暮色-第39部分

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the　hour　in　the　back　corner　of　the　court；　the　racket　held　safely　behind　
my　back。　Despite　being　handicapped　by　me；　Mike　was　pretty　good；　he　won　
three　games　out　of　four　singlehandedly。　He　gave　me　an　unearned　high　five　

when　the　coach　finally　blew　the　whistle　ending　class。　

〃So；〃　he　said　as　we　walked　off　the　court。　

〃So　what？〃　

〃You　and　Cullen；　huh？〃　he　asked；　his　tone　rebellious。　My　previous　feeling　
of　affection　disappeared。　

〃That's　none　of　your　business；　Mike；〃　I　warned；　internally　cursing　
Jessica　straight　to　the　fiery　pits　of　Hades。　

〃I　don't　like　it；〃　he　muttered　anyway。　

〃You　don't　have　to；〃　I　snapped。　

〃He　looks　at　you　like…　like　you're　something　to　eat；〃　he　continued；　
ignoring　me。　

I　choked　back　the　hysteria　that　threatened　to　explode；　but　a　small　giggle　
managed　to　get　out　despite　my　efforts。　He　glowered　at　me。　I　waved　and　
fled　to　the　locker　room。　

I　dressed　quickly；　something　stronger　than　butterflies　battering　
recklessly　against　the　walls　of　my　stomach；　my　argument　with　Mike　already　
a　distant　memory。　I　was　wondering　if　Edward　would　be　waiting；　or　if　I　
should　meet　him　at　his　car。　What　if　his　family　was　there？　I　felt　a　wave　
of　real　terror。　Did　they　know　that　I　knew？　Was　I　supposed　to　know　that　
they　knew　that　I　knew；　or　not？　

By　the　time　I　walked　out　of　the　gym；　I　had　just　about　decided　to　walk　
straight　home　without　even　looking　toward　the　parking　lot。　But　my　worries　
were　unnecessary。　Edward　was　waiting；　leaning　casually　against　the　side　
of　the　gym；　his　breathtaking　face　untroubled　now。　As　I　walked　to　his　
side；　I　felt　a　peculiar　sense　of　release。　

〃Hi；〃　I　breathed；　smiling　hugely。　

〃Hello。〃　His　answering　smile　was　brilliant。　〃How　was　Gym？〃　

My　face　fell　a　tiny　bit。　〃Fine；〃　I　lied。　

〃Really？〃　He　was　unconvinced。　His　eyes　shifted　their　focus　slightly；　
looking　over　my　shoulder　and　narrowing。　I　glanced　behind　me　to　see　Mike's　
back　as　he　walked　away。　

〃What？〃　I　demanded。　

His　eyes　slid　back　to　mine；　still　tight。　〃Newton's　getting　on　my　nerves。〃　

〃You　weren't　listening　again？〃　I　was　horrorstruck。　All　traces　of　my　
sudden　good　humor　vanished。　

〃How's　your　head？〃　he　asked　innocently。　

〃You're　unbelievable！〃　I　turned；　stomping　away　in　the　general　direction　
of　the　parking　lot；　though　I　hadn't　ruled　out　walking　at　this　point。　

He　kept　up　with　me　easily。　

〃You　were　the　one　who　mentioned　how　I'd　never　seen　you　in　Gym　—　it　made　
me　curious。〃　He　didn't　sound　repentant；　so　I　ignored　him。　

We　walked　in　silence　—　a　furious；　embarrassed　silence　on　my　part　—　to　his　
car。　But　I　had　to　stop　a　few　steps　away　—　a　crowd　of　people；　all　boys；　
were　surrounding　it。　

Then　I　realized　they　weren't　surrounding　the　Volvo；　they　were　actually　
circled　around　Rosalie's　red　convertible；　unmistakable　lust　in　their　
eyes。　None　of　them　even　looked　up　as　Edward　slid　between　them　to　open　his　
door。　I　climbed　quickly　in　the　passenger　side；　also　unnoticed。　

〃Ostentatious；〃　he　muttered。　

〃What　kind　of　car　is　that？〃　I　asked。　

〃An　M3。〃　

〃I　don't　speak　Car　and　Driver。〃　

〃It's　a　BMW。〃　He　rolled　his　eyes；　not　looking　at　me；　trying　to　back　out　
without　running　over　the　car　enthusiasts。　

I　nodded　—　I'd　heard　of　that　one。　

〃Are　you　still　angry？〃　he　asked　as　he　carefully　maneuvered　his　way　out。　

〃Definitely。〃　

He　sighed。　〃Will　you　forgive　me　if　I　apologize？〃　

〃Maybe…　if　you　mean　it。　And　if　you　promise　not　to　do　it　again；〃　I　
insisted。　

His　eyes　were　suddenly　shrewd。　〃How　about　if　I　mean　it；　and　I　agree　to　
let　you　drive　Saturday？〃　he　countered　my　conditions。　

I　considered；　and　decided　it　was　probably　the　best　offer　I　would　get。　
〃Deal；〃　I　agreed。　

〃Then　I'm　very　sorry　I　upset　you。〃　His　eyes　burned　with　sincerity　for　a　
protracted　moment　—　playing　havoc　with　the　rhythm　of　my　heart　—　and　then　
turned　playful。　〃And　I'll　be　on　your　doorstep　bright　and　early　Saturday　
morning。〃　

〃Um；　it　doesn't　help　with　the　Charlie　situation　if　an　unexplained　Volvo　
is　left　in　the　driveway。〃　

His　smile　was　condescending　now。　〃I　wasn't　intending　to　bring　a　car。〃　

〃How　—〃　

He　cut　me　off。　〃Don't　worry　about　it。　I'll　be　there；　no　car。〃　

I　let　it　go。　I　had　a　more　pressing　question。　

〃Is　it　later　yet？〃　I　asked　significantly。　

He　frowned。　〃I　supposed　it　is　later。〃　

I　kept　my　expression　polite　as　I　waited。　

He　stopped　the　car。　I　looked　up；　surprised　—　of　course　we　were　already　at　
Charlie's　house；　parked　behind　the　truck。　It　was　easier　to　ride　with　him　
if　I　only　looked　when　it　was　over。　When　I　looked　back　at　him；　he　was　
staring　at　me；　measuring　with　his　eyes。　

〃And　you　still　want　to　know　why　you　can't　see　me　hunt？〃　He　seemed　solemn；　
but　I　thought　I　saw　a　trace　of　humor　deep　in　his　eyes。　

〃Well；〃　I　clarified；　〃I　was　mostly　wondering　about　your　reaction。〃　

〃Did　I　frighten　you？〃　Yes；　there　was　definitely　humor　there。　

〃No；〃　I　lied。　He　didn't　buy　it。　

〃I　apologize　for　scaring　you；〃　he　persisted　with　a　slight　smile；　but　then　
all　evidence　of　teasing　disappeared。　〃It　was　just　the　very　thought　of　you　
being　there…　while　we　hunted。〃　His　jaw　tightened。　

〃That　would　be　bad？〃　

He　spoke　from　between　clenched　teeth。　〃Extremely。〃　

〃Because…　？〃　

He　took　a　deep　breath　and　stared　through　the　windshield　at　the　thick；　
rolling　clouds　that　seemed　to　press　down；　almost　within　reach。　

〃When　we　hunt；〃　he　spoke　slowly；　unwillingly；　〃we　give　ourselves　over　to　
our　senses…　govern　less　with　our　minds。　Especially　our　sense　of　smell。　If　
you　were　anywhere　near　me　when　I　lost　control　that　way…〃　He　shook　his　
head；　still　gazing　morosely　at　the　heavy　clouds。　

I　kept　my　expression　firmly　under　control；　expecting　the　swift　flash　of　
his　eyes　to　judge　my　reaction　that　soon　followed。　My　face　gave　nothing　
away。　

But　our　eyes　held；　and　the　silence　deepened　—　and　changed。　Flickers　of　
the　electricity　I'd　felt　this　afternoon　began　to　charge　the　atmosphere　as　
he　gazed　unrelentingly　into　my　eyes。　It　wasn't　until　my　head　started　to　
swim　that　I　realized　I　wasn't　breathing。　When　I　drew　in　a　jagged　breath；　
breaking　the　stillness；　he　closed　his　eyes。　

〃Bella；　I　think　you　should　go　inside　now。〃　His　low　voice　was　rough；　his　
eyes　on　the　clouds　again。　

I　opened　the　door；　and　the　arctic　draft　that　burst　into　the　car　helped　
clear　my　head。　Afraid　I　might　stumble　in　my　woozy　state；　I　stepped　
carefully　out　of　the　car　and　shut　the　door　behind　me　without　looking　
back。　The　whir　of　the　automatic　window　unrolling　made　me　turn。　

〃Oh；　Bella？〃　he　called　after　me；　his　voice　more　even。　He　leaned　toward　
the　open　window　with　a　faint　smile　on　his　lips。　

〃Yes？〃　

〃Tomorrow　it's　my　turn。〃　

〃Your　turn　to　what？〃　

He　smiled　wider；　flashing　his　gleaming　teeth。　〃Ask　the　questions。〃　

And　then　he　was　gone；　the　car　speeding　down　the　street　and　disappearing　
around　the　corner　before　I　could　even　collect　my　thoughts。　I　smiled　as　I　
walked　to　the　house。　It　was　clear　he　was　planning　to　see　me　tomorrow；　if　
nothing　else。　

That　night　Edward　starred　in　my　dreams；　as　usual。　However；　the　climate　of　
my　unconsciousness　had　changed。　It　thrilled　with　the　same　electricity　
that　had　charged　the　afternoon；　and　I　tossed　and　turned　restlessly；　
waking　often。　It　was　only　in　the　early　hours　of　the　morning　that　I　
finally　sank　into　an　exhausted；　dreamless　sleep。　

When　I　woke　I　was　still　tired；　but　edgy　as　well。　I　pulled　on　my　brown　
turtleneck　and　the　inescapable　jeans；　sighing　as　I　daydreamed　of　
spaghetti　straps　and　shorts。　Breakfast　was　the　usual；　quiet　event　I　
expected。　Charlie　fried　eggs　for　himself；　I　had　my　bowl　of　cereal。　I　
wondered　if　he　had　forgotten　about　this　Saturday。　He　answered　my　unspoken　
question　as　he　stood　up　to　take　his　plate　to　the　sink。　

〃About　this　Saturday…〃　he　began；　walking　across　the　kitchen　and　turning　
on　the　faucet。　

I　cringed。　〃Yes；　Dad？〃　

〃Are　you　still　set　on　going　to　Seattle？〃　he　asked。　

〃That　was　the　plan。〃　I　grimaced；　wishing　he　hadn't　brought　it　up　so　I　
wouldn't　have　to　pose　careful　halftruths。　

He　squeezed　some　dish　soap　onto　his　plate　and　swirled　it　around　with　the　
brush。　〃And　you're　sure　you　can't　make　it　back　in　time　for　the　dance？