3 eclipse月食-第62部分

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dark。”　
“Just　around　the　next　bend；　I　think。”　I　pursed　my　lips。　“You　know；　you’re　right　—　it　is　impossible　to　find。　
Alice　said　she　put　a　map　in　the　invitation；　but　even　so；　maybe　everyone　will　get　lost。”　I　cheered　up　slightly　at　
the　idea。　
“Maybe；”　Charlie　said　as　the　road　curved　to　the　east。　“Or　maybe　not。”　
The　black　velvet　darkness　was　interrupted　ahead；　just　where　the　Cullens’　drive　should　be。　Someone　had　
wrapped　the　trees　on　either　side　in　thousands　of　twinkle　lights；　impossible　to　miss。　
“Alice；”　I　said　sourly。　
“Wow；”　Charlie　said　as　we　turned　onto　the　drive。　The　two　trees　at　the　entry　weren’t　the　only　ones　lit。　
Every　twenty　feet　or　so；　another　shining　beacon　guided　us　toward　the　big　white　house。　All　the　way　—　all　three　
miles　of　the　way。　
“She　doesn’t　do　things　halfway；　does　she？”　Charlie　mumbled　in　awe。　
“Sure　you　don’t　want　to　e　in？”　
“Extremely　sure。　Have　fun；　kid。”　
“Thanks　so　much；　Dad。”　
He　was　laughing　to　himself　as　I　got　out　and　shut　the　door。　I　watched　him　drive　away；　still　grinning。　With　a　
sigh；　I　marched　up　the　stairs　to　endure　my　party。　

　　　17。　ALLIANCE　


“BELLA？”　
Edward’s　soft　voice　came　from　behind　me。　I　turned　to　see　him　spring　lightly　up　the　porch　steps；　his　hair　
windblown　from　running。　He　pulled　me　into　his　arms　at　once；　just　like　he　had　in　the　parking　lot；　and　kissed　me　
again。　
This　kiss　frightened　me。　There　was　too　much　tension；　too　strong　an　edge　to　the　way　his　lips　crushed　mine　
—　like　he　was　afraid　we　only　had　so　much　time　left　to　us。　
I　couldn’t　let　myself　think　about　that。　Not　if　I　was　going　to　have　to　act　human　for　the　next　several　hours。　I　
pulled　away　from　him。　
“Let’s　get　this　stupid　party　over　with；”　I　mumbled；　not　meeting　his　eyes。　
He　put　his　hands　on　either　side　of　my　face；　waiting　until　I　looked　up。　
“I　won’t　let　anything　happen　to　you。”　
I　touched　his　lips　with　the　fingers　of　my　good　hand。　“I’m　not　worried　about　myself　so　much。”　
“Why　am　I　not　surprised　by　that？”　he　muttered　to　himself。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　and　then　he　smiled　
slightly。　“Ready　to　celebrate？”　he　asked。　
I　groaned。　
He　held　the　door　for　me；　keeping　his　arm　securely　around　my　waist。　I　stood　frozen　there　for　a　minute；　then　
I　slowly　shook　my　head。　
“Unbelievable。”　
Edward　shrugged。　“Alice　will　be　Alice。”　
The　interior　of　the　Cullens’　home　had　been　transformed　into　a　nightclub　—　the　kind　that　didn’t　often　exist　
in　real　life；　only　on　TV。　
“Edward！”　Alice　called　from　beside　a　gigantic　speaker。　“I　need　your　advice。”　She　gestured　toward　a　
towering　stack　of　CDs。　“Should　we　give　them　familiar　and　forting？　Or”　—　she　gestured　to　a　different　pile　
—　“educate　their　taste　in　music？”　
“Keep　it　forting；”　Edward　remended。　“You　can　only　lead　the　horse　to　water。”　
Alice　nodded　seriously；　and　started　throwing　the　educational　CDs　into　a　box。　I　noticed　that　she　had　
changed　into　a　sequined　tank　top　and　red　leather　pants。　Her　bare　skin　reacted　oddly　to　the　pulsing　red　and　
purple　lights。　
“I　think　I’m　underdressed。”　
“You’re　perfect；”　Edward　disagreed。　
“You’ll　do；”　Alice　amended。　
“Thanks。”　I　sighed。　“Do　you　really　think　people　will　e？”　Anyone　could　hear　the　hope　in　my　voice。　
Alice　made　a　face　at　me。　
“Everyone　will　e；”　Edward　answered。　“They’re　all　dying　to　see　the　inside　of　the　reclusive　Cullens’　
mystery　house。”　
“Fabulous；”　I　moaned。　
There　wasn’t　anything　I　could　do　to　help。　I　doubted　that　—　even　after　I　didn’t　need　sleep　and　moved　at　a　
much　faster　speed　—　I　would　ever　be　able　to　get　things　done　the　way　Alice　did。　
Edward　refused　to　let　me　go　for　a　second；　dragging　me　along　with　him　as　he　hunted　up　Jasper　and　then　
Carlisle　to　tell　them　of　my　epiphany。　I　listened　with　quiet　horror　as　they　discussed　their　attack　on　the　army　in　
Seattle。　I　could　tell　that　Jasper　was　not　pleased　with　the　way　the　numbers　stood；　but　they’d　been　unable　to　
contact　anyone　besides　Tanya’s　unwilling　family。　Jasper　didn’t　try　to　hide　his　desperation　the　way　Edward　
would　have。　It　was　easy　to　see　that　he　didn’t　like　gambling　with　stakes　this　high。　
I　couldn’t　stay　behind；　waiting　and　hoping　for　them　to　e　home。　I　wouldn’t。　I　would　go　mad。　
The　doorbell　rang。　
All　at　once；　everything　was　surreally　normal。　A　perfect　smile；　genuine　and　warm；　replaced　the　stress　on　
Carlisle’s　face。　Alice　turned　the　volume　of　the　music　up；　and　then　danced　to　get　the　door。　

It　was　a　Suburbanload　of　my　friends；　either　too　nervous　or　too　intimidated　to　arrive　on　their　own。　Jessica　
was　the　first　one　in　the　door；　with　Mike　right　behind　her。　Tyler；　Conner；　Austin；　Lee；　Samantha　。　。　。　even　
Lauren　trailing　in　last；　her　critical　eyes　alight　with　curiosity。　They　all　were　curious；　and　then　overwhelmed　as　
they　took　in　the　huge　room　decked　out　like　a　chic　rave。　The　room　wasn’t　empty；　all　the　Cullens　had　taken　
their　places；　ready　to　put　on　their　usual　perfect　human　charade。　Tonight　I　felt　like　I　was　acting　every　bit　as　
much　as　they　were。　
I　went　to　greet　Jess　and　Mike；　hoping　the　edge　inmy　voice　sounded　like　the　right　kind　of　excitement。　
Before　I　could　get　to　anyone　else；　the　bell　rang　again。　I　let　Angela　and　Ben　in；　leaving　the　door　wide；　because　
Eric　and　Katie　were　just　reaching　the　steps。　
I　didn’t　get　another　chance　to　panic。　I　had　to　talk　to　everyone；　concentrate　on　being　upbeat；　a　hostess。　
Though　the　party　had　been　billed　as　a　joint　event　for　Alice；　Edward；　and　me；　there　was　no　denying　that　I　was　
the　most　popular　target　for　congratulations　and　thanks。　Maybe　because　the　Cullens　looked　just　slightly　wrong　
under　Alice’s　party　lights。　Maybe　because　those　lights　left　the　room　dim　and　mysterious。　Not　an　atmosphere　
to　make　your　average　human　feel　relaxed　when　standing　next　to　someone　like　Emmett。　I　saw　Emmett　grin　at　
Mike　over　the　food　table；　the　red　lights　gleaming　off　his　teeth；　and　watched　Mike　take　an　automatic　step　back。　
Probably　Alice　had　done　this　on　purpose；　to　force　me　into　the　center　of　attention　—　a　place　she　thought　I　
should　enjoy　more。　She　was　forever　trying　to　make　me　be　human　the　way　she　thought　humans　should　be。　
The　party　was　a　clear　success；　despite　the　instinctive　edginess　cause　by　the　Cullens’　presence　—　or　
maybe　that　simply　added　a　thrill　to　the　atmosphere。　The　music　was　infectious；　the　lights　almost　hypnotic。　From　
the　way　the　food　disappeared；　that　must　have　been　good；　too。　The　room　was　soon　crowded；　though　never　
claustrophobic。　The　entire　senior　class　seemed　to　be　there；　along　with　most　of　the　juniors。　Bodies　swayed　to　
the　beat　that　rumbled　under　the　soles　of　their　feet；　the　party　constantly　on　the　edge　of　breaking　into　a　dance。　
It　wasn’t　as　hard　as　I’d　thought　it　would　be。　I　followed　Alice’s　lead；　mingling　and　chatting　for　a　minute　
with　everyone。　They　seemed　easy　enough　to　please。　I　was　sure　this　party　was　far　cooler　than　anything　the　
town　of　Forks　had　experienced　before。　Alice　was　almost　purring　—　no　one　here　would　forget　this　night。　
I’d　circled　the　room　once；　and　was　back　to　Jessica。　She　babbled　excitedly；　and　it　was　not　necessary　to　
pay　strict　attention；　because　the　odds　were　she　wouldn’t　need　a　response　from　me　anytime　soon。　Edward　was　
at　my　side　—　still　refusing　to　let　go　of　me。　He　kept　one　hand　securely　at　my　waist；　pulling　me　closer　now　and　
then　in　response　to　thoughts　I　probably　didn’t　want　to　hear。　
So　I　was　immediately　suspicious　when　he　dropped　his　arm　and　edged　away　from　me。　
“Stay　here；”　he　murmured　in　my　ear。　“I’ll　be　right　back。”　
He　passed　gracefully　through　the　crowd　without　seeming　to　touch　any　of　the　closepacked　bodies；　gone　
too　quickly　for　me　to　ask　why　he　was　leaving。　I　stared　after　him　with　narrowed　eyes　while　Jessica　shouted　
over　the　music　eagerly；　hanging　on　to　my　elbow；　oblivious　to　my　distraction。　
I　watched　him　as　he　reached　the　dark　shadow　beside　the　kitchen　doorway；　where　the　lights　only　shone　
intermittently。　He　was　leaning　over　someone；　but　I　couldn’t　see　past　all　the　heads　between　us。　
I　stretched　up　on　my　toes；　craning　my　neck。　Right　then；　a　red　light　flashed　across　his　back　and　glinted　off　
the　red　sequins　of　Alice’s　shirt。　The　light　only　touched　her　face　for　half　a　second；　but　it　was