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Jessica glowering at us now。
The numbers worked out in my favor； though。 Lee brought two extra people；
and suddenly every seat was necessary。 I managed to wedge Jess in between
Mike and me in the front seat of the Suburban。 Mike could have been more
graceful about it； but at least Jess seemed appeased。
It was only fifteen miles to La Push from Forks； with gorgeous； dense
green forests edging the road most of the way and the wide Quillayute
River snaking beneath it twice。 I was glad I had the window seat。 We'd
rolled the windows down — the Suburban was a bit claustrophobic with nine
people in it — and I tried to absorb as much sunlight as possible。
I'd been to the beaches around La Push many times during my Forks summers
with Charlie； so the milelong crescent of First Beach was familiar to
me。 It was still breathtaking。 The water was dark gray； even in the
sunlight； whitecapped and heaving to the gray； rocky shore。 Islands rose
out of the steel harbor waters with sheer cliff sides； reaching to uneven
summits； and crowned with austere； soaring firs。 The beach had only a
thin border of actual sand at the water's edge； after which it grew into
millions of large； smooth stones that looked uniformly gray from a
distance； but close up were every shade a stone could be： terracotta；
sea green； lavender； blue gray； dull gold。 The tide line was strewn with
huge driftwood trees； bleached bone white in the salt waves； some piled
together against the edge of the forest fringe； some lying solitary； just
out of reach of the waves。
There was a brisk wind ing off the waves； cool and briny。 Pelicans
floated on the swells while seagulls and a lone eagle wheeled above them。
The clouds still circled the sky； threatening to invade at any moment；
but for now the sun shone bravely in its halo of blue sky。
We picked our way down to the beach； Mike leading the way to a ring of
driftwood logs that had obviously been used for parties like ours before。
There was a fire circle already in place； filled with black ashes。 Eric
and the boy I thought was named Ben gathered broken branches of driftwood
from the drier piles against the forest edge； and soon had a
teepeeshaped construction built atop the old cinders。
〃Have you ever seen a driftwood fire？〃 Mike asked me。 I was sitting on
one of the bonecolored benches； the other girls clustered； gossiping
excitedly； on either side of me。 Mike kneeled by the fire； lighting one
of the smaller sticks with a cigarette lighter。
〃No；〃 I said as he placed the blazing twig carefully against the teepee。
〃You'll like this then — watch the colors。〃 He lit another small branch
and laid it alongside the first。 The flames started to lick quickly up
the dry wood。
〃It's blue；〃 I said in surprise。
〃The salt does it。 Pretty； isn't it？〃 He lit one more piece； placed it
where the fire hadn't yet caught； and then came to sit by me。 Thankfully；
Jess was on his other side。 She turned to him and claimed his attention。
I watched the strange blue and green flames crackle toward the sky。
After a half hour of chatter； some of the boys wanted to hike to the
nearby tidal pools。 It was a dilemma。 On the one hand； I loved the tide
pools。 They had fascinated me since I was a child； they were one of the
only things I ever looked forward to when I had to e to Forks。 On the
other hand； I'd also fallen into them a lot。 Not a big deal when you're
seven and with your dad。 It reminded me of Edward's request — that I not
fall into the ocean。
Lauren was the one who made my decision for me。 She didn't want to hike；
and she was definitely wearing the wrong shoes for it。 Most of the other
girls besides Angela and Jessica decided to stay on the beach as well。 I
waited until Tyler and Eric had mitted to remaining with them before I
got up quietly to join the prohiking group。 Mike gave me a huge smile
when he saw that I was ing。
The hike wasn't too long； though I hated to lose the sky in the woods。
The green light of the forest was strangely at odds with the adolescent
laughter； too murky and ominous to be in harmony with the light banter
around me。 I had to watch each step I took very carefully； avoiding roots
below and branches above； and I soon fell behind。 Eventually I broke
through the emerald confines of the forest and found the rocky shore
again。 It was low tide； and a tidal river flowed past us on its way to
the sea。 Along its pebbled banks； shallow pools that never pletely
drained were teeming with life。
I was very cautious not to lean too far over the little ocean ponds。 The
others were fearless； leaping over the rocks； perching precariously on
the edges。 I found a very stablelooking rock on the fringe of one of the
largest pools and sat there cautiously； spellbound by the natural
aquarium below me。 The bouquets of brilliant anemones undulated
ceaselessly in the invisible current； twisted shells scurried about the
edges； obscuring the crabs within them； starfish stuck motionless to the
rocks and each other； while one small black eel with white racing stripes
wove through the bright green weeds； waiting for the sea to return。 I was
pletely absorbed； except for one small part of my mind that wondered
what Edward was doing now； and trying to imagine what he would be saying
if he were here with me。
Finally the boys were hungry； and I got up stiffly to follow them back。 I
tried to keep up better this time through the woods； so naturally I fell
a few times。 I got some shallow scrapes on my palms； and the knees of my
jeans were stained green； but it could have been worse。
When we got back to First Beach； the group we'd left behind had
multiplied。 As we got closer we could see the shining； straight black
hair and copper skin of the newers； teenagers from the reservation
e to socialize。
The food was already being passed around； and the boys hurried to claim a
share while Eric introduced us as we each entered the driftwood circle。
Angela and I were the last to arrive； and； as Eric said our names； I
noticed a younger boy sitting on the stones n