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eyes wouldn't stay open。 I rested my head on her stone shoulder； and drifted into a more peaceful
oblivion than I had any hope of。
I woke early； from a deep and dreamless sleep； feeling wellrested； but stiff。 I was on the couch tucked
under the blankets I'd laid out for Alice； and I could hear her and Charlie talking in the kitchen。 It
sounded like Charlie was fixing her breakfast。
〃How bad was it； Charlie？〃 Alice asked softly； and at first I thought they were talking about the
Clearwaters。
Charlie sighed。 〃Real bad。〃
〃Tell me about it。 I want to know exactly what happened when we left。〃
There was a pause while a cupboard door was closed and a dial on the stove was clicked off。 I waited；
cringing。
〃I've never felt so helpless；〃 Charlie began slowly。 〃I didn't know what to do。 That first week—I thought I
was going to have to hospitalize her。 She wouldn't eat or drink； she wouldn't move。 Dr。 Gerandy was
throwing around words like 'catatonic；' but I didn't let him up to see her。 I was afraid it would scare her。〃
〃She snapped out of it though？〃
〃I had Renee e to take her to Florida。 I just didn't want to be the one… if she had to go to a hospital
or something。 I hoped being with her mother would help。 But when we started packing her clothes； she
woke up with a vengeance。 I've never seen Bella throw a fit like that。 She was never one for the
tantrums； but； boy； did she fly into a fury。 She threw her clothes everywhere and screamed that we
couldn't make her leave—and then she finally started crying。 I thought that would be the turning point。 I
didn't argue when she insisted on staying here… and she did seem to get better at first…〃
Charlie trailed off。 It was hard listening to this； knowing how much pain I'd caused him。
〃But？〃 Alice prompted。
〃She went back to school and work； she ate and slept and did her homework。 She answered when
someone asked her a direct question。 But she was… empty。 Her eyes were blank。 There were lots of
little things—she wouldn't listen to music anymore； I found a bunch of CDs broken in the trash。 She didn't
read； she wouldn't be in the same room when the TV was on； not that she watched it so much before。 I
finally figured it out—she was avoiding everything that might remind her of… him。
〃We could hardly talk； I was so worried about saying something that would upset her—the littlest things
would make her flinch—and she never volunteered anything。 She would just answer if I asked her
something。
〃She was alone all the time。 She didn't call her friends back； and after a while； they stopped calling。
〃It was night of the living dead around here。 I still hear her screaming in her sleep…〃
I could almost see him shuddering。 I shuddered； too； remembering。 And then I sighed。 I hadn't fooled him
at all； not for one second。
〃I'm so sorry； Charlie；〃 Alice said； voice glum。
〃It's not your fault。〃 The way he said it made it perfectly clear that he was holding someone responsible。
〃You were always a good friend to her。〃
〃She seems better now； though。〃
〃Yeah。 Ever since she started hanging out with Jacob Black； I've noticed a real improvement。 She has
some color in her cheeks when she es home； some light in her eyes。 She's happier。〃 He paused； and
his voice was different when he spoke again。 〃He's a year or so younger than her； and I know she used
to think of him as a friend； but I think maybe it's something more now； or headed that direction； anyway。〃
Charlie said this in a tone that was almost belligerent。 It was a warning； not for Alice； but for her to pass
along。 〃Jake's old for his years；〃 he continued； still sounding defensive。 〃He's taken care of his father
physically the way Bella took care of her mother emotionally。 It matured him。 He's a goodlooking kid；
too—takes after his mom's side。 He's good for Bella； you know；〃 Charlie insisted。
〃Then it's good she has him；〃 Alice agreed。
Charlie sighed out a big gust of air； folding quickly to the lack of opposition。 〃Okay； so I guess that's
overstating things。 I don't know… even with Jacob； now and then I see something in her eyes； and I
wonder if I've ever grasped how much pain she's really in It's not normal； Alice； and it… it frightens me。
Not normal at all。 Not like someone… left her； but like someone died。〃 His voice cracked。
It was like someone had died—like I had died。 Because it had been more than just losing the truest of
true loves； as if that were not enough to kill anyone。 It was also losing a whole future； a whole
family—the whole life that I'd chosen…
Charlie went on in a hopeless tone。 〃I don't know if she's going to get over it—I'm not sure if it's in her
nature to heal from something like this。 She's always been such a constant little thing。 She doesn't get past
things； change her mind。〃
〃She's one of a kind；〃 Alice agreed in a dry voice。
〃And Alice…〃 Charlie hesitated。 〃Now； you know how fond I am of you； and I can tell that she's happy
to see you； but… I'm a little worried about what your visit will do to her。〃
〃So am I； Charlie； so am I。 I wouldn't have e if I'd had any idea。 I'm sorry。〃
〃Don't apologize； honey。 Who knows？ Maybe it will be good for her。〃
〃I hope you're right。〃
There was a long break while forks scraped plates and Charlie chewed。 I wondered where Alice was
hiding the food。
〃Alice； I have to ask you something；〃 Charlie said awkwardly。
Alice was calm。 〃Go ahead。〃
〃He's not ing back to visit； too； is he？〃 I could hear the suppressed anger in Charlie's voice。
Alice answered in a soft； reassuring tone。 〃He doesn't even know I'm here。 The last time I spoke with
him； he was in South America。〃
I stiffened as I heard this new information； and listened harder。
〃That's something； at least。〃 Charlie snorted。 〃Well； I hope he's enjoying himself。〃
For the first time； Alice's voice had a bit of steel in it。 〃I wouldn't make assumptions； Charlie。〃 I knew
how her eyes would flash when she used that tone。
A chair scooted from the table； scraping loudly across the floor。 I pictured Charlie getting up； there was