暮色-第83部分

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he　found　so　funny。　Rosalie　acted　as　if　I　didn't　exist。　While　I　shook　my　
head　to　dispel　the　direction　my　thoughts　had　taken；　I　thought　of　
something　else。　

〃Is　Charlie　in　on　this？〃　I　asked；　suddenly　suspicious。　

〃Of　course。〃　He　grinned；　and　then　chuckled。　〃Apparently　Tyler　wasn't；　
though。〃　

I　gritted　my　teeth。　How　Tyler　could　be　so　delusional；　I　couldn't　imagine。　
At　school；　where　Charlie　couldn't　interfere；　Edward　and　I　were　
inseparable　—　except　for　those　rare　sunny　days。　

We　were　at　the　school　now；　Rosalie's　red　convertible　was　conspicuous　in　
the　parking　lot。　The　clouds　were　thin　today；　a　few　streaks　of　sunlight　
escaping　through　far　away　in　the　west。　

He　got　out　and　walked　around　the　car　to　open　my　door。　He　held　out　his　
hand。　

I　sat　stubbornly　in　my　seat；　arms　folded；　feeling　a　secret　twinge　of　
smugness。　The　lot　was　crowded　with　people　in　formal　dress：　witnesses。　He　
couldn't　remove　me　forcibly　from　the　car　as　he　might　have　if　we'd　been　
alone。　

He　sighed。　〃When　someone　wants　to　kill　you；　you're　brave　as　a　lion　—　and　
then　when　someone　mentions　dancing…〃　He　shook　his　head。　

I　gulped。　Dancing。　

〃Bella；　I　won't　let　anything　hurt　you　—　not　even　yourself。　I　won't　let　go　
of　you　once；　I　promise。〃　

I　thought　about　that　and　suddenly　felt　much　better。　He　could　see　that　in　
my　face。　

〃There；　now；〃　he　said　gently；　〃it　won't　be　so　bad。〃　He　leaned　down　and　
wrapped　one　arm　around　my　waist。　I　took　his　other　hand　and　let　him　lift　
me　from　the　car。　

He　kept　his　arm　tightly　around　me；　supporting　me　as　I　limped　toward　the　
school。　

In　Phoenix；　they　held　proms　in　hotel　ballrooms。　This　dance　was　in　the　
gym；　of　course。　It　was　probably　the　only　room　in　town　big　enough　for　a　
dance。　When　we　got　inside；　I　giggled。　There　were　actual　balloon　arches　

and　twisted　garlands　of　pastel　crepe　paper　festooning　the　walls。　

〃This　looks　like　a　horror　movie　waiting　to　happen；〃　I　snickered。　

〃Well；〃　he　muttered　as　we　slowly　approached　the　ticket　table　—　he　was　
carrying　most　of　my　weight；　but　I　still　had　to　shuffle　and　wobble　my　feet　
forward　—　〃there　are　more　than　enough　vampires　present。〃　

I　looked　at　the　dance　floor；　a　wide　gap　had　formed　in　the　center　of　the　
floor；　where　two　couples　whirled　gracefully。　The　other　dancers　pressed　to　
the　sides　of　the　room　to　give　them　space　—　no　one　wanted　to　stand　in　
contrast　with　such　radiance。　Emmett　and　Jasper　were　intimidating　and　
flawless　in　classic　tuxedos。　Alice　was　striking　in　a　black　satin　dress　
with　geometric　cutouts　that　bared　large　triangles　of　her　snowy　white　
skin。　And　Rosalie　was…　well；　Rosalie。　She　was　beyond　belief。　Her　vivid　
scarlet　dress　was　backless；　tight　to　her　calves　where　it　flared　into　a　
wide　ruffled　train；　with　a　neckline　that　plunged　to　her　waist。　I　pitied　
every　girl　in　the　room；　myself　included。　

〃Do　you　want　me　to　bolt　the　doors　so　you　can　massacre　the　unsuspecting　
townsfolk？〃　I　whispered　conspiratorially。　

〃And　where　do　you　fit　into　that　scheme？〃　He　glared。　

〃Oh；　I'm　with　the　vampires；　of　course。〃　

He　smiled　reluctantly。　〃Anything　to　get　out　of　dancing。〃　

〃Anything。〃　

He　bought　our　tickets；　then　turned　me　toward　the　dance　floor。　I　cringed　
against　his　arm　and　dragged　my　feet。　

〃I've　got　all　night；〃　he　warned。　

Eventually　he　towed　me　out　to　where　his　family　was　twirling　elegantly　—　
if　in　a　style　totally　unsuitable　to　the　present　time　and　music。　I　watched　
in　horror。　

〃Edward。〃　My　throat　was　so　dry　I　could　only　manage　a　whisper。　〃I　honestly　
can't　dance！〃　I　could　feel　the　panic　bubbling　up　inside　my　chest。　

〃Don't　worry；　silly；〃　he　whispered　back。　〃I　can。〃　He　put　my　arms　around　
his　neck　and　lifted　me　to　slide　his　feet　under　mine。　

And　then　we　were　whirling；　too。　

〃I　feel　like　I'm　five　years　old；〃　I　laughed　after　a　few　minutes　of　
effortless　waltzing。　

〃You　don't　look　five；〃　he　murmured；　pulling　me　closer　for　a　second；　so　
that　my　feet　were　briefly　a　foot　from　the　ground。　

Alice　caught　my　eye　on　a　turn　and　smiled　in　encouragement　—　I　smiled　
back。　I　was　surprised　to　realize　that　I　was　actually　enjoying　myself…　a　
little。　

〃Okay；　this　isn't　half　bad；〃　I　admitted。　

But　Edward　was　staring　toward　the　doors；　and　his　face　was　angry。　

〃What　is　it？〃　I　wondered　aloud。　I　followed　his　gaze；　disoriented　by　the　
spinning；　but　finally　I　could　see　what　was　bothering　him。　Jacob　Black；　
not　in　a　tux；　but　in　a　longsleeved　white　shirt　and　tie；　his　hair　
smoothed　back　into　his　usual　ponytail；　was　crossing　the　floor　toward　us。　

After　the　first　shock　of　recognition；　I　couldn't　help　but　feel　bad　for　
Jacob。　He　was　clearly　unfortable　—　excruciatingly　so。　His　face　was　
apologetic　as　his　eyes　met　mine。　

Edward　snarled　very　quietly。　

〃Behave！〃　I　hissed。　

Edward's　voice　was　scathing。　〃He　wants　to　chat　with　you。〃　

Jacob　reached　us　then；　the　embarrassment　and　apology　even　more　evident　on　
his　face。　

〃Hey；　Bella；　I　was　hoping　you　would　be　here。〃　Jacob　sounded　like　he'd　
been　hoping　the　exact　opposite。　But　his　smile　was　just　as　warm　as　ever。　

〃Hi；　Jacob。〃　I　smiled　back。　〃What's　up？〃　

〃Can　I　cut　in？〃　he　asked　tentatively；　glancing　at　Edward　for　the　first　
time。　I　was　shocked　to　notice　that　Jacob　didn't　have　to　look　up。　He　must　
have　grown　half　a　foot　since　the　first　time　I'd　seen　him。　

Edward's　face　was　posed；　his　expression　blank。　His　only　answer　was　to　
set　me　carefully　on　my　feet；　and　take　a　step　back。　

〃Thanks；〃　Jacob　said　amiably。　

Edward　just　nodded；　looking　at　me　intently　before　he　turned　to　walk　away。　

Jacob　put　his　hands　on　my　waist；　and　I　reached　up　to　put　my　hands　on　his　
shoulders。　

〃Wow；　Jake；　how　tall　are　you　now？〃　

He　was　smug。　〃Sixtwo。〃　

We　weren't　really　dancing　—　my　leg　made　that　impossible。　Instead　we　
swayed　awkwardly　from　side　to　side　without　moving　our　feet。　It　was　just　
as　well；　the　recent　growth　spurt　had　left　him　looking　gangly　and　
uncoordinated；　he　was　probably　no　better　a　dancer　than　I　was。　

〃So；　how　did　you　end　up　here　tonight？〃　I　asked　without　true　curiosity。　
Considering　Edward's　reaction；　I　could　guess。　

〃Can　you　believe　my　dad　paid　me　twenty　bucks　to　e　to　your　prom？〃　he　
admitted；　slightly　ashamed。　

〃Yes；　I　can；〃　I　muttered。　〃Well；　I　hope　you're　enjoying　yourself；　at　
least。　Seen　anything　you　like？〃　I　teased；　nodding　toward　a　group　of　girls　
lined　up　against　the　wall　like　pastel　confections。　

〃Yeah；〃　he　sighed。　〃But　she's　taken。〃　

He　glanced　down　to　meet　my　curious　gaze　for　just　a　second　—　then　we　both　
looked　away；　embarrassed。　

〃You　look　really　pretty；　by　the　way；〃　he　added　shyly。　

〃Um；　thanks。　So　why　did　Billy　pay　you　to　e　here？〃　I　asked　quickly；　
though　I　knew　the　answer。　

Jacob　didn't　seem　grateful　for　the　subject　change；　he　looked　away；　
unfortable　again。　〃He　said　it　was　a　'safe'　place　to　talk　to　you。　I　
swear　the　old　man　is　losing　his　mind。〃　

I　joined　in　his　laughter　weakly。　

〃Anyway；　he　said　that　if　I　told　you　something；　he　would　get　me　that　
master　cylinder　I　need；〃　he　confessed　with　a　sheepish　grin。　

〃Tell　me；　then。　I　want　you　to　get　your　car　finished。〃　I　grinned　back。　At　
least　Jacob　didn't　believe　any　of　this。　It　made　the　situation　a　bit　
easier。　Against　the　wall；　Edward　was　watching　my　face；　his　own　face　
expressionless。　I　saw　a　sophomore　in　a　pink　dress　eyeing　him　with　timid　
speculation；　but　he　didn't　seem　to　be　aware　of　her。　

Jacob　looked　away　again；　ashamed。　〃Don't　get　mad；　okay？〃　

〃There's　no　way　I'll　be　mad　at　you；　Jacob；〃　I　assured　him。　〃I　won't　even　
be　mad　at　Billy。　Just　say　what　you　have　to。〃　

〃Well　—　this　is　so　stupid；　I'm　sorry；　Bella　—　he　wants　you　to　break　up　
with　your　boyfriend。　He　asked　me　to　tell　you　'please。'〃　He　shook　his　head　
in　disgust。　

〃He's　still　superstitious；　eh？〃　

〃Yeah。　He　was…　kind　of　over　the　top　when　you　got　hurt　down　in　Phoenix。　He　
didn't　believe…〃Jacob　trailed　off　selfconsciously。　

My　eyes　narrowed。　〃I　fell。〃　

〃I　know　that；〃　Jacob　said　quickly。　

〃He　thinks　Edward　had　something　to　do　with　me　getting　hurt。〃　It　wasn't　a　
question；　and　despite　my　promise；　I　was　angry。　

Jacob　wouldn't　meet　my　eyes。　We　weren't　even　bothering　to　sway　to　the　
music；　thoug