Angela and I were the last to arrive; and; as Eric said our names; I
noticed a younger boy sitting on the stones near the fire glance up at me
in interest。 I sat down next to Angela; and Mike brought us sandwiches
and an array of sodas to choose from; while a boy who looked to be the
oldest of the visitors rattled off the names of the seven others with
him。 All I caught was that one of the girls was also named Jessica; and
the boy who noticed me was named Jacob。
It was relaxing to sit with Angela; she was a restful kind of person to
be around — she didn't feel the need to fill every silence with chatter。
She left me free to think undisturbed while we ate。 And I was thinking
about how disjointedly time seemed to flow in Forks; passing in a blur at
times; with single images standing out more clearly than others。 And
then; at other times; every second was significant; etched in my mind。 I
knew exactly what caused the difference; and it disturbed me。
During lunch the clouds started to advance; slinking across the blue sky;
darting in front of the sun momentarily; casting long shadows across the
beach; and blackening the waves。 As they finished eating; people started
to drift away in twos and threes。 Some walked down to the edge of the
waves; trying to skip rocks across the choppy surface。 Others were
gathering a second expedition to the tide pools。 Mike — with Jessica
shadowing him — headed up to the one shop in the village。 Some of the
local kids went with them; others went along on the hike。 By the time
they all had scattered; I was sitting alone on my driftwood log; with
Lauren and Tyler occupying themselves by the CD player someone had
thought to bring; and three teenagers from the reservation perched around
the circle; including the boy named Jacob and the oldest boy who had
acted as spokesperson。
A few minutes after Angela left with the hikers; Jacob sauntered over to
take her place by my side。 He looked fourteen; maybe fifteen; and had
long; glossy black hair pulled back with a rubber band at the nape of his
neck。 His skin was beautiful; silky and russetcolored; his eyes were
dark; set deep above the high planes of his cheekbones。 He still had just
a hint of childish roundness left around his chin。 Altogether; a very
pretty face。 However; my positive opinion of his looks was damaged by the
first words out of his mouth。
〃You're Isabella Swan; aren't you?〃
It was like the first day of school all over again。
〃Bella;〃 I sighed。
〃I'm Jacob Black。〃 He held his hand out in a friendly gesture。 〃You
bought my dad's truck。〃
〃Oh;〃 I said; relieved; shaking his sleek hand。 〃You're Billy's son。 I
probably should remember you。〃
〃No; I'm the youngest of the family — you would remember my older
sisters。〃
〃Rachel and Rebecca;〃 I suddenly recalled。 Charlie and Billy had thrown
us together a lot during my visits; to keep us busy while they fished。 We
were all too shy to make much progress as friends。 Of course; I'd kicked
up enough tantrums to end the fishing trips by the time I was eleven。
〃Are they here?〃 I examined the girls at the ocean's edge; wondering if I
would recognize them now。
〃No。〃 Jacob shook his head。 〃Rachel got a scholarship to Washington
State; and Rebecca married a Samoan surfer — she lives in Hawaii now。〃
〃Married。 Wow。〃 I was stunned。 The twins were only a little over a year
older than I was。
〃So how do you like the truck?〃 he asked。
〃I love it。 It runs great。〃
〃Yeah; but it's really slow;〃 he laughed。 〃I was so relived when Charlie
bought it。 My dad wouldn't let me work on building another car when we
had a perfectly good vehicle right there。〃
〃It's not that slow;〃 I objected。
〃Have you tried to go over sixty?〃
〃No;〃 I admitted。
〃Good。 Don't。〃 He grinned。
I couldn't help grinning back。 〃It does great in a collision;〃 I offered
in my truck's defense。
〃I don't think a tank could take out that old monster;〃 he agreed with
another laugh。
〃So you build cars?〃 I asked; impressed。
〃When I have free time; and parts。 You wouldn't happen to know where I
could get my hands on a master cylinder for a 1986 Volkswagen Rabbit?〃 he
added jokingly。 He had a pleasant; husky voice。
〃Sorry;〃 I laughed; 〃I haven't seen any lately; but I'll keep my eyes
open for you。〃 As if I knew what that was。 He was very easy to talk with。
He flashed a brilliant smile; looking at me appreciatively in a way I was
learning to recognize。 I wasn't the only one who noticed。
〃You know Bella; Jacob?〃 Lauren asked — in what I imagined was an
insolent tone — from across the fire。
〃We've sort of known each other since I was born;〃 he laughed; smiling at
me again。
〃How nice。〃 She didn't sound like she thought it was nice at all; and her
pale; fishy eyes narrowed。
〃Bella;〃 she called again; watching my face carefully; 〃I was just saying
to Tyler that it was too bad none of the Cullens could e out today。
Didn't anyone think to invite them?〃 Her expression of concern was
unconvincing。
〃You mean Dr。 Carlisle Cullen's family?〃 the tall; older boy asked before
I could respond; much to Lauren's irritation。 He was really closer to a
man than a boy; and his voice was very deep。
〃Yes; do you know them?〃 she asked condescendingly; turning halfway
toward him。
〃The Cullens don't e here;〃 he said in a tone that closed the subject;
ignoring her question。
Tyler; trying to win back her attention; asked Lauren's opinion on a CD
he held。 She was distracted。
I stared at the deepvoiced boy; taken aback; but he was looking away
toward the dark forest behind us。 He'd said that the Cullens didn't e
here; but his tone had implied something more — that they weren't
allowed; they were prohibited。 His manner left a strange impression on
me; and I tried to ignore it without success。
Jacob interrupted my meditation。 〃So is Forks driving you insane yet?〃
〃Oh; I'd say that's an understatement。〃 I grimaced。 He grinned
understandingly。
I was still turning over the brief ment on the Cullens; and I had a
sudden inspiration。 It was a stupid plan; but I didn't have any better
ideas。 I hoped that young Jacob was as yet inexperienced around girls; so
that he wouldn't see through my suretobepitiful attempts at flirting。
〃Do you want to walk down the beach with me?〃 I asked; trying to imitate
that way Edward had of looking up from underneath his eyelashes。 It
couldn't have nearly the same effect; I was sure; but Jacob jumped up
willingly enough。
As we walked north across the multihued stones toward the driftwood
seawall; the clouds finally closed ranks across the sky; causing the sea
to darken and the temperature to drop。 I shoved my hands deep into the
pockets of my jacket。
〃So you're; what; sixteen?〃 I asked; trying not to look like an idiot as
I fluttered my eyelids the way I'd seen girls do on TV。
〃I just turned fifteen;〃 he confessed; flattered。
〃Really?〃 My face was full of false surprise。 〃I would have thought you
were older。〃
〃I'm tall for my age;〃 he explained。
〃Do you e up to Forks much?〃 I asked archly; as if I was hoping for a
yes。 I sounded idiotic to myself。 I was afraid he would turn on me with
disgust and accuse me of my fraud; but he still seemed flattered。
〃Not too much;〃 he admitted with a frown。 〃But when I get my car finished
I can go up as much as I want — after I get my license;〃 he amended。
〃Who was that other boy Lauren was talking to? He seemed a little old to
be hanging out with us。〃 I purposefully lumped myself in with the
youngsters; trying to make it clear that I preferred Jacob。
〃That's Sam — he's nieen;〃 he informed me。
〃What was that he was saying about the doctor's family?〃 I asked
innocently。
〃The Cullens? Oh; they're not supposed to e onto the reservation。〃 He
looked away; out toward James Island; as he confirmed what I'd thought
I'd heard in Sam's voice。
〃Why not?〃
He glanced back at me; biting his lip。 〃Oops。 I'm not supposed to say
anything about that。〃
〃Oh; I won't tell anyone; I'm just curious。〃 I tried to make my smile
alluring; wondering if I was laying it on too thick。
He smiled back; though; looking allured。 Then he lifted one eyebrow and
his voice was even huskier than before。
〃Do you like scary stories?〃 he asked ominously。
〃I love them;〃 I enthused; making an effort to smolder at him。
Jacob strolled to a nearby driftwood tree that had its roots sticking out
like the attenuated legs of a huge; pale spider。 He perched lightly on
one of the twisted roots while I sat beneath him on the body of the tree。
He stared down at the rocks; a smile hovering around the edges of his
broad lips。 I could see he was going to try to make this good。 I focused
on keeping the vital interest I felt out of my eyes。
〃Do you know any of our old stories; about where we came from — the
Quileutes; I mean?〃 he began。
〃Not really;〃 I admitted。
〃Well; there are lots of legends; some of them claiming to date back to
the Flood — supposedly; the ancient Quileutes tied their