I watched as Alice, suddenly appearing, danced across the stage to take hers, a look of deep concentration on her face. Edward followed behind, his expression confused, but not upset. Only the two of them could carry off the hideous yellow and still look the way they did. They stood out from the rest of the crowd, their beauty and grace otherworldly. I wondered how I’d ever fallen for their human farce. A couple of angels, standing there with wings intact, would be less conspicuous.
I heard Mr. Greene call my name and I rose from my chair, waiting for the line in front of me to move. I was conscious of cheering in the back of the gym, and I looked around to see Jacob pulling Charlie to his feet, both of them hooting in encouragement. I could just make out the top of Billy’s head beside Jake’s elbow. I managed to throw them an approximation of a smile.
Mr. Greene finished with the list of names, and then continued to hand out diplomas with a sheepish grin as we filed past.
“Congratulations, Miss Stanley,” he mumbled as Jess took hers.
“Congratulations, Miss Swan,” he mumbled to me, pressing the diploma into my good hand.
“Thanks,” I murmured.
And that was it.
I went to stand next to Jessica with the assembled graduates. Jess was all red around the eyes, and she kept blotting her face with the sleeve of her robe. It took me a second to understand that she was crying.
Mr. Greene said something I didn’t hear, and everyone around me shouted and screamed. Yellow hats rained down. I pulled mine off, too late, and just let it fall to the ground.
“Oh, Bella!” Jess blubbered over the sudden roar of conversation. “I can’t believe we’re done.”
“I can’t believe it’s all over,” I mumbled.
She threw her arms around my neck. “You have to promise we won’t lose touch.”
I hugged her back, feeling a little awkward as I dodged her request. “I’m so glad I know you, Jessica. It was a good two years.”
“It was,” she sighed, and sniffed. Then she dropped her arms. “Lauren!” she squealed, waving over her head and pushing through the massed yellow gowns. Families were beginning to converge, pressing us tighter together.
I caught sight of Angela and Ben, but they were surrounded by their families. I would congratulate them later.
I craned my head, looking for Alice.
“Congratulations,” Edward whispered in my ear, his arms winding around my waist. His voice was subdued; he’d been in no hurry for me to reach this particular milestone.
“Um, thanks.”
“You don’t look like you’re over the nerves yet,” he noted.
“Not quite yet.”
“What’s left to worry about? The party? It won’t be that horrible.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Who are you looking for?”
My searching wasn’t quite as subtle as I’d thought. “Alice — where is she?”
“She ran out as soon as she had her diploma.”
His voice took on a new tone. I looked up to see his confused expression as he stared toward the back door of the gym, and I made an impulse decision — the kind I really should think twice about, but rarely did.
“Worrying about Alice?” I asked.
“Er . . .” He didn’t want to answer that.
“What was she thinking about, anyway? To keep you out, I mean.”
His eyes flashed down to my face, and narrowed in suspicion. “She was translating the Battle Hymn of the Republic into Arabic, actually. When she finished that, she moved on to Korean sign language.”
I laughed nervously. “I suppose that would keep her head busy enough.”
“You know what she’s hiding from me,” he accused.
“Sure.” I smiled a weak smile. “I’m the one who came up with it.”
He waited, confused.
I looked around. Charlie would be on his way through the crowd now.
“Knowing Alice,” I whispered in a rush, “she’ll probably try to keep this from you until after the party. But since I’m all for the party being canceled — well, don’t go berserk, regardless, okay? It’s always better to know as much as possible. It has to help somehow.”
“What are you talking about?”
I saw Charlie’s head bob up over the other heads as he searched for me. He spotted me and waved.
“Just stay calm, okay?”
He nodded once, his mouth a grim line.
In hurried whispers I explained my reasoning to him. “I think you’re wrong about things coming at us from all sides. I think it’s mostly coming at us from one side . . . and I think it’s coming at me, really. It’s all connected, it has to be. It’s just one person who’s messing with Alice’s visions. The stranger in my room was a test, to see if someone could get around her. It’s got to be the same one who keeps changing his mind, and the newborns, and stealing my clothes — all of it goes together. My scent is for them.”
His face had turned so white that I had a hard time finishing.
“But no one’s coming for you, don’t you see? This is good — Esme and Alice and Carlisle, no one wants to hurt them!”
His eyes were huge, wide with panic, dazed and horrified. He could see that I was right, just as Alice had.
I put my hand on his cheek. “Calm,” I pleaded.
“Bella!” Charlie crowed, pushing his way past the close-packed families around us.
“Congratulations, baby!” He was still yelling, even though he was right at my ear now. He wrapped his arms around me, ever so slyly shuffling Edward off to the side as he did so.
“Thanks,” I muttered, preoccupied by the expression on Edward’s face. He still hadn’t gained control. His hands were halfway extended toward me, like he was about to grab me and make a run for it. Only slightly more in control of myself than he was, running didn’t seem like such a terrible idea to me.
“Jacob and Billy had to take off — did you see that they were here?” Charlie asked, taking a step back, but keeping his hands on my shoulders. He had his back to Edward — probably an effort to exclude him, but that was fine at the moment. Edward’s mouth was hanging open, his eyes still wide with dread.
“Yeah,” I assured my father, trying to pay enough attention. “Heard them, too.”
“It was nice of them to show up,” Charlie said.
“Mm-hmm.”
Okay, so telling Edward had been a really bad idea. Alice was right to keep her thoughts clouded. I should have waited till we were alone somewhere, maybe with the rest of his family. And nothing breakable close by — like windows . . . cars . . . school buildings. His face brought back all my fear and then some. Though his expression was past the fear now — it was pure fury that was suddenly plain on his features.
“So where do you want to go out for dinner?” Charlie asked. “The sky’s the limit.”
“I can cook.”
“Don’t be silly. Do you want to go to the Lodge?” he asked with an eager smile.
I did not particularly enjoy Charlie’s favorite restaurant, but, at this point, what was the difference? I wasn’t going to be able to eat anyway.
“Sure, the Lodge, cool,” I said.
Charlie smiled wider, and then sighed. He turned his head halfway toward Edward, without really looking at him.
“You coming, too, Edward?”
I stared at him, my eyes beseeching. Edward pulled his expression together just before Charlie turned to see why he hadn’t gotten an answer.
“No, thank you,” Edward said stiffly, his face hard and cold.
“Do you have plans with your parents?” Charlie asked, a frown in his voice. Edward was always more polite than Charlie deserved; the sudden hostility surprised him.
“Yes. If you’ll excuse me. . . .” Edward turned abruptly and stalked away through the dwindling crowd. He moved just a little bit too fast, too upset to keep up his usually perfect charade.
“What did I say?” Charlie asked with a gu
ilty expression.
“Don’t worry about it, Dad,” I reassured him. “I don’t think it’s you.”
“Are you two fighting again?”
“Nobody’s fighting. Mind your own business.”
“You are my business.”
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go eat.”
The Lodge was crowded. The place was, in my opinion, overpriced and tacky, but it was the only thing close to a formal restaurant in town, so it was always popular for events. I stared morosely at a depressed-looking stuffed elk head while Charlie ate prime rib and talked over the back of the seat to Tyler Crowley’s parents. It was noisy — everyone there had just come from graduation, and most were chatting across the aisles and over the booth-tops like Charlie.
I had my back to the front windows, and I resisted the urge to turn around and search for the eyes I could feel on me now. I knew I wouldn’t be able to see anything. Just as I knew there was no chance that he would leave me unguarded, even for a second. Not after this.
Dinner dragged. Charlie, busy socializing, ate too slowly. I picked at my burger, stuffing pieces of it into my napkin when I was sure his attention was somewhere else. It all seemed to take a very long time, but when I looked at the clock — which I did more often than necessary — the hands hadn’t moved much.
Finally Charlie got his change back and put a tip on the table. I stood up.
“In a hurry?” he asked me.
“I want to help Alice set things up,” I claimed.
“Okay.” He turned away from me to say goodnight to everyone. I went out to wait by the cruiser.
I leaned against the passenger door, waiting for Charlie to drag himself away from the impromptu party. It was almost dark in the parking lot, the clouds so thick that there was no telling if the sun had set or not. The air felt heavy, like it was about to rain.
Something moved in the shadows.
My gasp turned into a sigh of relief as Edward appeared out of the gloom.
Without a word, he pulled me tightly against his chest. One cool hand found my chin, and pulled my face up so that he could press his hard lips to mine. I could feel the tension in his jaw.
“How are you?” I asked as soon as he let me breathe.
“Not so great,” he murmured. “But I’ve got a handle on myself. I’m sorry that I lost it back there.”
“My fault. I should have waited to tell you.”
“No,” he disagreed. “This is something I needed to know. I can’t believe I didn’t see it!”
“You’ve got a lot on your mind.”
“And you don’t?”
He suddenly kissed me again, not letting me answer. He pulled away after just a second. “Charlie’s on his way.”
“I’ll have him drop me at your house.”
“I’ll follow you there.”
“That’s not really necessary,” I tried to say, but he was already gone.
“Bella?” Charlie called from the doorway of the restaurant, squinting into the darkness.
“I’m out here.”
Charlie sauntered out to the car, muttering about impatience.
“So, how do you feel?” he asked me as we drove north along the highway. “It’s been a big day.”
“I feel fine,” I lied.
He laughed, seeing through me easily. “Worried about the party?” he guessed.
“Yeah,” I lied again.
This time he didn’t notice. “You were never one for the parties.”
“Wonder where I got that from,” I murmured.
Charlie chuckled. “Well, you look really nice. I wish I’d thought to get you something. Sorry.”
“Don’t be silly, Dad.”
“It’s not silly. I feel like I don’t always do everything for you that I should.”
“That’s ridiculous. You do a fantastic job. World’s best dad. And . . .” It wasn’t easy to talk about feelings with Charlie, but I persevered after clearing my throat. “And I’m really glad I came to live with you, Dad. It was the best idea I ever had. So don’t worry — you’re just experiencing post-graduation pessimism.”
He snorted. “Maybe. But I’m sure I slipped up in a few places. I mean, look at your hand!”
I stared down blankly at my hands. My left hand rested lightly on the dark brace I rarely thought about. My broken knuckle didn’t hurt much anymore.
“I never thought I needed to teach you how to throw a punch. Guess I was wrong about that.”
“I thought you were on Jacob’s side?”
“No matter what side I’m on, if someone kisses you without your permission, you should be able to make your feelings clear without hurting yourself. You didn’t keep your thumb inside your fist, did you?”
“No, Dad. That’s kind of sweet in a weird way, but I don’t think lessons would have helped. Jacob’s head is really hard.”
Charlie laughed. “Hit him in the gut next time.”
“Next time?” I asked incredulously.
“Aw, don’t be too hard on the kid. He’s young.”
“He’s obnoxious.”
“He’s still your friend.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I don’t really know what the right thing to do here is, Dad.”
Charlie nodded slowly. “Yeah. The right thing isn’t always real obvious. Sometimes the right thing for one person is the wrong thing for someone else. So . . . good luck figuring that out.”
“Thanks,” I muttered dryly.
Charlie laughed again, and then frowned. “If this party gets too wild . . . ,” he began.
“Don’t worry about it, Dad. Carlisle and Esme are going to be there. I’m sure you can come, too, if you want.”
Charlie grimaced as he squinted through the windshield into the night. Charlie enjoyed a good party just about as much as I did.
“Where’s the turnoff, again?” he asked. “They ought to clear out their drive — it’s impossible to find in the dark.”
“Just around the next bend, I think.” I pursed my lips. “You know, you’re right — it is impossible to find. Alice said she put a map in the invitation, but even so, maybe everyone will get lost.” I cheered up slightly at the idea.
“Maybe,” Charlie said as the road curved to the east. “Or maybe not.”
The black velvet darkness was interrupted ahead, just where the Cullens’ drive should be. Someone had wrapped the trees on either side in thousands of twinkle lights, impossible to miss.
“Alice,” I said sourly.
“Wow,” Charlie said as we turned onto the drive. The two trees at the entry weren’t the only ones lit. Every twenty feet or so, another shining beacon guided us toward the big white house. All the way — all three miles of the way.
“She doesn’t do things halfway, does she?” Charlie mumbled in awe.
“Sure you don’t want to come in?”
“Extremely sure. Have fun, kid.”
“Thanks so much, Dad.”
He was laughing to himself as I got out and shut the door. I watched him drive away, still grinning. With a sigh, I marched up the stairs to endure my party.
17. ALLIANCE
“BELLA?”
Edward’s soft voice came from behind me. I turned to see him spring lightly up the porch steps, his hair windblown from running. He pulled me into his arms at once, just like he had in the parking lot, and kissed me again.
This kiss frightened me. There was too much tension, too strong an edge to the way his lips crushed mine — like he was afraid we only had so much time left to us.
I couldn’t let myself think about that. Not if I was going to have to act human for the next several hours. I pulled away from him.
“Let’s get this stupid party over with,” I mumbled, not meeting his eyes.
He put his hands on either side of my face, waiting until I looked up.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I touched his lips with the fingers of my good hand. “I’m not worried abo
ut myself so much.”
“Why am I not surprised by that?” he muttered to himself. He took a deep breath, and then he smiled slightly. “Ready to celebrate?” he asked.
I groaned.
He held the door for me, keeping his arm securely around my waist. I stood frozen there for a minute, then I slowly shook my head.
“Unbelievable.”
Edward shrugged. “Alice will be Alice.”
The interior of the Cullens’ home had been transformed into a nightclub — the kind that didn’t often exist in real life, only on TV.
“Edward!” Alice called from beside a gigantic speaker. “I need your advice.” She gestured toward a towering stack of CDs. “Should we give them familiar and comforting? Or” — she gestured to a different pile — “educate their taste in music?”
“Keep it comforting,” Edward recommended. “You can only lead the horse to water.”
Alice nodded seriously, and started throwing the educational CDs into a box. I noticed that she had changed into a sequined tank top and red leather pants. Her bare skin reacted oddly to the pulsing red and purple lights.
“I think I’m underdressed.”
“You’re perfect,” Edward disagreed.
“You’ll do,” Alice amended.
“Thanks.” I sighed. “Do you really think people will come?” Anyone could hear the hope in my voice. Alice made a face at me.
“Everyone will come,” Edward answered. “They’re all dying to see the inside of the reclusive Cullens’ mystery house.”
“Fabulous,” I moaned.
There wasn’t anything I could do to help. I doubted that — even after I didn’t need sleep and moved at a much faster speed — I would ever be able to get things done the way Alice did.
Edward refused to let me go for a second, dragging me along with him as he hunted up Jasper and then Carlisle to tell them of my epiphany. I listened with quiet horror as they discussed their attack on the army in Seattle. I could tell that Jasper was not pleased with the way the numbers stood, but they’d been unable to contact anyone besides Tanya’s unwilling family. Jasper didn’t try to hide his desperation the way Edward would have. It was easy to see that he didn’t like gambling with stakes this high.
The Twilight Saga Collection Page 109