3 eclipse月食-第53部分

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“Graduation　is　what’s　going　on　right　now；　and　a　party　is　so　appropriate　it’s　almost　passé。”　
“Alice！”　
She　sighed；　and　tried　to　be　serious。　“There　are　a　few　things　we　need　to　get　in　order　now；　and　that’s　going　
to　take　a　little　time。　As　long　as　we’re　sitting　here　waiting；　we　might　as　well　memorate　the　good　stuff。　
You’re　only　going　to　graduate　from　high　school　—　for　the　first　time　—　once。　You　don’t　get　to　be　human　
again；　Bella。　This　is　a　onceinalifetime　shot。”　
Edward；　silent　through　our　little　argument；　flashed　her　a　warning　look。　She　stuck　out　her　tongue　at　him。　
She　was　right　—　her　soft　voice　would　never　carry　over　the　babble　of　the　cafeteria。　And　no　one　would　
understand　the　meaning　behind　her　words　in　any　case。　
“What　few　things　do　we　need　to　get　in　order？”　I　asked；　refusing　to　be　sidetracked。　
Edward　answered　in　a　low　voice。　“Jasper　thinks　we　could　use　some　help。　Tanya’s　family　isn’t　the　only　
choice　we　have。　Carlisle’s　trying　to　track　down　a　few　old　friends；　and　Jasper　is　looking　up　Peter　and　
Charlotte。　He’s　considering　talking　to　Maria　。　。　。　but　no　one　really　wants　to　involve　the　southerners。”　
Alice　shuddered　delicately。　
“It　shouldn’t　be　too　hard　to　convince　them　to　help；”　he　continued。　“Nobody　wants　a　visit　from　Italy。”　
“But　these　friends　—　they’re　not　going　to　be　。　。　。　vegetarians；　right？”　I　protested；　using　the　Cullens’　
tongueincheek　nickname　for　themselves。　
“No；”　Edward　answered；　suddenly　expressionless。　
“Here？　In　Forks？”　
“They’re　friends；”　Alice　reassured　me。　“Everything’s　going　to　be　fine。　Don’t　worry。　And　then；　Jasper　has　
to　teach　us　a　few　courses　on　newborn　elimination。　。　。　。”　
Edward’s　eyes　brightened　at　that；　and　a　brief　smile　flashed　across　his　face。　My　stomach　suddenly　felt　like　
it　was　full　of　sharp　little　splinters　of　ice。　
“When　are　you　going？”　I　asked　in　a　hollow　voice。　I　couldn’t　stand　this　—　the　idea　that　someone　might　not　
e　back。　What　if　it　was　Emmett；　so　brave　and　thoughtless　that　he　was　never　the　least　bit　cautious？　Or　
Esme；　so　sweet　and　motherly　that　I　couldn’t　even　imagine　her　in　a　fight？　Or　Alice；　so　tiny；　so　fragilelooking？　
Or　。　。　。　but　I　couldn’t　even　think　the　name；　consider　the　possibility。　
“A　week；”　Edward　said　casually。　“That　ought　to　give　us　enough　time。”　
The　icy　splinters　twisted　unfortably　in　my　stomach。　I　was　suddenly　nauseated。　
“You　look　kind　of　green；　Bella；”　Alice　mented。　
Edward　put　his　arm　around　me　and　pulled　me　tightly　against　his　side。　“It’s　going　to　be　fine；　Bella。　Trust　
me。”　
Sure；　I　thought　to　myself。　Trust　him。　He　wasn’t　the　one　who　was　going　to　have　to　sit　behind　and　wonder　
whether　or　not　the　core　of　his　existence　was　going　to　e　home。　
And　then　it　occurred　to　me。　Maybe　I　didn’t　need　to　sit　behind。　A　week　was　more　than　enough　time。　
“You’re　looking　for　help；”　I　said　slowly。　
“Yes。”　Alice’s　head　cocked　to　the　side　as　she　processed　the　change　in　my　tone。　
I　looked　only　at　her　as　I　answered。　My　voice　was　just　slightly　louder　than　a　whisper。　“I　could　help。”　
Edward’s　body　was　suddenly　rigid；　his　arm　too　tight　around　me。　He　exhaled；　and　the　sound　was　a　hiss。　

But　it　was　Alice；　still　calm；　who　answered。　“That　really　wouldn’t　be　helpful。”　
“Why　not？”　I　argued；　I　could　hear　the　desperation　in　my　voice。　“Eight　is　better　than　seven。　There’s　more　
than　enough　time。”　
“There’s　not　enough　time　to　make　you　helpful；　Bella；”　she　disagreed　coolly。　“Do　you　remember　how　
Jasper　described　the　young　ones？　You’d　be　no　good　in　a　fight。　You　wouldn’t　be　able　to　control　your　instincts；　
and　that　would　make　you　an　easy　target。　And　then　Edward　would　get　hurt　trying　to　protect　you。”　She　folded　
her　arms　across　her　chest；　pleased　with　her　unassailable　logic。　
And　I　knew　she　was　right；　when　she　put　it　like　that。　I　slumped　in　my　seat；　my　sudden　hope　defeated。　
Beside　me；　Edward　relaxed。　
He　whispered　the　reminder　in　my　ear。　“Not　because　you’re　afraid。”　
“Oh；”　Alice　said；　and　a　blank　look　crossed　her　face。　Then　her　expression　became　surly。　“I　hate　last　
minute　cancellations。　So　that　puts　the　party　attendance　list　down　to　sixtyfive。　。　。　。”　
“Sixtyfive！”　My　eyes　bulged　again。　I　didn’t　have　that　many　friends。　Did　I　even　know　that　many　people？　
“Who　canceled？”　Edward　wondered；　ignoring　me。　
“Renée。”　
“What？”　I　gasped。　
“She　was　going　to　surprise　you　for　your　graduation；　but　something　went　wrong。　You’ll　have　a　message　
when　you　get　home。”　
For　a　moment；　I　just　let　myself　enjoy　the　relief。　Whatever　it　was　that　went　wrong　for　my　mother；　I　was　
eternally　grateful　to　it。　If　she　had　e　to　Forks　now　。　。　。　I　didn’t　want　to　think　about　it。　My　head　would　
explode。　


The　message　light　was　flashing　when　I　got　home。　My　feeling　of　relief　flared　again　as　I　listened　to　my　mother　
describe　Phil’s　accident　on　the　ball　field　—　while　demonstrating　a　slide；　he’d　tangled　up　with　the　catcher　and　
broken　his　thigh　bone；　he　was　entirely　dependent　on　her；　and　there　was　no　way　she　could　leave　him。　My　mom　
was　still　apologizing　when　the　message　cut　off。　
“Well；　that’s　one；”　I　sighed。　
“One　what？”　Edward　asked。　
“One　person　I　don’t　have　to　worry　about　getting　killed　this　week。”　
He　rolled　his　eyes。　
“Why　won’t　you　and　Alice　take　this　seriously？”　I　demanded。　“This　is　serious。”　
He　smiled。　“Confidence。”　
“Wonderful；”　I　grumbled。　I　picked　up　the　phone　and　dialed　Renée’s　number。　I　knew　it　would　be　a　long　
conversation；　but　I　also　knew　that　I　wouldn’t　have　to　contribute　much。　
I　just　listened；　and　reassured　her　every　time　I　could　get　a　word　in：　I　wasn’t　disappointed；　I　wasn’t　mad；　I　
wasn’t　hurt。　She　should　concentrate　on　helping　Phil　get　better。　I　passed　on　my　“get　well　soon”　to　Phil；　and　
promised　to　call　her　with　every　single　detail　from　Forks　High’s　generic　graduation。　Finally；　I　had　to　use　my　
desperate　need　to　study　for　finals　to　get　off　the　phone。　
Edward’s　patience　was　endless。　He　waited　politely　through　the　whole　conversation；　just　playing　with　my　
hair　and　smiling　whenever　I　looked　up。　It　was　probably　superficial　to　notice　such　things　while　I　had　so　many　
more　important　things　to　think　about；　but　his　smile　still　knocked　the　breath　out　of　me。　He　was　so　beautiful　that　
it　made　it　hard　sometimes　to　think　about　anything　else；　hard　to　concentrate　on　Phil’s　troubles　or　Renée’s　
apologies　or　hostile　vampire　armies。　I　was　only　human。　
As　soon　as　I　hung　up；　I　stretched　onto　my　tiptoes　to　kiss　him。　He　put　his　hands　around　my　waist　and　lifted　
me　onto　the　kitchen　counter；　so　I　wouldn’t　have　to　reach　as　far。　That　worked　for　me。　I　locked　my　arms　
around　his　neck　and　melted　against　his　cold　chest。　
Too　soon；　as　usual；　he　pulled　away。　
I　felt　my　face　slip　into　a　pout。　He　laughed　at　my　expression　as　he　extricated　himself　from　my　arms　and　legs。　
He　leaned　against　the　counter　next　to　me　and　put　one　arm　lightly　around　my　shoulders。　
“I　know　you　think　that　I　have　some　kind　of　perfect；　unyielding　selfcontrol；　but　that’s　not　actually　the　
case。”　
“I　wish；”　I　sighed。　

And　he　sighed；　too。　
“After　school　tomorrow；”　he　said；　changing　the　subject；　“I’m　going　hunting　with　Carlisle；　Esme；　and　
Rosalie。　Just　for　a　few　hours　—　we’ll　stay　close。　Alice；　Jasper；　and　Emmett　should　be　able　to　keep　you　safe。”　
“Ugh；”　I　grumbled。　Tomorrow　was　the　first　day　of　finals；　and　it　was　only　a　halfday。　I　had　Calculus　and　
History　—　the　only　two　challenges　in　my　lineup　—　so　I’d　have　almost　the　whole　day　without　him；　and　nothing　
to　do　but　worry。　“I　hate　being　babysat。”　
“It’s　temporary；”　he　promised。　
“Jasper　will　be　bored。　Emmett　will　make　fun　of　me。”　
“They’ll　be　on　their　best　behavior。”　
“Right；”　I　grumbled。　
And　then　it　occurred　to　me　that　I　did　have　one　option　besides　babysitters。　“You　know　。　。　。　I　haven’t　been　
to　La　Push　since　the　bonfire。”　
I　watched　his　face　carefully　for　any　change　in　expression。　His　eyes　tightened　the　tiniest　bit。　
“I’d　be　safe　enough　there；”　I　reminded　him。　
He　thought　about　it　for　a　few　seconds。　“You’re　probably　right。”　
His　face　was　calm；　but　just　a　little　too　smooth。　I　almost　asked　if　he’d　rather　I　stayed　here；　but　then　I　
thought　of　the　ribbing　Emme