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would have。 It was easy to see that he didn’t like gambling with stakes this high。
I couldn’t stay behind； waiting and hoping for them to e home。 I wouldn’t。 I would go mad。
The doorbell rang。
All at once； everything was surreally normal。 A perfect smile； genuine and warm； replaced the stress on
Carlisle’s face。 Alice turned the volume of the music up； and then danced to get the door。
It was a Suburbanload of my friends； either too nervous or too intimidated to arrive on their own。 Jessica
was the first one in the door； with Mike right behind her。 Tyler； Conner； Austin； Lee； Samantha 。 。 。 even
Lauren trailing in last； her critical eyes alight with curiosity。 They all were curious； and then overwhelmed as
they took in the huge room decked out like a chic rave。 The room wasn’t empty； all the Cullens had taken
their places； ready to put on their usual perfect human charade。 Tonight I felt like I was acting every bit as
much as they were。
I went to greet Jess and Mike； hoping the edge inmy voice sounded like the right kind of excitement。
Before I could get to anyone else； the bell rang again。 I let Angela and Ben in； leaving the door wide； because
Eric and Katie were just reaching the steps。
I didn’t get another chance to panic。 I had to talk to everyone； concentrate on being upbeat； a hostess。
Though the party had been billed as a joint event for Alice； Edward； and me； there was no denying that I was
the most popular target for congratulations and thanks。 Maybe because the Cullens looked just slightly wrong
under Alice’s party lights。 Maybe because those lights left the room dim and mysterious。 Not an atmosphere
to make your average human feel relaxed when standing next to someone like Emmett。 I saw Emmett grin at
Mike over the food table； the red lights gleaming off his teeth； and watched Mike take an automatic step back。
Probably Alice had done this on purpose； to force me into the center of attention — a place she thought I
should enjoy more。 She was forever trying to make me be human the way she thought humans should be。
The party was a clear success； despite the instinctive edginess cause by the Cullens’ presence — or
maybe that simply added a thrill to the atmosphere。 The music was infectious； the lights almost hypnotic。 From
the way the food disappeared； that must have been good； too。 The room was soon crowded； though never
claustrophobic。 The entire senior class seemed to be there； along with most of the juniors。 Bodies swayed to
the beat that rumbled under the soles of their feet； the party constantly on the edge of breaking into a dance。
It wasn’t as hard as I’d thought it would be。 I followed Alice’s lead； mingling and chatting for a minute
with everyone。 They seemed easy enough to please。 I was sure this party was far cooler than anything the
town of Forks had experienced before。 Alice was almost purring — no one here would forget this night。
I’d circled the room once； and was back to Jessica。 She babbled excitedly； and it was not necessary to
pay strict attention； because the odds were she wouldn’t need a response from me anytime soon。 Edward was
at my side — still refusing to let go of me。 He kept one hand securely at my waist； pulling me closer now and
then in response to thoughts I probably didn’t want to hear。
So I was immediately suspicious when he dropped his arm and edged away from me。
“Stay here；” he murmured in my ear。 “I’ll be right back。”
He passed gracefully through the crowd without seeming to touch any of the closepacked bodies； gone
too quickly for me to ask why he was leaving。 I stared after him with narrowed eyes while Jessica shouted
over the music eagerly； hanging on to my elbow； oblivious to my distraction。
I watched him as he reached the dark shadow beside the kitchen doorway； where the lights only shone
intermittently。 He was leaning over someone； but I couldn’t see past all the heads between us。
I stretched up on my toes； craning my neck。 Right then； a red light flashed across his back and glinted off
the red sequins of Alice’s shirt。 The light only touched her face for half a second； but it was enough。
“Excuse me for a minute； Jess；” I mumbled； pulling my arm away。 I didn’t pause for her reaction； even to
see if I’d hurt her feelings with my abruptness。
I ducked my way through the bodies； getting shoved around a bit。 A few people were dancing now。 I
hurried to the kitchen door。
Edward was gone； but Alice was still there in the dark； her face blank — the kind of expressionless look
you see on the face of someone who has just witnessed a horrible accident。 One of her hands gripped the
door frame； like she needed the support。
“What； Alice； what？ What did you see？” My hands were clutched in front of me — begging。
She didn’t look at me； she was staring away。 I followed her gaze and watched as she caught Edward’s
eye across the room。 His face was empty as a stone。 He turned and disappeared into the shadows under the
stair。
The doorbell rang just then； hours after the last time； and Alice looked up with a puzzled expression that
quickly turned into one of disgust。
“Who invited the werewolf？” she griped at me。
I scowled。 “Guilty。”
I’d thought I’d rescinded that invitation — not that I’d ever dreamed Jacob would e here； regardless。
“Well； you go take care of it； then。 I have to talk to Carlisle。”
“No； Alice； wait！” I tried to reach for her arm； but she was gone and my hand clutched the empty air。
“Damn it！” I grumbled。
I knew this was it。 Alice had seen what she’d been waiting for； and I honestly didn’t feel I could stand the
suspense long enough to answer the door。 The doorbell peeled again； too long； someone holding down the
button。 I turned my back toward the door resolutely； and scanned the darkened room for Alice。
I couldn’t see anything。 I started pushing for the stairs。
“Hey； Bella！”
Jacob’s deep voice caught a lull in the music； and I looked up in spite of myself at the sound of my name。
I made a face。
It wasn’t just one werewolf； it was three。 Jacob had let himself in； flanked on either side by Q