暮色-第18部分

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〃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　such　assured　authority　
that　—　even　though　she　pursed　her　lips　—　the　nurse　didn't　argue　it　
further。　

〃I'll　go　get　you　some　ice　for　your　forehead；　dear；〃　she　said　to　me；　and　
then　bustled　out　of　the　room。　

〃You　were　right；〃　I　moaned；　letting　my　eyes　close。　

〃I　usually　am　—　but　about　what　in　particular　this　time？〃　

〃Ditching　is　healthy。〃　I　practiced　breathing　evenly。　

〃You　scared　me　for　a　minute　there；〃　he　admitted　after　a　pause。　His　tone　
made　it　sound　like　he　was　confessing　a　humiliating　weakness。　〃I　thought　
Newton　was　dragging　your　dead　body　off　to　bury　it　in　the　woods。〃　

〃Ha　ha。〃　I　still　had　my　eyes　closed；　but　I　was　feeling　more　normal　every　
minute。　

〃Honestly　—　I've　seen　corpses　with　better　color。　I　was　concerned　that　I　
might　have　to　avenge　your　murder。〃　

〃Poor　Mike。　I'll　bet　he's　mad。〃　

〃He　absolutely　loathes　me；〃　Edward　said　cheerfully。　

〃You　can't　know　that；〃　I　argued；　but　then　I　wondered　suddenly　if　he　could。　

〃I　saw　his　face　—　I　could　tell。〃　

〃How　did　you　see　me？　I　thought　you　were　ditching。〃　I　was　almost　fine　now；　
though　the　queasiness　would　probably　pass　faster　if　I'd　eaten　something　
for　lunch。　On　the　other　hand；　maybe　it　was　lucky　my　stomach　was　empty。　

〃I　was　in　my　car；　listening　to　a　CD。〃　Such　a　normal　response　—　it　
surprised　me。　

I　heard　the　door　and　opened　my　eyes　to　see　the　nurse　with　a　cold　press　
in　her　hand。　

〃Here　you　go；　dear。〃　She　laid　it　across　my　forehead。　〃You're　looking　
better；〃　she　added。　

〃I　think　I'm　fine；〃　I　said；　sitting　up。　Just　a　little　ringing　in　my　ears；　
no　spinning。　The　mint　green　walls　stayed　where　they　should。　

I　could　see　she　was　about　to　make　me　lie　back　down；　but　the　door　opened　
just　then；　and　Ms。　Cope　stuck　her　head　in。　

〃We've　got　another　one；〃　she　warned。　

I　hopped　down　to　free　up　the　cot　for　the　next　invalid。　

I　handed　the　press　back　to　the　nurse。　〃Here；　I　don't　need　this。〃　

And　then　Mike　staggered　through　the　door；　now　supporting　a　sallowlooking　
Lee　Stephens；　another　boy　in　our　Biology　class。　Edward　and　I　drew　back　
against　the　wall　to　give　them　room。　

〃Oh　no；〃　Edward　muttered。　〃Go　out　to　the　office；　Bella。〃　

I　looked　up　at　him；　bewildered。　

〃Trust　me　—　go。〃　

I　spun　and　caught　the　door　before　it　closed；　darting　out　of　the　
infirmary。　I　could　feel　Edward　right　behind　me。　

〃You　actually　listened　to　me。〃　He　was　stunned。　

〃I　smelled　the　blood；〃　I　said；　wrinkling　my　nose。　Lee　wasn't　sick　from　
watching　other　people；　like　me。　

〃People　can't　smell　blood；〃　he　contradicted。　

〃Well；　I　can　—　that's　what　makes　me　sick。　It　smells　like　rust…　and　salt。〃　

He　was　staring　at　me　with　an　unfathomable　expression。　

〃What？〃　I　asked。　

〃It's　nothing。〃　

Mike　came　through　the　door　then；　glancing　from　me　to　Edward。　The　look　he　
gave　Edward　confirmed　what　Edward　had　said　about　loathing。　He　looked　back　
at　me；　his　eyes　glum。　

〃You　look　better；〃　he　accused。　

〃Just　keep　your　hand　in　your　pocket；〃　I　warned　him　again。　

〃It's　not　bleeding　anymore；〃　he　muttered。　〃Are　you　going　back　to　class？〃　

〃Are　you　kidding？　I'd　just　have　to　turn　around　and　e　back。〃　

〃Yeah；　I　guess…　So　are　you　going　this　weekend？　To　the　beach？〃　While　he　
spoke；　he　flashed　another　glare　toward　Edward；　who　was　standing　against　
the　cluttered　counter；　motionless　as　a　sculpture；　staring　off　into　space。　

I　tried　to　sound　as　friendly　as　possible。　〃Sure；　I　said　I　was　in。〃　

〃We're　meeting　at　my　dad's　store；　at　ten。〃　His　eyes　flickered　to　Edward　
again；　wondering　if　he　was　giving　out　too　much　information。　His　body　
language　made　it　clear　that　it　wasn't　an　open　invitation。　

〃I'll　be　there；〃　I　promised。　

〃I'll　see　you　in　Gym；　then；〃　he　said；　moving　uncertainly　toward　the　door。　

〃See　you；〃　I　replied。　He　looked　at　me　once　more；　his　round　face　slightly　
pouting；　and　then　as　he　walked　slowly　through　the　door；　his　shoulders　
slumped。　A　swell　of　sympathy　washed　over　me。　I　pondered　seeing　his　
disappointed　face　again…　in　Gym。　

〃Gym；〃　I　groaned。　

〃I　can　take　care　of　that。〃　I　hadn't　noticed　Edward　moving　to　my　side；　but　
he　spoke　now　in　my　ear。　〃Go　sit　down　and　look　pale；〃　he　muttered。　

That　wasn't　a　challenge；　I　was　always　pale；　and　my　recent　swoon　had　left　
a　light　sheen　of　sweat　on　my　face。　I　sat　in　one　of　the　creaky　folding　
chairs　and　rested　my　head　against　the　wall　with　my　eyes　closed。　Fainting　
spells　always　exhausted　me。　

I　heard　Edward　speaking　softly　at　the　counter。　

〃Ms。　Cope？〃　

〃Yes？〃　I　hadn't　heard　her　return　to　her　desk。　

〃Bella　has　Gym　next　hour；　and　I　don't　think　she　feels　well　enough。　

Actually；　I　was　thinking　I　should　take　her　home　now。　Do　you　think　you　
could　excuse　her　from　class？〃　His　voice　was　like　melting　honey。　I　could　
imagine　how　much　more　overwhelming　his　eyes　would　be。　

〃Do　you　need　to　be　excused；　too；　Edward？〃　Ms。　Cope　fluttered。　Why　
couldn't　I　do　that？　

〃No；　I　have　Mrs。　Goff；　she　won't　mind。〃　

〃Okay；　it's　all　taken　care　of。　You　feel　better；　Bella；〃　she　called　to　me。　
I　nodded　weakly；　hamming　it　up　just　a　bit。　

〃Can　you　walk；　or　do　you　want　me　to　carry　you　again？〃　With　his　back　to　
the　receptionist；　his　expression　became　sarcastic。　

〃I'll　walk。〃　

I　stood　carefully；　and　I　was　still　fine。　He　held　the　door　for　me；　his　
smile　polite　but　his　eyes　mocking。　I　walked　out　into　the　cold；　fine　mist　
that　had　just　begun　to　fall。　It　felt　nice　—　the　first　time　I'd　enjoyed　
the　constant　moisture　falling　out　of　the　sky　—　as　it　washed　my　face　clean　
of　the　sticky　perspiration。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　said　as　he　followed　me　out。　〃It's　almost　worth　getting　sick　
to　miss　Gym。〃　

〃Anytime。〃　He　was　staring　straight　forward；　squinting　into　the　rain。　

〃So　are　you　going？　This　Saturday；　I　mean？〃　I　was　hoping　he　would；　though　
it　seemed　unlikely。　I　couldn't　picture　him　loading　up　to　carpool　with　the　
rest　of　the　kids　from　school；　he　didn't　belong　in　the　same　world。　But　
just　hoping　that　he　might　gave　me　the　first　twinge　of　enthusiasm　I'd　felt　
for　the　outing。　

〃Where　are　you　all　going；　exactly？〃　He　was　still　looking　ahead；　
expressionless。　

〃Down　to　La　Push；　to　First　Beach。〃　I　studied　his　face；　trying　to　read　it。　
His　eyes　seemed　to　narrow　infinitesimally。　

He　glanced　down　at　me　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　smiling　wryly。　〃I　
really　don't　think　I　was　invited。〃　

I　sighed。　〃I　just　invited　you。〃　

〃Let's　you　and　I　not　push　poor　Mike　any　further　this　week。　We　don't　want　
him　to　snap。〃　His　eyes　danced；　he　was　enjoying　the　idea　more　than　he　
should。　

〃Mikeschmike。〃　I　muttered；　preoccupied　by　the　way　he'd　said　〃you　and　I。〃　
I　liked　it　more　than　I　should。　

We　were　near　the　parking　lot　now。　I　veered　left；　toward　my　truck。　
Something　caught　my　jacket；　yanking　me　back。　

〃Where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃　he　asked；　outraged。　He　was　gripping　a　
fistful　of　my　jacket　in　one　hand。　

I　was　confused。　〃I'm　going　home。〃　

〃Didn't　you　hear　me　promise　to　take　you　safely　home？　Do　you　think　I'm　
going　to　let　you　drive　in　your　condition？〃　His　voice　was　still　indignant。　

〃What　condition？　And　what　about　my　truck？〃　I　plained。　

〃I'll　have　Alice　drop　it　off　after　school。〃　He　was　towing　me　toward　his　
car　now；　pulling　me　by　my　jacket。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　keep　from　
falling　backward。　He'd　probably　just　drag　me　along　anyway　if　I　did。　

〃Let　go！〃　I　insisted。　He　ignored　me。　I　staggered　along　sideways　across　
the　wet　sidewalk　until　we　reached　the　Volvo。　Then　he　finally　freed　me　—　I　
stumbled　against　the　passenger　door。　

〃You　are　so　pushy！〃　I　grumbled。　

〃It's　open；〃　was　all　he　responded。　He　got　in　the　driver's　side。　

〃I　am　perfectly　capable　of　driving　myself　home！〃　I　stood　by　the　car；　
fuming。　It　was　raining　harder　now；　and　I'd　never　put　my　hood　up；　so　my　
hair　was　dripping　down　my　back。　

He　lowered　the　automatic　window　and　leaned　toward　me　across　the　seat。　
〃Get　in；　Bella。〃　

I　didn't　answer。　I　was　mentally　calculating　my　chances　of　reaching　the　
truck　before　he　could　catch　me。　I　had　to　admit；　they　weren't　good。　

〃I'll　just　drag　yo