The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 14. DECLARATION

YOU CANT BE SERIOUS, I aver WEDNESDAY AFTERnoon. Youve comp allowely lost your mindSay whatsoever(prenominal) you wish ab image up me, Alice answered. The companionship is still on.I st bed at her, my eyeb whole so wide with disbelief it felt like they might fall stunned and land on my lunch tray.Oh, calm shine, Bella at that places no reason non to go done with it. Besides, the invitations are already sent.But . . . the . . . you . . . I . . . insane I spluttered.Youve already bought my present, she reminded me. You dont suck to do eitherthing solely show up.I made an effort to calm myself. With eitherthing that is termination on right now, a party is precisely appropriate.Graduation is whats passing game on right now, and a party is so appropriate its to the highest degree pass.AliceShe sighed, and attempt to be serious. There are a few things we take away to pay in order now, and thats passing to take a weeny sequence. As long as were baffleting here wait ing, we might as well commemorate the good stuff. Youre completely going to graduate from high school for the first time once. You dont nourish to be human again, Bella. This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot.Edward, silent through our lowly argument, flashed her a warning look. She stuck protrude her tongue at him. She was right her soft voice would never carry over the babble of the cafeteria. And no one would understand the meaning behind her words in any case.What few things do we need to take up in order? I asked, refusing to be sidetracked.Edward answered in a low voice. Jasper envisages we could use ab appear help. Tanyas family isnt the only choice we have. Carlisles trying to track down a few oldish friends, and Jasper is looking up Peter and Charlotte. Hes considering talking to Maria . . . scarce no one really lacks to involve the s forth(p)herners.Alice shuddered delicately.It shouldnt be in addition hard to convince them to help, he continued. Nobody wants a visit from Italy.But these friends theyre not going to be . . . ve pissarians, right? I protested, using the Cullens tongue-in-cheek nickname for themselves.No, Edward answered, suddenly expressionless.Here? In Forks?Theyre friends, Alice re assure me. Everythings going to be fine. Dont gravel. And then, Jasper has to teach us a few courses on newborn elimination. . . .Edwards look brightened at that, and a brief grinning flashed across his establishment. My stomach suddenly felt like it was integral of sharp little splinters of ice.When are you going? I asked in a hollow voice. I couldnt stand this the root that more or lessone might not enter anchor. What if it was Emmett, so brave and legal opinionless that he was never the least(prenominal) bit cautious? Or Esme, so sweet and motherly that I couldnt plain surmise her in a fight? Or Alice, so tiny, so fragile-looking? Or . . . that I couldnt compensate mean the name, consider the possibility.A week, Edward sta te casually. That ought to give us rich time.The icy splinters twisted uncomfortably in my stomach. I was suddenly nauseated.You look kind of green, Bella, Alice commented.Edward put his arm well-nigh me and pulled me tightly against his side. Its going to be fine, Bella. Trust me.Sure, I thought to myself. Trust him. He wasnt the one who was going to have to sit behind and wonder whether or not the core of his existence was going to come home.And then it occurred to me. maybe I didnt need to sit behind. A week was more than enough time.Youre looking for help, I discover slowly.Yes. Alices head cocked to the side as she processed the multifariousness in my tone.I looked only at her as I answered. My voice was just s vigilantly louder than a whisper. I could help.Edwards body was suddenly rigid, his arm as well as tight virtually me. He exhaled, and the sound was a hiss.But it was Alice, still calm, who answered. That really wouldnt be helpful. wherefore not? I argued I could hear the desperation in my voice. Eight is better than seven. Theres more than enough time.Theres not enough time to upkeep you helpful, Bella, she disagreed coolly. Do you remember how Jasper described the young ones? Youd be no good in a fight. You wouldnt be able to control your instincts, and that would make you an easy tar delineate. And then Edward would get hurt trying to protect you. She folded her build up across her chest, pleased with her unassailable logic.And I knew she was right, when she put it like that. I slumped in my seat, my sudden hope defeated. Beside me, Edward relaxed.He whispered the reminder in my ear. not because youre afraid.Oh, Alice said, and a blank look crossed her face. Then her expression became surly. I hate last- minute cancellations. So that puts the party attendance list down to sixty-five. . . .Sixty-five My look bulged again. I didnt have that many friends. Did I even recognise that many people?Who canceled? Edward wondered, ignoring me. Rene.What? I gasped.She was going to surprise you for your commencement, further some(a)thing went wrong. Youll have a meat when you get home.For a florists chrysanthemument, I just let myself enjoy the relief. Whatever it was that went wrong for my mother, I was incessantly grateful to it. If she had come to Forks now . . . I didnt want to think about it. My head would explode.The message light was flashing when I got home. My qualitying of relief flared again as I listened to my mother describe Phils disaster on the ball field while demonstrating a slide, hed tangled up with the catcher and broken his thigh bone he was entirely dependent on her, and there was no way she could leave him. My mom was still apologizing when the message cut off.Well, thats one, I sighed.One what? Edward asked.One person I dont have to worry about getting killed this week.He rolled his eyes.Why wont you and Alice take this seriously? I demanded. This is serious.He smiled. Confidence.Wonderful, I grumbled. I deplumeed up the phone and dialed Renes number. I knew it would be a long conversation, but I alike knew that I wouldnt have to contribute much.I just listened, and reassured her every time I could get a word in I wasnt disappointed, I wasnt mad, I wasnt hurt. She should concentrate on helping Phil get better. I passed on my get well soon to Phil, and promised to call her with every single detail from Forks Highs generic commencement. Finally, I had to use my desperate need to study for finals to get off the phone.Edwards patience was endless. He waited courteously through the whole conversation, just playing with my hair and smiling whenever I looked up. It was probably superficial to government note such things while I had so many more important things to think about, but his smile still knocked the breath out of me. He was so beautiful that it made it hard sometimes to think about anything else, hard to concentrate on Phils troubles or Renes apologies or hostil e vampire armies. I was only human.As soon as I hung up, I stretched onto my tiptoes to kiss him. He put his hands around my waist and lifted me onto the kitchen counter, so I wouldnt have to reach as far. That worked for me. I locked my arms around his neck and melted against his cold chest.Too soon, as usual, he pulled away.I felt my face billet into a pout. He laughed at my expression as he extricated himself from my arms and legs. He leaned against the counter succeeding(prenominal) to me and put one arm lightly around my shoulders.I know you think that I have some kind of perfect, unyielding self-control, but thats not actually the case.I wish, I sighed.And he sighed, too. aft(prenominal) school tomorrow, he said, cdangling the subject, Im going hunting with Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie. upright for a few hours well stay close. Alice, Jasper, and Emmett should be able to keep you safe.Ugh, I grumbled. Tomorrow was the first day of finals, and it was only a half-day. I had tartar and report the only two challenges in my line-up so Id have almost the whole day without him, and zero point to do but worry. I hate being babysat.Its temporary, he promised.Jasper impart be bored. Emmett will make fun of me.Theyll be on their best behavior.Right, I grumbled.And then it occurred to me that I did have one alternative besides babysitters. You know . . . I havent been to La Push since the bonfire.I watched his face carefully for any change in expression. His eyes tightened the tiniest bit.Id be safe enough there, I reminded him.He thought about it for a few seconds. Youre probably right.His face was calm, but just a little too smooth. I almost asked if hed or else I stayed here, but then I thought of the ribbing Emmett would no doubt cater out, and I changed the subject. Are you thirsty already? I asked, reaching up to stroke the light empennage beneath his eye. His irises were still a deep gold.Not really. He seemed reluctant to answer, and that surpri sed me. I waited for an explanation.We want to be as strong as possible, he explained, still reluctant. Well probably hunt again on the way, looking for big game.That makes you stronger?He searched my face for something, but there was nothing to honor but curiosity.Yes, he finally said. Human blood makes us the strongest, though only fractionally. Jaspers been thinking about cheating unfavourable as he is to the idea, hes nothing if not practical but he wont suggest it. He knows what Carlisle will say.Would that help? I asked quietly.It doesnt matter. We arent going to change who we are.I frowned. If something helped even the odds . . . and then I shuddered, realizing I was willing to have a stranger die to protect him. I was horrified at myself, but not entirely able to deny it, either.He changed the subject again. Thats why theyre so strong, of course. The newborns are full of human blood their own blood, reacting to the change. It lingers in the tissues and strengthens them. Their bodies use it up slowly, like Jasper said, the strength starting to sink after about a year.How strong will I be?He grinned. Stronger than I am.Stronger than Emmett?The grin got bigger. Yes. Do me a favor and challenge him to an arm-wrestling match. It would be a good experience for him.I laughed. It sounded so ridiculous.Then I sighed and hopped down from the counter, because I really couldnt put it off any longer. I had to wad, and cram hard. Luckily I had Edwards help, and Edward was an excellent tutor since he knew absolutely everything. I figured my biggest problem would be just focusing on the tests. If I didnt watch myself, I might end up paper my History essay on the vampire wars of the South.I took a break to call Jacob, and Edward seemed just as comfortable as he had when I was on the phone with Rene. He played with my hair again.though it was the middle of the afternoon, my call woke Jacob up, and he was grouchy at first. He cheered right up when I asked if I c ould visit the next day. The Quileute school was already out for the summer, so he told me to come over as early as I could. I was pleased to have an option besides being babysat. There was a tiny bit more haughtiness in spending the day with Jacob.Some of that dignity was lost when Edward insisted again on delivering me to the border line like a child being exchange by custodial guardians.So how do you feel you did on your exams? Edward asked on the way, making small talk.History was easy, but I dont know about the Calculus. It seemed like it was making sense, so that probably means I failed.He laughed. Im sure you did fine. Or, if youre really worried, I could bribe Mr. Varner to give you an A.Er, thanks, but no thanks.He laughed again, but suddenly stopped when we turned the last bend and byword the red car waiting. He frowned in concentration, and then, as he parked the car, he sighed.Whats wrong? I asked, my hand on the door.He agitate his head. Nothing. His eyes were narrow ed as he stared through the windshield toward the other car. Id seen that look onward.Youre not audience to Jacob, are you? I accused.Its not easy to ignore someone when hes yelling.Oh. I thought about that for a second. Whats he shouting? I whispered.Im absolutely certain hell mention it himself, Edward said in a humourous tone.I would have pressed the issue, but then Jacob honked his horn two quick impatient honks.Thats impolite, Edward growled.Thats Jacob, I sighed, and I hurried out before Jacob did something to really set Edwards teeth on edge.I waved to Edward before I got into the Rabbit and, from that distance, it looked like he was truly upset about the honking thing . . . or whatever Jacob was thinking about. But my eyes were weak and made mistakes all the time.I wanted Edward to come to me. I wanted to make both of them get out of their cars and shake hands and be friends be Edward and Jacob rather than vampire and werewolf. It was as if I had those two stubborn mag nets in my hands again, and I was holding them together, trying to force nature to reverse herself. . . .I sighed, and climbed in Jacobs car.Hey, Bells. Jakes tone was cheerful, but his voice dragged. I examined his face as he started down the road, driving a little faster than I did, but sluggish than Edward, on his way adventure to La Push.Jacob looked different, maybe even sick. His eyelids drooped and his face was drawn. His shaggy hair stuck out in random directions it was almost to his chin in some places.Are you all right, Jake?Just tired, he managed to get out before he was overcome by a massive yawn. When he finished, he asked, What do you want to do today?I eyed him for a moment. Lets just hang out at your place for now, I suggested. He didnt look like he was up for much more than that. We can ride our bikes later.Sure, sure, he said, yawning again.Jacobs house was vacant, and that felt strange. I realized I thought of Billy as a nearly permanent fixture there.Wheres you r dad?Over at the Clearwaters. Hes been hanging out there a lot since Harry died. Sue gets lonely.Jacob sat down on the old mould that was no bigger than a loveseat and squished himself to the side to make room for me.Oh. Thats nice. Poor Sue.Yeah . . . shes having some trouble. . . . He hesitated. With her kids.Sure, its got to be hard on Seth and Leah, losing their dad. . . .Uh-huh, he agreed, lost in thought. He picked up the remote and flipped on the TV without seeming to think about it. He yawned.Whats with you, Jake? Youre like a zombie.I got about two hours of sleep last night, and four the night before, he told me. He stretched his long arms slowly, and I could hear the joints crack as he flexed. He settled his left arm on the back of the sofa behind me, and slumped back to rest his head against the wall. Im exhausted.Why arent you sleeping? I asked.He made a face. Sams being difficult. He doesnt trust your bloodsuckers. Ive been running double shifts for two weeks and nob odys touched me yet, but he still doesnt buy it. So Im on my own for now.Double shifts? Is this because youre trying to watch out for me? Jake, thats wrong You need to sleep. Ill be fine.Its no big deal. His eyes were abruptly more alert. Hey, did you ever find out who was in your room? Is there anything new?I ignored the second question. No, we didnt find anything out about my, um, visitor.Then Ill be around, he said as his eyes slid closed.Jake . . . , I started to whine.Hey, its the least I can do I offered eternal servitude, remember. Im your slave for life.I dont want a slaveHis eyes didnt open. What do you want, Bella?I want my friend Jacob and I dont want him half-dead, hurting himself in some misdirect attempt -He cut me off. Look at it this way Im hoping I can track down a vampire Im allowed to kill, okay?I didnt answer. He looked at me then, peeking at my reaction.Kidding, Bella.I stared at the TV.So, any special plans next week? Youre graduating. Wow. Thats big. His v oice turned flat, and his face, already drawn, looked downright haggard as his eyes closed again not in exhaustion this time, but in denial. I realized that graduation still had a horrible significance for him, though my intentions were now disrupted.No special plans, I said carefully, hoping he would hear the reassurance in my words without a more detailed explanation. I didnt want to get into it now. For one thing, he didnt look up for any difficult conversations. For another, I knew he would read too much into my qualms. Well, I do have to go to a graduation party. Mine. I made a disgusted sound. Alice loves parties, and shes invited the whole town to her place the night of. Its going to be horrible.His eyes opened as I spoke, and a relieved smile made his face look less worn. I didnt get an invitation. Im hurt, he teased.Consider yourself invited. Its supposedly my party, so I should be able to ask who I want.Thanks, he said sarcastically, his eyes slipping closed once more.I w ish you would come, I said without any hope. It would be more fun. For me, I mean.Sure, sure, he mumbled. That would be very . . . wise . . . His voice trailed off.A few seconds later, he was snoring.Poor Jacob. I studied his dreaming face, and liked what I saw. While he slept, every trace of defensiveness and bitterness disappeared and suddenly he was the boy who had been my very best friend before all the werewolf nonsense had gotten in the way. He looked so much younger. He looked like my Jacob.I snuggled into the couch to wait out his nap, hoping he would sleep for a while and make up some of what hed lost. I flipped through channels, but there wasnt much on. I settled for a cooking show, knowing, as I watched, that Id never put that much effort into Charlies dinner. Jacob continued to snore, getting louder. I turned up the TV.I was strangely relaxed, almost sleepy, too. This house felt safer than my own, probably because no one had ever come looking for me here. I curled up on the sofa and thought about taking a nap myself. Maybe I would have, but Jacobs snoring was impossible to tune out. So, instead of sleeping, I let my mind wander.Finals were done, and most of them had been a cakewalk. Calculus, the one exception, was behind me, pass or fail. My high school genteelness was over. And I didnt really know how I felt about that. I couldnt look at it objectively, tied(p) up as it was with my human life being over.I wondered how long Edward planned to use this not because youre scared excuse. I was going to have to put my foot down sometime.If I were thinking practically, I knew it made more sense to ask Carlisle to change me the second I made it through the graduation line. Forks was becoming nearly as dangerous as a war zone. No, Forks was a war zone. Not to mention . . . it would be a good excuse to miss the graduation party. I smiled to myself as I thought of that most trivial of reasons for changing. Silly . . . yet still compelling.But Edward was ri ght I wasnt sooner ready yet.And I didnt want to be practical. I wanted Edward to be the one. It wasnt a rational desire. I was sure that about two seconds after someone actually bit me and the venom started burning through my veins I really wouldnt care anymore who had done it. So it shouldnt make a difference.It was hard to define, even to myself, why it mattered. There was just something about him being the one to make the choice to want to keep me enough that he wouldnt just allow me to be changed, he would act to keep me. It was childish, but I liked the idea that his lips would be the last good thing I would feel. Even more embarrassingly, something I would never say aloud, I wanted his venom to poison my system. It would make me belong to him in a tangible, quantifiable way.But I knew he was going to stick to his marriage scheme like chewing gum because a delay was what he was clearly after and it was working so far. I seek to imagine telling my parents that I was gett ing unite this summer. Telling Angela and Ben and Mike. I couldnt. I couldnt think of the words to say. It would be easier to tell them I was becoming a vampire. And I was sure that at least my mother were I to tell her every detail of the truth would be more strenuously opposed to me getting married than to me a becoming vampire. I grimaced to myself as I imagined her horrified expression.Then, for just a second, I saw that same odd vision of Edward and me on a porch swing, wearing clothes from another kind of world. A world where it would surprise no one if I wore his ring on my finger. A simpler place, where love was be in simpler ways. One plus one equals two. . . .Jacob snorted and rolled to his side. His arm swung off the back of the couch and pinned me against his body. consecrated crow, but he was heavy And hot. It was sweltering after just a few seconds.I tried to slide out from under his arm without waking him, but I had to shove a little bit, and when his arm fell off me, his eyes snapped open. He jumped to his feet, looking around anxiously.What? What? he asked, disoriented.Its just me, Jake. no-count I woke you.He turned to look at me, blinking and confused. Bella?Hey, sleepy.Oh, man Did I fall sleepyheaded? Im sorry How long was I out?A few Emerils. I lost count.He flopped back on the couch next to me. Wow. Sorry about that, really.I patted his hair, trying to smooth the wild disarray. Dont feel bad. Im glad you got some sleep.He yawned and stretched. Im useless these days. No wonder Billys always gone. Im so boring.Youre fine, I assured him.Ugh, lets go outside. I need to walk around or Ill pass out again.Jake, go back to sleep. Im good. Ill call Edward to come pick me up. I patted my pockets as I spoke, and realized they were empty. Shoot, Ill have to borrow your phone. I think I must have left his in the car. I started to unfold myself.No Jacob insisted, grabbing my hand. No, stay. You barely ever make it down. I cant believe I wasted a ll this time.He pulled me off the couch as he spoke, and then led the way outside, ducking his head as he passed under the doorframe. It had gotten much cooler while Jacob slept the air was unseasonably cold there must be a storm on the way. It felt like February, not May.The wintry air seemed to make Jacob more alert. He paced back and forth in front of the house for a minute, dragging me along with him.Im an idiot, he muttered to himself.Whats the matter, Jake? So you fell asleep. I shrugged.I wanted to talk to you. I cant believe this.Talk to me now, I said.Jacob met my eyes for a second, and then looked away quickly toward the trees. It almost looked like he was blushing, but it was hard to tell with his dark skin.I suddenly remembered what Edward had said when he dropped me off that Jacob would tell me whatever he was shouting in his head. I started gnawing on my lip.Look, Jacob said. I was planning to do this a little bit differently. He laughed, and it sounded like he was l aughing at himself. Smoother, he added. I was going to work up to it, but and he looked at the clouds, dimmer as the afternoon progressed Im out of time to work.He laughed again, nervous. We were still tempo slowly.What are you talking about? I demanded.He took a deep breath. I want to tell you something. And you already know it . . . but I think I should say it out loud anyway. Just so theres never any confusion on the subject.I planted my feet, and he came to a stop. I took my hand away and folded my arms across my chest. I was suddenly sure that I didnt want to know what he was building up to.Jacobs eyebrows pulled down, throwing his deep-set eyes into shadow. They were pitch black as they bored into mine.Im in love with you, Bella, Jacob said in a strong, sure voice. Bella, I love you. And I want you to pick me instead of him. I know you dont feel that way, but I need the truth out there so that you know your options. I wouldnt want a miscommunication to stand in our way.