暮色-第11部分

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〃Be　careful；〃　he　warned　as　I　struggled。　〃I　think　you　hit　your　head　pretty　
hard。〃　

I　became　aware　of　a　throbbing　ache　centered　above　my　left　ear。　

〃Ow；〃　I　said；　surprised。　

〃That's　what　I　thought。〃　His　voice；　amazingly；　sounded　like　he　was　
suppressing　laughter。　

〃How　in　the…〃　I　trailed　off；　trying　to　clear　my　head；　get　my　bearings。　
〃How　did　you　get　over　here　so　fast？〃　

〃I　was　standing　right　next　to　you；　Bella；〃　he　said；　his　tone　serious　
again。　

I　turned　to　sit　up；　and　this　time　he　let　me；　releasing　his　hold　around　my　
waist　and　sliding　as　far　from　me　as　he　could　in　the　limited　space。　I　
looked　at　his　concerned；　innocent　expression　and　was　disoriented　again　by　
the　force　of　his　goldcolored　eyes。　What　was　I　asking　him？　

And　then　they　found　us；　a　crowd　of　people　with　tears　streaming　down　their　
faces；　shouting　at　each　other；　shouting　at　us。　

〃Don't　move；〃　someone　instructed。　

〃Get　Tyler　out　of　the　van！〃　someone　else　shouted。　

There　was　a　flurry　of　activity　around　us。　I　tried　to　get　up；　but　Edward's　
cold　hand　pushed　my　shoulder　down。　

〃Just　stay　put　for　now。〃　

〃But　it's　cold；〃　I　plained。　It　surprised　me　when　he　chuckled　under　his　
breath。　There　was　an　edge　to　the　sound。　

〃You　were　over　there；〃　I　suddenly　remembered；　and　his　chuckle　stopped　
short。　〃You　were　by　your　car。〃　

His　expression　turned　hard。　〃No；　I　wasn't。〃　

〃I　saw　you。〃　All　around　us　was　chaos。　I　could　hear　the　gruffer　voices　of　
adults　arriving　on　the　scene。　But　I　obstinately　held　on　to　our　argument；　
I　was　right；　and　he　was　going　to　admit　it。　

〃Bella；　I　was　standing　with　you；　and　I　pulled　you　out　of　the　way。〃　He　
unleashed　the　full；　devastating　power　of　his　eyes　on　me；　as　if　trying　to　
municate　something　crucial。　

〃No。〃　I　set　my　jaw。　

The　gold　in　his　eyes　blazed。　〃Please；　Bella。〃　

〃Why？〃　I　demanded。　

〃Trust　me；〃　he　pleaded；　his　soft　voice　overwhelming。　

I　could　hear　the　sirens　now。　〃Will　you　promise　to　explain　everything　to　
me　later？〃　

〃Fine；〃　he　snapped；　abruptly　exasperated。　

〃Fine；〃　I　repeated　angrily。　

It　took　six　EMTs　and　two　teachers　—　Mr。　Varner　and　Coach　Clapp　—　to　shift　
the　van　far　enough　away　from　us　to　bring　the　stretchers　in。　Edward　
vehemently　refused　his；　and　I　tried　to　do　the　same；　but　the　traitor　told　
them　I'd　hit　my　head　and　probably　had　a　concussion。　I　almost　died　of　
humiliation　when　they　put　on　the　neck　brace。　It　looked　like　the　entire　
school　was　there；　watching　soberly　as　they　loaded　me　in　the　back　of　the　
ambulance。　Edward　got　to　ride　in　the　front。　It　was　maddening。　

To　make　matters　worse；　Chief　Swan　arrived　before　they　could　get　me　safely　
away。　

〃Bella！〃　he　yelled　in　panic　when　he　recognized　me　on　the　stretcher。　

〃I'm　pletely　fine；　Char　—　Dad；〃　I　sighed。　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　
me。〃　

He　turned　to　the　closest　EMT　for　a　second　opinion。　I　tuned　him　out　to　
consider　the　jumble　of　inexplicable　images　churning　chaotically　in　my　
head。　When　they'd　lifted　me　away　from　the　car；　I　had　seen　the　deep　dent　
in　the　tan　car's　bumper　—　a　very　distinct　dent　that　fit　the　contours　of　
Edward's　shoulders…　as　if　he　had　braced　himself　against　the　car　with　
enough　force　to　damage　the　metal　frame…　

And　then　there　was　his　family；　looking　on　from　the　distance；　with　
expressions　that　ranged　from　disapproval　to　fury　but　held　no　hint　of　
concern　for　their　brother's　safety。　

I　tried　to　think　of　a　logical　solution　that　could　explain　what　I　had　just　
seen　—　a　solution　that　excluded　the　assumption　that　I　was　insane。　

Naturally；　the　ambulance　got　a　police　escort　to　the　county　hospital。　I　
felt　ridiculous　the　whole　time　they　were　unloading　me。　What　made　it　worse　
was　that　Edward　simply　glided　through　the　hospital　doors　under　his　own　
power。　I　ground　my　teeth　together。　

They　put　me　in　the　emergency　room；　a　long　room　with　a　line　of　beds　

separated　by　pastelpatterned　curtains。　A　nurse　put　a　pressure　cuff　on　my　
arm　and　a　thermometer　under　my　tongue。　Since　no　one　bothered　pulling　the　
curtain　around　to　give　me　some　privacy；　I　decided　I　wasn't　obligated　to　
wear　the　stupidlooking　neck　brace　anymore。　When　the　nurse　walked　away；　I　
quickly　unfastened　the　Velcro　and　threw　it　under　the　bed。　

There　was　another　flurry　of　hospital　personnel；　another　stretcher　brought　
to　the　bed　next　to　me。　I　recognized　Tyler　Crowley　from　my　Government　
class　beneath　the　bloodstained　bandages　wrapped　tightly　around　his　head。　
Tyler　looked　a　hundred　times　worse　than　I　felt。　But　he　was　staring　
anxiously　at　me。　

〃Bella；　I'm　so　sorry！〃　

〃I'm　fine；　Tyler　—　you　look　awful；　are　you　all　right？〃　As　we　spoke；　
nurses　began　unwinding　his　soiled　bandages；　exposing　a　myriad　of　shallow　
slices　all　over　his　forehead　and　left　cheek。　

He　ignored　me。　〃I　thought　I　was　going　to　kill　you！　I　was　going　too　fast；　
and　I　hit　the　ice　wrong…〃　He　winced　as　one　nurse　started　dabbing　at　his　
face。　

〃Don't　worry　about　it；　you　missed　me。〃　

〃How　did　you　get　out　of　the　way　so　fast？　You　were　there；　and　then　you　
were　gone…〃　

〃Umm…　Edward　pulled　me　out　of　the　way。〃　

He　looked　confused。　〃Who？〃　

〃Edward　Cullen　—　he　was　standing　next　to　me。〃　I'd　always　been　a　terrible　
liar；　I　didn't　sound　convincing　at　all。　

〃Cullen？　I　didn't　see　him…　wow；　it　was　all　so　fast；　I　guess。　Is　he　okay？〃　

〃I　think　so。　He's　here　somewhere；　but　they　didn't　make　him　use　a　
stretcher。〃　

I　knew　I　wasn't　crazy。　What　had　happened？　There　was　no　way　to　explain　
away　what　I'd　seen。　

They　wheeled　me　away　then；　to　Xray　my　head。　I　told　them　there　was　
nothing　wrong；　and　I　was　right。　Not　even　a　concussion。　I　asked　if　I　could　
leave；　but　the　nurse　said　I　had　to　talk　to　a　doctor　first。　So　I　was　
trapped　in　the　ER；　waiting；　harassed　by　Tyler's　constant　apologies　and　
promises　to　make　it　up　to　me。　No　matter　how　many　times　I　tried　to　
convince　him　I　was　fine；　he　continued　to　torment　himself。　Finally；　I　
closed　my　eyes　and　ignored　him。　He　kept　up　a　remorseful　mumbling。　

〃Is　she　sleeping？〃　a　musical　voice　asked。　My　eyes　flew　open。　

Edward　was　standing　at　the　foot　of　my　bed；　smirking。　I　glared　at　him。　It　
wasn't　easy　—　it　would　have　been　more　natural　to　ogle。　

〃Hey；　Edward；　I'm　really　sorry　—〃　Tyler　began。　

Edward　lifted　a　hand　to　stop　him。　

〃No　blood；　no　foul；〃　he　said；　flashing　his　brilliant　teeth。　He　moved　to　
sit　on　the　edge　of　Tyler's　bed；　facing　me。　He　smirked　again。　

〃So；　what's　the　verdict？〃　he　asked　me。　

〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　me　at　all；　but　they　won't　let　me　go；〃　I　
plained。　〃How　e　you　aren't　strapped　to　a　gurney　like　the　rest　of　
us？〃　

〃It's　all　about　who　you　know；〃　he　answered。　〃But　don't　worry；　I　came　to　
spring　you。〃　

Then　a　doctor　walked　around　the　corner；　and　my　mouth　fell　open。　He　was　

young；　he　was　blond…　and　he　was　handsomer　than　any　movie　star　I'd　ever　
seen。　He　was　pale；　though；　and　tiredlooking；　with　circles　under　his　
eyes。　From　Charlie's　description；　this　had　to　be　Edward's　father。　

〃So；　Miss　Swan；〃　Dr。　Cullen　said　in　a　remarkably　appealing　voice；　〃how　
are　you　feeling？〃　

〃I'm　fine；〃　I　said；　for　the　last　time；　I　hoped。　

He　walked　to　the　lightboard　on　the　wall　over　my　head；　and　turned　it　on。　

〃Your　Xrays　look　good；〃　he　said。　〃Does　your　head　hurt？　Edward　said　you　
hit　it　pretty　hard。〃　

〃It's　fine；〃　I　repeated　with　a　sigh；　throwing　a　quick　scowl　toward　Edward。　

The　doctor's　cool　fingers　probed　lightly　along　my　skull。　He　noticed　when　
I　winced。　

〃Tender？〃　he　asked。　

〃Not　really。〃　I'd　had　worse。　

I　heard　a　chuckle；　and　looked　over　to　see　Edward's　patronizing　smile。　My　
eyes　narrowed。　

〃Well；　your　father　is　in　the　waiting　room　—　you　can　go　home　with　him　now。　
But　e　back　if　you　feel　dizzy　or　have　trouble　with　your　eyesight　at　
all。〃　

〃Can't　I　go　back　to　school？〃　I　asked；　imagining　Charlie　trying　to　be　
attentive。　

〃Maybe　you　should　take　it　easy　today。〃　

I　glanced　at　Edward。　〃Does　he　get　to　go　to　school？〃　

〃Someone　has　to　spread　the　good　news　that　we　survived；〃　Edward　said　
smugly。　

〃Actually；〃　Dr。　Cullen　corrected；　〃most　of　the　school　seems　to　be　in　the　
waiting　room。〃　

〃Oh　no；〃　I　moaned；　covering　my　face　with　my　hands。　

Dr。　Cullen　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃D