暮色-第79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！



Some　very　unpleasant　memories　were　beginning　to　e　back　to　me。　I　
shuddered；　and　then　winced。　

He　was　instantly　anxious。　〃Bella；　what's　wrong？〃　

〃What　happened　to　James？〃　

〃After　I　pulled　him　off　you；　Emmett　and　Jasper　took　care　of　him。〃　There　
was　a　fierce　note　of　regret　in　his　voice。　

This　confused　me。　〃I　didn't　see　Emmett　and　Jasper　there。〃　

〃They　had　to　leave　the　room…　there　was　a　lot　of　blood。〃　

〃But　you　stayed。〃　

〃Yes；　I　stayed。〃　

〃And　Alice；　and　Carlisle…〃　I　said　in　wonder。　

〃They　love　you；　too；　you　know。〃　

A　flash　of　painful　images　from　the　last　time　I'd　seen　Alice　reminded　me　
of　something。　〃Did　Alice　see　the　tape？〃　I　asked　anxiously。　

〃Yes。〃　A　new　sound　darkened　his　voice；　a　tone　of　sheer　hatred。　

〃She　was　always　in　the　dark；　that's　why　she　didn't　remember。〃　

〃I　know。　She　understands　now。〃　His　voice　was　even；　but　his　face　was　black　
with　fury。　

I　tried　to　reach　his　face　with　my　free　hand；　but　something　stopped　me。　I　
glanced　down　to　see　the　IV　pulling　at　my　hand。　

〃Ugh。〃　I　winced。　

〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked　anxiously　—　distracted；　but　not　enough。　The　
bleakness　did　not　entirely　leave　his　eyes。　

〃Needles；〃　I　explained；　looking　away　from　the　one　in　my　hand。　I　
concentrated　on　a　warped　ceiling　tile　and　tried　to　breathe　deeply　despite　
the　ache　in　my　ribs。　

〃Afraid　of　a　needle；〃　he　muttered　to　himself　under　his　breath；　shaking　
his　head。　〃Oh；　a　sadistic　vampire；　intent　on　torturing　her　to　death；　
sure；　no　problem；　she　runs　off　to　meet　him。　An　IV；　on　the　other　hand…〃　

I　rolled　my　eyes。　I　was　pleased　to　discover　that　this　reaction；　at　least；　
was　painfree。　I　decided　to　change　the　subject。　

〃Why　are　you　here？〃　I　asked。　

He　stared　at　me；　first　confusion　and　then　hurt　touching　his　eyes。　His　
brows　pulled　together　as　he　frowned。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　leave？〃　

〃No！〃　I　protested；　horrified　by　the　thought。　〃No；　I　meant；　why　does　my　

mother　think　you're　here？　I　need　to　have　my　story　straight　before　she　
gets　back。〃　

〃Oh；〃　he　said；　and　his　forehead　smoothed　back　into　marble。　〃I　came　to　
Phoenix　to　talk　some　sense　into　you；　to　convince　you　to　e　back　to　
Forks。〃　His　wide　eyes　were　so　earnest　and　sincere；　I　almost　believed　him　
myself。　〃You　agreed　to　see　me；　and　you　drove　out　to　the　hotel　where　I　was　
staying　with　Carlisle　and　Alice　—　of　course　I　was　here　with　parental　
supervision；〃　he　inserted　virtuously；　〃but　you　tripped　on　the　stairs　on　
the　way　to　my　room　and…　well；　you　know　the　rest。　You　don't　need　to　
remember　any　details；　though；　you　have　a　good　excuse　to　be　a　little　
muddled　about　the　finer　points。〃　

I　thought　about　it　for　a　moment。　〃There　are　a　few　flaws　with　that　story。　
Like　no　broken　windows。〃　

〃Not　really；〃　he　said。　〃Alice　had　a　little　bit　too　much　fun　fabricating　
evidence。　It's　all　been　taken　care　of　very　convincingly　—　you　could　
probably　sue　the　hotel　if　you　wanted　to。　You　have　nothing　to　worry　
about；〃　he　promised；　stroking　my　cheek　with　the　lightest　of　touches。　
〃Your　only　job　now　is　to　heal。〃　

I　wasn't　so　lost　to　the　soreness　or　the　fog　of　medication　that　I　didn't　
respond　to　his　touch。　The　beeping　of　the　monitor　jumped　around　
erratically　—　now　he　wasn't　the　only　one　who　could　hear　my　heart　
misbehave。　

〃That's　going　to　be　embarrassing；〃　I　muttered　to　myself。　

He　chuckled；　and　a　speculative　look　came　into　his　eye。　〃Hmm；　I　wonder…〃　

He　leaned　in　slowly；　the　beeping　noise　accelerated　wildly　before　his　lips　
even　touched　me。　But　when　they　did；　though　with　the　most　gentle　of　
pressure；　the　beeping　stopped　altogether。　

He　pulled　back　abruptly；　his　anxious　expression　turning　to　relief　as　the　
monitor　reported　the　restarting　of　my　heart。　

〃It　seems　that　I'm　going　to　have　to　be　even　more　careful　with　you　than　
usual。〃　He　frowned。　

〃I　was　not　finished　kissing　you；〃　I　plained。　〃Don't　make　me　e　over　
there。〃　

He　grinned；　and　bent　to　press　his　lips　lightly　to　mine。　The　monitor　went　
wild。　

But　then　his　lips　were　taut。　He　pulled　away。　

〃I　think　I　hear　your　mother；〃　he　said；　grinning　again。　

〃Don't　leave　me；〃　I　cried；　an　irrational　surge　of　panic　flooding　through　
me。　I　couldn't　let　him　go　—　he　might　disappear　from　me　again。　

He　read　the　terror　in　my　eyes　for　a　short　second。　〃I　won't；〃　he　promised　
solemnly；　and　then　he　smiled。　〃I'll　take　a　nap。〃　

He　moved　from　the　hard　plastic　chair　by　my　side　to　the　turquoise　
fauxleather　recliner　at　the　foot　of　my　bed；　leaning　it　all　the　way　back；　
and　closing　his　eyes。　He　was　perfectly　still。　

〃Don't　forget　to　breathe；〃　I　whispered　sarcastically。　He　took　a　deep　
breath；　his　eyes　still　closed。　

I　could　hear　my　mother　now。　She　was　talking　to　someone；　maybe　a　nurse；　
and　she　sounded　tired　and　upset。　I　wanted　to　jump　out　of　the　bed　and　run　
to　her；　to　calm　her；　promise　that　everything　was　fine。　But　I　wasn't　in　
any　sort　of　shape　for　jumping；　so　I　waited　impatiently。　

The　door　opened　a　crack；　and　she　peeked　through。　

〃Mom！〃　I　whispered；　my　voice　full　of　love　and　relief。　

She　took　in　Edward's　still　form　on　the　recliner；　and　tiptoed　to　my　
bedside。　

〃He　never　leaves；　does　he？〃　she　mumbled　to　herself。　

〃Mom；　I'm　so　glad　to　see　you！〃　

She　bent　down　to　hug　me　gently；　and　I　felt　warm　tears　falling　on　my　
cheeks。　

〃Bella；　I　was　so　upset！〃　

〃I'm　sorry；　Mom。　But　everything's　fine　now；　it's　okay；〃　I　forted　her。　

〃I'm　just　glad　to　finally　see　your　eyes　open。〃　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　my　
bed。　

I　suddenly　realized　I　didn't　have　any　idea　when　it　was。　〃How　long　have　
they　been　closed？〃　

〃It's　Friday；　hon；　you've　been　out　for　a　while。〃　

〃Friday？〃　I　was　shocked。　I　tried　to　remember　what　day　it　had　been　when…　
but　I　didn't　want　to　think　about　that。　

〃They　had　to　keep　you　sedated　for　a　while；　honey　—　you've　got　a　lot　of　
injuries。〃　

〃I　know。〃　I　could　feel　them。　

〃You're　lucky　Dr。　Cullen　was　there。　He's　such　a　nice　man…　very　young；　
though。　And　he　looks　more　like　a　model　than　a　doctor…〃　

〃You　met　Carlisle？〃　

〃And　Edward's　sister　Alice。　She's　a　lovely　girl。〃　

〃She　is；〃　I　agreed　wholeheartedly。　

She　glanced　over　her　shoulder　at　Edward；　lying　with　his　eyes　closed　in　
the　chair。　〃You　didn't　tell　me　you　had　such　good　friends　in　Forks。〃　

I　cringed；　and　then　moaned。　

〃What　hurts？〃　she　demanded　anxiously；　turning　back　to　me。　Edward's　eyes　
flashed　to　my　face。　

〃It's　fine；〃　I　assured　them。　〃I　just　have　to　remember　not　to　move。〃　He　
lapsed　back　into　his　phony　slumber。　

I　took　advantage　of　my　mother's　momentary　distraction　to　keep　the　subject　
from　returning　to　my　lessthancandid　behavior。　〃Where's　Phil？〃　I　asked　
quickly。　

〃Florida　—　oh；　Bella！　You'll　never　guess！　Just　when　we　were　about　to　
leave；　the　best　news！〃　

〃Phil　got　signed？〃　I　guessed。　

〃Yes！　How　did　you　guess！　The　Suns；　can　you　believe　it？〃　

〃That's　great；　Mom；〃　I　said　as　enthusiastically　as　I　could　manage；　though　
I　had　little　idea　what　that　meant。　

〃And　you'll　like　Jacksonville　so　much；〃　she　gushed　while　I　stared　at　her　
vacantly。　〃I　was　a　little　bit　worried　when　Phil　started　talking　about　
Akron；　what　with　the　snow　and　everything；　because　you　know　how　I　hate　the　
cold；　but　now　Jacksonville！　It's　always　sunny；　and　the　humidity　really　
isn't　that　bad。　We　found　the　cutest　house；　yellow；　with　white　trim；　and　a　
porch　just　like　in　an　old　movie；　and　this　huge　oak　tree；　and　it's　just　a　
few　minutes　from　the　ocean；　and　you'll　have　your　own　bathroom　—〃　

〃Wait；　Mom！〃　I　interrupted。　Edward　still　had　his　eyes　closed；　but　he　
looked　too　tense　to　pass　as　asleep。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？　I'm　not　
going　to　Florida。　I　live　in　Forks。〃　

〃But　you　don't　have　to　anymore；　silly；〃　she　laughed。　〃Phil　will　be　able　
to　be　around　so　much　more　now…　we've　talked　about　it　a　lot；　and　what　I'm　
going　to　do　is　trade　off　on　the　away　games；　half　the　time　with　you；　half　
the　time　with　him。〃　

〃Mom。〃　I　hesitated；　wondering　how　best　to　be　diplomatic　about　this。　〃I　
want　to　live　in　Forks。　I'm　already　settled　in　at　school；　and　I　have　a　
couple　of　girlfriends〃　—　she　glanced　toward　Edward　again　when　I　reminded　
her　of　friends；　so　I　tried　another　direction　—　〃and　Charlie　needs　me。　
He's　just　all　alone　up　there；