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〃Of course。〃
Edward was waiting for me by the front door。 As I got to the bottom of the staircase； he held it open
without a word。
〃Take your things！〃 Alice cried as I walked warily toward Edward。 She scooped up the two packages；
one halfopened； and my camera from under the piano； and pressed them into my good arm。 〃You can
thank me later； when you've opened them。〃
Esme and Carlisle both said a quiet goodnight。 I could see them stealing quick glances at their impassive
son； much like I was。
It was a relief to be outside； I hurried past the lanterns and the roses； now unwele reminders。
Edward kept pace with me silently。 He opened the passenget side for me； and I climbed in without
plaint。
On the dashboard was a big red ribbon； stuck to the new stereo。 I pulled it off； throwing it to the floor。
As Edward slid into the other side； I kicked the ribbon under my seat。
He didn't look at me or the stereo。 Neither of us switched it on； and the silence was somehow intensified
by the sudden thunder of the engine。 He drove too fast down the dark； serpentine lane。
The silence was making me insane。
〃Say something；〃 I finally begged as he turned onto the freeway。
〃What do you want me to say？〃 he asked in a detached voice。
I cringed at his remoteness。 'Tell me you forgive me。〃
That brought a flicker of life to his face—a flicker of anger。 〃Forgive you？ For what？〃
〃If I'd been more careful； nothing would have happened。〃
〃Bella； you gave yourself a paper cut—that hardly deserves the death penalty。〃
〃It's still my fault。〃
My words opened up the floodgate。
〃Your fault？ If you'd cut yourself at Mike Newton's house； with Jessica there and Angela and your other
normal friends； the worst that could possibly have happened would be what？ Maybe they couldn't find
you a bandage？ If you'd tripped and knocked over a pile of glass plates on your own—without someone
throwing you into them—even then； what's the worst？ You'd get blood on the seats when they drove
you to the emergency room？ Mike Newton could have held your hand while they stitched you up—and
he wouldn't be righting the urge to kill you the whole time he was there。 Don't try to take any of this on
yourself； Bella。 It will only make me more disgusted with myself。〃
〃How the hell did Mike Newton end up in this conversation？〃 I demanded。
〃Mike Newton ended up in this conversation because Mike Newton would be a hell of a lot healthier for
you to be with；〃 he growled。
〃I'd rather die than be with Mike Newton；〃 I protested。 〃I'd rather die than be with anyone but you。〃
〃Don't be melodramatic； please。〃
〃Well then； don't you be ridiculous。〃
He didn't answer。 He glared through the windshield； his expression black。
I racked my brain for some way to salvage the evening。 When we pulled up in front of my house； I still
hadn't e up with anything。
He killed the engine； but his hands stayed clenched around the steering wheel。
〃Will you stay tonight？〃 I asked。
〃I should go home。〃
The last thing I wanted was for him to go wallow in remorse。
〃For my birthday；〃 I pressed。
〃You can't have it both ways—either you want people to ignore your birthday or you don't。 One or the
other。〃
His voice was stern； but not 。is serious as before。 I breathed a silent sigh of relief。
〃Okay。 I've decided that I don't want you to ignore my birthday。 I'll see you upstairs。〃
I hopped out； reaching back in for my packages。 He frowned。
〃You don't have to take those。〃
〃I want them；〃 I responded automatically； and then wondered if he was using reverse psychology。
〃No； you don't。 Carlisle and Esme spent money on you。〃
〃I'll live。〃 I tucked the presents awkwardly under my good arm and slammed the door behind me。 He
was out of the truck and by my side in less than a second。
〃Let me carry them； at least。〃 he said as he took them away。 〃I'll be in your room。〃
I smiled。 〃Thanks。〃
〃Happy birthday；〃 he sighed； and leaned down to touch his lips to mine。
I reached up on my toes to make the kiss last longer when he pulled away。 He smiled my favorite
crooked smile； and then he disappeared into the darkness。
The game was still on； as soon as I walked through the front door I could hear the announcer rambling
over the babble of the crowd。
〃Bell？〃 Charlie called。
〃Hey； Dad；〃 I said as I came around the corner。 I held my arm close to my side。 The slight pressure
burned； and I wrinkled my nose。 The anesthetic was apparently losing its effectiveness。
〃How was it？〃 Charlie lounged across the sofa with his bare feet propped up on the arm。 What was left
of his curly brown hair was crushed flat on one side。
〃Alice went overboard。 Flowers； cake； candles； presents—the whole bit。〃
〃What did they get you？〃
〃A stereo for my truck。〃 And various unknowns。
〃Wow。〃
〃Yeah；〃 I agreed。 〃Well； I'm calling it a night。〃
〃I'll see you in the morning。〃
I waved。 〃See ya。〃
〃What happened to your arm？〃
I flushed and cursed silently。 〃I tripped。 It's nothing。〃
〃Bella；〃 he sighed； shaking his head。
〃Goodnight； Dad。〃
I hurried up to the bathroom； where I kept my pajamas for just such nights as these。 I shrugged into the
matching tank top and cotton pants that I'd gotten to replace the holey sweats I used to wear to bed；
wincing as the movement pulled at the stitches。 I washed my face onehanded； brushed my teeth； and
then skipped to my room。
He was sitting in the center of my bed； toying idly with one of the silver boxes。
〃Hi；〃 he said。 His voice was sad。 He was wallowing。
I went to the bed； pushed the presents out of his hands； and climbed into his lap。
〃Hi。〃 I snuggled into his stone chest。 〃Can I open my presents now？〃
〃Where did the enthusiasm e from？〃 he wondered。
〃You made me curious。〃
I picked up the long flat rectangle that must have been from Carlisle and Esme。
〃Allow me；〃 he suggested。 He took the gift from my hand and tore the silver paper off with one fluid
movement。 He handed the rectangular white box back to me。
〃Are you sure I can handle lifting the lid？