Eclipse (Twilight, #3)

by Stephenie Meyer

“I don’t think I’m welcome anymore,” I whispered. “Did you run over someone’s cat?” he asked lightly. I knew he didn’t want to force the story out of me, but I could hear the curiosity burning behind his words. “No.” I took a deep breath, and then mumbled quickly through the explanation. “I thought Jacob would have realized… I didn’t think it would surprise him.” Edward waited while I hesitated. “He wasn’t expecting… that it was so soon.” “Ah,” Edward said quietly. “He said he’d rather see me dead.” My voice broke on the last word.

Edward was too still for a moment, controlling whatever reaction he didn’t want me to see. Then he crushed me gently to his chest. “I’m so sorry.” “I thought you’d be glad,” I whispered. “Glad over something that’s hurt you?” he murmured into my hair. “I don’t think so, Bella.” I sighed and relaxed, fitting myself to the stone shape of him. But he was motionless again, tense.

“I could slip.” His tone was thoughtful. “If you’re going to have a lapse in control, I can think of a better place for it.” I reached for his face, trying to pull myself up to kiss him. His arms held me tighter, restraining. He sighed. “Must I always be the responsible one?” I grinned in the darkness. “No. Let me be in charge of responsibility for a few minutes… or hours.”

His voice was anxious, and I realized that he thought I wanted to talk about the reasons Rosalie’d given me for staying human. But I was interested in something much more pressing. “She told me a little bit… about the time your family lived in Denali.” There was a short pause; this beginning took him by surprise. “Yes?” “She mentioned something about a bunch of female vampires… and you.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, after the silence had grown uncomfortable. “She told me you didn’t… show any preference. But I was just wondering, you know, if any of them had. Shown a preference for you, I mean.” Again he said nothing. “Which one?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual, and not quite managing. “Or was there more than one?” No answer. I wished I could see his face, so I could try to guess what this silence meant. “Alice will tell me,” I said. “I’ll go ask her right now.” His arms tightened; I was unable to squirm even an inch away. “It’s late,” he said. His voice had a little edge to it that was something new. Sort of nervous, maybe a little embarrassed. “Besides, I think Alice stepped out.…”

“It’s bad,” I guessed. “It’s really bad, isn’t it?” I started to panic, my heart accelerating as I imagined the gorgeous immortal rival I’d never realized I had. “Calm down, Bella,” he said, kissing the tip of my nose. “You’re being absurd.” “Am I? Then why won’t you tell me?” “Because there’s nothing to tell. You’re blowing this wildly out of proportion.” “Which one?” I insisted. He sighed. “Tanya expressed a little interest. I let her know, in a very courteous, gentlemanly fashion, that I did not return that interest. End of story.” I kept my voice as even as possible. “Tell me something—what does Tanya look like?” “Just like the rest of us—white skin, gold eyes,” he answered too quickly. “And, of course, extraordinarily beautiful.” I felt him shrug. “I suppose, to human eyes,” he said, indifferent. “You know what, though?” “What?” My voice was petulant. He put his lips right to my ear; his cold breath tickled. “I prefer brunettes.”

“Sleep, my Bella. Dream happy dreams. You are the only one who has ever touched my heart. It will always be yours. Sleep, my only love.”

He started to hum my lullaby, and I knew it was only a matter of time till I succumbed, so I closed my eyes and snuggled closer into his chest.

Jacob called, Charlie had written. He said he didn’t mean it, and that he’s sorry. He wants you to call him. Be nice and give him a break. He sounded upset.

“Aren’t you going to call Jacob?” Charlie asked. He was leaning around the living room wall, watching me pick up. “No.” I started up the stairs. “That’s not very attractive behavior, Bella,” he said. “Forgiveness is divine.” “Mind your own business,” I muttered under my breath, much too low for him to hear.

my head to the side. Where was my pillow? I turned in a circle, scanning the room. No pillow. I noticed that my room looked oddly tidy. Hadn’t my gray sweatshirt been draped over the low bedpost on the footboard? And I would swear there had been a pair of dirty socks behind the rocking chair, along with the red blouse I’d tried on two mornings ago, but decided was too dressy for school, hanging over the arm.… I spun around again. My hamper wasn’t empty, but it wasn’t overflowing, the way I thought it had been.

“Someone’s been here,” he murmured in my ear after he pulled me to the back of the kitchen. His voice was strained; it was difficult to hear him over the thumping of the washing machine. “I swear that no werewolves—” I started to say.

“Not one of them,” he interrupted me quickly, shaking his head. “One of us.” His tone made it clear that he didn’t mean a member of his family. I felt the blood empty from my face. “Victoria?” I choked. “It’s not a scent I recognize.” “One of the Volturi,” I guessed. “Probably.” “When?”

I felt green. A vampire had been in the house looking for me while Charlie slept. Panic overwhelmed me, closed my throat. I couldn’t answer, I just stared at him in horror. Charlie’s expression changed. Abruptly, he was grinning. “If you two are having a fight… well, don’t let me interrupt.”

Alice’s voice was cold when she answered. “You’ve already got me watching the Volturis’ decisions, watching for Victoria’s return, watching Bella’s every step. You want to add another? Do I just have to watch Charlie, or Bella’s room, or the house, or the whole street, too? Edward, if I try to do too much, things are going to start slipping through the cracks.”

“You’re right, Bella. I’m sorry.” He looked at Alice. “Forgive me, Alice. I shouldn’t be taking this out on you. That was inexcusable.”

i need this level of communication in my life

Everyone seemed to thaw out at once. Alice relaxed and leaned against the back of the couch. Carlisle walked slowly toward her, his eyes far away. Esme sat on the sofa in front of Alice, curling her legs up on the seat. Only Rosalie remained unmoving, her back to us, staring out the glass wall.

Edward pulled me to the sofa and I sat next to Esme, who shifted to put her arm around me. He held one of my hands tightly in both of his.

I cringed at my father’s name. “It’s going to be fine, Bella,” Esme murmured, smoothing my hair.

💳💥💳💥💳💥

Alice pursed her lips. “I don’t think so. The timing of it was too perfect.… This visitor was so careful to make no contact. Almost like he or she knew that I would see.…”

I sighed. “This is ridiculous. They’ll get so bored, they’ll have to kill me themselves, just for something to do.” Edward gave me a sour look. “Hilarious, Bella.”

“Jacob called again,” Charlie said as soon as Edward was in the room. I kept my face empty as I set the plate in front of him. “Is that a fact?” Charlie frowned. “Don’t be petty, Bella. He sounded really low.” “Is Jacob paying you for all the P.R., or are you a volunteer?”

But I didn’t want to talk to him with Charlie around, to have to watch my every word so I didn’t let the wrong thing slip. Thinking about this made me jealous of Jacob and Billy’s relationship. How easy it must be when you had no secrets from the person you lived with.

So I would wait for the morning. I most likely wasn’t going to die tonight, after all, and it wouldn’t hurt him to feel guilty for twelve more hours. It might even be good for him.

He sang me to sleep again and—aware even in unconsciousness that he was there—I slept free of nightmares.

“Bella!” he exclaimed. “Oh, Bella, I’m so sorry!” he tripped over the words as he hurried to get them out. “I swear I didn’t mean it. I was just being stupid. I was angry—but that’s no excuse. It was the stupidest thing I’ve ever said in my life and I’m sorry. Don’t be mad at me, please? Please. Lifetime of servitude up for grabs—all you have to do is forgive me.”

“Anything you want. Cliff diving,” he suggested, laughing again. “Oh, there’s a brilliant idea.” “I’ll keep you safe,” he promised. “No matter what you want to do.”

“Here’s the crux, Jacob. I won’t be letting Bella out of my sight till I get this taken care of. It’s nothing personal—” Jacob interrupted him then, and I could hear the buzz of his voice from the receiver. Whatever he was saying, he was more intense than before. I tried unsuccessfully to make out the words.

“That’s an interesting suggestion. We’re quite willing to renegotiate. If Sam is amenable.”

“That’s not a half-bad idea. When?… No, that’s fine. I’d like a chance to follow the trail personally, anyway. Ten minutes… Certainly,” Edward said. He held the phone out to me. “Bella?” I took it slowly, feeling confused.

“A truce, I think. Hey, do me a favor,” Jacob suggested. “Try to convince your bloodsucker that the safest place for you to be—especially when he leaves—is on the reservation. We’re well able to handle anything.”

“Jake, I really don’t like the idea of you tracking—” “Oh please, Bella,” he interrupted. Jacob laughed, and then hung up.

IT WAS ALL VERY CHILDISH. WHY ON EARTH SHOULD EDWARD have to leave for Jacob to come over? Weren’t we past this kind of immaturity?

He smiled, and then a sly look came into his eye. He pulled me close, burying his face in my hair. I could feel his cool breath saturate the strands as he exhaled; it raised goose bumps on my neck. “I’ll be right back,” he said, and then he laughed aloud as if I’d just told a good joke. “What’s so funny?” But Edward just grinned and loped off toward the trees without answering.

He grinned. “Does my being half-naked bother you?” “No.” Jacob laughed again, and I turned my back on him to focus on the dishes. I hoped he realized my blush was left over from embarrassment at my own stupidity, and had nothing to do with his question.

“Well… I was wondering… do you… y’know, kiss him?” I laughed. “Yes.” He shuddered. “Ugh.” “To each her own,” I murmured. “You don’t worry about the fangs?” I smacked his arm, splashing him with dishwater. “Shut up, Jacob! You know he doesn’t have fangs!”

My head spun and my stomach rolled. I clung to the countertop with one hand, took a deep breath through my mouth, and forced myself to get a grip so that I could take care of him. “Oh, no, Jacob! Oh, crap! Here, wrap this around it!” I shoved the dish towel at him, reaching for his hand. He shrugged away from me.

The water ran red. My head whirled. “Bella,” he said. I looked away from the wound, up to his face. He was frowning, but his expression was calm. “What?” “You look like you’re going to pass out, and you’re biting your lip off. Stop it. Relax. Breathe. I’m fine.”

“Do you have obsessive-compulsive disorder?” he asked when I was done. Huh. Maybe. But at least I had a good excuse this time. “We’re a bit sensitive to blood around here. I’m sure you can understand that.”

“Ugh,” he said, his nose wrinkling. “Your hair stinks worse than your room.” “Sorry,” I muttered. I suddenly understood what Edward had been laughing about earlier, after breathing on me.

I wondered if he had trouble saying the word werewolf aloud, the way I often had difficulty with vampire. His big dark eyes were full of unashamed pleading.

He made a noise in the back of his throat. “Is he your warden, now, too? You know, I saw this story on the news last week about controlling, abusive teenage relationships and—” “Okay!” I cut him off, and then shoved his arm. “Time for the werewolf to get out!” He grinned. “Bye, Bells. Be sure you ask permission.”

“Did you two get into a fight?” he asked. “Edward!” I sang, throwing myself at him. “Hi, there.” He laughed and wrapped his arms around me. “Are you trying to distract me? It’s working.”

“I was just wondering why you stabbed him. Not that I object.” With his chin, he gestured to the knife on the counter.

Edward’s expression hardened. “It gets easier. After a few decades, everyone you know is dead. Problem solved.” I flinched.

“This reminds me,” I said. “Could you ask Alice what she did with my stuff when she cleaned my room? I can’t find it anywhere.” He looked at me with confused eyes. “Alice cleaned your room?” “Yeah, I guess that’s what she was doing. When she came to get my pajamas and pillow and stuff to hold me hostage.” I glowered at him briefly. “She picked up everything that was lying around, my shirts, my socks, and I don’t know where she put them.”

“Jasper? Why?” Edward smiled darkly. “Jasper is sort of an expert on young vampires.” “What do you mean, an expert?” “You’ll have to ask him—the story is involved.”

“Do you ever think that your life might be easier if you weren’t in love with me?” “Maybe. It wouldn’t be much of a life, though.”

“Or maybe not.” He grinned. “I was rather under the impression that you’d promised to ask my permission to go to some kind of werewolf soirée tonight.” “Eavesdropping again?” He grinned. “Just a bit, at the very end.”

“You don’t have to ask my permission, Bella. I’m not your father—thank heaven for that. Perhaps you should ask Charlie, though.”