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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 compiled from watching bad sitcoms。
“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’t come over Saturday after all。”
It was silent for a minute。 “Stupid bloodsucker;” he finally muttered。 “I thought he was leaving。 Can’t you
have a life when he’s gone? Or does he lock you in a coffin?”
I laughed。
“I don’t think that’s funny。”
“I’m only laughing because you’re close;” I told him。 “But he’s going to be here Saturday; so it doesn’t
matter。”
“Will he be feeding there in Forks; then?” Jacob asked cuttingly。
“No。” I didn’t let myself get irritated with him。 I wasn’t that far from being as angry as he was。 “He left
early。”
“Oh。 Well; hey; come over now; then;” he said with sudden enthusiasm。 “It’s not that late。 Or I’ll come up
to Charlie’s。”
“I wish。 I’m not at Charlie’s;” I said sourly。 “I’m kind of being held prisoner。”
He was silent as that sunk in; and then he growled。 “We’ll come and get you;” he promised in a flat voice;
slipping automatically into a plural。
A chill slid down my spine; but I answered in a light and teasing voice。 “Tempting。 I have been tortured —
Alice painted my toenails。”
“I’m serious。”
“Don’t be。 They’re just trying to keep me safe。”
He growled again。
“I know it’s silly; but their hearts are in the right place。”
“Their hearts!” he scoffed。
“Sorry about Saturday;” I apologized。 “I’ve got to hit the sack” — the couch; I corrected mentally — “but
I’ll call you again soon。”
“Are you sure they’ll let you?” he asked in a scathing tone。
“Not completely。” I sighed。 “’Night; Jake。”
“See you around。”
Alice was abruptly at my side; her hand held out for the phone; but I was already dialing。 She saw the
number。
“I don’t think he’ll have his phone on him;” she said。
“I’ll leave a message。”
The phone rang four times; followed by a beep。 There was no greeting。
“You are in trouble;” I said slowly; emphasizing each word。 “Enormous trouble。 Angry grizzly bears are
going to look tame next to what is waiting for you at home。”
I snapped the phone shut and placed it in her waiting hand。 “I’m done。”
She grinned。 “This hostage stuff is fun。”
“I’m going to sleep now;” I announced; heading for the stairs。 Alice tagged along。
“Alice;” I sighed。 “I’m not going to sneak out。 You would know if I was planning to; and you’d catch me if
I tried。”
“I’m just going to show you where your things are;” she said innocently。
Edward’s room was at the farthest end of the third floor hallway; hard to mistake even when the huge
house had been less familiar。 But when I switched the light on; I paused in confusion。 Had I picked the wrong
door?
Alice giggled。
It was the same room; I realized quickly; the furniture had just been rearranged。 The couch was pushed to
the north wall and the stereo shoved up against the vast shelves of CDs — to make room for the colossal bed
that now dominated the central space。
The southern wall of glass reflected the scene back like a mirror; making it look twice as bad。
It matched。 The coverlet was a dull gold; just lighter than the walls; the frame was black; made of
intricately patterned wrought iron。 Sculpted metal roses wound in vines up the tall posts and formed a bowery
lattice overhead。 My pajamas were folded neatly on the foot of the bed; my bag of toiletries to one side。
“What the hell is all this?” I spluttered。
“You didn’t really think he would make you sleep on the couch; did you?”
I mumbled unintelligibly as I stalked forward to snatch my things off the bed。
“I’ll give you some privacy;” Alice laughed。 “See you in the morning。”
After my teeth were brushed and I was dressed; I grabbed a puffy feather pillow off the huge bed and
dragged the gold cover to the couch。 I knew I was being silly; but I didn’t care。 Porsches as bribes and king…
sized beds in houses where nobody slept — it was beyond irritating。 I flipped off the lights and curled up on
the sofa; wondering if I was too annoyed to sleep。
In the dark; the glass wall was no longer a black mirror; doubling the room。 The light of the moon
brightened the clouds outside the window。 As my eyes adjusted; I could see the diffused glow highlighting the
tops of the trees; and glinting off a small slice of the river。 I watched the silver light; waiting for my eyes to get
heavy。
There was a light knock on the door。
“What; Alice?” I hissed。 I was on the defensive; imagining her amusement when she saw my makeshift
bed。
“It’s me;” Rosalie said softly; opening the door enough that I could see the silver glow touch her perfect
face。 “Can I come in?”
7。 UNHAPPY ENDING
ROSALIE HESITATED IN THE DOORWAY; HER BREATHTAKing face unsure。
“Of course;” I replied; my voice an octave hi