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〃And；〃 I continued； 〃I've got a couple of friends from La Push I'm inviting。 So it sounds like we'll need
your Suburban if everyone es。〃
Mike's eyes narrowed in suspicion。
〃These are the friends you spend all your time studying with now？〃
〃Yep； the very ones；〃 I answered cheerfully。 〃Though you could look at it as tutoring—they're only
sophomores。〃
〃Oh；〃 Mike said； surprised。 After a second of thought； he smiled。
In the end； though； the Suburban wasn't necessary。
Jessica and Lauren claimed to be busy as soon as Mike let it slip that I was involved in the planning。 Eric
and Katie already had plans—it was their threeweek anniversary or something。 Lauren got to Tyler and
Conner before Mike could； so those two were also busy。 Even Quil was out—grounded for fighting at
school。 In the end； only Angela and Ben； and； of course Jacob； were able to go。
The diminished numbers didn't dampen Mike's anticipation； though。 It was all he could talk about Friday。
〃Are you sure you don't want to see Tomorrow and Forever instead？〃 he asked at lunch； naming the
current romantic edy that was ruling the box office。 〃Rotten Tomatoes gave it a better review。〃
〃I want to see Crosshairs〃 I insisted。 〃I'm in the mood for action。 Bring on the blood and guts！〃
〃Okay。〃 Mike turned away； but not before I saw his maybeshe'scrazyafterall expression。
When I got home from school； a very familiar car was parked in front of my house。 Jacob was leaning
against the hood； a huge grin lighting up his face。
〃No way！〃 I shouted as I jumped out of the truck。 〃You're done！ I can't believe it！ You finished the
Rabbit！〃
He beamed。 〃Just last night。 This is the maiden voyage。〃
〃Incredible。〃 I held my hand up for a high five。
He smacked his hand against mine； but left it there； twisting his fingers through mine。 〃So do I get to drive
tonight？〃
〃Definitely；〃 I said； and then I sighed。
〃What's wrong？〃
〃I'm giving up—I can't top this one。 So you win。 You're oldest。〃
He shrugged； unsurprised by my capitulation。 〃Of course I am。〃
Mike's Suburban chugged around the corner。 I pulled my hand out of Jacob's； and he nude a face that I
wasn't meant to see。
〃I remember this guy；〃 he said in a low voice as Mike parked across the street。 〃The one who thought
you were his girlfriend。 Is he still confused？〃
I raised one eyebrow。 〃Some people are hard to discourage。〃
〃Then again；〃 Jacob said thoughtfully； 〃sometimes persistence pays off。〃
〃Most of the time it's just annoying； though。〃
Mike got out of his car and crossed the road。
〃Hey； Bella；〃 he greeted me； and then his eyes turned wary as he looked up at Jacob。 I glanced briefly at
Jacob； too； trying to be objective。 He really didn't look like a sophomore at all。 He was just so
big—Mike's head barely cleared Jacob's shoulder； I didn't even want to think where I measured next to
him—and then his face was olderlooking than it used to be； even a month ago。
〃Hey； Mike！ Do you remember Jacob Black？〃
〃Not really。〃 Mike held out his hand。
〃Old family friend；〃 Jacob introduced himself； shaking hands。 They locked hands with more force than
necessary。 When their grip broke； Mike flexed his fingers。
I heard the phone ringing from the kitchen。
〃I'd better get that—it might be Charlie；〃 I told them； and dashed inside。
It was Ben。 Angela was sick with the stomach flu； and he didn't feel like ing without her。 He
apologized for bailing on us。
I walked slowly back to the waiting boys； shaking my head。 I really hoped Angela would feel better
soon； but I had to admit that I was selfishly upset by this development。 Just the three of us； Mike and
Jacob and me； together for the evening—this had worked out brilliantly； I thought with grim sarcasm。
It didn't seem like Jake and Mike had made any progress towards friendship in my absence。 They were
several yards apart； facing away from each other as they waited for me； Mike's expression was sullen；
though Jacob's was cheerful as always。
〃Ang is sick；〃 I told them glumly。 〃She and Ben aren't ing。〃
〃I guess the flu is making another round。 Austin and Conner were out today； too。 Maybe we should do
this another time；〃 Mike suggested。
Before I could agree； Jacob spoke。
〃I'm still up for it。 But if you'd rather to stay behind； Mike—〃
〃No； I'm ing；〃 Mike interrupted。 〃I was just thinking of Angela and Ben。 Let's go。〃 He started toward
his Suburban。
〃Hey； do you mind if Jacob drives？〃 I asked。 〃I told him he could—he just finished his car。 He built it
from scratch； all by himself；〃 I bragged； proud as a PTA mom with a student on the principal's list。
〃Fine；〃 Mike snapped。
〃All right； then；〃 Jacob said； as if that settled everything。 He seemed more fortable than anyone else。
Mike climbed in the backseat of the Rabbit with a disgusted expression。
Jacob was his normal sunny self； chattering away until I'd all but forgotten Mike sulking silently in the
back。
And then Mike changed his strategy。 He leaned forward； resting his chin on the shoulder of my seat； his
cheek almost touched mine。 I shifted away； turning my back toward the window。
〃Doesn't the radio work in this thing？〃 Mike asked with a hint of petulance； interrupting Jacob
midsentence。
〃Yes；〃 Jacob answered。 〃But Bella doesn't like music。〃
I stared at Jacob； surprised。 I'd never told him that。
〃Bella？〃 Mike asked； annoyed。
〃He's right；〃 I mumbled； still looking at Jacob's serene profile。
〃How can you not like music？〃 Mike demanded。
I shrugged。 〃I don't know。 It just irritates me。〃
〃Hmph。〃 Mike leaned away。
When we got to the theater； Jacob handed me a tendollar bill。
〃What's this？〃 I objected。
〃I'm not old enough to get into this one；〃 he reminded me。
I laughed out loud。 〃So much for relative ages。 Is Billy going to kill me if I sneak you in？〃
〃No。 I told him you were planning to corrupt my youthful innocence。〃
I snickered； and Mike quickened his pace to keep up with us。
I almost wished that Mike had decided to bow out。 He was still sullen—not much of an addition to the
party。 But I didn't want to end up on a date alone with Jacob； either。 That wouldn't help anything。
The movie was exactly what it professed to be。 In just the opening credits； four people got blown up and
one got beheaded。 The girl in front of me put her hands over her eyes and turned her face into her date's
chest。 He patted her shoulder； and winced occasionally； too。 Mike didn't look like he was watching。 His
face was stiff as he glared toward the fringe of curtain above the screen。
I settled in to endure the two hours； watching the colors and the movement on the screen rather than
seeing the shapes of people and cars and houses。 But then Jacob started sniggering。
〃What？〃 I whispered。
〃Oh； c'mon！〃 he hissed back。 〃The blood squirted twenty feet out of that guy。 How fake can you get？〃
He chuckled again； as a flagpole speared another man into a concrete wall。
After that； I really watched the show； laughing with him as the mayhem got more and more ridiculous。
How was I ever going to fight the blurring lines in our relationship when I enjoyed being with him so
much？
Both Jacob and Mike had claimed the armrests on either side of me。 Both of their hands rested lightly；
palms up； in an unnatural looking position。 Like steel bear traps； open and ready。 Jacob was in the habit
of taking my hand whenever the opportunity presented itself； but here in the darkened movie theater； with
Mike watching； it would have a different significance—and I was sure he knew that。 I couldn't believe
that Mike was thinking the same thing； but his hand was placed exactly like Jacob's。
I folded my arms tightly across my chest and hoped that both their hands fell asleep。
Mike gave up first。 About halfway through the movie； he pulled his arm back； and leaned forward to put
his head in his hands。 At first I thought he was reacting to something on the screen； but then he moaned。
〃Mike； are you okay？〃 I whispered。
The couple in front of us turned to look at him as he groaned a