Chapter 22

           IthadtakenmuchlesstimethanI’dthought-alltheterror,thedespair,theshatteringofmyheart.Theminutesweretickingbymoreslowlythanusual.Jasperstillhadn’tcomebackwhenIreturnedtoAlice.Iwasafraidtobeinthesameroomwithher,afraidthatshewouldguess...andafraidtohidefromherforthesamereason.

           IwouldhavethoughtIwasfarbeyondtheabilitytobesurprised,mythoughtstorturedandunstable,butIwassurprisedwhenIsawAlicebentoverthedesk,grippingtheedgewithtwohands.

           "Alice?"

           Shedidn’treactwhenIcalledhername,butherheadwasslowlyrockingsidetoside,andIsawherface.Hereyeswereblank,dazed...Mythoughtsflewtomymother.WasIalreadytoolate?

           Ihurriedtoherside,reachingoutautomaticallytotouchherhand.

           "Alice!"Jasper’svoicewhipped,andthenhewasrightbehindher,hishandscurlingoverhers,looseningthemfromtheirgriponthetable.Acrosstheroom,thedoorswungshutwithalowclick.

           "Whatisit?"hedemanded.

           Sheturnedherfaceawayfromme,intohischest."Bella,"shesaid.

           "I’mrighthere,"Ireplied.

           Herheadtwistedaround,hereyeslockingonmine,theirexpressionstillstrangelyblank.Irealizedatoncethatshehadn’tbeenspeakingtome,she’dbeenansweringJasper’squestion.

           "Whatdidyousee?"Isaid-andtherewasnoquestioninmyflat,uncaringvoice.

           Jasperlookedatmesharply.Ikeptmyexpressionvacantandwaited.HiseyeswereconfusedastheyflickeredswiftlybetweenAlice’sfaceandmine,feelingthechaos...