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scrawled in caps across it。
Sometimes； kismet happens。
Coincidence？ Or was it meant to be？ I didn't know； but it seemed kind of silly
to think that it was
somehow fated； that the dilapidated motorcycles rusting in the Markses' front
yard beside the
hand…printed FOR SALE； AS IS sign were serving some higher purpose by existing
there； right where I
needed them to be。
So maybe it wasn't kismet。 Maybe there were just all kinds of ways to be
reckless； and I only now had
my eyes open to them。
Reckless and stupid。 Those were Charlie's two very favorite words to apply to
motorcycles。
Charlie's job didn't get a lot of action pared to cops in bigger towns； but
he did get called in on traffic
accidents。 With the long； wet stretches of freeway twisting and turning
through the forest； blind corner
after blind corner； there was no shortage of that kind of action。 But even
with all the huge log…haulers
barreling around the turns； mostly people walked away。 The exceptions to that
rule were often on
motorcycles； and Charlie had seen one too many victims； almost always kids；
smeared on the highway。
He'd made me promise before I was ten that I would never accept a ride on a
motorcycle。 Even at that
age； I didn't have to think twice before promising。 Who would want to ride a
motorcycle here？ It would
be like taking a sixty…mile…per…hour bath。
So many promises I kept
It clicked together for me then。 I wanted to be stupid and reckless； and I
wanted to break promises。
Why stop at one？
That's as far as I thought it through。 I sloshed through the rain to the
Markses' front door and rang the
bell。
One of the Marks boys opened the door； the younger one； the freshman。 I
couldn't remember his name。
His sandy hair only came up to my shoulder。
He had no trouble remembering my name。 〃Bella Swan？〃 he asked in surprise。
〃How much do you want for the bike？〃 I panted； jerking my thumb over my
shoulder toward the sales
display。
〃Are you serious？〃 he demanded。
〃Of course I am。〃
〃They don't work。〃
I sighed impatiently—this was something I'd already inferred from the sign。
〃How much？〃
〃If you really want one； just take it。 My mom made my dad move them down to
the road so they'd get
picked up with the garbage。〃
I glanced at the bikes again and saw that they were resting on a pile of yard
clippings and dead branches。
〃Are you positive about that？〃
〃Sure； you want to ask her？〃
It was probably better not to involve adults who might mention this to
Charlie。
〃No； I believe you。〃
〃You want me to help you？〃 he offered。 〃They're not light。〃
〃Okay； thanks。 I only need one； though。〃
〃Might as well take both；〃 the boy said。 〃Maybe you could scavenge some
parts。〃
He followed me out into the downpour and helped me load both of the heavy
bikes into the back of my
truck。 He seemed eager to be rid of them； so I didn't argue。
〃What are you going to do with them； anyway？〃 he asked。 〃They haven't worked
in years。〃
〃I kind of guessed that；〃 I said； shrugging。 My spur…of…the…moment whim hadn't
e with a plan intact。
〃Maybe I'll take them to Dowling's。〃
He snorted。 〃Dowling would charge more to fix them than they'd be worth
running。〃
I couldn't argue with that。 John Dowling had earned a reputation for his
pricing； no one went to him
except in an emergency。 Most people preferred to make the drive up to Port
Angeles； if their car was
able。 I'd been very lucky on that front—I'd been worried； when Charlie first
gifted me my ancient truck；
that I wouldn't be able to afford to keep it running。 But I'd never had a
single problem with it； other than
the screaming…loud engine and the fifty…five…mile…per…hour maximum speed
limit。 Jacob Black had kept it
in great shape when it had belonged to his father； Billy
Inspiration hit like a bolt of lightning—not unreasonable； considering the
storm。 〃You know what？ That's
okay。 I know someone who builds cars。〃
〃Oh。 That's good。〃 He smiled in relief。
He waved as I pulled away； still smiling。 Friendly kid。
I drove quickly and purposefully now； in a hurry to get home before there was
the slightest chance of
Charlie appearing； even in the highly unlikely event that he might knock off
early。 I dashed through the
house to the phone； keys still in hand。
〃Chief Swan； please；〃 I said when the deputy answered。 〃It's Bella。〃
〃Oh； hey； Bella；〃 Deputy Steve said affably。 〃I'll go get him。〃
I waited。
〃What's wrong； Bella？〃 Charlie demanded as soon as he picked up the phone。
〃Can't I call you at work without there being an emergency？〃
He was quiet for a minute。 〃You never have before。 Is there an emergency？〃
〃No。 I just wanted directions to the Blacks' place—I'm not sure I can
remember the way。 I want to visit
Jacob。 I haven't seen him in months。〃
When Charlie spoke again； his voice was much happier。 〃That's a great idea；
Bells。 Do you have a pen？〃
The directions he gave me were very simple。 I assured him that I would be back
for dinner； though he
tried to tell me not to hurry。 He wanted to join me in La Push； and I wasn't
having that。
So it was with a deadline that I drove too quickly through the storm…darkened
streets out of town。 I
hoped I could get Jacob alone。 Billy would probably tell on me if he knew what
I was up to。
While I drove； I worried a little bit about Billy's reaction to seeing me。 He
would be too pleased。 In
Billy's mind； no doubt； this had all worked out better than he had dared to
hope。 His pleasure and relief
would only remind me of the one I couldn't bear to be reminded of。 Not again
today； I pleaded silently。
I was spent。
The Blacks' house was vaguely familiar； a small wooden place with narrow
windows； the dull red paint
making it resemble a tiny barn。 Jacob's head peered out of the window before I
could even get out of the
truck。 No doubt the familiar roar of the engine had tipped him off to my
approach。 Jacob had been very
grateful when Charlie bought Billy's truck for me； saving Jacob from having to
drive it when he came of
age。 I liked my truck very much； but Jacob seemed to consider the speed
restrictions a shorting。
He met me halfway to the house。
〃Bella！〃 His excited grin stretched wide across his face； the bright teeth
standing in vivid contrast to the
deep russet color of his skin。 I'd never seen his hair out of its usual
ponytail before。 It fell like black satin
curtains on either side of his broad face。
Jacob had grown into some of his potential in the last eight months。 He'd
passed that point where the soft
muscles of childhood hardened into the solid； lanky build of a teenager； the
tendons and veins had
bee prominent under the red…brown skin of his arms； his hands。 His face was
still sweet like I
remembered it； though it had hardened； too—the planes of his cheekbones
sharper； his jaw squared off；
all childish roundness gone。
〃Hey； Jacob！〃 I felt an unfamiliar surge of enthusiasm at his smile。 I
realized that I was pleased to see him。
This knowledge surprised me。
I smiled back； and something clicked silently into place； like two
corresponding puzzle pieces。 I'd
forgotten how much I really liked Jacob Black。
He stopped a few feet away from me； and I stared up at him in surprise；
leaning my head back though
the rain pelted my face。
〃You grew again！〃 I accused in amazement。
He laughed； his smile widening impossibly。 〃Six five；〃 he announced with self
…satisfaction。 His voice was
deeper； but it had the husky tone I remembered。
〃Is it ever going to stop？〃 I shook my head in disbelief。 〃You're huge。〃
〃Still a beanpole； though。〃 He grimaced。 〃e inside！ You're getting all
wet。〃
He led the way； twisting his hair in his big hands as he walked。 He pulled a
rubber band from his hip
pocket and wound it around the bundle。
〃Hey； Dad；〃 he called as he ducked to get through the front door。 〃Look who
stopped by。〃
Billy was in the tiny square living room； a book in his hands。 He set the book
in his lap and wheeled
himself forward when he saw me。
〃Well； what do you know！ It's good to see you； Bella。〃
We shook hands。 Mine was lost i