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           "IsCullenhelpingyoustudy?"

           "Edward,"Iemphasized,"isnotgoingtohelpmestudy.He’sgoneawaysomewherefortheweekend."Theliescamemorenaturallythanusual,Inotedwithsurprise.

           "Oh."Heperkedup."Youknow,youcouldcometothedancewithourgroupanyway-thatwouldbecool.We’dalldancewithyou,"hepromised.

           ThementalimageofJessica’sfacemademytonesharperthannecessary.

           "I’mnotgoingtothedance,Mike,okay?"

           "Fine."Hesulkedagain."Iwasjustoffering."

           Whentheschooldayhadfinallyended,Iwalkedtotheparkinglotwithoutenthusiasm.Ididnotespeciallywanttowalkhome,butIcouldn’tseehowhewouldhaveretrievedmytruck.Thenagain,Iwasstartingtobelievethatnothingwasimpossibleforhim.Thelatterinstinctprovedcorrect-mytrucksatinthesamespacehe’dparkedhisVolvointhismorning.Ishookmyhead,incredulous,asIopenedtheunlockeddoorandsawthekeyintheignition.

           Therewasapieceofwhitepaperfoldedonmyseat.IgotinandclosedthedoorbeforeIunfoldedit.Twowordswerewritteninhiselegantscript.

           Besafe.

           Thesoundofthetruckroaringtolifefrightenedme.Ilaughedatmyself.

           WhenIgothome,thehandleofthedoorwaslocked,thedeadboltunlocked,justasI’dleftitthismorning.Inside,Iwentstraighttothelaundryroom.ItlookedjustthesameasI’dleftit,too.Idugformyjeansand,afterfindingthem,checkedthepockets.Empty.MaybeI’dhungmykeyupafterall,Ithought,shakingmyhead.