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           Ihadlistenedcarefullyandcaughtmostofit,thoughIcouldn’thearwhatEsmenowaskedEdwardwithasilentvibrationofherlips.Ionlysawtheslightshakeofhisheadandthelookofreliefonherface.

           "Youcatch,Esme,"hesaid."I’llcallitnow."Andheplantedhimselfinfrontofme.

           Theothersreturnedtothefield,warilysweepingthedarkforestwiththeirsharpeyes.AliceandEsmeseemedtoorientthemselvesaroundwhereIstood.

           "Takeyourhairdown,"Edwardsaidinalow,evenvoice.

           Iobedientlyslidtherubberbandoutofmyhairandshookitoutaroundme.

           Istatedtheobvious."Theothersarecomingnow."

           "Yes,stayverystill,keepquiet,anddon’tmovefrommyside,please."Hehidthestressinhisvoicewell,butIcouldhearit.Hepulledmylonghairforward,aroundmyface.

           "Thatwon’thelp,"Alicesaidsoftly."Icouldsmellheracrossthefield."

           "Iknow."Ahintoffrustrationcoloredhistone.

           Carlislestoodattheplate,andtheothersjoinedthegamehalfheartedly.

           "WhatdidEsmeaskyou?"Iwhispered.

           Hehesitatedforasecondbeforeheanswered."Whethertheywerethirsty,"hemutteredunwillingly.

           Thesecondstickedby;thegameprogressedwithapathynow.Noonedaredtohitharderthanabunt,andEmmett,Rosalie,andJasperhoveredintheinfield.Nowandagain,despitethefearthatnumbedmybrain,IwasawareofRosalie’seyesonme.Theywereexpressionless,butsomethingaboutthewaysheheldhermouthmademethinkshewasangry.

           Edwardpaidnoattentiontothegameatall,eyesandmindrangingtheforest