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tomorrow； he's going to get suspicious。〃
〃That's irrelevant。 We'll make sure he's safe； and that's all that
matters。〃
〃Then what about this tracker？ He saw the way you acted tonight。 He's
going to think you're with me； wherever you are。〃
Emmett looked at me； insultingly surprised again。 〃Edward； listen to
her；〃 he urged。 〃I think she's right。〃
〃Yes； she is；〃 Alice agreed。
〃I can't do that。〃 Edward's voice was icy。
〃Emmett should stay； too；〃 I continued。 〃He definitely got an eyeful of
Emmett。〃
〃What？〃 Emmett turned on me。
〃You'll get a better crack at him if you stay；〃 Alice agreed。
Edward stared at her incredulously。 〃You think I should let her go alone？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Alice said。 〃Jasper and I will take her。〃
〃I can't do that；〃 Edward repeated； but this time there was a trace of
defeat in his voice。 The logic was working on him。
I tried to be persuasive。 〃Hang out here for a week —〃 I saw his
expression in the mirror and amended 〃— a few days。 Let Charlie see you
haven't kidnapped me； and lead this James on a wildgoose chase。 Make
sure he's pletely off my trail。 Then e and meet me。 Take a
roundabout route； of course； and then Jasper and Alice can go home。〃
I could see him beginning to consider it。
〃Meet you where？〃
〃Phoenix。〃 Of course。
〃No。 He'll hear that's where you're going；〃 he said impatiently。
〃And you'll make it look like that's a ruse； obviously。 He'll know that
we'll know that he's listening。 He'll never believe I'm actually going
where I say I am going。〃
〃She's diabolical；〃 Emmett chuckled。
〃And if that doesn't work？〃
〃There are several million people in Phoenix；〃 I informed him。
〃It's not that hard to find a phone book。〃
〃I won't go home。〃
〃Oh？〃 he inquired； a dangerous note in his voice。
〃I'm quite old enough to get my own place。〃
〃Edward； we'll be with her；〃 Alice reminded him。
〃What are you going to do in Phoenix？〃 he asked her scathingly。
〃Stay indoors。〃
〃I kind of like it。〃 Emmett was thinking about cornering James； no doubt。
〃Shut up； Emmett。〃
〃Look； if we try to take him down while she's still around； there's a
much better chance that someone will get hurt — she'll get hurt； or you
will； trying to protect her。 Now； if we get him alone…〃 He trailed off
with a slow smile。 I was right。
The Jeep was crawling slowly along now as we drove into town。 Despite my
brave talk； I could feel the hairs on my arms standing up。 I thought
about Charlie； alone in the house； and tried to be courageous。
〃Bella。〃 Edward's voice was very soft。 Alice and Emmett looked out their
windows。 〃If you let anything happen to yourself— anything at all — I'm
holding you personally responsible。 Do you understand that？〃
〃Yes；〃 I gulped。
He turned to Alice。
〃Can Jasper handle this？〃
〃Give him some credit； Edward。 He's been doing very； very well； all
things considered。〃
〃Can you handle this？〃 he asked。
And graceful little Alice pulled back her lips in a horrific grimace and
let loose with a guttural snarl that had me cowering against the seat in
terror。
Edward smiled at her。 〃But keep your opinions to yourself；〃 he muttered
suddenly。
===========================================================================
19。 GOODBYES
Charlie was waiting up for me。 All the house lights were on。 My mind was
blank as I tried to think of a way to make him let me go。 This wasn't
going to be pleasant。
Edward pulled up slowly； staying well back from my truck。 All three of
them were acutely alert； ramrod straight in their seats； listening to
every sound of the wood； looking through every shadow； catching every
scent； searching for something out of place。 The engine cut off； and I
sat； motionless； as they continued to listen。
〃He's not here；〃 Edward said tensely。 〃Let's go。〃 Emmett reached over to
help me get out of the harness。
〃Don't worry； Bella；〃 he said in a low but cheerful voice； 〃we'll take
care of things here quickly。〃
I felt moisture filling up my eyes as I looked at Emmett。 I barely knew
him； and yet； somehow； not knowing when I would see him again after
tonight was anguishing。 I knew this was just a faint taste of the
goodbyes I would have to survive in the next hour； and the thought made
the tears begin to spill。
〃Alice； Emmett。〃 Edward's voice was a mand。 They slithered soundlessly
into the darkness； instantly disappearing。 Edward opened my door and took
my hand； then drew me into the protecting enclosure of his arm。 He walked
me swiftly toward the house； eyes always roving through the night。
〃Fifteen minutes；〃 he warned under his breath。
〃I can do this。〃 I sniffled。 My tears had given me an inspiration。
I stopped on the porch and took hold of his face in my hands。 I looked
fiercely into his eyes。
〃I love you；〃 I said in a low； intense voice。 〃I will always love you； no
matter what happens now。〃
〃Nothing is going to happen to you； Bella；〃 he said just as fiercely。
〃Just follow the plan； okay？ Keep Charlie safe for me。 He's not going to
like me very much after this； and I want to have the chance to apologize
later。〃
〃Get inside； Bella。 We have to hurry。〃 His voice was urgent。
〃One more thing；〃 I whispered passionately。 〃Don't listen to another word
I say tonight！〃 He was leaning in； and so all I had to do was stretch up
on my toes to kiss his surprised； frozen lips with as much force as I was
capable of。 Then I turned and kicked the door open。
〃Go away； Edward！〃 I yelled at him； running inside and slamming the door
shut in his stillshocked face。
〃Bella？〃 Charlie had been hovering in the living room； and he was already
on his feet。
〃Leave me alone！〃 I screamed at him through my tears； which were flowing
relentlessly now。 I ran up the stairs to my room； throwing the door shut
and locking it。 I ran to my bed； flinging myself on the floor to retrieve
my duffel bag。 I reached swiftly between the mattress and box spring to
grab the knotted old sock that contained my secret cash hoard。
Charlie was pounding on my door。
〃Bella； are you okay？ What's going on？〃 His voice was frightened。
〃I'm going borne；〃 I shouted； my voice breaking in the perfect spot。
〃Did he hurt you？〃 His tone edged toward anger。
〃No！〃 I shrieked a few octaves higher。 I turned to my dresser； and Edward
was already there； silently yanking out armfuls of random clothes； which
he proceeded to throw to me。
〃Did he break up with you？〃 Charlie was perplexed。
〃No！〃 I yelled； slightly more breathless as I shoved everything into the
bag。 Edward threw another drawer's contents at me。 The bag was pretty
much full now。
〃What happened； Bella？〃 Charlie shouted through the door； pounding again。
〃I broke up with him！〃 I shouted back； jerking on the zipper of my bag。
Edward's capable hands pushed mine away and zipped it smoothly。 He put
the strap carefully over my arm。
〃I'll be in the truck — go！〃 he whispered； and pushed me toward the door。
He vanished out the window。
I unlocked the door and pushed past Charlie roughly； struggling with my
heavy bag as I ran down the stairs。
〃What happened？〃 he yelled。 He was right behind me。 〃I thought you liked
him。〃
He caught my elbow in the kitchen。 Though he was still bewildered； his
grip was firm。
He spun me around to look at him； and I could see in his face that he had
no intention of letting me leave。 I could think of only one way to
escape； and it involved hurting him so much that I hated myself for even
considering it。 But I had no time； and I had to keep him safe。
I glared up at my father； fresh tears in my eyes for what I was about to
do。
〃I do like him — that's the problem。 I can't do this anymore！ I can't put
down any more roots here！ I don't want to end up trapped in this stupid；
boring town like Mom！ I'm not going to make the same dumb mistake she
did。 I hate it — I can't stay here another minute！〃
His hand dropped from my arm like I'd electrocuted him。 I turned away
from his shocked； wounded face and headed for the