暮色-第17部分

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accidentally　said　too　much。　

〃You're　dangerous？〃　I　guessed；　my　pulse　quickening　as　I　intuitively　
realized　the　truth　of　my　own　words。　He　was　dangerous。　He'd　been　trying　to　
tell　me　that　all　along。　

He　just　looked　at　me；　eyes　full　of　some　emotion　I　couldn't　prehend。　

〃But　not　bad；〃　I　whispered；　shaking　my　head。　〃No；　I　don't　believe　that　
you're　bad。〃　

〃You're　wrong。〃　His　voice　was　almost　inaudible。　He　looked　down；　stealing　
my　bottle　lid　and　then　spinning　it　on　its　side　between　his　fingers。　I　
stared　at　him；　wondering　why　I　didn't　feel　afraid。　He　meant　what　he　was　
saying　—　that　was　obvious。　But　I　just　felt　anxious；　on　edge…　and；　more　
than　anything　else；　fascinated。　The　same　way　I　always　felt　when　I　was　
near　him。　

The　silence　lasted　until　I　noticed　that　the　cafeteria　was　almost　empty。　

I　jumped　to　my　feet。　〃We're　going　to　be　late。〃　

〃I'm　not　going　to　class　today；〃　he　said；　twirling　the　lid　so　fast　it　was　
just　a　blur。　

〃Why　not？〃　

〃It's　healthy　to　ditch　class　now　and　then。〃　He　smiled　up　at　me；　but　his　
eyes　were　still　troubled。　

〃Well；　I'm　going；〃　I　told　him。　I　was　far　too　big　a　coward　to　risk　getting　
caught。　

He　turned　his　attention　back　to　his　makeshift　top。　〃I'll　see　you　later；　
then。〃　

I　hesitated；　torn；　but　then　the　first　bell　sent　me　hurrying　out　the　door　
—　with　a　last　glance　confirming　that　he　hadn't　moved　a　centimeter。　

As　I　halfran　to　class；　my　head　was　spinning　faster　than　the　bottle　cap。　
So　few　questions　had　been　answered　in　parison　to　how　many　new　
questions　had　been　raised。　At　least　the　rain　had　stopped。　

I　was　lucky；　Mr。　Banner　wasn't　in　the　room　yet　when　I　arrived。　I　settled　
quickly　into　my　seat；　aware　that　both　Mike　and　Angela　were　staring　at　me。　
Mike　looked　resentful；　Angela　looked　surprised；　and　slightly　awed。　

Mr。　Banner　came　in　the　room　then；　calling　the　class　to　order。　He　was　
juggling　a　few　small　cardboard　boxes　in　his　arms。　He　put　them　down　on　
Mike's　table；　telling　him　to　start　passing　them　around　the　class。　

〃Okay；　guys；　I　want　you　all　to　take　one　piece　from　each　box；〃　he　said　as　
he　produced　a　pair　of　rubber　gloves　from　the　pocket　of　his　lab　jacket　and　
pulled　them　on。　The　sharp　sound　as　the　gloves　snapped　into　place　against　
his　wrists　seemed　ominous　to　me。　〃The　first　should　be　an　indicator　card；〃　
he　went　on；　grabbing　a　white　card　with　four　squares　marked　on　it　and　
displaying　it。　〃The　second　is　a　fourpronged　applicator　—〃　he　held　up　
something　that　looked　like　a　nearly　toothless　hair　pick　〃—　and　the　third　
is　a　sterile　microlancet。〃　He　held　up　a　small　piece　of　blue　plastic　and　
split　it　open。　The　barb　was　invisible　from　this　distance；　but　my　stomach　
flipped。　

〃I'll　be　ing　around　with　a　dropper　of　water　to　prepare　your　cards；　so　
please　don't　start　until　I　get　to　you。〃　He　began　at　Mike's　table　again；　
carefully　putting　one　drop　of　water　in　each　of　the　four　squares。　〃Then　I　
want　you　to　carefully　prick　your　finger　with　the　lancet…〃　He　grabbed　
Mike's　hand　and　jabbed　the　spike　into　the　tip　of　Mike's　middle　finger。　Oh　
no。　Clammy　moisture　broke　out　across　my　forehead。　

〃Put　a　small　drop　of　blood　on　each　of　the　prongs。〃　He　demonstrated；　
squeezing　Mike's　finger　till　the　blood　flowed。　I　swallowed　convulsively；　
my　stomach　heaving。　

〃And　then　apply　it　to　the　card；〃　he　finished；　holding　up　the　dripping　red　
card　for　us　to　see。　I　closed　my　eyes；　trying　to　hear　through　the　ringing　
in　my　ears。　

〃The　Red　Cross　is　having　a　blood　drive　in　Port　Angeles　next　weekend；　so　I　
thought　you　should　all　know　your　blood　type。〃　He　sounded　proud　of　
himself。　〃Those　of　you　who　aren't　eighteen　yet　will　need　a　parent's　
permission　—　I　have　slips　at　my　desk。〃　

He　continued　through　the　room　with　his　water　drops。　I　put　my　cheek　
against　the　cool　black　tabletop　and　tried　to　hold　on　to　my　consciousness。　
All　around　me　I　could　hear　squeals；　plaints；　and　giggles　as　my　
classmates　skewered　their　fingers。　I　breathed　slowly　in　and　out　through　
my　mouth。　

〃Bella；　are　you　all　right？〃　Mr。　Banner　asked。　His　voice　was　close　to　my　
head；　and　it　sounded　alarmed。　

〃I　already　know　my　blood　type；　Mr。　Banner；〃　I　said　in　a　weak　voice。　I　was　
afraid　to　raise　my　head。　

〃Are　you　feeling　faint？〃　

〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　muttered；　internally　kicking　myself　for　not　ditching　when　I　
had　the　chance。　

〃Can　someone　take　Bella　to　the　nurse；　please？〃　he　called。　

I　didn't　have　to　look　up　to　know　that　it　would　be　Mike　who　volunteered。　

〃Can　you　walk？〃　Mr。　Banner　asked。　

〃Yes；〃　I　whispered。　Just　let　me　get　out　of　here；　I　thought。　I'll　crawl。　

Mike　seemed　eager　as　he　put　his　arm　around　my　waist　and　pulled　my　arm　
over　his　shoulder。　I　leaned　against　him　heavily　on　the　way　out　of　the　
classroom。　

Mike　towed　me　slowly　across　campus。　When　we　were　around　the　edge　of　the　
cafeteria；　out　of　sight　of　building　four　in　case　Mr。　Banner　was　watching；　
I　stopped。　

〃Just　let　me　sit　for　a　minute；　please？〃　I　begged。　

He　helped　me　sit　on　the　edge　of　the　walk。　

〃And　whatever　you　do；　keep　your　hand　in　your　pocket；〃　I　warned。　I　was　
still　so　dizzy。　I　slumped　over　on　my　side；　putting　my　cheek　against　the　
freezing；　damp　cement　of　the　sidewalk；　closing　my　eyes。　That　seemed　to　
help　a　little。　

〃Wow；　you're　green；　Bella；〃　Mike　said　nervously。　

〃Bella？〃　a　different　voice　called　from　the　distance。　

No！　Please　let　me　be　imagining　that　horribly　familiar　voice。　

〃What's　wrong　—　is　she　hurt？〃　His　voice　was　closer　now；　and　he　sounded　
upset。　I　wasn't　imagining　it。　I　squeezed　my　eyes　shut；　hoping　to　die。　Or；　
at　the　very　least；　not　to　throw　up。　

Mike　seemed　stressed。　〃I　think　she's　fainted。　I　don't　know　what　happened；　
she　didn't　even　stick　her　finger。〃　

〃Bella。〃　Edward's　voice　was　right　beside　me；　relieved　now。　〃Can　you　hear　
me？〃　

〃No；〃　I　groaned。　〃Go　away。〃　

He　chuckled。　

〃I　was　taking　her　to　the　nurse；〃　Mike　explained　in　a　defensive　tone；　〃but　
she　wouldn't　go　any　farther。〃　

〃I'll　take　her；〃　Edward　said。　I　could　hear　the　smile　still　in　his　voice。　
〃You　can　go　back　to　class。〃　

〃No；〃　Mike　protested。　〃I'm　supposed　to　do　it。〃　

Suddenly　the　sidewalk　disappeared　from　beneath　me。　My　eyes　flew　open　in　
shock。　Edward　had　scooped　me　up　in　his　arms；　as　easily　as　if　I　weighed　
ten　pounds　instead　of　a　hundred　and　ten。　

〃Put　me　down！〃　Please；　please　let　me　not　vomit　on　him。　He　was　walking　
before　I　was　finished　talking。　

〃Hey！〃　Mike　called；　already　ten　paces　behind　us。　

Edward　ignored　him。　〃You　look　awful；〃　he　told　me；　grinning。　

〃Put　me　back　on　the　sidewalk；〃　I　moaned。　The　rocking　movement　of　his　walk　
was　not　helping。　He　held　me　away　from　his　body；　gingerly；　supporting　all　
my　weight　with　just　his　arms　—　it　didn't　seem　to　bother　him。　

〃So　you　faint　at　the　sight　of　blood？〃　he　asked。　This　seemed　to　entertain　
him。　

I　didn't　answer。　I　closed　my　eyes　again　and　fought　the　nausea　with　all　my　
strength；　clamping　my　lips　together。　

〃And　not　even　your　own　blood；〃　he　continued；　enjoying　himself。　

I　don't　know　how　he　opened　the　door　while　carrying　me；　but　it　was　
suddenly　warm；　so　I　knew　we　were　inside。　

〃Oh　my；〃　I　heard　a　female　voice　gasp。　

〃She　fainted　in　Biology；〃　Edward　explained。　

I　opened　my　eyes。　I　was　in　the　office；　and　Edward　was　striding　past　the　
front　counter　toward　the　nurse's　door。　Ms。　Cope；　the　redheaded　front　
office　receptionist；　ran　ahead　of　him　to　hold　it　open。　The　grandmotherly　
nurse　looked　up　from　a　novel；　astonished；　as　Edward　swung　me　into　the　
room　and　placed　me　gently　on　the　crackly　paper　that　covered　the　brown　
vinyl　mattress　on　the　one　cot。　Then　he　moved　to　stand　against　the　wall　as　
far　across　the　narrow　room　as　possible。　His　eyes　were　bright；　excited。　

〃She's　just　a　little　faint；〃　he　reassured　the　startled　nurse。　〃They're　
blood　typing　in　Biology。〃　

The　nurse　nodded　sagely。　〃There's　always　one。〃　

He　muffled　a　snicker。　

〃Just　lie　down　for　a　minute；　honey；　it'll　pass。〃　

〃I　know；〃　I　sighed。　The　nausea　was　already　fading。　

〃Does　this　happen　a　lot？〃　she　asked。　

〃Sometimes；〃　I　admitted。　Edward　coughed　to　hide　another　laugh。　

〃You　can　go　back　to　class　now；〃　she　told　him。　

〃I'm　supposed　to　stay　with　her。〃　He　said　this　with