暮色-第27部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃And　Angela　Weber。〃　I　sighed　as　I　gave　him　the　details。　

He　was　confused。　〃But　you're　not　going　to　the　dance；　right？〃　

〃No；　Dad；　but　I'm　helping　them　find　dresses　—　you　know；　giving　them　
constructive　criticism。〃　I　wouldn't　have　to　explain　this　to　a　woman。　

〃Well；　okay。〃　He　seemed　to　realize　that　he　was　out　of　his　depth　with　the　
girlie　stuff。　〃It's　a　school　night；　though。〃　

〃We'll　leave　right　after　school；　so　we　can　get　back　early。　You'll　be　okay　
for　dinner；　right？〃　

〃Bells；　I　fed　myself　for　seventeen　years　before　you　got　here；〃　he　
reminded　me。　

〃I　don't　know　how　you　survived；〃　I　muttered；　then　added　more　clearly；　
〃I'll　leave　some　things　for　coldcut　sandwiches　in　the　fridge；　okay？　
Right　on　top。〃　

It　was　sunny　again　in　the　morning。　I　awakened　with　renewed　hope　that　I　
grimly　tried　to　suppress。　I　dressed　for　the　warmer　weather　in　a　deep　blue　
Vneck　blouse　—　something　I'd　worn　in　the　dead　of　winter　in　Phoenix。　

I　had　planned　my　arrival　at　school　so　that　I　barely　had　time　to　make　it　
to　class。　With　a　sinking　heart；　I　circled　the　full　lot　looking　for　a　
space；　while　also　searching　for　the　silver　Volvo　that　was　clearly　not　
there。　I　parked　in　the　last　row　and　hurried　to　English；　arriving　
breathless；　but　subdued；　before　the　final　bell。　

It　was　the　same　as　yesterday　—　I　just　couldn't　keep　little　sprouts　of　
hope　from　budding　in　my　mind；　only　to　have　them　squashed　painfully　as　I　
searched　the　lunchroom　in　vain　and　sat　at　my　empty　Biology　table。　

The　Port　Angeles　scheme　was　back　on　again　for　tonight　and　made　all　the　
more　attractive　by　the　fact　that　Lauren　had　other　obligations。　I　was　
anxious　to　get　out　of　town　so　I　could　stop　glancing　over　my　shoulder；　
hoping　to　see　him　appearing　out　of　the　blue　the　way　he　always　did。　I　
vowed　to　myself　that　I　would　be　in　a　good　mood　tonight　and　not　ruin　
Angela's　or　Jessica's　enjoyment　in　the　dress　hunting。　Maybe　I　could　do　a　
little　clothes　shopping　as　well。　I　refused　to　think　that　I　might　be　
shopping　alone　in　Seattle　this　weekend；　no　longer　interested　in　the　
earlier　arrangement。　Surely　he　wouldn't　cancel　without　at　least　telling　
me。　

After　school；　Jessica　followed　me　home　in　her　old　white　Mercury　so　that　I　
could　ditch　my　books　and　truck。　I　brushed　through　my　hair　quickly　when　I　
was　inside；　feeling　a　slight　lift　of　excitement　as　I　contemplated　getting　
out　of　Forks。　I　left　a　note　for　Charlie　on　the　table；　explaining　again　
where　to　find　dinner；　switched　my　scruffy　wallet　from　my　school　bag　to　a　
purse　I　rarely　used；　and　ran　out　to　join　Jessica。　We　went　to　Angela's　
house　next；　and　she　was　waiting　for　us。　My　excitement　increased　
exponentially　as　we　actually　drove　out　of　the　town　limits。　

===========================================================================　


8。　PORT　ANGELES　




Jess　drove　faster　than　the　Chief；　so　we　made　it　to　Port　Angeles　by　four。　
It　had　been　a　while　since　I'd　had　a　girls'　night　out；　and　the　estrogen　
rush　was　invigorating。　We　listened　to　whiny　rock　songs　while　Jessica　
jabbered　on　about　the　boys　we　hung　out　with。　Jessica's　dinner　with　Mike　
had　gone　very　well；　and　she　was　hoping　that　by　Saturday　night　they　would　

have　progressed　to　the　firstkiss　stage。　I　smiled　to　myself；　pleased。　
Angela　was　passively　happy　to　be　going　to　the　dance；　but　not　really　
interested　in　Eric。　Jess　tried　to　get　her　to　confess　who　her　type　was；　
but　I　interrupted　with　a　question　about　dresses　after　a　bit；　to　spare　
her。　Angela　threw　a　grateful　glance　my　way。　

Port　Angeles　was　a　beautiful　little　tourist　trap；　much　more　polished　and　
quaint　than　Forks。　But　Jessica　and　Angela　knew　it　well；　so　they　didn't　
plan　to　waste　time　on　the　picturesque　boardwalk　by　the　bay。　Jess　drove　
straight　to　the　one　big　department　store　in　town；　which　was　a　few　streets　
in　from　the　bay　area's　visitorfriendly　face。　

The　dance　was　billed　as　semiformal；　and　we　weren't　exactly　sure　what　that　
meant。　Both　Jessica　and　Angela　seemed　surprised　and　almost　disbelieving　
when　I　told　them　I'd　never　been　to　a　dance　in　Phoenix。　

〃Didn't　you　ever　go　with　a　boyfriend　or　something？〃　Jess　asked　dubiously　
as　we　walked　through　the　front　doors　of　the　store。　

〃Really；〃　I　tried　to　convince　her；　not　wanting　to　confess　my　dancing　
problems。　〃I've　never　had　a　boyfriend　or　anything　close。　I　didn't　go　out　
much。〃　

〃Why　not？〃　Jessica　demanded。　

〃No　one　asked　me；〃　I　answered　honestly。　

She　looked　skeptical。　〃People　ask　you　out　here；〃　she　reminded　me；　〃and　
you　tell　them　no。〃　We　were　in　the　juniors'　section　now；　scanning　the　
racks　for　dressup　clothes。　

〃Well；　except　for　Tyler；〃　Angela　amended　quietly。　

〃Excuse　me？〃　I　gasped。　〃What　did　you　say？〃　

〃Tyler　told　everyone　he's　taking　you　to　prom；〃　Jessica　informed　me　with　
suspicious　eyes。　

〃He　said　what？〃　I　sounded　like　I　was　choking。　

〃I　told　you　it　wasn't　true；〃　Angela　murmured　to　Jessica。　

I　was　silent；　still　lost　in　shock　that　was　quickly　turning　to　irritation。　
But　we　had　found　the　dress　racks；　and　now　we　had　work　to　do。　

〃That's　why　Lauren　doesn't　like　you；〃　Jessica　giggled　while　we　pawed　
through　the　clothes。　

I　ground　my　teeth。　〃Do　you　think　that　if　I　ran　him　over　with　my　truck　he　
would　stop　feeling　guilty　about　the　accident？　That　he　might　give　up　on　
making　amends　and　call　it　even？〃　

〃Maybe；〃　Jess　snickered。　'〃If　that's　why　he's　doing　this。〃　

The　dress　selection　wasn't　large；　but　both　of　them　found　a　few　things　to　
try　on。　I　sat　on　a　low　chair　just　inside　the　dressing　room；　by　the　
threeway　mirror；　trying　to　control　my　fuming。　

Jess　was　torn　between　two　—　one　a　long；　strapless；　basic　black　number；　
the　other　a　kneelength　electric　blue　with　spaghetti　straps。　I　encouraged　
her　to　go　with　the　blue；　why　not　play　up　the　eyes？　Angela　chose　a　pale　
pink　dress　that　draped　around　her　tall　frame　nicely　and　brought　out　honey　
tints　in　her　light　brown　hair。　I　plimented　them　both　generously　and　
helped　by　returning　the　rejects　to　their　racks。　The　whole　process　was　
much　shorter　and　easier　than　similar　trips　I'd　taken　with　Renée　at　home。　
I　guess　there　was　something　to　be　said　for　limited　choices。　

We　headed　over　to　shoes　and　accessories。　While　they　tried　things　on　I　
merely　watched　and　critiqued；　not　in　the　mood　to　shop　for　myself；　though　
I　did　need　new　shoes。　The　girls'night　high　was　wearing　off　in　the　wake　
of　my　annoyance　at　Tyler；　leaving　room　for　the　gloom　to　move　back　in。　

〃Angela？〃　I　began；　hesitant；　while　she　was　trying　on　a　pair　of　pink　
strappy　heels　—　she　was　overjoyed　to　have　a　date　tall　enough　that　she　
could　wear　high　heels　at　all。　

Jessica　had　drifted　to　the　jewelry　counter　and　we　were　alone。　

〃Yes？〃　She　held　her　leg　out；　twisting　her　ankle　to　get　a　better　view　of　
the　shoe。　

I　chickened　out。　〃I　like　those。〃　

〃I　think　I'll　get　them　—　though　they'll　never　match　anything　but　the　one　
dress；〃　she　mused。　

〃Oh；　go　ahead　—　they're　on　sale；〃　I　encouraged。　She　smiled；　putting　the　
lid　back　on　a　box　that　contained　more　practicallooking　offwhite　shoes。　

I　tried　again。　〃Um；　Angela…〃　She　looked　up　curiously。　

〃Is　it　normal　for　the…　Cullens〃　—　I　kept　my　eyes　on　the　shoes　—　〃to　be　
out　of　school　a　lot？〃　I　failed　miserably　in　my　attempt　to　sound　
nonchalant。　

〃Yes；　when　the　weather　is　good　they　go　backpacking　all　the　time　—　even　
the　doctor。　They're　all　real　outdoorsy；〃　she　told　me　quietly；　examining　
her　shoes；　too。　She　didn't　ask　one　question；　let　alone　the　hundreds　that　
Jessica　would　have　unleashed。　I　was　beginning　to　really　like　Angela。　

〃Oh。〃　I　let　the　subject　drop　as　Jessica　returned　to　show　us　the　
rhinestone　jewelry　she'd　found　to　match　her　silver　shoes。　

We　planned　to　go　to　dinner　at　a　little　Italian　restaurant　on　the　
boardwalk；　but　the　dress　shopping　hadn't　taken　as　long　as　we'd　expected。　
Jess　and　Angela　were　going　to　take　their　clothes　back　to　the　car　and　then　
walk　down　to　the　bay。　I　told　them　I　would　meet　them　at　the　restaurant　in　
an　hour　—　I　wanted　to　look　for　a　bookstore。　They　were　both　willing　to　
e　with　me；　but　I　encouraged　them　to　go　have　fun　—　they　didn't　know　how　
preoccupied　I　could　get　when　surrounded　by　books；　it　was　something　I　
preferred　t