Istaredoutattheroughsurfafterheanswered,notsurewhatmyfacewasexposing. "Youhavegoosebumps,"helaugheddelightedly. "You'reagoodstoryteller,"Icomplimentedhim,stillstaringintothewaves. "Prettycrazystuff,though,isn'tit?Nowondermydaddoesn'twantustotalkaboutittoanyone." Icouldn'tcontrolmyexpressionenoughtolookathimyet. "Don'tworry,Iwon'tgiveyouaway." "IguessIjustviolatedthetreaty,"helaughed. "I'lltakeittothegrave,"Ipromised,andthenIshivered. "Seriously,though,don'tsayanythingtoCharlie.Hewasprettymadatmydadwhenheheardthatsomeofusweren'tgoingtothehospitalsinceDr.Cullenstartedworkingthere." "Iwon't,ofcoursenot." "Sodoyouthinkwe'reabunchofsuperstitiousnativesorwhat?"heaskedinaplayfultone,butwithahintofworry.Istillhadn'tlookedawayfromtheocean. IturnedandsmiledathimasnormallyasIcould. "No.Ithinkyou'reverygoodattellingscarystories,though.Istillhavegoosebumps,see?"Iheldupmyarm. "Cool."Hesmiled. Andthenthesoundofthebeachrocksclatteringagainsteachotherwarnedusthatsomeonewasapproaching.OurheadssnappedupatthesametimetoseeMikeandJessicaaboutfiftyyardsaway,walkingtowardus. "Thereyouare,Bella,"Mikecalledinrelief,wavinghisarmoverhishead. "Isthatyourboyfriend?"Jacobasked,alertedbythejealousedgeinMike'svoice.Iwassurpriseditwassoobvious. "No,definitelynot,"Iwhispered.IwastremendouslygratefultoJacob,andeagertomakehimashappyaspossible.Iwinkedathim,carefullyturningawayfromMiketodoso.Hesmiled,elatedbymyineptflirting. "SowhenIgetmylicense…"hebegan. "YoushouldcomeseemeinForks.Wecouldhangoutsometime."IfeltguiltyasIsaidthis,knowingthatI'dusedhim.ButIreallydidlikeJacob.HewassomeoneIcouldeasilybefriendswith. Mikehadreachedusnow,withJessicastillafewpacesback.IcouldseehiseyesappraisingJacob,andlookingsatisfiedathisobviousyouth. "Wherehaveyoubeen?"heasked,thoughtheanswerwasrightinfrontofhim. "Jacobwasjusttellingmesomelocalstories,"Ivolunteered. "Itwasreallyinteresting." IsmiledatJacobwarmly,andhegrinnedback. "Well,"Mikepaused,carefullyreassessingthesituationashewatchedourcamaraderie. "We'repackingup—itlookslikeit'sgoingtorainsoon." Wealllookedupatthegloweringsky.Itcertainlydidlooklikerain. "Okay."Ijumpedup. "I'mcoming." "Itwasnicetoseeyouagain,"Jacobsaid,andIcouldtellhewastauntingMikejustabit. "Itreallywas.NexttimeCharliecomesdowntoseeBilly,I'llcome,too,"Ipromised. Hisgrinstretchedacrosshisface. "Thatwouldbecool." "Andthanks,"Iaddedearnestly. Ipulledupmyhoodaswetrampedacrosstherockstowardtheparkinglot.Afewdropswerebeginningtofall,makingblackspotsonthestoneswheretheylanded.WhenwegottotheSuburbantheotherswerealreadyloadingeverythingbackin.IcrawledintothebackseatbyAngelaandTyler,announcingthatI'dalreadyhadmyturnintheshotgunposition.Angelajuststaredoutthewindowattheescalatingstorm,andLaurentwistedaroundinthemiddleseattooccupyTyler'sattention,soIcouldsimplylaymyheadbackontheseatandclosemyeyesandtryveryhardnottothink.