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He stared at me silently through narrowed eyes。
“Switzerland;” I repeated again for emphasis。
He frowned at me; and then sighed。 “Bella 。 。 。 ;” he began; but he paused; and his nose wrinkled in
disgust。
“What now?”
“Well 。 。 。 don’t be offended; but you smell like a dog;” he told me。
And then he smiled crookedly; so I knew the fight was over。 For now。
Edward had to make up for the missed hunting trip; and so he was leaving Friday night with Jasper; Emmett;
and Carlisle to hit some reserve in Northern California with a mountain lion problem。
We’d e to no agreement on the werewolf issue; but I didn’t feel guilty calling Jake — during my brief
window of opportunity when Edward took the Volvo home before climbing back in through my window — to
let him know I’d be ing over on Saturday again。 It wasn’t sneaking around。 Edward knew how I felt。 And
if he broke my truck again; then I’d have Jacob pick me up。 Forks was neutral; just like Switzerland — just
like me。
So when I got off work Thursday and it was Alice rather than Edward waiting for me in the Volvo; I was
not suspicious at first。 The passenger door was open; and music I didn’t recognize was shaking the frame
when the bass played。
“Hey; Alice;” I shouted over the wailing as I climbed in。 “Where’s your brother?”
She was singing along to the song; her voice an octave higher than the melody; weaving through it with a
plicated harmony。 She nodded at me; ignoring my question as she concentrated on the music。
I shut my door and put my hands over my ears。 She grinned; and turned the volume down until it was just
background。 Then she hit the locks and the gas in the same second。
“What’s going on?” I asked; starting to feel uneasy。 “Where is Edward?”
She shrugged。 “They left early。”
“Oh。” I tried to control the absurd disappointment。 If he left early; that meant he’d be back sooner; I
reminded myself。
“All the boys went; and we’re having a slumber party!” she announced in a trilling; singsong voice。
“A slumber party?” I repeated; the suspicion finally settling in。
“Aren’t you excited?” she crowed。
I met her animated gaze for a long second。
“You’re kidnapping me; aren’t you?”
She laughed and nodded。 “Till Saturday。 Esme cleared it with Charlie; you’re staying with me two nights;
and I will drive you to and from school tomorrow。”
I turned my face to the window; my teeth grinding together。
“Sorry;” Alice said; not sounding in the least bit penitent。 “He paid me off。”
“How?” I hissed through my teeth。
“The Porsche。 It’s exactly like the one I stole in Italy。” She sighed happily。 “I’m not supposed to drive it
around Forks; but if you want; we could see how long it takes to get from here to L。A。 — I bet I could have
you back by midnight。”
I took a deep breath。 “I think I’ll pass;” I sighed; repressing a shudder。
We wound; always too fast; down the long drive。 Alice pulled around to the garage; and I quickly looked
over the cars。 Emmett’s big jeep was there; with a shiny canary yellow Porsche between it and Rosalie’s red
convertible。
Alice hopped out gracefully and went to stroke her hand along the length of her bribe。 “Pretty; isn’t it?”
“Pretty overthetop;” I grumbled; incredulous。 “He gave you that just for two days of holding me
hostage?”
Alice made a face。
A second later; prehension came and I gasped in horror。 “It’s for every time he’s gone; isn’t it?”
She nodded。
I slammed my door and stomped toward the house。 She danced along next to me; still unrepentant。
“Alice; don’t you think this is just a little bit controlling? Just a tiny bit psychotic; maybe?”
“Not really。” She sniffed。 “You don’t seem to grasp how dangerous a young werewolf can be。 Especially
when I can’t see them。 Edward has no way to know if you’re safe。 You shouldn’t be so reckless。”
My voice turned acidic。 “Yes; because a vampire slumber party is the pinnacle of safety conscious
behavior。”
Alice laughed。 “I’ll give you a pedicure and everything;” she promised。
It wasn’t so bad; except for the fact that I was being held against my will。 Esme brought Italian food —
the good stuff; all the way from Port Angeles — and Alice was prepared with my favorite movies。 Even
Rosalie was there; quietly in the background。 Alice did insist on the pedicure; and I wondered if she was
working from a list — maybe something she’d piled from watching bad sits。
“How late do you want to stay up?” she asked when my toenails were glistening a bloody red。 Her
enthusiasm remained untouched by my mood。
“I don’t want to stay up。 We have school in the morning。”
She pouted。
“Where am I supposed to sleep; anyway?” I measured the couch with my eyes。 It was a little short。
“Can’t you just keep me under surveillance at my house?”
“What kind of a slumber party would that be?” Alice shook her head in exasperation。 “You’re sleeping in
Edward’s room。”
I sighed。 His black leather sofa was longer than this one。 Actually; the gold carpet in his room was
probably thick enough that the floor wouldn’t be half bad either。
“Can I go back to my place to get my things; at least?”
She grinned。 “Already taken care of。”
“Am I allowed to use your phone?”
“Charlie knows where you are。”
“I wasn’t going to call Charlie。” I frowned。 “Apparently; I have some plans to cancel。”
“Oh。” She deliberated。 “I’m not sure about that。”
“Alice!” I whined loudly。 “C’mon!”
“Okay; okay;” she said; flitting from the room。 She was back in half a second; cell phone in hand。 “He
didn’t specifically prohibit this 。 。 。 ;” she murmured to herself as she handed it to me。
I dialed Jacob’s number; hoping he wasn’t out running with his friends tonight。 Luck was with me —
Jacob was the one to answer。
“Hello?”
“Hey; Jake; it’s me。” Alice watched me with expressionless eyes for a second; before she turned and went
to sit between Rosalie and Esme on the sofa。
“Hi; Bella;” Jacob said; suddenly cautious。 “What’s up?”
“Nothing good。 I can’