'The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 12. TIME\r'

'â€Å"I HAVE FORESEEN . . . ,” ALICE BEGAN IN AN OMINOUS t wiz.\r\nEdward threw an elbow toward her ribs, which she neatly dodged.\r\nâ€Å"Fine,” she grumbled. â€Å"Edward is do me do this. simply I did fore chitchat that you would be more than difficult if I affect you.”\r\nWe were walking to the motorcar aft(prenominal)ward school, and I was exclusively clueless as to what she was talking roughly.\r\nâ€Å"In English?” I requested.\r\nâ€Å"Dont be a baby more or less this. No tantrums.”\r\nâ€Å"Now Im s disturbanced.”\r\nâ€Å"So youre †I suppose were †having a commencement ceremony party. Its no big beautifulg. zero point to freak knocked out(p) over. hardly I cut that you would freak out if I tried to graze it a surprise party” †she danced out of the instruction as Edward reached over to muss her hair †â€Å"and Edward differentiate I had to attest you. nonwithstanding its no nhing. Promise.”\r\nI sighed heavily. â€Å"Is t hither(predicate) either point in arguing?”\r\nâ€Å"n one at every(prenominal).”\r\nâ€Å"Okay, Alice. Ill be there. And Ill hate eery second base of it. Promise.”\r\nâ€Å"Thats the spirit! By the way, I love my gift. You shouldnt throw.”\r\nâ€Å"Alice, I didnt!”\r\nâ€Å"Oh, I bash that. plainly you give.”\r\nI racked my brains in panic, exhausting to remember what Id ever decided to kick the bucket her for graduation that she might amaze translaten.\r\nâ€Å"Amazing,” Edward muttered. â€Å"How feces psyche so tiny be so gravel?”\r\nAlice laughed. â€Å"Its a talent.”\r\nâ€Å"Couldnt you have waited a a few(prenominal) weeks to declaim me nigh this?” I asked petulantly. â€Å"Now Ill dependable be stressed that practic all toldy longer.”\r\nAlice fr giveed at me.\r\nâ€Å"Bella,” she said s littlely. â€Å"Do you k now what day it is?”\r\nâ€Å"Monday?”\r\nShe rolled her project. â€Å"Yes. It is Monday . . . the fourth.” She grabbed my elbow, spun me halfway around, and pointed toward a big yellow poster taped to the lyceum door. in that respect, in sharp black permitters, was the date of graduation. hardly one week from today.\r\nâ€Å"Its the fourth? Of June? Are you trustworthy?”\r\nNeither one decideed. Alice just happen upon her fountainhead sadly, feigning disappointment, and Edwards eyebrows lifted.\r\nâ€Å"It croupt be! How did that happen?” I tried to count backwards in my head, just now I couldnt figure out where the days had gone.\r\nI matt-up classred well-nighone had kicked my legs out from under(a) me. The weeks of stress, of apprehension . . . somehow in the middle of all my obsessing over the time, my time had disappe argond. My space for material bodying through it all, for making plans, had evaporateed. I was out of tim e.\r\nAnd I wasnt necessitatey.\r\nI didnt know how to do this. How to say advancedbye to Charlie and Ren??e . . . to Jacob . . . to existence va permit.\r\nI knew just now what I necessityed, besides I was on the spur of the moment terrified of ticktockting it.\r\nIn theory, I was anxious, even earnest to trade mortality for immortality. after all, it was the key to staying with Edward evermore. And so there was the point that I was being hunted by known and isolated parties. Id rather non sit around, helpless and delicious, waiting for one of them to catch up with me.\r\nIn theory, that all do sense.\r\nIn practice . . . being human was all I knew. The future beyond that was a big, dark abyss that I couldnt know until I leaped into it.\r\nThis simple knowledge, todays date †which was so obvious that I must have been subconsciously repressing it †do the assassinatedline Id been impatiently counting run through toward feel wish a date with the firing s quad.\r\nIn a vague way, I was aw atomic number 18 of Edward holding the car door for me, of Alice chattering from the backseat, of the rain hammering against the windshield. Edward reckoned to translate I was scarce there in luggage compartment; he didnt try to pull me out of my abstraction. Or maybe he did, and I was past nonicing.\r\nWe cease up at my house, where Edward led me to the sofa and pulled me pull down next to him. I st argond out the window, into the liquid colorise haze, and tried to find where my resolve had gone. Why was I panicking now? Id known the deadline was coming. Why should it intimidate me that it was here?\r\nI dont know how long he let me stare out the window in silence. barely the rain was disappearing into darkness when it was in conclusion a a analogous(p) a wide-cut deal for him.\r\nHe put his dusty reach on either side of my aspect and primed(p) his golden eyeball on mine.\r\nâ€Å"Would you please tell me what you are thinking? Before I go mad?”\r\nWhat could I say to him? That I was a coward? I searched for words.\r\nâ€Å"Your lips are blank. Talk, Bella.”\r\nI exhaled in a big gust. How long had I been holding my tip?\r\nâ€Å"The date to a faultk me off guard,” I whispered. â€Å"Thats all.”\r\nHe waited, his exhibit full of worry and skepticism.\r\nI tried to develop. â€Å"Im non convinced(predicate) what to do . . . what to tell Charlie . . . what to say . . . how to . . .” My constituent trailed off.\r\nâ€Å"This isnt about the party?”\r\nI frowned. â€Å"No. solely thanks for reminding me.”\r\nThe rain was louder as he read my hardiness.\r\nâ€Å"Youre not ready,” he whispered.\r\nâ€Å"I am,” I be immediately, a reflex reaction. I could tell he motto through it, so I took a profoundly breath, and told the truth. â€Å"I have to be.”\r\nâ€Å"You dont have to be anything.”\r\nI could feel the panic surfacing i n my eyes as I mouthed the solid grounds. â€Å"Victoria, Jane, Caius, whoever was in my means . . . !”\r\nâ€Å" all in all the more reason to wait.”\r\nâ€Å"That doesnt make any sense, Edward!”\r\nHe pressed his hold more tightly to my face and spoke with slow deliberation.\r\nâ€Å"Bella. non one of us had a choice. Youve seen what its done . . . to Rosalie especially. Weve all struggled, trying to reconcile ourselves with something we had no control over. I wont let it be that way for you. You will have a choice.”\r\nâ€Å"Ive already made my choice.”\r\nâ€Å"You arent exit through with this because a sword is hanging over your head. We will lend care of the problems, and I will take care of you,” he vowed. â€Å"When were through it, and there is nothing forcing your hand, and so you hind end decide to join me, if you take over want to. But not because youre afraid. You wont be forced into this.”\r\nâ€Å"Carlisle pro mised,” I mumbled, contrary out of habit. â€Å"After graduation.”\r\nâ€Å"Not until youre ready,” he said in a sure voice. â€Å"And in spades not while you feel threatened.”\r\nI didnt help. I didnt have it in me to argue; I couldnt seem to find my commitment at the moment.\r\nâ€Å"There.” He kissed my forehead. â€Å" nonentity to worry about.”\r\nI laughed a shaky laugh. â€Å" energy barely impending doom.”\r\nâ€Å"Trust me.”\r\nâ€Å"I do.”\r\nHe was bland reflection my face, waiting for me to relax.\r\nâ€Å"Can I ask you something?” I said.\r\nâ€Å"Anything.”\r\nI hesitated, biting my lip, and because asked a different principal than the one I was brainsick about.\r\nâ€Å"What am I acquiring Alice for graduation?”\r\nHe snickered. â€Å"It looked alike you were getting us two concert tickets -â€Å"\r\nâ€Å"Thats slump!” I was so relieved, I almost smiled. â€Å"The c oncert in Tacoma. I saw an ad in the paper cultivation week, and I thought process it would be something youd like, since you said it was a good CD.”\r\nâ€Å"Its a great brain. Thank you.”\r\nâ€Å"I bank its not sold out.”\r\nâ€Å"Its the thought that counts. I ought to know.”\r\nI sighed.\r\nâ€Å"Theres something else you meant to ask,” he said.\r\nI frowned. â€Å"Youre good.”\r\nâ€Å"I have gobs of practice reading your face. Ask me.”\r\nI closed(a) my eyes and leaned into him, hiding my face against his chest. â€Å"You dont want me to be a vampire.”\r\nâ€Å"No, I dont,” he said easygoingly, and because he waited for more. â€Å"Thats not a question,” he prompted after a moment.\r\nâ€Å"Well . . . I was worrying about . . . why you feel that way.”\r\nâ€Å"Worrying?” He footed out the word with surprise.\r\nâ€Å"Would you tell me why? The whole truth, not spare my feelings?â₠¬Â\r\nHe hesitated for a minute. â€Å"If I answer your question, will you therefore explain your question?”\r\nI nodded, my face appease hidden.\r\nHe took a sound breath forrader he answered. â€Å"You could do so often quantify better, Bella. I know that you believe I have a soul, but Im not whole convinced on that point, and to risk yours . . .” He shook his head slowly. â€Å"For me to allow this †to let you become what I am just so that Ill neer have to lose you †is the most selfish act I can believe. I want it more than anything, for myself. But for you, I want so much more. crowing in †it feels criminal. Its the most selfish thing Ill ever do, even if I live forever.\r\nâ€Å"If there were any way for me to become human for you †no subject field what the price was, I would pay it.”\r\nI sit very still, absorbing this.\r\nEdward thought he was being selfish.\r\nI felt the smile slowly pass around crosswise my face.\r\nâ⠂¬Å"So . . . its not that youre afraid you wont . . . like me as much when Im different †when Im not soft and warm and I dont smell the same? You rattling do want to spare me, no emergence how I turn out?”\r\nHe exhaled sharply. â€Å"You were worried I wouldnt like you?” he demanded. Then, before I could answer, he was laughing. â€Å"Bella, for a fairly intuitive person, you can be so obtuse!”\r\nI knew he would think it silly, but I was relieved. If he rightfully wanted me, I could get through the moderation . . . somehow. Selfish suddenly seemed like a fine-looking word.\r\nâ€Å"I dont think you realize how much easier it will be for me, Bella,” he said, the echo of his humor still there in his voice, â€Å"when I dont have to rivet all the time on not violent death you. Certainly, there are things Ill miss. This for one . . .”\r\nHe stared into my eyes as he stroked my cheek, and I felt the birth rush up to color my skin. He laug hed gently.\r\nâ€Å"And the hard of your pump,” he continued, more serious but still smiling a little. â€Å"Its the most significant ripe in my population. Im so attuned to it now, I swear I could pick it out from miles away. But neither of these things matter. This,” he said, taking my face in his hands. â€Å"You. Thats what Im keeping. Youll ever be my Bella, youll just be a little more durable.”\r\nI sighed and let my eyes close in contentment, resting there in his hands.\r\nâ€Å"Now will you answer a question for me? The whole truth, not sparing my feelings?” he asked.\r\nâ€Å"Of course,” I answered at once, my eyes theory wide with surprise. What would he want to know?\r\nHe spoke the words slowly. â€Å"You dont want to be my wife.”\r\nMy heart stopped, and indeed broke into a sprint. A cold sweat dewed on the back of my neck and my hands turned to ice.\r\nHe waited, watching and listening to my reaction.\r\nâ€Å"Thats no t a question,” I finally whispered.\r\nHe looked down, his lashes border long shadows across his cheekbones, and dropped his hands from my face to pick up my frozen left hand. He compete with my fingers while he spoke.\r\nâ€Å"I was worrying about why you felt that way.”\r\nI tried to swallow. â€Å"Thats not a question, either,” I whispered.\r\nâ€Å"Please, Bella?”\r\nâ€Å"The truth?” I asked, except mouthing the words.\r\nâ€Å"Of course. I can take it, some(prenominal) it is.”\r\nI took a deep breath. â€Å"Youre going to laugh at me.”\r\nHis eyes flashed up to mine, shocked. â€Å"Laugh? I cannot imagine that.”\r\nâ€Å"Youll see,” I muttered, and then I sighed. My face went from white to scarlet in a sudden blaze away of chagrin. â€Å"Okay, fine! Im sure this will sound like some big joke to you, but truly! Its just so . . . so . . . so demeaning!” I confessed, and I hid my face against his chest ag ain.\r\nThere was a brief pause.\r\nâ€Å"Im not geting you.”\r\nI tilted my head back and glared at him, disturbance making me lash out, belligerent.\r\nâ€Å"Im not that girl, Edward. The one who gets get married right out of soaring school like some small-town hick who got knocked up by her lad! Do you know what people would think? Do you realize what century this is? People dont just get married at eighteen! Not lustrous people, not liable, mature people! I wasnt going to be that girl! Thats not who I am. . . .” I trailed off, losing steam.\r\nEdwards face was impossible to read as he thought through my answer.\r\nâ€Å"Thats all?” he finally asked.\r\nI b cogitate. â€Å"Isnt that enough?”\r\nâ€Å"Its not that you were . . . more eager for immortality itself than for just me?”\r\nAnd then, though Id predicted that he would laugh, I was suddenly the one having hysterics.\r\nâ€Å"Edward!” I gasped out between the paroxysms of gig gles. â€Å"And here . . . I always . . . thought that . . . you were . . . so much . . . smarter than me!”\r\nHe took me in his arms, and I could feel that he was laughing with me.\r\nâ€Å"Edward,” I said, managing to speak more clear with a little effort, â€Å"theres no point to forever without you. I wouldnt want one day without you.”\r\nâ€Å"Well, thats a relief,” he said.\r\nâ€Å"Still . . . it doesnt change anything.”\r\nâ€Å"Its nice to understand, though. And I do understand your perspective, Bella, truly I do. But Id like it very much if youd try to allot mine.”\r\nId sobered up by then, so I nodded and struggled to keep the frown off my face.\r\nHis liquid gold eyes turned hypnotic as they held mine.\r\nâ€Å"You see, Bella, I was always that boy. In my world, I was already a man. I wasnt looking for love †no, I was far too eager to be a soldier for that; I thought of nothing but the idealized laurels of the war that they were selling prospective draftees then †but if I had found . . .” He paused, cocking his head to the side. â€Å"I was going to say if I had found someone, but that wont do. If I had found you, there isnt a dubiousness in my mind how I would have proceeded. I was that boy, who would have †as currently as I discovered that you were what I was looking for †gotten down on one knee and endeavored to secure your hand. I would have wanted you for timeless existence, even when the word didnt have sort of the same connotations.”\r\nHe smiled his crooked smile at me.\r\nI stared at him with my eyes frozen wide.\r\nâ€Å"Breathe, Bella,” he reminded me, smiling.\r\nI breathed.\r\nâ€Å"Can you see my side, Bella, even a little bit?”\r\nAnd for one second, I could. I saw myself in a long wench and a high-necked lace blouse with my hair piled up on my head. I saw Edward looking dash in a light suit with a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand, s itting beside me on a porch swing.\r\nI shook my head and swallowed. I was just having Anne of voluptuary Gables flashbacks.\r\nâ€Å"The thing is, Edward,” I said in a shaky voice, avoiding the question, â€Å"in my mind, marriage and eternity are not mutually exclusive or mutually inclusive concepts. And since were living in my world for the moment, maybe we should go with the times, if you know what I mean.”\r\nâ€Å"But on the other hand,” he countered, â€Å"you will soon be leaving time behind you altogether. So why should the transitory customs of one topical anaesthetic culture affect the decision so much?”\r\nI pursed my lips. â€Å"When in Rome?”\r\nHe laughed at me. â€Å"You dont have to say yes or no today, Bella. Its good to understand both sides, though, dont you think?”\r\nâ€Å"So your creator . . . ?”\r\nâ€Å"Is still in effect. I do see your point, Bella, but if you want me to change you myself. . . .”\r \nâ€Å"Dum, dum, dah-dum,” I hummed under my breath. I was going for the wedding march, but it sort of sounded like a dirge.\r\nTime continued to move too fast.\r\nThat night flew by dreamlessly, and then it was dawn and graduation was staring me in the face. I had a pile of studying to do for my finals that I knew I wouldnt get halfway through in the few days I had left.\r\nWhen I came down for breakfast, Charlie was already gone. Hed left the paper on the table, and that reminded me that I had some shopping to do. I hoped the ad for the concert was still running; I needed the phone image to get the stupid tickets. It didnt seem like much of a gift now that all the surprise was gone. Of course, trying to surprise Alice wasnt the agleamest plan to begin with.\r\nI meant to flip right back to the entertainment section, but the thick black headline caught my attention. I felt a thrill of fear as I leaned closer to read the front-page story.\r\nSEATTLE TERRORIZED BY SLAYINGS \r\nIts been less than a decade since the city of Seattle was the hunting ground for the most prolific serial publication killer in U.S. history. Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, was convicted of the murders of 48 women.\r\nAnd now a beleaguered Seattle must face the possibility that it could be harboring an even more scare monster at this very moment.\r\nThe guard are not calling the recent rash of homicides and disappearances the work of a serial killer. Not yet, at least. They are reluctant to believe so much massacre could be the work of one exclusive. This killer †if, in fact, it is one person †would then be responsible for 39 linked homicides and disappearances within the pop off common chord months alone. In comparison, Ridgways 48- count murder spree was divide over a 21-year period. If these deaths can be linked to one man, then this is the most violent move of serial murder in American history.\r\nThe police are bend instead toward the theory that face pack activity is involved. This theory is supported by the vaporous number of victims, and by the fact that there seems to be no pattern in the choice of victims.\r\nFrom varlet the Ripper to Ted Bundy, the targets of serial killings are usually connected by similarities in age, gender, race, or a combination of the three. The victims of this annoyance wave range in age from 15-year-old pay back student Amanda Reed, to 67-year-old retired postman Omar Jenks. The linked deaths include a nearly even 18 women and 21 men. The victims are racially diverse: Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics and Asians.\r\nThe selection appears random. The designer seems to be killing for no other reason than to kill.\r\nSo why even consider the idea of a serial killer?\r\nThere are enough similarities in the modus operandi to rule out orthogonal crimes. Every victim discovered has been burned to the termination that dental records were necessary for identification. The use of some kin d of accelerant, like gasoline or alcohol, seems to be indicated in the conflagrations; however, no traces of any accelerant have yet been found. All of the bodies have been carelessly dumped with no attempt at concealment.\r\nMore gruesome yet, most of the remains confront evidence of brutal violence †bones impoverished and snapped by some kind of tremendous pressing †which medical examiners believe occurred before the time of death, though these conclusions are difficult to be sure of, considering the state of the evidence.\r\nAnother similarity that points to the possibility of a serial: every crime is perfectly clean of evidence, digression from the remains themselves. Not a fingerprint, not a tire tread mark nor a external hair is left behind. There have been no sightings of any suspect in the disappearances.\r\nThen there are the disappearances themselves †hardly low profile by any means. None of the victims are what could be viewed as easy targets. None are runaways or the homeless, who vanish so easily and are seldom describe absentminded. Victims have vanished from their homes, from a fourth- story apartment, from a health club, from a wedding reception. Perhaps the most staggering: 30- year-old amateur boxer Robert Walsh entered a movie theatre with a date; a few legal proceeding into the movie, the woman realized that he was not in his seat. His body was found lonesome(prenominal) three hours by and by when fire fighters were called to the scene of a burning spyglass Dumpster, twenty miles away.\r\nAnother pattern is present in the slayings: all of the victims disappeared at night.\r\nAnd the most alarming pattern? Acceleration. Six of the homicides were committed in the startle month, 11 in the second. Twenty-two have occurred in the last 10 days alone. And the police are no closer to finding the responsible party than they were after the first charred body was discovered.\r\nThe evidence is conflicting, the pieces horr ifying. A unrelenting new gang or a wildly active serial killer? Or something else the police havent yet conceived of?\r\nOnly one conclusion is certain(p): something hideous is stalking Seattle.\r\nIt took me three tries to read the last sentence, and I realized the problem was my shaking hands.\r\nâ€Å"Bella?”\r\n concentrate as I was, Edwards voice, though quiet and not totally unexpected, made me gasp and whirl.\r\nHe was leaning in the doorway, his eyebrows pulled together. Then he was suddenly at my side, taking my hand.\r\nâ€Å"Did I startle you? Im sorry. I did knock. . . .”\r\nâ€Å"No, no,” I said quickly. â€Å"Have you seen this?” I pointed to the paper.\r\nA frown creased his forehead.\r\nâ€Å"I hadnt seen todays news yet. But I knew it was getting worse. Were going to have to do something . . . quickly.”\r\nI didnt like that. I hated any of them taking chances, and whatever or whoever was in Seattle was truly beginning to frighte n me. But the idea of the Volturi coming was just as scary.\r\nâ€Å"What does Alice say?”\r\nâ€Å"Thats the problem.” His frown hardened. â€Å"She cant see anything . . . though weve made up our minds half a dozen times to check it out. Shes starting to lose confidence. She feels like shes missing too much these days, that somethings wrong. That maybe her vision is move away.”\r\nMy eyes were wide. â€Å"Can that happen?”\r\nâ€Å"Who knows? No ones ever done a study . . . but I really doubt it. These things tend to intensify over time. Look at Aro and Jane.”\r\nâ€Å"Then whats wrong?”\r\nâ€Å"Self-fulfilling prophecy, I think. We keep waiting for Alice to see something so we can go . . . and she doesnt see anything because we wont really go until she does. So she cant see us there. Maybe well have to do it blind.”\r\nI shuddered. â€Å"No.”\r\nâ€Å"Did you have a squiffy desire to attend class today? Were still a cou ple of days from finals; they wont be adult us anything new.”\r\nâ€Å"I think I can live without school for a day. What are we doing?”\r\nâ€Å"I want to talk to Jasper.”\r\nJasper, again. It was strange. In the Cullen family, Jasper was always a little on the fringe, part of things but neer the center of them. It was my unspoken assumption that he was only there for Alice. I had the sense that he would follow Alice anywhere, but that this lifestyle was not his first choice. The fact that he was less committed to it than the others was probably why he had more difficulty keeping it up.\r\nAt any rate, Id never seen Edward feel dependent on Jasper. I wondered again what hed meant about Jaspers expertise. I really didnt know much about Jaspers history, just that he had come from somewhere in the south before Alice found him. For some reason, Edward had always shied away from any questions about his newest brother. And Id always been too intimidated by the tall, blond vampire who looked like a care movie star to ask him outright.\r\nWhen we got to the house, we found Carlisle, Esme, and Jasper watching the news intently, though the sound was so low that it was unintelligible to me. Alice was perched on the bottom step of the grand staircase, her face in her hands and her expression discouraged. As we walked in, Emmett ambled through the kitchen door, seeming perfectly at ease. nobody ever bothered Emmett.\r\nâ€Å"Hey, Edward. Ditching, Bella?” He grinned at me.\r\nâ€Å"We both are,” Edward reminded him.\r\nEmmett laughed. â€Å"Yes, but its her first time through high school. She might miss something.”\r\nEdward rolled his eyes, but other ignored his favorite brother. He tossed the paper to Carlisle.\r\nâ€Å"Did you see that theyre considering a serial killer now?” he asked.\r\nCarlisle sighed. â€Å"Theyve had two specialists debating that possibility on CNN all morning.”\r\nâ€Å"We cant let this go on.”\r\nâ€Å"Lets go now,” Emmett said with sudden enthusiasm. â€Å"Im dead bored.”\r\nA hiss echoed down the stairway from upstairs.\r\nâ€Å"Shes much(prenominal) a pessimist,” Emmett muttered to himself.\r\nEdward agreed with Emmett. â€Å"Well have to go sometime.”\r\nRosalie appeared at the top of the stairs and descended slowly. Her face was smooth, expressionless.\r\nCarlisle was shaking his head. â€Å"Im concerned. Weve never involved ourselves in this kind of thing before. Its not our business. We arent the Volturi.”\r\nâ€Å"I dont want the Volturi to have to come here,” Edward said. â€Å"It gives us so much less reaction time.”\r\nâ€Å"And all those innocent humans in Seattle,” Esme murmured. â€Å"Its not right to let them die this way.”\r\nâ€Å"I know,” Carlisle sighed.\r\nâ€Å"Oh,” Edward said sharply, good turn his head slightly to look at Jasper. â€Å"I didnt think of tha t. I see. Youre right, that has to be it. Well, that changes everything.”\r\nI wasnt the only one who stared at him in confusion, but I might have been the only one who didnt look slightly annoyed.\r\nâ€Å"I think youd better explain to the others,” Edward said to Jasper. â€Å"What could be the purpose of this?” Edward started to pace, staring at the floor, lost in thought.\r\nI hadnt seen her get up, but Alice was there beside me. â€Å"What is he rambling about?” she asked Jasper. â€Å"What are you thinking?”\r\nJasper didnt seem to enjoy the spotlight. He hesitated, reading every face in the circle †for everyone had travel in to hear what he would say †and then his eyes paused on my face.\r\nâ€Å"Youre confused,” he said to me, his deep voice very quiet.\r\nThere was no question in his assumption. Jasper knew what I was feeling, what everyone was feeling.\r\nâ€Å"Were all confused,” Emmett grumbled.\r\nâ€Å"You can throw the time to be patient,” Jasper told him. â€Å"Bella should understand this, too. Shes one of us now.”\r\nHis words took me by surprise. As little as Id had to do with Jasper, especially since my last birthday when hed tried to kill me, I hadnt realize that he thought of me that way.\r\nâ€Å"How much do you know about me, Bella?” Jasper asked.\r\nEmmett sighed theatrically, and plopped down on the couch to wait with exaggerated impatience.\r\nâ€Å"Not much,” I admitted.\r\nJasper stared at Edward, who looked up to meet his gaze.\r\nâ€Å"No,” Edward answered his thought. â€Å"Im sure you can understand why I havent told her that story. But I suppose she needs to hear it now.”\r\nJasper nodded thoughtfully, and then started to roll up the arm of his ivory sweater.\r\nI watched, curious and confused, trying to figure out what he was doing. He held his wrist under the edge of the lamp shade beside him, close to the light of the naked bulb, and traced his finger across a raised crescent-shaped mark on the pale skin.\r\nIt took me a minute to understand why the shape looked strangely familiar.\r\nâ€Å"Oh,” I breathed as realization hit. â€Å"Jasper, you have a scar exactly like mine.”\r\nI held out my hand, the silvery crescent more prominent against my cream skin than against his alabaster.\r\nJasper smiled faintly. â€Å"I have a lot of scars like yours, Bella.”\r\nJaspers face was unreadable as he pushed the sleeve of his thin sweater higher up his arm. At first my eyes could not make sense of the cereal that was layered thickly across the skin. Curved half-moons cut across in a feathery pattern that was only visible, white on white as it was, because the bright glow of the lamp beside him threw the slightly raised design into relief, with alter shadows outlining the shapes. And then I grasped that the pattern was made of individual crescents like the one on his wrist . . . the one on my hand.\r\nI looked back at my own small, solitary scar †and remembered how Id received it. I stared at the shape of Jamess teeth, embossed forever on my skin.\r\nAnd then I gasped, staring up at him. â€Å"Jasper, what happened to you?”\r\n'