3 eclipse月食-第60部分

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　“It’s　good　that　Alice　is　throwing　this　party。　You　need　something　to　perk　you　up。”　
　“Sure。　A　party’s　exactly　what　I　need。”　
　Charlie　laughed　at　my　tone　and　squeezed　my　shoulders。　Edward　looked　at　the　clouds；　his　face　thoughtful。　
　My　father　had　to　leave　us　at　the　back　door　of　the　gym　and　go　around　to　the　main　entrance　with　the　rest　of　
the　parents。　
　It　was　pandemonium　as　Ms。　Cope　from　the　front　office　and　Mr。　Varner　the　math　teacher　tried　to　line　
everyone　up　alphabetically。　
　“Up　front；　Mr。　Cullen；”　Mr。　Varner　barked　at　Edward。　
　“Hey；　Bella！”　
　I　looked　up　to　see　Jessica　Stanley　waving　at　me　from　the　back　of　the　line　with　a　smile　on　her　face。　
　Edward　kissed　me　quickly；　sighed；　and　went　to　go　stand　with　the　C’s。　Alice　wasn’t　there。　What　was　she　
going　to　do？　Skip　graduation？　What　poor　timing　on　my　part。　I　should　have　waited　to　figure　things　out　until　
after　this　was　over　with。　
　“Down　here；　Bella！”　Jessica　called　again。　
　I　walked　down　the　line　to　take　my　place　behind　Jessica；　mildly　curious　as　to　why　she　was　suddenly　so　
friendly。　As　I　got　closer；　I　saw　Angela　five　people　back；　watching　Jessica　with　the　same　curiosity。　
　Jess　was　babbling　before　I　was　in　earshot。　
　“。　。　。　so　amazing。　I　mean；　it　seems　like　we　just　met；　and　now　we’re　graduating　together；”　she　gushed。　“Can　
you　believe　it’s　over？　I　feel　like　screaming！”　
　“So　do　I；”　I　muttered。　
　“This　is　all　just　so　incredible。　Do　you　remember　your　first　day　here？　We　were　friends；　like；　right　away。　
From　the　first　time　we　saw　each　other。　Amazing。　And　now　I’m　off　to　California　and　you’ll　be　in　Alaska　and　
I’m　going　to　miss　you　so　much！　You　have　to　promise　that　we’ll　get　together　sometimes！　I’m　so　glad　you’re　
having　a　party。　That’s　perfect。　Because　we　really　haven’t　spent　much　time　together　in　a　while　and　now　we’re　
all　leaving。　。　。　。”　
　She　droned　on　and　on；　and　I　was　sure　the　sudden　return　of　our　friendship　was　due　to　graduation　nostalgia　
and　gratitude　for　the　party　invite；　not　that　I’d　had　anything　to　do　with　that。　I　paid　attention　as　well　as　I　could　
while　I　shrugged　into　my　robe。　And　I　found　that　I　was　glad　that　things　could　end　on　a　good　note　with　Jessica。　
　Because　it　was　an　ending；　no　matter　what　Eric；　the　valedictorian；　had　to　say　about　mencement　
meaning　“beginning”　and　all　the　rest　of　the　trite　nonsense。　Maybe　more　for　me　than　for　the　rest；　but　we　were　
all　leaving　something　behind　us　today。　
　It　went　so　quickly。　I　felt　like　I’d　hit　the　fast　forward　button。　Were　we　supposed　to　march　quite　that　fast？　
And　then　Eric　was　speed　talking　in　his　nervousness；　the　words　and　phrases　running　together　so　they　didn’t　
make　sense　anymore。　Principal　Greene　started　calling　names；　one　after　the　other　without　a　long　enough　pause　
between；　the　front　row　in　the　gymnasium　was　rushing　to　catch　up。　Poor　Ms。　Cope　was　all　thumbs　as　she　tried　
to　give　the　principal　the　right　diploma　to　hand　to　the　right　student。　
　I　watched　as　Alice；　suddenly　appearing；　danced　across　the　stage　to　take　hers；　a　look　of　deep　
concentration　on　her　face。　Edward　followed　behind；　his　expression　confused；　but　not　upset。　Only　the　two　of　
them　could　carry　off　the　hideous　yellow　and　still　look　the　way　they　did。　They　stood　out　from　the　rest　of　the　
crowd；　their　beauty　and　grace　otherworldly。　I　wondered　how　I’d　ever　fallen　for　their　human　farce。　A　couple　of　

angels；　standing　there　with　wings　intact；　would　be　less　conspicuous。　
I　heard　Mr。　Greene　call　my　name　and　I　rose　from　my　chair；　waiting　for　the　line　in　front　of　me　to　move。　I　
was　conscious　of　cheering　in　the　back　of　the　gym；　and　I　looked　around　to　see　Jacob　pulling　Charlie　to　his　feet；　
both　of　them　hooting　in　encouragement。　I　could　just　make　out　the　top　of　Billy’s　head　beside　Jake’s　elbow。　I　
managed　to　throw　them　an　approximation　of　a　smile。　
Mr。　Greene　finished　with　the　list　of　names；　and　then　continued　to　hand　out　diplomas　with　a　sheepish　grin　as　
we　filed　past。　
“Congratulations；　Miss　Stanley；”　he　mumbled　as　Jess　took　hers。　
“Congratulations；　Miss　Swan；”　he　mumbled　to　me；　pressing　the　diploma　into　my　good　hand。　
“Thanks；”　I　murmured。　
And　that　was　it。　
I　went　to　stand　next　to　Jessica　with　the　assembled　graduates。　Jess　was　all　red　around　the　eyes；　and　she　
kept　blotting　her　face　with　the　sleeve　of　her　robe。　It　took　me　a　second　to　understand　that　she　was　crying。　
Mr。　Greene　said　something　I　didn’t　hear；　and　everyone　around　me　shouted　and　screamed。　Yellow　hats　
rained　down。　I　pulled　mine　off；　too　late；　and　just　let　it　fall　to　the　ground。　
“Oh；　Bella！”　Jess　blubbered　over　the　sudden　roar　of　conversation。　“I　can’t　believe　we’re　done。”　
“I　can’t　believe　it’s　all　over；”　I　mumbled。　
She　threw　her　arms　around　my　neck。　“You　have　to　promise　we　won’t　lose　touch。”　
I　hugged　her　back；　feeling　a　little　awkward　as　I　dodged　her　request。　“I’m　so　glad　I　know　you；　Jessica。　It　
was　a　good　two　years。”　
“It　was；”　she　sighed；　and　sniffed。　Then　she　dropped　her　arms。　“Lauren！”　she　squealed；　waving　over　her　
head　and　pushing　through　the　massed　yellow　gowns。　Families　were　beginning　to　converge；　pressing　us　tighter　
together。　
I　caught　sight　of　Angela　and　Ben；　but　they　were　surrounded　by　their　families。　I　would　congratulate　them　
later。　
I　craned　my　head；　looking　for　Alice。　
“Congratulations；”　Edward　whispered　in　my　ear；　his　arms　winding　around　my　waist。　His　voice　was　
subdued；　he’d　been　in　no　hurry　for　me　to　reach　this　particular　milestone。　
“Um；　thanks。”　
“You　don’t　look　like　you’re　over　the　nerves　yet；”　he　noted。　
“Not　quite　yet。”　
“What’s　left　to　worry　about？　The　party？　It　won’t　be　that　horrible。”　
“You’re　probably　right。”　
“Who　are　you　looking　for？”　
My　searching　wasn’t　quite　as　subtle　as　I’d　thought。　“Alice　—　where　is　she？”　
“She　ran　out　as　soon　as　she　had　her　diploma。”　
His　voice　took　on　a　new　tone。　I　looked　up　to　see　his　confused　expression　as　he　stared　toward　the　back　
door　of　the　gym；　and　I　made　an　impulse　decision　—　the　kind　I　really　should　think　twice　about；　but　rarely　did。　
“Worrying　about　Alice？”　I　asked。　
“Er　。　。　。”　He　didn’t　want　to　answer　that。　
“What　was　she　thinking　about；　anyway？　To　keep　you　out；　I　mean。”　
His　eyes　flashed　down　to　my　face；　and　narrowed　in　suspicion。　“She　was　translating　the　Battle　Hymn　of　the　
Republic　into　Arabic；　actually。　When　she　finished　that；　she　moved　on　to　Korean　sign　language。”　
I　laughed　nervously。　“I　suppose　that　would　keep　her　head　busy　enough。”　
“You　know　what　she’s　hiding　from　me；”　he　accused。　
“Sure。”　I　smiled　a　weak　smile。　“I’m　the　one　who　came　up　with　it。”　
He　waited；　confused。　
I　looked　around。　Charlie　would　be　on　his　way　through　the　crowd　now。　
“Knowing　Alice；”　I　whispered　in　a　rush；　“she’ll　probably　try　to　keep　this　from　you　until　after　the　party。　But　
since　I’m　all　for　the　party　being　canceled　—　well；　don’t　go　berserk；　regardless；　okay？　It’s　always　better　to　
know　as　much　as　possible。　It　has　to　help　somehow。”　
“What　are　you　talking　about？”　

I　saw　Charlie’s　head　bob　up　over　the　other　heads　as　he　searched　for　me。　He　spotted　me　and　waved。　
“Just　stay　calm；　okay？”　
He　nodded　once；　his　mouth　a　grim　line。　
In　hurried　whispers　I　explained　my　reasoning　to　him。　“I　think　you’re　wrong　about　things　ing　at　us　from　
all　sides。　I　think　it’s　mostly　ing　at　us　from　one　side　。　。　。　and　I　think　it’s　ing　at　me；　really。　It’s　all　
connected；　it　has　to　be。　It’s　just　one　person　who’s　messing　with　Alice’s　visions。　The　stranger　in　my　room　was　
a　test；　to　see　if　someone　could　get　around　her。　It’s　got　to　be　the　same　one　who　keeps　changing　his　mind；　and　
the　newborns；　and　stealing　my　clothes　—　all　of　it　goes　together。　My　scent　is　for　them。”　
His　face　had　turned　so　white　that　I　had　a　hard　time　finishing。　
“But　no　one’s　ing　for　you；　don’t　you　see？　This　is　good　—　Esme　and　Alice　and　Carlisle；　no　one　wants　
to　hurt　them！”　
His　eyes　were　huge；　wide　with　panic；　dazed　and　horrified。　He　could　see　that　I　was　right；　just　as　Alice　had。　
I　put　my　hand　on　his　cheek。　“Calm；”　I　pleaded。　
“Bella！”　Charlie　crowed；　pushing　his　way　past　the　closepacked　families　around　us。　
“Congratulations；　baby！”　He　was　stillyelling；　even　though