distract me。 And； of course； the oh…so…comforting promise from Alice。
“I’m staying close to home to hunt。 I’ll only be fifteen minutes away if you need me。 I’ll keep an eye out
for trouble。”
Translation： don’t try anything funny just because Edward is gone。
Alice was certainly just as capable of crippling my truck as Edward was。
I tried to look on the bright side。 After work； I had plans to help Angela with her announcements； so that
would be a distraction。 And Charlie was in an excellent mood due to Edward’s absence； so I might as well
enjoy that while it lasted。 Alice would spend the night with me if I was pathetic enough to ask her to。 And then
tomorrow； Edward would be home。 I would survive。
Not wanting to be ridiculously early for work； I ate my breakfast slowly； one Cheerio at a time。 Then；
when I’d washed the dishes； I arranged the magnets on the fridge into a perfect line。 Maybe I was developing
obsessive…compulsive disorder。
The last two magnets — round black utilitarian pieces that were my favorites because they could hold ten
sheets of paper to the fridge without breaking a sweat — did not want to cooperate with my fixation。 Their
polarities were reversed； every time I tried to line the last one up； the other jumped out of place。
For some reason — impending mania； perhaps — this really irritated me。 Why couldn’t they just play
nice？ Stupid with stubbornness； I kept shoving them together as if I was expecting them to suddenly give up。 I
could have flipped one over； but that felt like losing。 Finally； exasperated at myself more than the magnets； I
pulled them from the fridge and held them together with two hands。 It took a little effort — they were strong
enough to put up a fight — but I forced them to coexist side…by…side。
“See；” I said out loud — talking to inanimate objects； never a good sign — “That’s not so horrible； is it？”
I stood there like an idiot for a second； not quite able to admit that I wasn’t having any lasting effect
against scientific principles。 Then； with a sigh； I put the magnets back on the fridge； a foot apart。
“There’s no need to be so inflexible；” I muttered。
It was still too early； but I decided I’d better get out of the house before the inanimate objects started
talking back。
When I got to Newton’s； Mike was methodically dry mopping the aisles while his mom arranged a new
counter display。 I caught them in the middle of an argument； unaware that I had arrived。
“But it’s the only time that Tyler can go；” Mike complained。 “You said after graduation —”
“You’re just going to have to wait；” Mrs。 Newton snapped。 “You and Tyler can think of something else to
do。 You are not going to Seattle until the police stop whatever it is that is going on there。 I know Beth
Crowley has told Tyler the same thing； so don’t act like I’m the bad guy — oh； good morning； Bella；” she said
when she caught sight of me； brightening her tone quickly。 “You’re early。”
Karen Newton was the last person I’d think to ask for help in an outdoor sports equipment store。 Her
perfectly highlighted blond hair was always smoothed into an elegant twist on the back of her neck； her
fingernails were polished by professionals； as were her toenails — visible through the strappy high heels that
didn’t resemble anything Newton’s offered on the long row of hiking boots。
“Light traffic；” I joked as I grabbed my hideous fluorescent orange vest out from under the counter。 I was
surprised that Mrs。 Newton was as worked up about this Seattle thing as Charlie。 I’d thought he was going to
extremes。
“Well； er 。 。 。” Mrs。 Newton hesitated for a moment； playing uncomfortably with a stack of flyers she was
arranging by the register。
I stopped with one arm in my vest。 I knew that look。
When I’d let the Newtons know that I wouldn’t be working here this summer — abandoning them in their
busiest season； in effect — they’d started training Katie Marshall to take my place。 They couldn’t really afford
both of us on the payroll at the same time； so when it looked like a slow day 。 。 。
“I was going to call；” Mrs。 Newton continued。 “I don’t think we’re expecting a ton of business today。
Mike and I can probably handle things。 I’m sorry you got up and drove out。 。 。 。”
On a normal day； I would be ecstatic with this turn of events。 Today 。 。 。 not so much。
“Okay；” I sighed。 My shoulders slumped。 What was I going to do now？
“That’s not fair； Mom；” Mike said。 “If Bella wants to work —”
“No； it’s okay； Mrs。 Newton。 Really； Mike。 I’ve got finals to study for and stuff。 。 。 。” I didn’t want to be
a source of familial discord when they were already arguing。
“Thanks； Bella。 Mike； you missed aisle four。 Um； Bella； do you mind throwing these flyers in a Dumpster
on the way out？ I told the girl who left them here that I’d put them on the counter； but I really don’t have the
room。”
“Sure； no problem。” I put my vest away； and then tucked the flyers under my arm and headed out into the
misty rain。
The Dumpster was around the side of Newton’s； next to where we employees were supposed to park。 I
shuffled along； kicking pebbles petulantly on my way。 I was about to fling the stack of bright yellow papers
into the trash when the heading printed in bold across the top caught my eye。 One word in particular seized my
attention。
I clutched the papers in both hands as I stared at the picture beneath the caption。 A lump rose in my
throat。
SAVE THE OLYMPIC WOLF
Under the words； there was a detailed drawing of a wolf in front of a fir tree； its head thrown back in the
act of baying at the moon。 It was a disconcerting picture； something about the wolf’s plaintive posture made
him look forlorn。 Like he was howling in grief。
And then I was running to my truck； the flyers still locked in my grip。
Fifteen minutes — that’s all I had。 But it should be long enough。 It was only fifteen minutes to La Push；
and surely I would cross the boundary line a few minutes before I hit the town。
My truck roared to life without any difficulty。
Alice couldn’t have seen me doing this； because I hadn’t been planning it。 A snap decision； that was the
key！ And as long as I moved fast enough； I should be able to capitalize on it。
I’d thrown the damp flyers in my haste and they were scattered in a bright mess across the passenger seat
— a hundred bolded captions； a hundred dark howling wolves outlined against the yellow background。
I barreled down the wet highway； turning the windshield wipers on high and ignoring the groan of the
ancient engine。 Fifty…five was the most I could coax out of my truck； and I prayed it would be enough。
I had no clue where the boundary line was； but I began to feel safer as I passed the first houses outside La
Push。 This must be beyond where Alice was allowed to follow。
I’d call her when I got to Angela’s this afternoon； I reasoned； so that she’d know I was fine。 There was no
reason for her to get worked up。 She didn’t need to be mad at me — Edward would be angry enough for two
when he got back。
My truck was positively wheezing by the time it grated to a stop in front of the familiar faded red house。
The lump came back to my throat as I stared at the little place that had once been my refuge。 It had been so
long since I’d been here。
Before I could cut the engine； Jacob was standing in the door； his face blank with shock。
In the sudden silence when the truck…roar died； I heard him gasp。
“Bella？”
“Hey； Jake！”
“Bella！” he yelled back； and the smile I’d been waiting for stretched across his face like the sun breaking
free of the clouds。 His teeth gleamed bright against his russet skin。 “I can’t believe it！”
He ran to the truck and half…yanked me through the open door； and then we were both jumping up and
down like kids。
“How did you get here？”
“I snuck out！”
“Awesome！”
“Hey； Bella！” Billy had rolled himself into the doorway to see what all the commotion was about。
“Hey； Bil —！”
Just then my air choked off — Jacob grabbed me up in a bear hug too tight to breathe and swung me
around in a circle。
“Wow； it’s good to see you here！”
“Can’t 。 。 。 breathe；” I gasped。
He laughed and put me down。
“Welcome back； Bella；” he said； grinning。 And the way he said the words made it sound like welcome
home。
We started walking； too keyed up to sit still in the house。 Jacob was practically bouncing as he moved； and I
had to remind him a few times that my legs weren’t ten feet long。
As we walked； I felt myself settling into another version of myself； the self I had been with Jacob。 A little
younger； a little less responsible。 Someone who might； on occasion； do something really stupid for no good
reason。
Our exuberance lasted through the first few topics of conversation： how we were doing； what we were up
to； how long I had； and what had brought me here。 When I hesitantly told him about the wolf flyer； his
bellowing laugh echoed back from the trees。
But then； as we ambled past the back of the store and shoved through the thick scrub that ringed the far
edge of First Beach； we got to the hard parts。 All too soon we had to talk about the reasons behind our long
separation； and I watched as the face of my friend hardened into the bitter mask that was already too familiar。
“So what’s the story； anyway？” Jacob asked me； kicking a piece of driftwood out of his way with too
much force。 It sailed over the sand and then clattered against the rocks。 “I mean； since the last time we 。 。 。
well； before； you know 。 。 。” He struggled for the words。 He took a deep breath and tried again。 “What I’m
asking is 。 。 。 everything is just back to the way it was before he left？ You forgave him for all of that？”
I took a deep breath。 “There was nothing to forgive。”
I wanted to skip past this