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           "Yes?"

           "Whatwereyouthinkingtonight,justbeforeIcamearoundthecorner?Icouldn’tunderstandyourexpression-youdidn’tlookthatscared,youlookedlikeyouwereconcentratingveryhardonsomething."

           "Iwastryingtorememberhowtoincapacitateanattacker-youknow,self-defense.Iwasgoingtosmashhisnoseintohisbrain."Ithoughtofthedark-hairedmanwithasurgeofhate.

           "Youweregoingtofightthem?"Thisupsethim."Didn’tyouthinkaboutrunning?"

           "IfalldownalotwhenIrun,"Iadmitted.

           "Whataboutscreamingforhelp?"

           "Iwasgettingtothatpart."

           Heshookhishead."Youwereright-I’mdefinitelyfightingfatetryingtokeepyoualive."

           Isighed.Wewereslowing,passingintotheboundariesofForks.Ithadtakenlessthantwentyminutes.

           "WillIseeyoutomorrow?"Idemanded.

           "Yes-Ihaveapaperdue,too."Hesmiled."I’llsaveyouaseatatlunch."

           Itwassilly,aftereverythingwe’dbeenthroughtonight,howthatlittlepromisesentfluttersthroughmystomach,andmademeunabletospeak.

           WewereinfrontofCharlie’shouse.Thelightswereon,mytruckinitsplace,everythingutterlynormal.Itwaslikewakingfromadream.Hestoppedthecar,butIdidn’tmove.

           "Doyoupromisetobetheretomorrow?"

           "Ipromise."

           Iconsideredthatforamoment,thennodded.Ipulledhisjacketoff,takingonelastwhiff.

           "Youcankeepit-youdon’thaveajacketfortomorrow,"heremindedme.

           Ihandeditbacktohim."Idon’twanttohavetoexplaintoCharlie."

           "Oh,right."Hegrinned.