished I could take a step back.

A smart person looks at all sides of a decision.

I have, I retorted.

If you havent thought at all about our . . . er, conversation the last time you came over, then thats not true.

Thatconversation isnt relevant to my decision.

Some people will go to any lengths to delude themselves.

Ive noticed that werewolves in particular are prone to that mistake  do you think its a genetic thing?

Does that mean that hes a better kisser that I am? Jacob asked, suddenly glum.

I really couldnt say, Jake. Edward is the only person Ive ever kissed.

Besides me.

But I dont count that as a kiss, Jacob. I think of it more as an assault.

Ouch! Thats cold.

I shrugged. I wasnt going to take it back.

I did apologize about that, he reminded me.

And I forgave you . . . mostly. It doesnt change the way I remember it.

He muttered something unintelligible.

It was quiet then for a while; there was just the sound of his measured breathing and the wind roaring high above us in the treetops. A cliff face rose sheer beside us, bare, rough gray stone. We followed the base as it curved upward out of the forest.

I still think its pretty irresponsible, Jacob suddenly said.

Whatever youre talking about, youre wrong.

Think about it, Bella. According to you, youve kissed just one person  who isnt even really a person  in your whole life, and youre calling it quits? How do you know thats what you want? Shouldnt you play the field a little?

I kept my voice cool. I know exactly what I want.

Then it couldnt hurt to double check. Maybe you should try kissing someone else  just for comparisons sake . . . since what happened the other day doesnt count. You could kissme, for example. I dont mind if you want to use me to experiment.

He pulled me tighter against his chest, so that my face was closer to his. He was smiling at his joke, but I wasnt taking any chances.

Dont mess with me, Jake. I swear I wont stop him if he wants to break your jaw.

The panicky edge to my voice made him smile wider. If youask me to kiss you, he wont have any reason to get upset. He said that was fine.

Dont hold your breath, Jake  no, wait, I changed my mind. Go right ahead. Just hold your breath until I ask you to kiss me.

Youre in a bad mood today.

I wonder why?

Sometimes I think you like me better as a wolf.

Sometimes I do. It probably has something to do with the way youcant talk. 

He pursed his broad lips thoughtfully. No, I dont think thats it. I think its easier for you to be near me when Im not human, because you dont have to pretend that youre not attracted to me.

My mouth fell open with a little popping sound. I snapped it shut at once, grinding my teeth together.

He heard that. His lips pulled tightly across his face in a triumphant smile.

I took a slow breath before I spoke. No. Im pretty sure its because you cant talk.

He sighed. Do you ever get tired of lying to yourself? You have to know how aware you are of me. Physically, I mean.

How could anyonenot be aware of you physically, Jacob? I demanded. Youre an enormous monster who 