暮色-第38部分

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I　cast　my　eyes　around　the　room；　I　caught　the　eyes　of　his　sister；　Alice；　
staring　at　me。　The　others　were　looking　at　Edward。　I　looked　away　swiftly；　
back　to　him；　and　I。　asked　the　first　thing　that　came　to　mind。　

〃Why　did　you　go　to　that　Goat　Rocks　place　last　weekend…　to　hunt？　Charlie　
said　it　wasn't　a　good　place　to　hike；　because　of　bears。〃　

He　stared　at　me　as　if　I　was　missing　something　very　obvious。　

〃Bears？〃　I　gasped；　and　he　smirked。　〃You　know；　bears　are　not　in　season；〃　I　
added　sternly；　to　hide　my　shock。　

〃If　you　read　carefully；　the　laws　only　cover　hunting　with　weapons；〃　he　
informed　me。　

He　watched　my　face　with　enjoyment　as　that　slowly　sank　in。　

〃Bears？〃　I　repeated　with　difficulty。　

〃Grizzly　is　Emmett's　favorite。〃　His　voice　was　still　offhand；　but　his　eyes　
were　scrutinizing　my　reaction。　I　tried　to　pull　myself　together。　

〃Hmmm；〃　I　said；　taking　another　bite　of　pizza　as　an　excuse　to　look　down。　I　
chewed　slowly；　and　then　took　a　long　drink　of　Coke　without　looking　up。　

〃So；〃　I　said　after　a　moment；　finally　meeting　his　nowanxious　gaze。　
〃What's　your　favorite？〃　

He　raised　an　eyebrow　and　the　corners　of　his　mouth　turned　down　in　
disapproval。　〃Mountain　lion。〃　

〃Ah；〃　I　said　in　a　politely　disinterested　tone；　looking　for　my　soda　again。　

〃Of　course；〃　he　said；　and　his　tone　mirrored　mine；　〃we　have　to　be　careful　
not　to　impact　the　environment　with　injudicious　hunting。　We　try　to　focus　
on　areas　with　an　overpopulation　of　predators　—　ranging　as　far　away　as　we　
need。　There's　always　plenty　of　deer　and　elk　here；　and　they'll　do；　but　
where's　the　fun　in　that？〃　He　smiled　teasingly。　

〃Where　indeed；〃　I　murmured　around　another　bite　of　pizza。　

〃Early　spring　is　Emmett's　favorite　bear　season　—　they're　just　ing　out　
of　hibernation；　so　they're　more　irritable。〃　He　smiled　at　some　remembered　
joke。　

〃Nothing　more　fun　than　an　irritated　grizzly　bear；〃　I　agreed；　nodding。　

He　snickered；　shaking　his　head。　〃Tell　me　what　you're　really　thinking；　
please。〃　

〃I'm　trying　to　picture　it　—　but　I　can't；〃　I　admitted。　〃How　do　you　hunt　a　
bear　without　weapons？〃　

〃Oh；　we　have　weapons。〃　He　flashed　his　bright　teeth　in　a　brief；　
threatening　smile。　I　fought　back　a　shiver　before　it　could　expose　me。　
〃Just　not　the　kind　they　consider　when　writing　hunting　laws。　If　you've　
ever　seen　a　bear　attack　on　television；　you　should　be　able　to　visualize　
Emmett　hunting。〃　

I　couldn't　stop　the　next　shiver　that　flashed　down　my　spine。　I　peeked　
across　the　cafeteria　toward　Emmett；　grateful　that　he　wasn't　looking　my　
way。　The　thick　bands　of　muscle　that　wrapped　his　arms　and　torso　were　
somehow　even　more　menacing　now。　

Edward　followed　my　gaze　and　chuckled。　I　stared　at　him；　unnerved。　

〃Are　you　like　a　bear；　too？〃　I　asked　in　a　low　voice。　

〃More　like　the　lion；　or　so　they　tell　me；〃　he　said　lightly。　〃Perhaps　our　
preferences　are　indicative。〃　

I　tried　to　smile。　〃Perhaps；〃　I　repeated。　But　my　mind　was　filled　with　
opposing　images　that　I　couldn't　merge　together。　〃Is　that　something　I　
might　get　to　see？〃　

〃Absolutely　not！〃　His　face　turned　even　whiter　than　usual；　and　his　eyes　
were　suddenly　furious。　I　leaned　back；　stunned　and　—　though　I'd　never　
admit　it　to　him　—　frightened　by　his　reaction。　He　leaned　back　as　well；　
folding　his　arms　across　his　chest。　

〃Too　scary　for　me？〃　I　asked　when　I　could　control　my　voice　again。　

〃If　that　were　it；　I　would　take　you　out　tonight；〃　he　said；　his　voice　
cutting。　〃You　need　a　healthy　dose　of　fear。　Nothing　could　be　more　
beneficial　for　you。〃　

〃Then　why？〃　I　pressed；　trying　to　ignore　his　angry　expression。　

He　glared　at　me　for　a　long　minute。　

〃Later；〃　he　finally　said。　He　was　on　his　feet　in　one　lithe　movement。　
〃We're　going　to　be　late。〃　

I　glanced　around；　startled　to　see　that　he　was　right　and　the　cafeteria　was　
nearly　vacant。　When　I　was　with　him；　the　time　and　the　place　were　such　a　
muddled　blur　that　I　pletely　lost　track　of　both。　I　jumped　up；　grabbing　
my　bag　from　the　back　of　my　chair。　

〃Later；　then；〃　I　agreed。　I　wouldn't　forget。　

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11。　PLICATIONS　




Everyone　watched　us　as　we　walked　together　to　our　lab　table。　I　noticed　
that　he　no　longer　angled　the　chair　to　sit　as　far　from　me　as　the　desk　
would　allow。　Instead；　he　sat　quite　close　beside　me；　our　arms　almost　
touching。　

Mr。　Banner　backed　into　the　room　then　—　what　superb　timing　the　man　had　—　
pulling　a　tall　metal　frame　on　wheels　that　held　a　heavylooking；　outdated　
TV　and　VCR。　A　movie　day　—　the　lift　in　the　class　atmosphere　was　almost　
tangible。　

Mr。　Banner　shoved　the　tape　into　the　reluctant　VCR　and　walked　to　the　wall　
to　turn　off　the　lights。　

And　then；　as　the　room　went　black；　I　was　suddenly　hyperaware　that　Edward　
was　sitting　less　than　an　inch　from　me。　I　was　stunned　by　the　unexpected　

electricity　that　flowed　through　me；　amazed　that　it　was　possible　to　be　
more　aware　of　him　than　I　already　was。　A　crazy　impulse　to　reach　over　and　
touch　him；　to　stroke　his　perfect　face　just　once　in　the　darkness；　nearly　
overwhelmed　me。　I　crossed　my　arms　tightly　across　my　chest；　my　hands　
balling　into　fists。　I　was　losing　my　mind。　

The　opening　credits　began；　lighting　the　room　by　a　token　amount。　My　eyes；　
of　their　own　accord；　flickered　to　him。　I　smiled　sheepishly　as　I　realized　
his　posture　was　identical　to　mine；　fists　clenched　under　his　arms；　right　
down　to　the　eyes；　peering　sideways　at　me。　He　grinned　back；　his　eyes　
somehow　managing　to　smolder；　even　in　the　dark。　I　looked　away　before　I　
could　start　hyperventilating。　It　was　absolutely　ridiculous　that　I　should　
feel　dizzy。　

The　hour　seemed　very　long。　I　couldn't　concentrate　on　the　movie　—　I　didn't　
even　know　what　subject　it　was　on。　I　tried　unsuccessfully　to　relax；　but　
the　electric　current　that　seemed　to　be　originating　from　somewhere　in　his　
body　never　slackened。　Occasionally　I　would　permit　myself　a　quick　glance　
in　his　direction；　but　he　never　seemed　to　relax；　either。　The　overpowering　
craving　to　touch　him　also　refused　to　fade；　and　I　crushed　my　fists　safely　
against　my　ribs　until　my　fingers　were　aching　with　the　effort。　

I　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　when　Mr。　Banner　flicked　the　lights　back　on　at　
the　end　of　class；　and　stretched　my　arms　out　in　front　of　me；　flexing　my　
stiff　fingers。　Edward　chuckled　beside　me。　

〃Well；　that　was　interesting；〃　he　murmured。　His　voice　was　dark　and　his　
eyes　were　cautious。　

〃Umm；〃　was　all　I　was　able　to　respond。　

〃Shall　we？〃　he　asked；　rising　fluidly。　

I　almost　groaned。　Time　for　Gym。　I　stood　with　care；　worried　my　balance　
might　have　been　affected　by　the　strange　new　intensity　between　us。　

He　walked　me　to　my　next　class　in　silence　and　paused　at　the　door；　I　turned　
to　say　goodbye。　His　face　startled　me　—　his　expression　was　torn；　almost　
pained；　and　so　fiercely　beautiful　that　the　ache　to　touch　him　flared　as　
strong　as　before。　My　goodbye　stuck　in　my　throat。　

He　raised　his　hand；　hesitant；　conflict　raging　in　his　eyes；　and　then　
swiftly　brushed　the　length　of　my　cheekbone　with　his　fingertips。　His　skin　
was　as　icy　as　ever；　but　the　trail　his　fingers　left　on　my　skin　was　
alarmingly　warm　—　like　I'd　been　burned；　but　didn't　feel　the　pain　of　it　
yet。　

He　turned　without　a　word　and　strode　quickly　away　from　me。　

I　walked　into　the　gym；　lightheaded　and　wobbly。　I　drifted　to　the　locker　
room；　changing　in　a　trancelike　state；　only　vaguely　aware　that　there　were　
other　people　surrounding　me。　Reality　didn't　fully　set　in　until　I　was　
handed　a　racket。　It　wasn't　heavy；　yet　it　felt　very　unsafe　in　my　hand。　I　
could　see　a　few　of　the　other　kids　in　class　eyeing　me　furtively。　Coach　
Clapp　ordered　us　to　pair　up　into　teams。　

Mercifully；　some　vestiges　of　Mike's　chivalry　still　survived；　he　came　to　
stand　beside　me。　

〃Do　you　want　to　be　a　team？〃　

〃Thanks；　Mike　—　you　don't　have　to　do　this；　you　know。〃　I　grimaced　
apologetically。　

〃Don't　worry；　I'll　keep　out　of　your　way。〃　He　grinned。　Sometimes　it　was　so　
easy　to　like　Mike。　

It　didn't　go　smoothly。　I　somehow　managed　to　hit　myself　in　the　head　with　
my　racket　and　clip　Mike's　shoulder　on　the　same　swing。　I　spent　the　rest　of　
the　hour　in　the　back　corner　of　the　court；　the　racket　held　safely　behin