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〃I'm going to a movie Friday。 I've been promising my cafeteria crowd that I
would go out forever。〃 Mike
would be pleased。
But Jacob's face fell。 I caught the expression in his dark eyes before he
dropped them to look at the
ground。
〃You'll e too； right？〃 I added quickly。 〃Or will it be too much of a drag
with a bunch of boring
seniors？〃 So much for my chance to put some distance between us。 I couldn't
stand hurting Jacob； we
seemed to be connected in an odd way； and his pain set off little stabs of my
own。 Also； the idea of
having his pany for the ordeal—I had promised Mike； but really didn't feel
any enthusiasm at the
thought of following through—was just too tempting。
〃You'd like me to e； with your friends there？〃
〃Yes；〃 I admitted honestly； knowing as I continued that I was probably
shooting myself in the foot with
my words。 〃I'll have a lot more fun if you're there。 Bring Quil； and we'll
make it a party。〃
〃Quil's gonna freak。 Senior girls。〃 He chortled and rolled his eyes。 I didn't
mention Embry； and neither did
he。 I laughed； too。 〃I'll try to get hin a good selection。〃
I broached the subject with Mike in English。
〃Hey； Mike；〃 I said when class was over。 〃Are you free Friday night？〃
He looked up； his blue eyes instantly hopeful。 〃Yeah； I am。 You want to go
out？〃
I worded my reply carefully。 〃I was thinking about getting a group〃—I
emphasized the word—〃together
to go see Crosshairs。〃 I'd done my homework this time—even reading the movie
spoilers to be sure I
wouldn't be caught off guard。 This movie was supposed to be a bloodbath from
start to finish。 I wasn't so
recovered that I could stand to sit through a romance。 〃Does that sound like
fun？〃
〃Sure；〃 he agreed； visibly less eager。
〃Cool。〃
After a second； he perked back up to near his former excitement level。 〃How
about we get Angela and
Ben？ Or Eric and Katie？〃
He was determined to make this some kind of double date； apparently。
〃How about both？〃 I suggested 〃And Jessica； too； of course。 And Tyler and
Conner； and maybe
Lauren；〃 I tacked on grudgingly。 I had promised Quil variety。
〃Okay；〃 Mike muttered； foiled。
〃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 three…week 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 maybe…she's…crazy…after…all
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 older…looking 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
mid…sentence。
〃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 ten…dollar 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 tha