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dark。”
“Just around the next bend； I think。” I pursed my lips。 “You know； you’re right — it is impossible to find。
Alice said she put a map in the invitation； but even so； maybe everyone will get lost。” I cheered up slightly at
the idea。
“Maybe；” Charlie said as the road curved to the east。 “Or maybe not。”
The black velvet darkness was interrupted ahead； just where the Cullens’ drive should be。 Someone had
wrapped the trees on either side in thousands of twinkle lights； impossible to miss。
“Alice；” I said sourly。
“Wow；” Charlie said as we turned onto the drive。 The two trees at the entry weren’t the only ones lit。
Every twenty feet or so； another shining beacon guided us toward the big white house。 All the way — all three
miles of the way。
“She doesn’t do things halfway； does she？” Charlie mumbled in awe。
“Sure you don’t want to e in？”
“Extremely sure。 Have fun； kid。”
“Thanks so much； Dad。”
He was laughing to himself as I got out and shut the door。 I watched him drive away； still grinning。 With a
sigh； I marched up the stairs to endure my party。
17。 ALLIANCE
“BELLA？”
Edward’s soft voice came from behind me。 I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps； his hair
windblown from running。 He pulled me into his arms at once； just like he had in the parking lot； and kissed me
again。
This kiss frightened me。 There was too much tension； too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine
— like he was afraid we only had so much time left to us。
I couldn’t let myself think about that。 Not if I was going to have to act human for the next several hours。 I
pulled away from him。
“Let’s get this stupid party over with；” I mumbled； not meeting his eyes。
He put his hands on either side of my face； waiting until I looked up。
“I won’t let anything happen to you。”
I touched his lips with the fingers of my good hand。 “I’m not worried about myself so much。”
“Why am I not surprised by that？” he muttered to himself。 He took a deep breath； and then he smiled
slightly。 “Ready to celebrate？” he asked。
I groaned。
He held the door for me； keeping his arm securely around my waist。 I stood frozen there for a minute； then
I slowly shook my head。
“Unbelievable。”
Edward shrugged。 “Alice will be Alice。”
The interior of the Cullens’ home had been transformed into a nightclub — the kind that didn’t often exist
in real life； only on TV。
“Edward！” Alice called from beside a gigantic speaker。 “I need your advice。” She gestured toward a
towering stack of CDs。 “Should we give them familiar and forting？ Or” — she gestured to a different pile
— “educate their taste in music？”
“Keep it forting；” Edward remended。 “You can only lead the horse to water。”
Alice nodded seriously； and started throwing the educational CDs into a box。 I noticed that she had
changed into a sequined tank top and red leather pants。 Her bare skin reacted oddly to the pulsing red and
purple lights。
“I think I’m underdressed。”
“You’re perfect；” Edward disagreed。
“You’ll do；” Alice amended。
“Thanks。” I sighed。 “Do you really think people will e？” Anyone could hear the hope in my voice。
Alice made a face at me。
“Everyone will e；” Edward answered。 “They’re all dying to see the inside of the reclusive Cullens’
mystery house。”
“Fabulous；” I moaned。
There wasn’t anything I could do to help。 I doubted that — even after I didn’t need sleep and moved at a
much faster speed — I would ever be able to get things done the way Alice did。
Edward refused to let me go for a second； dragging me along with him as he hunted up Jasper and then
Carlisle to tell them of my epiphany。 I listened with quiet horror as they discussed their attack on the army in
Seattle。 I could tell that Jasper was not pleased with the way the numbers stood； but they’d been unable to
contact anyone besides Tanya’s unwilling family。 Jasper didn’t try to hide his desperation the way Edward
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