1 twilight暮色-第15章

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slumped。　A　swell　of　sympathy　washed　over　me。　I　pondered　seeing　his　
disappointed　face　again…　in　Gym。　

〃Gym；〃　I　groaned。　

〃I　can　take　care　of　that。〃　I　hadn't　noticed　Edward　moving　to　my　side；　but　
he　spoke　now　in　my　ear。　〃Go　sit　down　and　look　pale；〃　he　muttered。　

That　wasn't　a　challenge；　I　was　always　pale；　and　my　recent　swoon　had　left　
a　light　sheen　of　sweat　on　my　face。　I　sat　in　one　of　the　creaky　folding　
chairs　and　rested　my　head　against　the　wall　with　my　eyes　closed。　Fainting　
spells　always　exhausted　me。　

I　heard　Edward　speaking　softly　at　the　counter。　

〃Ms。　Cope？〃　

〃Yes？〃　I　hadn't　heard　her　return　to　her　desk。　

〃Bella　has　Gym　next　hour；　and　I　don't　think　she　feels　well　enough。　

Actually；　I　was　thinking　I　should　take　her　home　now。　Do　you　think　you　
could　excuse　her　from　class？〃　His　voice　was　like　melting　honey。　I　could　
imagine　how　much　more　overwhelming　his　eyes　would　be。　

〃Do　you　need　to　be　excused；　too；　Edward？〃　Ms。　Cope　fluttered。　Why　
couldn't　I　do　that？　

〃No；　I　have　Mrs。　Goff；　she　won't　mind。〃　

〃Okay；　it's　all　taken　care　of。　You　feel　better；　Bella；〃　she　called　to　me。　
I　nodded　weakly；　hamming　it　up　just　a　bit。　

〃Can　you　walk；　or　do　you　want　me　to　carry　you　again？〃　With　his　back　to　
the　receptionist；　his　expression　became　sarcastic。　

〃I'll　walk。〃　

I　stood　carefully；　and　I　was　still　fine。　He　held　the　door　for　me；　his　
smile　polite　but　his　eyes　mocking。　I　walked　out　into　the　cold；　fine　mist　
that　had　just　begun　to　fall。　It　felt　nice　—　the　first　time　I'd　enjoyed　
the　constant　moisture　falling　out　of　the　sky　—　as　it　washed　my　face　clean　
of　the　sticky　perspiration。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　said　as　he　followed　me　out。　〃It's　almost　worth　getting　sick　
to　miss　Gym。〃　

〃Anytime。〃　He　was　staring　straight　forward；　squinting　into　the　rain。　

〃So　are　you　going？　This　Saturday；　I　mean？〃　I　was　hoping　he　would；　though　
it　seemed　unlikely。　I　couldn't　picture　him　loading　up　to　carpool　with　the　
rest　of　the　kids　from　school；　he　didn't　belong　in　the　same　world。　But　
just　hoping　that　he　might　gave　me　the　first　twinge　of　enthusiasm　I'd　felt　
for　the　outing。　

〃Where　are　you　all　going；　exactly？〃　He　was　still　looking　ahead；　
expressionless。　

〃Down　to　La　Push；　to　First　Beach。〃　I　studied　his　face；　trying　to　read　it。　
His　eyes　seemed　to　narrow　infinitesimally。　

He　glanced　down　at　me　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　smiling　wryly。　〃I　
really　don't　think　I　was　invited。〃　

I　sighed。　〃I　just　invited　you。〃　

〃Let's　you　and　I　not　push　poor　Mike　any　further　this　week。　We　don't　want　
him　to　snap。〃　His　eyes　danced；　he　was　enjoying　the　idea　more　than　he　
should。　

〃Mikeschmike。〃　I　muttered；　preoccupied　by　the　way　he'd　said　〃you　and　I。〃　
I　liked　it　more　than　I　should。　

We　were　near　the　parking　lot　now。　I　veered　left；　toward　my　truck。　
Something　caught　my　jacket；　yanking　me　back。　

〃Where　do　you　think　you're　going？〃　he　asked；　outraged。　He　was　gripping　a　
fistful　of　my　jacket　in　one　hand。　

I　was　confused。　〃I'm　going　home。〃　

〃Didn't　you　hear　me　promise　to　take　you　safely　home？　Do　you　think　I'm　
going　to　let　you　drive　in　your　condition？〃　His　voice　was　still　indignant。　

〃What　condition？　And　what　about　my　truck？〃　I　plained。　

〃I'll　have　Alice　drop　it　off　after　school。〃　He　was　towing　me　toward　his　
car　now；　pulling　me　by　my　jacket。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　keep　from　
falling　backward。　He'd　probably　just　drag　me　along　anyway　if　I　did。　

〃Let　go！〃　I　insisted。　He　ignored　me。　I　staggered　along　sideways　across　
the　wet　sidewalk　until　we　reached　the　Volvo。　Then　he　finally　freed　me　—　I　
stumbled　against　the　passenger　door。　

〃You　are　so　pushy！〃　I　grumbled。　

〃It's　open；〃　was　all　he　responded。　He　got　in　the　driver's　side。　

〃I　am　perfectly　capable　of　driving　myself　home！〃　I　stood　by　the　car；　
fuming。　It　was　raining　harder　now；　and　I'd　never　put　my　hood　up；　so　my　
hair　was　dripping　down　my　back。　

He　lowered　the　automatic　window　and　leaned　toward　me　across　the　seat。　
〃Get　in；　Bella。〃　

I　didn't　answer。　I　was　mentally　calculating　my　chances　of　reaching　the　
truck　before　he　could　catch　me。　I　had　to　admit；　they　weren't　good。　

〃I'll　just　drag　you　back；〃　he　threatened；　guessing　my　plan。　

I　tried　to　maintain　what　dignity　I　could　as　I　got　into　his　car。　I　wasn't　
very　successful　—　I　looked　like　a　halfdrowned　cat　and　my　boots　squeaked。　

〃This　is　pletely　unnecessary；〃　I　said　stiffly。　

He　didn't　answer。　He　fiddled　with　the　controls；　turning　the　heater　up　and　
the　music　down。　As　he　pulled　out　of　the　parking　lot；　I　was　preparing　to　
give　him　the　silent　treatment　—　my　face　in　full　pout　mode　—　but　then　I　
recognized　the　music　playing；　and　my　curiosity　got　the　better　of　my　
intentions。　

〃Clair　de　Lune？〃　I　asked；　surprised。　

〃You　know　Debussy？〃　He　sounded　surprised；　too。　

〃Not　well；〃　I　admitted。　〃My　mother　plays　a　lot　of　classical　music　around　
the　house　—　I　only　know　my　favorites。〃　

〃It's　one　of　my　favorites；　too。〃　He　stared　out　through　the　rain；　lost　in　
thought。　

I　listened　to　the　music；　relaxing　against　the　light　gray　leather　seat。　It　
was　impossible　not　to　respond　to　the　familiar；　soothing　melody。　The　rain　
blurred　everything　outside　the　window　into　gray　and　green　smudges。　I　
began　to　realize　we　were　driving　very　fast；　the　car　moved　so　steadily；　so　
evenly；　though；　I　didn't　feel　the　speed。　Only　the　town　flashing　by　gave　
it　away。　

〃What　is　your　mother　like？〃　he　asked　me　suddenly。　

I　glanced　over　to　see　him　studying　me　with　curious　eyes。　

〃She　looks　a　lot　like　me；　but　she's　prettier；〃　I　said。　He　raised　his　
eyebrows。　〃I　have　too　much　Charlie　in　me。　She's　more　outgoing　than　I　am；　
and　braver。　She's　irresponsible　and　slightly　eccentric；　and　she's　a　very　
unpredictable　cook。　She's　my　best　friend。〃　I　stopped。　Talking　about　her　
was　making　me　depressed。　

〃How　old　are　you；　Bella？〃　His　voice　sounded　frustrated　for　some　reason　I　
couldn't　imagine。　He'd　stopped　the　car；　and　I　realized　we　were　at　
Charlie's　house　already。　The　rain　was　so　heavy　that　I　could　barely　see　
the　house　at　all。　It　was　like　the　car　was　submerged　under　a　river。　

〃I'm　seventeen；〃　I　responded；　a　little　confused。　

〃You　don't　seem　seventeen。〃　

His　tone　was　reproachful；　it　made　me　laugh。　

〃What？〃　he　asked；　curious　again。　

〃My　mom　always　says　I　was　born　thirtyfive　years　old　and　that　I　get　more　
middleaged　every　year。〃　I　laughed；　and　then　sighed。　〃Well；　someone　has　
to　be　the　adult。〃　I　paused　for　a　second。　〃You　don't　seem　much　like　a　
junior　in　high　school　yourself；〃　I　noted。　

He　made　a　face　and　changed　the　subject。　

〃So　why　did　your　mother　marry　Phil？〃　

I　was　surprised　he　would　remember　the　name；　I'd　mentioned　it　just　once；　
almost　two　months　ago。　It　took　me　a　moment　to　answer。　

〃My　mother…　she's　very　young　for　her　age。　I　think　Phil　makes　her　feel　
even　younger。　At　any　rate；　she's　crazy　about　him。〃　I　shook　my　head。　The　
attraction　was　a　mystery　to　me。　

〃Do　you　approve？〃　he　asked。　

〃Does　it　matter？〃　I　countered。　〃I　want　her　to　be　happy…　and　he　is　who　she　
wants。〃　

〃That's　very　generous…　I　wonder；〃　he　mused。　

〃What？〃　

〃Would　she　extend　the　same　courtesy　to　you；　do　you　think？　No　matter　who　
your　choice　was？〃　He　was　suddenly　intent；　his　eyes　searching　mine。　

〃II　think　so；〃　I　stuttered。　〃But　she's　the　parent；　after　all。　It's　a　
little　bit　different。〃　

〃No　one　too　scary　then；〃　he　teased。　

I　grinned　in　response。　〃What　do　you　mean　by　scary？　Multiple　facial　
piercings　and　extensive　tattoos？〃　

〃That's　one　definition；　I　suppose。〃　

〃What's　your　definition？〃　

But　he　ignored　my　question　and　asked　me　another。　〃Do　you　think　that　I　
could　be　scary？〃　He　raised　one　eyebrow；　and　the　faint　trace　of　a　smile　
lightened　his　face。　

I　thought　for　a　moment；　wondering　whether　the　truth　or　a　lie　would　go　
over　better。　I　decided　to　go　with　the　truth。　〃Hmmm…　I　think　you　could　be；　
if　you　wanted　to。〃　

〃Are　you　frightened　of　me　now？〃　The　smile　vanished；　and　his　heavenly　face　
was　suddenly　serious。　

〃No。〃　But　I　answered　too　quickly。　The　smile　returned。　

〃So；　now　are　you　going　to　tell　me　about　your　family？〃　I　asked　to　distract　
him。　〃It's　got　to　be　a　much　more　interesting　story　than　mine。〃　

He　was　instantly　cautious。　〃What　do　you　want　to　know？〃　

〃The　Cullens　adopted　you？〃　I　verified。　

〃Yes。〃　

I　hesitated　for　a　moment。　〃What　happened　to　your　parents？〃　

〃They　died　many　years　ago。〃　His　tone　was　matteroffact。　

〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　mumbled。　

〃I　don't　really　remember　them　that　clearly。　Carlisle　and　Esme　have　been　
my　parents　for　a　long　time　now。〃　

〃And　you　love　them。〃　It　wasn't　a　question。　It　was　obvious　in　the　way　he　
spoke　of　them。　

〃Yes。〃　He　smiled。　〃I　couldn't　imagine　two　better　people。〃　

〃You're　very　lucky。〃　

〃I　know　I　am。〃　

〃And　your　brother　and　sister？〃　

He　glanced　at　the　clock　on　the　dashboard。　

〃My　brother　and　sister；　and　Jasper　and　Rosalie　for　that　matter；　are　going　
to　be　quite　upset　if　they　have　to　stand　in　the　rain　waiting　for　me。〃　

〃Oh；　sorry；　I　guess　you　have　to　go。〃　I　didn't　want　to　get　out　of　the　car。　

〃And　you　probably　want　your　truck　back　before　Chief　Swan　gets　home；　so　
you　don't　have　to　tell　him　about　the　Biology　incident。〃　He　grinned　at　me。　

〃I'm　sure　he's　already　heard。　There　are　no　secrets　in　Forks。〃　I　sighed。　

He　laughed；　and　there　was　an　edge　to　his　laughter。　

〃Have　fun　at　the　beach…　good　weather　for　sunbathing。〃　He　glanced　out　at　
the　sheeting　rain。　

〃Won't　I　see　you　tomorrow？〃　

〃No。　Emmett　and　I　are　starting　the　weekend　early。〃　

〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　A　friend　could　ask　that；　right？　I　hoped　the　
disappointment　wasn't　too　apparent　in　my　voice。　

〃We're　going　to　be　hiking　in　the　Goat　Rocks　Wilderness；　just　south　of　
Rainier。〃　

I　remembered　Charlie　had　said　the　Cullens　went　camping　frequently。　

〃Oh；　well；　have　fun。〃　I　tried　to　sound　enthusiastic。　I　don't　think　I　
fooled　him；　though。　A　smile　was　playing　around　the　edges　of　his　lips。　

〃Will　you　do　something　for　me　this　weekend？〃　He　turned　to　look　me　
straight　in　the　face；　utilizing　the　full　power　of　his　burning　gold　eyes。　

I　nodded　helplessly。　

〃Don't　be　offended；　but　you　seem　to　be　one　of　those　people　who　just　
attract　accidents　like　a　mag。　So…　try　not　to