暮色-第29部分

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head；　gripping　the　strap　with　one　hand；　ready　to　surrender　it　or　use　it　
as　weapon　as　need　demanded。　

The　thickset　man　shrugged　away　from　the　wall　as　I　warily　came　to　a　stop；　
and　walked　slowly　into　the　street。　

〃Stay　away　from　me；〃　I　warned　in　a　voice　that　was　supposed　to　sound　
strong　and　fearless。　But　I　was　right　about　the　dry　throat　—　no　volume。　

〃Don't　be　like　that；　sugar；〃　he　called；　and　the　raucous　laughter　started　
again　behind　me。　

I　braced　myself；　feet　apart；　trying　to　remember　through　my　panic　what　
little　selfdefense　I　knew。　Heel　of　the　hand　thrust　upward；　hopefully　
breaking　the　nose　or　shoving　it　into　the　brain。　Finger　through　the　eye　
socket　—　try　to　hook　around　and　pop　the　eye　out。　And　the　standard　knee　to　
the　groin；　of　course。　That　same　pessimistic　voice　in　my　mind　spoke　up　
then；　reminding　me　that　I　probably　wouldn't　have　a　chance　against　one　of　
them；　and　there　were　four。　Shut　up！　I　manded　the　voice　before　terror　
could　incapacitate　me。　I　wasn't　going　out　without　taking　someone　with　me。　
I　tried　to　swallow　so　I　could　build　up　a　decent　scream。　

Headlights　suddenly　flew　around　the　corner；　the　car　almost　hitting　the　
stocky　one；　forcing　him　to　jump　back　toward　the　sidewalk。　I　dove　into　the　
road　—　this　car　was　going　to　stop；　or　have　to　hit　me。　But　the　silver　car　
unexpectedly　fishtailed　around；　skidding　to　a　stop　with　the　passenger　
door　open　just　a　few　feet　from　me。　

〃Get　in；〃　a　furious　voice　manded。　

It　was　amazing　how　instantaneously　the　choking　fear　vanished；　amazing　how　
suddenly　the　feeling　of　security　washed　over　me　—　even　before　I　was　off　
the　street　—　as　soon　as　I　heard　his　voice。　I　jumped　into　the　seat；　
slamming　the　door　shut　behind　me。　

It　was　dark　in　the　car；　no　light　had　e　on　with　the　opening　of　the　
door；　and　I　could　barely　see　his　face　in　the　glow　from　the　dashboard。　The　
tires　squealed　as　he　spun　around　to　face　north；　accelerating　too　quickly；　

swerving　toward　the　stunned　men　on　the　street。　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　them　
diving　for　the　sidewalk　as　we　straightened　out　and　sped　toward　the　harbor。　

〃Put　on　your　seat　belt；〃　he　manded；　and　I　realized　I　was　clutching　the　
seat　with　both　hands。　I　quickly　obeyed；　the　snap　as　the　belt　connected　
was　loud　in　the　darkness。　He　took　a　sharp　left；　racing　forward；　blowing　
through　several　stop　signs　without　a　pause。　

But　I　felt　utterly　safe　and；　for　the　moment；　totally　unconcerned　about　
where　we　were　going。　I　stared　at　his　face　in　profound　relief；　relief　that　
went　beyond　my　sudden　deliverance。　I　studied　his　flawless　features　in　the　
limited　light；　waiting　for　my　breath　to　return　to　normal；　until　it　
occurred　to　me　that　his　expression　was　murderously　angry。　

〃Are　you　okay？〃　I　asked；　surprised　at　how　hoarse　my　voice　sounded。　

〃No；〃　he　said　curtly；　and　his　tone　was　livid。　

I　sat　in　silence；　watching　his　face　while　his　blazing　eyes　stared　
straight　ahead；　until　the　car　came　to　a　sudden　stop。　I　glanced　around；　
but　it　was　too　dark　to　see　anything　beside　the　vague　outline　of　dark　
trees　crowding　the　roadside。　We　weren't　in　town　anymore。　

〃Bella？〃　he　asked；　his　voice　tight；　controlled。　

〃Yes？〃　My　voice　was　still　rough。　I　tried　to　clear　my　throat　quietly。　

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　He　still　didn't　look　at　me；　but　the　fury　was　plain　
on　his　face。　

〃Yes；〃　I　croaked　softly。　

〃Distract　me；　please；〃　he　ordered。　

〃I'm　sorry；　what？〃　

He　exhaled　sharply。　

〃Just　prattle　about　something　unimportant　until　I　calm　down；〃　he　
clarified；　closing　his　eyes　and　pinching　the　bridge　of　his　nose　with　his　
thumb　and　forefinger。　

〃Um。〃　I　wracked　my　brain　for　something　trivial。　〃I'm　going　to　run　over　
Tyler　Crowley　tomorrow　before　school？〃　

He　was　still　squeezing　his　eyes　closed；　but　the　corner　of　his　mouth　
twitched。　

〃Why？〃　

〃He's　telling　everyone　that　he's　taking　me　to　prom　—　either　he's　insane　
or　he's　still　trying　to　make　up　for　almost　killing　me　last…　well；　you　
remember　it；　and　he　thinks　prom　is　somehow　the　correct　way　to　do　this。　So　
I　figure　if　I　endanger　his　life；　then　we're　even；　and　he　can't　keep　
trying　to　make　amends。　I　don't　need　enemies　and　maybe　Lauren　would　back　
off　if　he　left　me　alone。　I　might　have　to　total　his　Sentra；　though。　If　he　
doesn't　have　a　ride　he　can't　take　anyone　to　prom…〃　I　babbled　on。　

〃I　heard　about　that。〃　He　sounded　a　bit　more　posed。　

〃You　did？〃　I　asked　in　disbelief；　my　previous　irritation　flaring。　〃If　he's　
paralyzed　from　the　neck　down；　he　can't　go　to　the　prom；　either；〃　I　
muttered；　refining　my　plan。　

Edward　sighed；　and　finally　opened　his　eyes。　

〃Better？〃　

〃Not　really。〃　

I　waited；　but　he　didn't　speak　again。　He　leaned　his　head　back　against　the　
seat；　staring　at　the　ceiling　of　the　car。　His　face　was　rigid。　

〃What's　wrong？〃　My　voice　came　out　in　a　whisper。　

〃Sometimes　I　have　a　problem　with　my　temper；　Bella。〃　He　was　whispering；　
too；　and　as　he　stared　out　the　window；　his　eyes　narrowed　into　slits。　〃But　
it　wouldn't　be　helpful　for　me　to　turn　around　and　hunt　down　those…〃　He　
didn't　finish　his　sentence；　looking　away；　struggling　for　a　moment　to　
control　his　anger　again。　〃At　least；〃　he　continued；　〃that's　what　I'm　
trying　to　convince　myself。〃　

〃Oh。〃　The　word　seemed　inadequate；　but　I　couldn't　think　of　a　better　
response。　

We　sat　in　silence　again。　I　glanced　at　the　clock　on　the　dashboard。　It　was　
past　sixthirty。　

〃Jessica　and　Angela　will　be　worried；〃　I　murmured。　〃I　was　supposed　to　meet　
them。〃　

He　started　the　engine　without　another　word；　turning　around　smoothly　and　
speeding　back　toward　town。　We　were　under　the　streetlights　in　no　time　at　
all；　still　going　too　fast；　weaving　with　ease　through　the　cars　slowly　
cruising　the　boardwalk。　He　parallelparked　against　the　curb　in　a　space　I　
would　have　thought　much　too　small　for　the　Volvo；　but　he　slid　in　
effortlessly　in　one　try。　I　looked　out　the　window　to　see　the　lights　of　La　
Bella　Italia；　and　Jess　and　Angela　just　leaving；　pacing　anxiously　away　
from　us。　

〃How　did　you　know　where…　？〃　I　began；　but　then　I　just　shook　my　head。　I　
heard　the　door　open　and　turned　to　see　him　getting　out。　

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　I　asked。　

〃I'm　taking　you　to　dinner。〃　He　smiled　slightly；　but　his　eyes　were　hard。　
He　stepped　out　of　the　car　and　slammed　the　door。　I　fumbled　with　my　seat　
belt；　and　then　hurried　to　get　out　of　the　car　as　well。　He　was　waiting　for　
me　on　the　sidewalk。　

He　spoke　before　I　could。　〃Go　stop　Jessica　and　Angela　before　I　have　to　
track　them　down；　too。　I　don't　think　I　could　restrain　myself　if　I　ran　into　
your　other　friends　again。〃　

I　shivered　at　the　threat　in　his　voice。　

〃Jess！　Angela！〃　I　yelled　after　them；　waving　when　they　turned。　They　rushed　
back　to　me；　the　pronounced　relief　on　both　their　faces　simultaneously　
changing　to　surprise　as　they　saw　who　I　was　standing　next　to。　They　
hesitated　a　few　feet　from　us。　

〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Jessica's　voice　was　suspicious。　

〃I　got　lost；〃　I　admitted　sheepishly。　〃And　then　I　ran　into　Edward。〃　I　
gestured　toward　him。　

〃Would　it　be　all　right　if　I　joined　you？〃　he　asked　in　his　silken；　
irresistible　voice。　I　could　see　from　their　staggered　expressions　that　he　
had　never　unleashed　his　talents　on　them　before。　

〃Er…　sure；〃　Jessica　breathed。　

〃Um；　actually；　Bella；　we　already　ate　while　we　were　waiting　—　sorry；〃　
Angela　confessed。　

〃That's　fine　—　I'm　not　hungry。〃　I　shrugged。　

〃I　think　you　should　eat　something。〃　Edward's　voice　was　low；　but　full　of　
authority。　He　looked　up　at　Jessica　and　spoke　slightly　louder。　〃Do　you　
mind　if　I　drive　Bella　home　tonight？　That　way　you　won't　have　to　wait　while　
she　eats。〃　

〃Uh；　no　problem；　I　guess…〃　She　bit　her　lip；　trying　to　figure　out　from　my　
expression　whether　that　was　what　I　wanted。　I　winked　at　her。　I　wanted　

nothing　more　than　to　be　alone　with　my　perpetual　savior。　There　were　so　
many　questions　that　I　couldn't　bombard　him　with　till　we　were　by　ourselves。　

〃Okay。〃　Angela　was　quicker　than　Jessica。　〃See　you　tomorrow；　Bella…　
Edward。〃　She　grabbed　Jessica's　hand　and　pulled　her　toward　the　car；　which　
I　could　see　a　little　ways　away；　parked　across　First　Street。　As　they　got　
in；　Jess　turned　and　waved；　her　face　eager　with　curiosity。　I　waved　back；　
waiting