Beau was having a bad week.
Nothing had changed. An unhinged vampire was after him, what else was new? Victoria could get in line behind the Volturi.
Beau had an unfortunate knack for pissing off the undead.
So there was no reason for fresh panic. In theory.
Graduation was just a few weeks away. Beau thought it was foolish to sit around, weak and tasty, waiting for the next disaster. Staying human was just asking for trouble.
Someone like him shouldn't be human. Someone with his luck ought to be a little less helpless.
But no one would listen to him.
Carlisle had said, "There are seven of us, Beau. And with Alice on our side, I don't think Victoria's going to catch us off guard. I think it's important that we stick to the original plan, for Charlie's sake."
"We'd never allow anything to happen to you, sweetheart. You know that. Please don't be anxious."
Esme kissed his forehead then, like Renée used to do before he grew taller than her.
Emmett had made jokes, Rosalie glared at her husband for making jokes, Alice was nonchalant, and Jasper silently made Beau feel the same way with that curious, vampiric talent of his.
The consensus was that Beau was supposed to forget that a deranged vampire was stalking him. That this deranged vampire was hellbent on murdering him.
The whole family managed to talk him off the ledge. Of course, all of that lovely calm wore off the moment he and Edward had walked out of the room.
Go about your business, Beau! Pay no attention to the vampire behind the curtain!
Beau did try. And surprisingly, there were other things almost as stressful to dwell on besides his status on the endangered species list . . .
Because Edward's response had been the most frustrating of them all.
"That's between you and Carlisle. You know that I'm willing to make it between you and me at any time that you wish. You know my condition."
Edward had paired this infuriating statement with a smile.
Of course Beau knew his condition. Edward had promised to change Beau if the two got married first.
Sometimes Beau wondered if Edward was just pretending that he couldn't read his mind. How else had he struck upon the one condition that Beau would have trouble accepting? The only condition that would slow him down.
All in all, a very bad week. And today was the worst.
It was always a bad day when Edward was on a hunting trip. Alice had foreseen nothing of note, so Beau insisted he take the opportunity to go off with his brothers. He knew the nearby prey bored Edward.
"Go have fun. Bag a few mountain lions for me."
Beau could never admit how difficult it was when Edward left. It brought back all of his nightmares about abandonment. In the week leading up to Florida, Beau opted for no sleep at all. He feared Charlie would run into the room like he used to, had Beau let himself fall asleep.
He thought Edward saw through it, a little. This morning there had been a note left on his pillow:
I'll be back so soon you won't have time to miss me. Look after my heart—I've left it with you.
So now Beau had an empty Saturday with nothing but a morning shift at Newton's Olympic Outfitters as a distraction. And, of course, the oh-so-comforting promise from Alice.
"I'm staying close to home to hunt. I'll only be fifteen minutes away if you need me. I'll keep an eye out for trouble."
Translation: no funny business just because Edward was out of town. Alice was just as capable of sabotaging the car as her brother.
Beau tried to look on the bright side. He had plans to help Angela with her graduation announcements after work. That was something. And Charlie was in an excellent mood with Edward gone, so Beau might as well enjoy that while it lasted. Alice would spend the night with him if he was pathetic enough to ask.
And tomorrow, Edward would be back.
Beau could hang on until then, right?
Mike was dry mopping the aisles when Beau arrived. His mother, Mrs. Newton, was arranging a new counter display. Although working on the store's opening tasks, mother and son were also in the middle of an argument. Beau froze in the doorway, unsure what to do.
"But it's the only time that Tyler can go. You said after graduation—"
"You're just going to have to wait," Mrs. Newton snapped. "You and Tyler can think of something else to do. Seattle is off limits until the police stop whatever's going on there. I know Beth Crowley has told Tyler the same thing, so don't act like I'm the bad guy—oh, good morning, Beau."
She had caught sight of him lurking in the doorway like a ghoul. Her tone brightened at once.
"You're early."
"Light traffic," Beau explained as he reached for his work vest.
"Well, er . . ." Mrs. Newton cleared her throat. "Katie's coming in later. I was going to call . . . "
The Newtons had welcomed Beau back to the store on a conditional basis. He quit his job a few months ago as part of his plan to be an outlaw with Jacob. This, combined with the news Beau couldn't work there this upcoming summer, had forced the Newtons to find a replacement.
"I don't think we're expecting a ton of business today. Mike and I can probably handle things. I'm sorry you drove out here . . . "
On a normal day, Beau would have been ecstatic. Today was not that day.
"No worries, Mrs. Newton. If you get a rush this afternoon, call me."
"Will do, Beau, thanks a million. Would you mind tossing these flyers in the dumpster on your way out? I told the girl who brought them in that I'd put them on the counter, but I really don't have the room."
Beau obediently tucked the flyers under his arm and stepped out into the rain.
The dumpster was a stone's throw away from the employee parking lot. Beau was prepared to fling the flyers into the trash when the bold heading caught his eye:
SAVE THE OLYMPIC WOLF
A detailed drawing of a wolf dominated the middle of the page. His head was thrown back in the act of baying at the moon. It was not a triumphant scene; the wolf looked like he was howling in grief.
Fifteen minutes—that was all the time he had. But it would be long enough.
Beau stuffed the flyer into his jacket pocket and made a run for it.
Alice couldn't have seen Beau doing this, because he hadn't planned it. A snap decision, that was the key! And as long as Beau moved fast enough, he could capitalize on it.
Beau barreled down the rain-soaked highway. He wasn't sure where the boundary line began, but he must have been beyond Alice's reach, because she never appeared to prevent him from going any further.
Beau decided he would call Alice later that afternoon and check in. Edward would be angry enough for the both of him when he returned.
The faded red house looked like it always did. Beau stared at it through the windshield. His last visit felt like an eternity ago.
A tall figure appeared in the doorway, no doubt curious about the unfamiliar car idling outside.
"Beau?"
"Hey, Jake!"
"Beau!" Jacob yelled back, breaking into a run. It didn't take him long to reach Beau, just a handful of long strides.
The smile Beau had been waiting for was there. It reminded him of the sun breaking free of the clouds.
"I can't believe it! How did you get here?"
"I have my ways," Beau laughed. "Made a break for it."
"Awesome!"
"Hey, Beau!"
Billy had rolled himself into the doorway to see what the commotion was about. Beau waved.
"Hey, Billy!"
He wanted to say more, but Jacob had pulled him into a tight hug. "Welcome back."
The boys started walking, too keyed up to sit inside the house.
Beau felt like he was settling into another version of himself. A younger version, perhaps a little less responsible. Someone who might, on occasion, do something really stupid for no good reason.
The discussion carried them all the way to the end of First Beach. Beau told him about the flyer, his hasty trip to Florida, and the catch-up homework he earned after their road trip adventure.
Beau wished they could avoid one topic in particular, but as the conversation turned to the events of the last few weeks, Jacob's face hardened into the mask that had become too familiar.
"So what's the story, anyway? I mean, since the last time we . . . is everything back to the way it was before he left? You forgave him for all of that?"
Beau nodded. "I have."
He wanted to skip past this part—the betrayals and accusations—but Beau knew they'd have to hash it out. It was the only way to salvage what remained of their friendship.
"I wish Sam had taken a picture when he found you that night. It would be exhibit A."
"Nobody's on trial."
He shrugged. "Someone should be."
"If anyone deserves to be on trial, it's me," Beau said firmly. "I left you hanging in Mississippi, I know that. I'm sorry. Really. And when it comes to Edward, you wouldn't blame him for leaving, if you knew why he did it."
"I doubt that."
Beau sighed.
"Edward left me last fall because he didn't think I should be hanging out with vampires. He thought it would be healthier for me if he left. He didn't go about it the right way, but in his head, it was for the right reasons."
It was certainly not what Jacob expected him to say. Beau watched him work through this information. But when he spoke again, the bitterness was back in his voice.
"He came back, though, didn't he? Too bad he can't stick to a decision."
"I went and got him, remember?"
"Oh, I remember," Jacob muttered, but some of the fight had come out of his posture. "I never did get the full story. What happened?"
Beau hesitated.
"Is it classified? Are you sworn to vampire secrecy or something?"
"It's a long story."
Jacob turned back the way they came. Beau followed, understanding they were to take another loop down the beach. The two walked in silence until they came upon a piece of driftwood. It was an entire tree, really, roots and all, bleached white and half-buried in the sand.
Their tree, in a way.
Jacob took a seat and patted the space to his left. "I don't mind long stories. Is there any action?"
"There's some action."
Jacob made a locking motion with his lips. Beau started with the stuff Jacob already knew—Alice's vision and the miscommunication about Harry Clearwater's funeral—then pivoted to Volterra and the vampires that ruled the city.
Beau skated over the details Jacob would not want to know. All he said was that Alice talked them out of trouble. Beau didn't want to burden Jacob with the memory of the ill-fated tourists. That nightmare still came to him every now and again.
"Okay, now you know the whole story. Your turn: what happened when I was in Florida?"
It was clear Jacob had been waiting for this moment.
"Embry, Quil, and I were running patrol on Saturday night, just routine stuff, when out of nowhere—bam!"
Jacob threw his arms out to illustrate an explosion.
"There it is—a fresh trail, not fifteen minutes old. We took off after her at full speed, but she'd crossed the treaty line before we could. The three of us spread out along the line while we waited for the rest of the guys to show up."
Beau tried to imagine it. Jacob was the only one he had ever seen transform. It was difficult for him to picture shy Embry and his bolder friend, Quil, as wolves.
So much had changed in a very short amount of time.
"We hoped she'd cross back over, but ended up too far south. The Cullens chased her back to our side just a few miles north of us. Would have been the perfect ambush if we'd known where to wait."
Jacob shook his head, grimacing now.
"That's when it got dicey. Sam and the others caught up to her before we did, but she was dancing along the line, and the whole coven was right there on the other side. The big one, what's his name?"
"Emmett."
"Yeah, him. He made a lunge for her, but that redhead is fast! He flew right behind her and almost rammed into Paul. Paul lost his focus—can't say I blame him, with the big bloodsucker right on top of him—so he sprang."
Jacob shook his head at the expression on Beau's face.
"Don't give me that look. The vampire was on our land. Anyway, Paul missed, and the big one got back on his side. But by then the blonde—"
"Rosalie."
"Whatever. She got real territorial, so Sam and I fell back to defend Paul. Then their leader and the other blond male—"
"Carlisle and Jasper."
Jacob huffed in exasperation. "Carlisle spoke to Sam, trying to calm things down. This is when it got weird—everyone did calm down, really fast. It had to be the other one you told me about, messing with our heads. Even though we knew what he was doing, we couldn't not be calm."
"Yeah, I know the feeling."
"Anyway, Sam and the head vamp agreed Victoria was the priority, so we started after her again. She took off in the water, though. The big one and the calm one wanted permission to cross the line to go after her, but of course we said no."
"Good. I mean, you were being stupid, but I'm glad. Emmett's never cautious enough. He could have gotten hurt."
Jacob snorted. "So did your vampire tell you we attacked for no reason? That his totally innocent coven—"
"No, Edward told me the same story. He just left out a few of the details."
"Well, she'll be back, I guess. We'll get another shot at her."
Beau shuddered. Of course she would be back. Would Edward really tell him next time? He wasn't sure. He vowed to keep an eye on Alice. He'd have to look for signs that the pattern was about to repeat . . .
Jacob was staring across the waves. Beau wanted to let him be, yet so many questions remained unanswered.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about Mississippi, when the bl—Alice—saw us with that other vampire. The one we killed."
Laurent. Alice and Jacob ripped him apart limb from limb. Beau felt queasy at the memory.
"What about him?"
"Do you realize if she never showed up, we'd be . . . we'd probably be in my garage right now, like any other Saturday. There wouldn't be any vampires in Forks, and you and me . . . "
"Or we'd be dead," Beau finished. "He could have killed you, then had me for dinner. Besides, even if we did get out of there alive, Edward would have come back anyway."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Being apart . . . it didn't work out so well for either of us."
Beau regretted the words the moment he said them. It wasn't all bad. He and Jacob had grown very close during that time. But the words were out there and he could not take them back.
Jacob started to say something, but he stopped himself, and took a deep breath.
"Do you know Sam is mad at you?"
"Me? Why?" Beau frowned. "Does he think I brought all the vampires back or something?"
"When Sam saw how you were in the beginning, and then we ran off on the road together . . . he thought you were the one person in the world with as much reason to hate the Cullens as he does. He feels kind of . . . betrayed . . . that you let them back into your life like they never hurt you."
"Is it Sam who feels this way, or you?"
Jacob's bitter mask snapped into place. Beau waited for the impending, cutting remark, but it never came. Jacob had calmed down again before his eyes.
He glanced toward the water, then pointed. "Look at that."
Beau followed his gaze. An eagle was plummeting toward the ocean at terrifying speed. Its talons broke the surface of the waves for the briefest of moments before the eagle swooped skyward again. A fish was wriggling in those talons—the eagle's prize.
"You see it everywhere. Nature taking its course—hunter and prey. The endless cycle of life and death. And yet, you don't see the fish trying to plant a kiss on the eagle."
"That eagle is a good-looking bird."
"Is that what it comes down to?" Jacob asked abruptly. "Good looks?"
"Don't be stupid."
"Money, then. He must have a lot."
"Do you really think I care about how much money he has?"
"Aw, don't get mad," Jacob caught his arm as Beau tried to rise. "I'm serious! I'm trying to understand the draw here, and I'm coming up blank."
Beau pulled himself free. "I love him. Not because he's beautiful or because he's rich. I'd much rather he wasn't either one. It would even out the gap between us just a little bit—because he'd still be the most loving, unselfish, brilliant, and decent person I've ever met. Of course I love him. How hard is that to understand?"
"It's impossible to understand."
"Then enlighten me, Jacob. What is a valid reason to love someone?" Beau demanded. "Apparently I'm doing it all wrong."
"I think the best place to start would be to look within your own species. That usually works."
"I guess there's nobody left to love, then."
Jacob flinched. Beau could see that these words had hurt, but he was too angry to feel bad about it.
He was tired of everyone telling him what to do and how to feel.
Jacob's voice was almost inaudible. "I'm human."
"Not like I am. Do you still think that's the most important consideration?"
"It's not the same thing! I didn't choose this!"
Beau laughed, although nothing about this conversation was funny. "What, and Edward did? He didn't know what was happening to him any more than you did."
Jacob was shaking his head. It made Beau angrier.
"You're awfully self-righteous about this, considering you're a werewolf and all."
"It's not the same," he repeated.
"I don't see why not. You could be a bit more understanding about the Cullens. You have no idea how truly good they are—to the core, Jake."
"They shouldn't exist. Their existence goes against nature."
"You must be joking."
"Beau, what I am was born in me. It's a part of who I am, who my family is. It's the reason why we're still here. Besides . . . I am still human."
He picked up Beau's hand and pressed it to his fever-warm chest. Beau could feel the steady heartbeat under his palm.
"Normal humans can't throw motorcycles around the way you can."
"Normal humans run away from monsters, Beau. And I never claimed to be normal. Just human."
Staying angry with Jacob was too much work. Beau took his hand away, but stayed close, choosing his words carefully.
"You look plenty human to me at the moment."
"I feel human."
Jacob's lower lip was trembling. It cut Beau deeply to see him upset.
The road trip—their entire friendship, really—centered around the boys helping each other through extraordinarily painful moments.
He couldn't throw it all away now.
Beau held out his hand; Jacob took it. Then they walked back in the direction of the house.
This was the reason Beau came here. It would make whatever the Cullens planned to say to him worth it. Because underneath all of the anger and sarcasm, Jacob was in pain.
Beau didn't know how to help Jacob, but he knew he had to try.
Jacob was a part of him, and there was no changing that now.
"Are you okay, Jake? Charlie said you were having a hard time . . . isn't it getting any better?"
Jacob would not meet his eyes. "It's not so bad."
They continued to hold hands. Beau couldn't bear the silence, so he continued asking questions.
"It's been so long since I was here. I've probably missed a lot. How are Embry and Quil doing? Were they mad at you for taking off?"
"Embry was peeved at me. Quil was too busy being happy about the situation to be mad at me."
"He likes it?"
"Most of them do. The speed, the freedom, the strength . . . feeling like a family, like a brotherhood . . . Sam and I are the only ones who never wanted this. And Sam got past it a while ago. So I'm the crybaby now."
"Why are you and Sam different? What happened to Sam, anyway? What's his problem?"
"That's a long story."
"I told you a long story. Besides, I'm not in any hurry to get back."
Jacob heard the edge in his voice. "Will he be mad at you?"
"Yes," Beau admitted. "He really hates when I do things he considers . . . risky."
"Like hanging out with werewolves."
"Yeah."
"So don't go back."
"That's a great idea, Jake. Let's see how long it takes until he comes here looking for me."
A smile grew on Jacob's face. "Would he?"
"If he was afraid that I was hurt or something, probably," Beau said. He was already regretting this turn of conversation.
"My idea is sounding better all the time."
"Knock it off, Jake. That really bugs me."
"What does?"
"That you two are so ready to kill each other! It drives me crazy. Why can't you both be civilized?"
The smile hadn't faltered. "Is he ready to kill me?"
"Not like you seem to be. At least he can be a grown-up about this. He knows hurting you would hurt me. But you don't seem to care about that at all."
"Yeah, right. I'm sure he's quite the pacifist."
Beau dug around in his pocket for the car keys. "All right, Jake. I've had enough."
It took a moment for Jacob to understand. Beau was halfway to the car when he caught up.
"Beau, wait. Stop. I'm sorry—I'll try to behave myself. I promise."
"Uh-huh."
"I'm serious, please stay. Let's go to the garage. I'll grab some sodas."
Beau glanced toward the garage. It had been the site of several fun afternoons working on their motorcycles. Beau turned back to his friend, who was giving him the most powerful puppy dog eyes he had ever seen.
Jacob could tell it was working, too. "Do you still want to hear about Sam?"
"I guess so," Beau sighed. "But I'm telling you, Jake. One more 'bloodsucker' and I'm out of here."
"It's a deal. Be right back."
Beau made his way through the trees and shrubbery that concealed the garage. The familiar outline of the structure warmed him all the way through. It felt like coming home.
This feeling reached a crescendo when he turned the corner. There, hoisted up on cinder blocks, was Big Red.
The truck was just as he remembered—faded, red, and wonderful.
His world had been off-kilter since Italy. Seeing Big Red safe and sound was a return to form. Like balance had been restored to the universe.
Beau's delight was cut short by the sound of a young woman's voice. "What are you doing here?"
She was standing at the entrance of the garage. Her dark eyes were narrowed in suspicion.
Jacob had the same eyes.
This had to be one of his sisters—the twins—Rebecca and Rachel Black. Beau prayed it was Rebecca, because Rachel hated his guts.
Beau cleared his throat. "Hey, um . . . Jacob invited me."
"Then I'm uninviting you. Get off my property."
At least Beau knew what to call her now.
"Rachel, I'm really so—"
"Save it, Swan. Get the hell out of here."
Beau nodded before she was finished speaking. "Okay. Can you tell Jacob I had to go?"
"Go where?"
Jacob was back with their sodas and a bag of potato chips. His eyes flickered between Beau's stricken face and his sister's angry one.
"What's going on?"
"I want him to go," Rachel told her brother. "Now."
"It's fine, Rach. We're cool."
Beau wasn't sure if Rachel Black was in on the family secret, but in that moment, he fully expected to see the girl become the wolf.
But it didn't happen. What came next was much scarier: her voice dropped to the hiss of the truly enraged.
"Jacob, I swear to God—"
"Take it up with Dad. Beau's my friend. Do you mind leaving us alone? We're catching up."
Beau looked away from the sibling standoff, thankful he was an only child. He wasn't sure if he could handle knockout matches like this one at a moment's notice.
Rachel stormed past Jacob and into the rain, taking the bag of potato chips with her.
Beau exhaled. "She's really mad at me."
"She's a chick. It's in their DNA to be mad at us."
"Should I apologize again?"
Jacob passed him a Coke. "Not worth the trouble, she hates you. I doubt that's going to change anytime soon."
"Oh, good. That's comforting."
The two raised their sodas in a toast. Beau was still so shaken by the appearance of Rachel that it took a minute to gather his thoughts.
"I can't believe you still have Big Red."
"What, did you think I'd abandon my pride and joy? My masterpiece?" Jacob asked as he opened the door of the cargo bed.
Beau sat down beside him. "After I ditched you? Kind of. I wouldn't blame you."
"I thought about it," Jacob allowed. "I needed to get home, though. Driving was a good way to clear my head. And . . ."
"And?"
"It's yours. I just wanted to get it back to where it belongs."
Beau smiled. "Thanks, Jake. I appreciate it."
Jacob smiled back.
The boys sat drinking their sodas for a while. Beau was comfortable with the silence, but his curiosity had been piqued. He cleared his throat.
"So—you and Sam."
"Right. Well . . . Sam had a tougher time than the rest of us. He was the first to transform, and he didn't have anyone to turn to for help. You know, to tell him what was happening. The first time he phased, he thought he'd gone insane. It took him two weeks to calm down and change back."
Beau thought back to that fateful night in Texas. Jacob's first phase had been terrifying. Going through it alone would be hell.
"Sam's mother and Leah Clearwater had the police searching all over for him."
"Leah Clearwater?"
Hearing her name sent a surge of pity through Beau. Her father, Harry Clearwater, had passed away when Beau and Jacob were out of town. It was a huge loss for the Clearwaters and La Push as a whole.
"Yeah. Leah and Sam were high school sweethearts. She was frantic when he disappeared. When he came back, he wouldn't talk to anyone about what happened. Mrs. Uley was so desperate for some help that Quil's grandfather came over. He thought he could talk some sense to Sam, get him to open up. When he shook Sam's hand, Old Quil almost had a stroke."
"Why?"
Jacob took Beau's hand in both of his. The heat was almost unbearable.
"Oh, right. Sam was running a temperature."
"Mr. Ateara went straight to the other elders—Billy, Harry—anyone who had been around the last time, when their grandfathers phased. It got easier for Sam after that. He knew he wasn't alone anymore. And there would be more wolves, now that the Cullens were back."
"They had no idea, Jake. Honest. They didn't know coming here would change you."
"Doesn't change the fact that it did."
"Well, big whoop," Beau burst out. "So you transform into a wolf on occasion. That is pretty cool. You're basically a superhero. Most guys grow up to be . . . accountants, or something."
"Wish I could grow up."
"What?"
"One of the 'pretty cool' things about being a werewolf."
"I don't understand."
"None of us are really aging," Jacob explained. "I mean, I will get older. Someday. But not until I stop phasing for a solid length of time. I don't have that kind of restraint yet. Sam doesn't, either. 'Course, it doesn't help that there's a huge coven of vampires living right down the road. We can't even think about quitting when the tribe needs protectors."
Beau was shaking his head. "This is . . . unbelievable."
"What's wrong? You just said it was cool."
"Why does everyone else get to not age, except for me?"
"What's wrong with getting older?"
Beau didn't answer him; Jacob wouldn't understand. "Nothing. Go on—why does Sam hate them so much? Why does he wish I would hate them?"
"Sam couldn't tell Leah what happened. We're not supposed to tell anyone who doesn't have to know. It wasn't really safe for him to be around her, but he did it anyway, because they loved each other so much."
"Did she find out? Is that what happened?"
"No, that wasn't the problem. Her cousin, Emily Young, came down from the Makah reservation one weekend to visit her. Those two grew up like sisters. And, well . . . one thing led to another, and now . . . Sam's with Emily."
"Get out of here!"
"Don't judge him yet. Sam imprinted on Emily."
"Imprinted," Beau repeated. "What's that?"
"It's one of the bizarre things we have to deal with. It doesn't happen to everyone. We used to think it was just one of the legends, until it happened right in front of us. He saw her, and nothing else mattered. They're soulmates. Meant to be."
"So . . . it was love at first sight?"
Jacob was grave. "It's a bit more powerful than that. More absolute."
"So Sam was just—" Beau snapped his fingers. "—done. Done with Leah. That's it?"
"No, he'll always love Leah. But he's destined to be with Emily."
Destiny. Beau thought he could relate to that.
"He hates himself," Jacob continued. "And he hates the vampires for changing him."
Beau supposed that Sam had a good reason to do so. The presence of the vampires had altered the entire course of his life. And it wasn't just his life now—Leah's life was changed forever, and Emily's . . . everything and everyone was different.
"Did it happen to you?" Beau asked. "This love-at-first-sight thing?"
"No, Sam and Jared are the only ones, thank God. I don't think I can handle any more Emily is so this and Kim is so that."
"What, do you guys sit around talking about them? Locker room style?" Beau laughed.
"Nuh-uh. When we phase, we can hear each other's thoughts. Like your bl—boyfriend. It's awful. No privacy, no secrets. Everything you're ashamed of, laid out for everyone to see."
"That sounds horrible," Beau whispered.
"It is horrible. But it can sometimes be helpful when we're chasing a vampire. You know, for coordination purposes."
Jacob sat watching him process this information. "I figured you'd be used to that by now."
"Used to what?"
"Having him in your head. Reading your mind."
"Oh, no. Edward's never been in my head. He can't hear my thoughts. We don't know why he can't, though."
"Weird."
"Yeah," Beau nodded. "It probably means there's something wrong with my brain."
"I already knew there was something wrong with your brain."
"Thanks, buddy."
When their laughter subsided, Beau checked the time. "It's getting late. I should be going."
"But you just got here!"
"Angela Weber is expecting me, and I know Alice is worried. I don't want to upset her too much."
"I don't know when I'll see you again."
His friend sounded so sad that Beau made a promise he wasn't sure he could keep.
"I'll come back the next time he's away."
"Away? That's a nice way to describe what he's doing. Disgusting parasites."
Beau glowered at him. "Maybe I won't come back at all."
"Aw, don't be mad. It was a knee-jerk reaction. Besides, if you come back, I'll have Big Red ready and waiting for you."
"If I'm going to come back here, you have to stop with all that. I'm not kidding. Vampire, werewolf, human—it doesn't matter. We're all just . . . people."
Jacob studied him. Finally, after what felt like eons, the younger boy shrugged. "If you can really see it that way."
"I can. I do."
"Then I'll try to do the same."
Beau made a face as they reached the car. Now that he knew his truck had survived, he wanted to dump this thing as soon as possible.
"Where did you get this crapmobile, anyway?"
"Dowling's."
"How many times have I told you about that place?" Jacob groaned.
"My mechanic wasn't speaking to me at the time."
"I'd be happy to take this four-wheeled-turd off your hands for the right price."
Beau laughed. "I'll think about it."
Jacob stood back to let him reverse, but Beau threw the car in park, then rolled down the window. "Can I ask you something?"
"I need a few days to come up with the money, if that's what you're wondering."
"No, forget that. Do you mind telling me what you were doing Monday morning? You were thinking something that . . . bothered . . . Edward."
"I was thinking about you. Of how you were the night Sam found you in the woods. I thought he ought to get a look at what he'd done."
Beau's eyes dropped to the steering wheel. "He knows, Jacob."
"Not enough."
Beau sighed. "Jake—"
"I know, I know. We're all people. I'll stop."
"Thanks."
Jacob put one hand on the roof of the car. His grip wasn't as strong as that of the vampires, but if he really wanted to, Beau thought he could delay it from leaving, at least for a few seconds.
"Will you come back soon?"
"As soon as I can."