暮色-第34部分

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head；　not　sure　if　I　could　speak。　I　could　feel　his　gaze　on　my　face；　but　I　
kept　my　eyes　forward。　

〃Are　you　crying？〃　He　sounded　appalled。　I　hadn't　realized　the　moisture　in　
my　eyes　had　brimmed　over。　I　quickly　rubbed　my　hand　across　my　cheek；　and　
sure　enough；　traitor　tears　were　there；　betraying　me。　

〃No；〃　I　said；　but　my　voice　cracked。　

I　saw　him　reach　toward　me　hesitantly　with　his　right　hand；　but　then　he　
stopped　and　placed　it　slowly　back　on　the　steering　wheel。　

〃I'm　sorry。〃　His　voice　burned　with　regret。　I　knew　he　wasn't　just　
apologizing　for　the　words　that　had　upset　me。　

The　darkness　slipped　by　us　in　silence。　

〃Tell　me　something；〃　he　asked　after　another　minute；　and　I　could　hear　him　
struggle　to　use　a　lighter　tone。　

〃Yes？〃　

〃What　were　you　thinking　tonight；　just　before　I　came　around　the　corner？　I　
couldn't　understand　your　expression　—　you　didn't　look　that　scared；　you　
looked　like　you　were　concentrating　very　hard　on　something。〃　

〃I　was　trying　to　remember　how　to　incapacitate　an　attacker　—　you　know；　
selfdefense。　I　was　going　to　smash　his　nose　into　his　brain。〃　I　thought　of　
the　darkhaired　man　with　a　surge　of　hate。　

〃You　were　going　to　fight　them？〃　This　upset　him。　〃Didn't　you　think　about　
running？〃　

〃I　fall　down　a　lot　when　I　run；〃　I　admitted。　

〃What　about　screaming　for　help？〃　

〃I　was　getting　to　that　part。〃　

He　shook　his　head。　〃You　were　right　—　I'm　definitely　fighting　fate　trying　
to　keep　you　alive。〃　

I　sighed。　We　were　slowing；　passing　into　the　boundaries　of　Forks。　It　had　
taken　less　than　twenty　minutes。　

〃Will　I　see　you　tomorrow？〃　I　demanded。　

〃Yes　—　I　have　a　paper　due；　too。〃　He　smiled。　〃I'll　save　you　a　seat　at　
lunch。〃　

It　was　silly；　after　everything　we'd　been　through　tonight；　how　that　little　
promise　sent　flutters　through　my　stomach；　and　made　me　unable　to　speak。　

We　were　in　front　of　Charlie's　house。　The　lights　were　on；　my　truck　in　its　
place；　everything　utterly　normal。　It　was　like　waking　from　a　dream。　He　
stopped　the　car；　but　I　didn't　move。　

〃Do　you　promise　to　be　there　tomorrow？〃　

〃I　promise。〃　

I　considered　that　for　a　moment；　then　nodded。　I　pulled　his　jacket　off；　
taking　one　last　whiff。　

〃You　can　keep　it　—　you　don't　have　a　jacket　for　tomorrow；〃　he　reminded　me。　

I　handed　it　back　to　him。　〃I　don't　want　to　have　to　explain　to　Charlie。〃　

〃Oh；　right。〃　He　grinned。　

I　hesitated；　my　hand　on　the　door　handle；　trying　to　prolong　the　moment。　

〃Bella？〃　he　asked　in　a　different　tone　—　serious；　but　hesitant。　

〃Yes？〃　I　turned　back　to　him　too　eagerly。　

〃Will　you　promise　me　something？〃　

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　and　instantly　regretted　my　unconditional　agreement。　What　
if　he　asked　me　to　stay　away　from　him？　I　couldn't　keep　that　promise。　

〃Don't　go　into　the　woods　alone。〃　

I　stared　at　him　in　blank　confusion。　〃Why？〃　

He　frowned；　and　his　eyes　were　tight　as　he　stared　past　me　out　the　window。　

〃I'm　not　always　the　most　dangerous　thing　out　there。　Let's　leave　it　at　
that。〃　

I　shuddered　slightly　at　the　sudden　bleakness　in　his　voice；　but　I　was　
relieved。　This；　at　least；　was　an　easy　promise　to　honor。　〃Whatever　you　
say。〃　

〃I'll　see　you　tomorrow；〃　he　sighed；　and　I　knew　he　wanted　me　to　leave　now。　

〃Tomorrow；　then。〃　I　opened　the　door　unwillingly。　

〃Bella？〃　I　turned　and　he　was　leaning　toward　me；　his　pale；　glorious　face　
just　inches　from　mine。　My　heart　stopped　beating。　

〃Sleep　well；〃　he　said。　His　breath　blew　in　my　face；　stunning　me。　It　was　
the　same　exquisite　scent　that　clung　to　his　jacket；　but　in　a　more　
concentrated　form。　I　blinked；　thoroughly　dazed。　He　leaned　away。　

I　was　unable　to　move　until　my　brain　had　somewhat　unscrambled　itself。　Then　
I　stepped　out　of　the　car　awkwardly；　having　to　use　the　frame　for　support。　
I　thought　I　heard　him　chuckle；　but　the　sound　was　too　quiet　for　me　to　be　
certain。　

He　waited　till　I　had　stumbled　to　the　front　door；　and　then　I　heard　his　
engine　quietly　rev。　I　turned　to　watch　the　silver　car　disappear　around　the　
corner。　I　realized　it　was　very　cold。　

I　reached　for　the　key　mechanically；　unlocked　the　door；　and　stepped　inside。　

Charlie　called　from　the　living　room。　〃Bella？〃　

〃Yeah；　Dad；　it's　me。〃　I　walked　in　to　see　him。　He　was　watching　a　baseball　
game。　

〃You're　home　early。〃　

〃Am　I？〃　I　was　surprised。　

〃It's　not　even　eight　yet；〃　he　told　me。　〃Did　you　girls　have　fun？〃　

〃Yeah　—　it　was　lots　of　fun。〃　My　head　was　spinning　as　I　tried　to　remember　
all　the　way　back　to　the　girls'　night　out　I　had　planned。　〃They　both　found　
dresses。〃　

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　

〃I'm　just　tired。　I　did　a　lot　of　walking。〃　

〃Well；　maybe　you　should　go　lie　down。〃　He　sounded　concerned。　I　wondered　
what　my　face　looked　like。　

〃I'm　just　going　to　call　Jessica　first。〃　

〃Weren't　you　just　with　her？〃　he　asked；　surprised。　

〃Yes　—　but　I　left　my　jacket　in　her　car。　I　want　to　make　sure　she　brings　it　
tomorrow。〃　

〃Well；　give　her　a　chance　to　get　home　first。〃　

〃Right；〃　I　agreed。　

I　went　to　the　kitchen　and　fell；　exhausted；　into　a　chair。　I　was　really　
feeling　dizzy　now。　I　wondered　if　I　was　going　to　go　into　shock　after　all。　
Get　a　grip；　I　told　myself。　

The　phone　rang　suddenly；　startling　me。　I　yanked　it　off　the　hook。　

〃Hello？〃　I　asked　breathlessly。　

〃Bella？〃　

〃Hey；　Jess；　I　was　just　going　to　call　you。〃　

〃You　made　it　home？〃　Her　voice　was　relieved…　and　surprised。　

〃Yes。　I　left　my　jacket　in　your　car　—　could　you　bring　it　to　me　tomorrow？〃　

〃Sure。　But　tell　me　what　happened！〃　she　demanded。　

〃Um；　tomorrow　—　in　Trig；　okay？〃　

She　caught　on　quickly。　〃Oh；　is　your　dad　there？〃　

〃Yes；　that's　right。〃　

〃Okay；　I'll　talk　to　you　tomorrow；　then。　Bye！〃　I　could　hear　the　impatience　
in　her　voice。　

〃Bye；　Jess。〃　

I　walked　up　the　stairs　slowly；　a　heavy　stupor　clouding　my　mind。　I　went　
through　the　motions　of　getting　ready　for　bed　without　paying　any　attention　
to　what　I　was　doing。　It　wasn't　until　I　was　in　the　shower　—　the　water　too　
hot；　burning　my　skin　—　that　I　realized　I　was　freezing。　I　shuddered　
violently　for　several　minutes　before　the　steaming　spray　could　finally　
relax　my　rigid　muscles。　Then　I　stood　in　the　shower；　too　tired　to　move；　
until　the　hot　water　began　to　run　out。　

I　stumbled　out；　wrapping　myself　securely　in　a　towel；　trying　to　hold　the　
heat　from　the　water　in　so　the　aching　shivers　wouldn't　return。　I　dressed　
for　bed　swiftly　and　climbed　under　my　quilt；　curling　into　a　ball；　hugging　
myself　to　keep　warm。　A　few　small　shudders　trembled　through　me。　

My　mind　still　swirled　dizzily；　full　of　images　I　couldn't　understand；　and　
some　I　fought　to　repress。　Nothing　seemed　clear　at　first；　but　as　I　fell　
gradually　closer　to　unconsciousness；　a　few　certainties　became　evident。　

About　three　things　I　was　absolutely　positive。　First；　Edward　was　a　
vampire。　Second；　there　was　part　of　him　—　and　I　didn't　know　how　potent　
that　part　might　be　—　that　thirsted　for　my　blood。　And　third；　I　was　
unconditionally　and　irrevocably　in　love　with　him。　

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10。　INTERROGATIONS　




It　was　very　hard；　in　the　morning；　to　argue　with　the　part　of　me　that　was　
sure　last　night　was　a　dream。　Logic　wasn't　on　my　side；　or　mon　sense。　I　
clung　to　the　parts　I　couldn't　have　imagined　—　like　his　smell。　I　was　sure　
I　could　never　have　dreamed　that　up　on　my　own。　

It　was　foggy　and　dark　outside　my　window；　absolutely　perfect。　He　had　no　
reason　not　to　be　in　school　today。　I　dressed　in　my　heavy　clothes；　
remembering　I　didn't　have　a　jacket。　Further　proof　that　my　memory　was　real。　

When　I　got　downstairs；　Charlie　was　gone　again　—　I　was　running　later　than　
I'd　realized。　I　swallowed　a　granola　bar　in　three　bites；　chased　it　down　
with　milk　straight　from　the　carton；　and　then　hurried　out　the　door。　
Hopefully　the　rain　would　hold　off　until　I　could　find　Jessica。　

It　was　unusually　foggy；　the　air　was　almost　smoky　with　it。　The　mist　was　
ice　cold　where　it　clung　to　the　exposed　skin　on　my　face　and　neck。　I　
couldn't　wait　to　get　the　heat　going　in　my　truck。　It　was　such　a　thick　fog　
that　I　was　a　few　feet　down　the　driveway　before　I　realized　there　was　a　car　
in　it：　a　silver　car。　My　heart　thudded；　stuttered；　and　then　picked　up　
again　in　double　time。　

I