with　the　gravitational　force　of　a　black　hole。　〃I　will　never　leave　you　again。〃
  〃But　you　said　thirty；〃　I　whispered。　The　tears　leaked　over　the　edge。　〃What？　You're　going　to　stay；　but　let
  me　get　all　old　anyway？　Right。〃
  His　eyes　softened；　while　his　mouth　went　hard。　〃That's　exactly　what　I'm　going　to　do。　What　choice　have　I？
  I　cannot　be　without　you；　but　I　will　not　destroy　your　soul。〃
  〃Is　this　really…〃　I　tried　to　keep　my　voice　even；　but　this　question　was　too　hard。　I　remembered　his　face
  when　Aro　had　almost　begged　him　to　consider　making　me　immortal。　The　sick　look　there。　Was　this　fixation
  with　keeping　me　human　really　about　my　soul；　or　was　it　because　he　wasn't　sure　that　he　wanted　me　around
  that　long？
  〃Yes？〃　he　asked；　waiting　for　my　question。
  I　asked　a　different　one。　Almost—but　not　quite—as　hard。
  〃But　what　about　when　I　get　so　old　that　people　think　I'm　your　mother？　Your　grandmother？〃　My　voice
  was　pale　with　revulsion—I　could　see　Gran's　face　again　in　the　dream　mirror。
  His　whole　face　was　soft　now。　He　brushed　the　tears　from　my　cheek　with　his　lips。　〃That　doesn't　mean
  anything　to　me；〃　he　breathed　against　my　skin。　〃You　will　always　be　the　most　beautiful　thing　in　my　world。
  Of　course…〃　He　hesitated；　flinching　slightly。　〃If　you　outgrew　me—if　you　wanted　something　more—I
  would　understand　that；　Bella。　I　promise　I　wouldn't　stand　in　your　way　if　you　wanted　to　leave　me。〃
  His　eyes　were　liquid　onyx　and　utterly　sincere。　He　spoke　as　if　he'd　put　endless　amounts　of　thought　into　this
  asinine　plan。
  〃You　do　realize　that　I'll　die　eventually；　right？〃　I　demanded。
  He'd　thought　about　this　part；　too。　〃I'll　follow　after　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
  〃That　is　seriously…〃I　looked　for　the　right　word。　〃Sick。〃
  〃Bella；　it's　the　only　right　way　left—〃
  〃Let's　just　back　up　for　a　minute；〃　I　said；　feeling　angry　made　it　so　much　easier　to　be　clear；　decisive。　〃You
  do　remember　the　Volturi；　right？　I　can't　stay　human　forever。　They'll　kill　me。　Even　if　they　don't　think　of　me
  tillI'm　thirty〃—I　hissed　the　word—〃do　you　really　think　they'll　forget？〃
  〃No；〃　he　answered　slowly；　shaking　his　head。　〃They　won't　forget。　But…〃
  〃But？〃
  He　grinned　while　I　stared　at　him　warily。　Maybe　I　wasn't　the　only　crazy　one。
  〃I　have　a　few　plans。〃
  〃And　these　plans；〃　I　said；　my　voice　getting　more　acidic　with　each　word。　〃These　plans　all　center　around
  me　staying　human。〃
  My　attitude　hardened　his　expression。　〃Naturally。〃　His　tone　was　brusque；　his　divine　face　arrogant。
  We　glowered　at　each　other　for　a　long　minute。
  Then　I　took　a　deep　breath；　squared　my　shoulders；　I　pushed　his　arms　away　so　that　I　could　sit　up。
  〃Do　you　want　me　to　leave？〃　he　asked；　and　it　made　my　heart　flutter　to　see　that　this　idea　hurt　him；　though
  he　tried　not　to　show　it。
  〃No；〃　I　told　him。　〃I'm　leaving。〃
  He　watched　me　suspiciously　as　I　climbed　out　of　the　bed　and　fumbled　around　in　the　dark　room；　looking
  for　my　shoes。
  〃May　I　ask　where　you　are　going。'〃　he　asked。
  〃I'm　going　to　your　house；〃　I　told　him；　still　feeling　around　blindly。
  He　got　up　and　came　to　my　side。　〃Here　are　your　shoes。　How　did　you　plan　to　get　there？〃
  〃My　truck。〃
  〃That　will　probably　wake　Charlie；〃　he　offered　as　a　deterrent。
  I　sighed。　〃I　know。　But　honestly；　I'll　be　grounded　for　weeks　as　it　is。　How　much　more　trouble　can　I　really
  getin？〃
  〃None。　He'll　blame　me；　not　you。〃
  〃If　you　have　a　better　idea；　I'm　all　ears。〃
  〃Stay　here；〃　he　suggested；　but　his　expression　wasn't　hopeful。
  〃No　dice。　But　you　go　ahead　and　make　yourself　at　home；〃　I　encouraged；　surprised　at　how　natural　my
  teasing　sounded；　and　headed　for　the　door。
  He　was　there　before　me；　blocking　my　way。
  I　frowned；　and　turned　for　the　window。　It　wasn't　really　that　far　to　the　ground；　and　it　was　mostly　grass
  beneath…
  〃Okay；〃　he　sighed。　〃I'll　give　you　a　ride。〃
  I　shrugged。　〃Either　way。　But　you　probably　should　be　there；　too。〃
  〃And　why　is　that？〃
  〃Because　you're　extraordinarily　opinionated；　and　I'm　sure　you'll　want　a　chance　to　air　your　views。〃
  〃My　views　on　which　subject？〃　He　asked　through　his　teeth。
  〃This　isn't　just　about　you　anymore。　You're　not　the　center　of　the　universe；　you　know。〃　My　own　personal
  universe　was；　of　course；　a　different　story。　〃If　you're　going　to　bring　the　Volturi　down　on　us　over　something
  as　stupid　as　leaving　me　human；　then　your　family　ought　to　have　a　say。〃
  〃A　say　in　what？〃　he　asked；　each　word　distinct。
  〃My　mortality。　I'm　putting　it　to　a　vote。〃
  24。　VOTE
  HE　WAS　NOT　PLEASED；　THAT　MUCH　WAS　EASY　TO　READ　in　his　face。　But；　without　further
  argument；　he　took　me　in　his　arms　and　sprang　lithely　from　my　window；　landing　without　the　slightest　jolt；
  like　a　cat。　It　was　a　little　bit　farther　down　than　I'd　imagined。
  〃All　right　then；〃　he　said；　his　voice　seething　with　disapproval。　〃Up　you　go。〃
  He　helped　me　onto　his　back；　and　took　off　running。　Even　after　all　this　time；　it　felt　routine。　Easy。　Evidently
  this　was　something　you　never　forgot；　like　riding　a　bicycle。
  It　was　so　very　quiet　and　dark　as　he　ran　through　the　forest；　his　breathing　slow　and　even—dark　enough
  that　the　trees　flying　past　us　were　nearly　invisible；　and　only　the　rush　of　air　in　my　face　truly　gave　away　our
  speed。　The　air　was　damp；　it　didn't　burn　my　eyes　the　way　the　wind　in　the　big　plaza　had；　and　that　was
  comforting。　As　was　the　night；　too；　after　that　terrifying　brightness。　Like　the　thick　quilt　I'd　played　under　as　a
  child；　the　dark　felt　familiar　and　protecting。
  I　remembered　that　running　through　the　forest　like　this　used　to　frighten　me；　that　I　used　to　have　to　close　my
  eyes。　It　seemed　a　silly　reaction　to　me　now。　I　kept　my　eyes　wide；　my　chin　resting　on　his　shoulder；　my
  cheek　against　his　neck。　The　speed　was　exhilarating。　A　hundred　times　better　than　the　motorcycle。
  I　turned　my　face　toward　him　and　pressed　my　lips　into　the　cold　stone　skin　of　his　neck。
  〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　as　the　vague；　black　shapes　of　trees　raced　past　us。　〃Does　that　mean　you've　decided
  you're　awake？〃
  I　laughed。　The　sound　was　easy；　natural；　effortless。　It　sounded　right。　〃Not　really。　More　that；　either　way；
  I'm　not　trying　to　wake　up。　Not　tonight。〃
  〃I'll　earn　your　trust　back　somehow；〃　he　murmured；　mostly　to　himself。　〃If　it's　my　final　act。〃
  〃I　trust　you；〃　I　assured　him。　〃It's　me　I　don't　trust。〃
  〃Explain　that；　please。〃
  He'd　slowed　to　a　walk—I　could　only　tell　because　the　wind　ceased—and　I　guessed　that　we　weren't　far
  from　the　house。　In　fact；　I　thought　I　could　make　out　the　sound　of　the　river　rushing　somewhere　close　by　in
  the　darkness。
  〃Well—〃　I　struggled　to　find　the　right　way　to　phrase　it。　〃I　don't　trust　myself　to　be…　enough。　To　deserve
  you。　There's　nothing　about　me　that　could　hold　you。〃
  He　stopped　and　reached　around　to　pull　me　from　his　back。　His　gentle　hands　did　not　release　me；　after　he'd
  set　me　on　my　feet　again；　he　wrapped　his　arms　tightly　around　me；　hugging　me　to　his　chest。
  〃Your　hold　is　permanent　and　unbreakable；〃　he　whispered。　〃Never　doubt　that。〃
  But　how　could　I　not？
  〃You　never　did　tell　me…〃　he　murmured。
  〃What？〃
  〃What　your　greatest　problem　is。〃
  〃I'll　give　you　one　guess。〃　I　sighed；　and　reached　up　to　touch　the　tip　of　his　nose　with　my　index　finger。
  He　nodded。　〃I'm　worse　than　the　Volturi；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃I　guess　I've　earned　that。〃
  I　rolled　my　eyes。　〃The　worst　the　Volturi　can　do　is　kill　me。〃
  He　waited　with　tense　eyes。
  〃You　can　leave　me；〃　I　explained。　〃The　Volturi；　Victoria…　they're　nothing　compared　to　that。〃
  Even　in　the　darkness；　I　could　see　the　anguish　twist　his　face—it　reminded　me　of　his　expression　under
  Jane's　torturing　gaze；　I　felt　sick；　and　regretted　speaking　the　truth。
  〃Don't；〃　I　whispered；　touching　his　face。　〃Don't　be　sad。〃
  He　pulled　one　corner　of　his　mouth　up　halfheartedly；　but　the　expression　didn't　touch　his　eyes。　〃If　there　was
  only　some　way　to　make　you　see　that　I　can't　leave　you；〃　he　whispered。　〃Time；　I　suppose；　will　be　the　way
  to　convince　you。〃
  I　liked　the　idea　of　time。　〃Okay；〃　I　agreed。
  His　face　was　still　tormented。　I　tried　to　distract　him　with　inconsequentials。
  〃So—since　you're　staying。　Can　I　have　my　stuff　back？〃　I　asked；　making　my　tone　as　light　as　I　could
  manage。
  My　attempt　worked；　to　an　extent：　he　laughed。　But　his　eyes　retained　the　misery。　〃Your　things　were　never
  gone；〃　he　told　me。　〃I　knew　it　was　wrong；　since　I　promised　you　peace　without　reminders。　It　was　stupid
  and　childish；　but　I　wanted　to　leave　something　of　myself　with　you。　The　CD；　the　pictures；　the
  tickets—they're　all　under　your　floorboards。〃
  〃Really？〃
  He　nodded；　seeming　slightly　cheered　by　my　obvious　pleasure　in　this　trivial　fact。　It　wasn't　enough　to　heal
  the　pain　in　his　face　completely。
  〃I　think；〃　I　said　slowly；　〃I'm　not　sure；　but　I　wonder…　I　think　maybe　I　knew　it　the　whole　time。〃
  〃What　did　you　know？〃
  I　only　wanted　to　take　away　the　agony　in　his　eyes；　but　as　I　spoke　the　words；　they　sounded　truer　than　I
  expected　they　would。
  〃Some　part　of　me；　my　subconscious　maybe；　never　stopped　believing　that　you　still　cared　whether　I　lived
  or　died。　That's　probably　why　I　was　hearing　the　voices。〃
  There　was　a　very　deep　silence　for　a　moment。　〃Voices？〃　he　asked　flatly。
  〃Well；　just　one　voic