1 twilight暮色-第6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！


impossible　that　this　stranger　could　take　such　a　sudden；　intense　dislike　
to　me。　

The　door　opened　again；　and　the　cold　wind　suddenly　gusted　through　the　
room；　rustling　the　papers　on　the　desk；　swirling　my　hair　around　my　face。　
The　girl　who　came　in　merely　stepped　to　the　desk；　placed　a　note　in　the　
wire　basket；　and　walked　out　again。　But　Edward　Cullen's　back　stiffened；　
and　he　turned　slowly　to　glare　at　me　—　his　face　was　absurdly　handsome　—　
with　piercing；　hatefilled　eyes。　For　an　instant；　I　felt　a　thrill　of　
genuine　fear；　raising　the　hair　on　my　arms。　The　look　only　lasted　a　second；　
but　it　chilled　me　more　than　the　freezing　wind。　He　turned　back　to　the　
receptionist。　

〃Never　mind；　then；〃　he　said　hastily　in　a　voice　like　velvet。　〃I　can　see　
that　it's　impossible。　Thank　you　so　much　for　your　help。〃　And　he　turned　on　
his　heel　without　another　look　at　me；　and　disappeared　out　the　door。　

I　went　meekly　to　the　desk；　my　face　white　for　once　instead　of　red；　and　
handed　her　the　signed　slip。　

〃How　did　your　first　day　go；　dear？〃　the　receptionist　asked　maternally。　

〃Fine；〃　I　lied；　my　voice　weak。　She　didn't　look　convinced。　

When　I　got　to　the　truck；　it　was　almost　the　last　car　in　the　lot。　It　seemed　
like　a　haven；　already　the　closest　thing　to　home　I　had　in　this　damp　green　
hole。　I　sat　inside　for　a　while；　just　staring　out　the　windshield　blankly。　
But　soon　I　was　cold　enough　to　need　the　heater；　so　I　turned　the　key　and　
the　engine　roared　to　life。　I　headed　back　to　Charlie's　house；　fighting　
tears　the　whole　way　there。　

===========================================================================　


2。　OPEN　BOOK　

The　next　day　was　better…　and　worse。　

It　was　better　because　it　wasn't　raining　yet；　though　the　clouds　were　dense　
and　opaque。　It　was　easier　because　I　knew　what　to　expect　of　my　day。　Mike　
came　to　sit　by　me　in　English；　and　walked　me　to　my　next　class；　with　Chess　
Club　Eric　glaring　at　him　all　the　while；　that　was　nattering。　People　didn't　
look　at　me　quite　as　much　as　they　had　yesterday。　I　sat　with　a　big　group　at　
lunch　that　included　Mike；　Eric；　Jessica；　and　several　other　people　whose　
names　and　faces　I　now　remembered。　I　began　to　feel　like　I　was　treading　
water；　instead　of　drowning　in　it。　

It　was　worse　because　I　was　tired；　I　still　couldn't　sleep　with　the　wind　
echoing　around　the　house。　It　was　worse　because　Mr。　Varner　called　on　me　in　
Trig　when　my　hand　wasn't　raised　and　I　had　the　wrong　answer。　It　was　
miserable　because　I　had　to　play　volleyball；　and　the　one　time　I　didn't　
cringe　out　of　the　way　of　the　ball；　I　hit　my　teammate　in　the　head　with　it。　
And　it　was　worse　because　Edward　Cullen　wasn't　in　school　at　all。　

All　morning　I　was　dreading　lunch；　fearing　his　bizarre　glares。　Part　of　me　
wanted　to　confront　him　and　demand　to　know　what　his　problem　was。　While　I　
was　lying　sleepless　in　my　bed；　I　even　imagined　what　I　would　say。　But　I　
knew　myself　too　well　to　think　I　would　really　have　the　guts　to　do　it。　I　
made　the　Cowardly　Lion　look　like　the　terminator。　

But　when　I　walked　into　the　cafeteria　with　Jessica　—　trying　to　keep　my　
eyes　from　sweeping　the　place　for　him；　and　failing　entirely　—　I　saw　that　
his　four　siblings　of　sorts　were　sitting　together　at　the　same　table；　and　
he　was　not　with　them。　

Mike　intercepted　us　and　steered　us　to　his　table。　Jessica　seemed　elated　by　
the　attention；　and　her　friends　quickly　joined　us。　But　as　I　tried　to　
listen　to　their　easy　chatter；　I　was　terribly　unfortable；　waiting　
nervously　for　the　moment　he　would　arrive。　I　hoped　that　he　would　simply　
ignore　me　when　he　came；　and　prove　my　suspicions　false。　

He　didn't　e；　and　as　time　passed　I　grew　more　and　more　tense。　

I　walked　to　Biology　with　more　confidence　when；　by　the　end　of　lunch；　he　
still　hadn't　showed。　Mike；　who　was　taking　on　the　qualities　of　a　golden　
retriever；　walked　faithfully　by　my　side　to　class。　I　held　my　breath　at　the　
door；　but　Edward　Cullen　wasn't　there；　either。　I　exhaled　and　went　to　my　
seat。　Mike　followed；　talking　about　an　uping　trip　to　the　beach。　He　
lingered　by　my　desk　till　the　bell　rang。　Then　he　smiled　at　me　wistfully　
and　went　to　sit　by　a　girl　with　braces　and　a　bad　perm。　It　looked　like　I　
was　going　to　have　to　do　something　about　Mike；　and　it　wouldn't　be　easy。　In　
a　town　like　this；　where　everyone　lived　on　top　of　everyone　else；　diplomacy　
was　essential。　I　had　never　been　enormously　tactful；　I　had　no　practice　
dealing　with　overly　friendly　boys。　

I　was　relieved　that　I　had　the　desk　to　myself；　that　Edward　was　absent。　I　
told　myself　that　repeatedly。　But　I　couldn't　get　rid　of　the　nagging　
suspicion　that　I　was　the　reason　he　wasn't　there。　It　was　ridiculous；　and　
egotistical；　to　think　that　I　could　affect　anyone　that　strongly。　It　was　
impossible。　And　yet　I　couldn't　stop　worrying　that　it　was　true。　

When　the　school　day　was　finally　done；　and　the　blush　was　fading　out　of　my　
cheeks　from　the　volleyball　incident；　I　changed　quickly　back　into　my　jeans　
and　navy　blue　sweater。　I　hurried　from　the　girls'　locker　room；　pleased　to　
find　that　I　had　successfully　evaded　my　retriever　friend　for　the　moment。　I　
walked　swiftly　out　to　the　parking　lot。　It　was　crowded　now　with　fleeing　
students。　I　got　in　my　truck　and　dug　through　my　bag　to　make　sure　I　had　
what　I　needed。　

Last　night　I'd　discovered　that　Charlie　couldn't　cook　much　besides　fried　
eggs　and　bacon。　So　I　requested　that　I　be　assigned　kitchen　detail　for　the　
duration　of　my　stay。　He　was　willing　enough　to　hand　over　the　keys　to　the　
banquet　hall。　I　also　found　out　that　he　had　no　food　in　the　house。　So　I　had　
my　shopping　list　and　the　cash　from　the　jar　in　the　cupboard　labeled　FOOD　

MONEY；　and　I　was　on　my　way　to　the　Thriftway。　

I　gunned　my　deafening　engine　to　life；　ignoring　the　heads　that　turned　in　
my　direction；　and　backed　carefully　into　a　place　in　the　line　of　cars　that　
were　waiting　to　exit　the　parking　lot。　As　I　waited；　trying　to　pretend　that　
the　earsplitting　rumble　was　ing　from　someone　else's　car；　I　saw　the　two　
Cullens　and　the　Hale　twins　getting　into　their　car。　It　was　the　shiny　new　
Volvo。　Of　course。　I　hadn't　noticed　their　clothes　before　—　I'd　been　too　
mesmerized　by　their　faces。　Now　that　I　looked；　it　was　obvious　that　they　
were　all　dressed　exceptionally　well；　simply；　but　in　clothes　that　subtly　
hinted　at　designer　origins。　With　their　remarkable　good　looks；　the　style　
with　which　they　carried　themselves；　they　could　have　worn　dishrags　and　
pulled　it　off。　It　seemed　excessive　for　them　to　have　both　looks　and　money。　
But　as　far　as　I　could　tell；　life　worked　that　way　most　of　the　time。　It　
didn't　look　as　if　it　bought　them　any　acceptance　here。　

No；　I　didn't　fully　believe　that。　The　isolation　must　be　their　desire；　I　
couldn't　imagine　any　door　that　wouldn't　be　opened　by　that　degree　of　
beauty。　

They　looked　at　my　noisy　truck　as　I　passed　them；　just　like　everyone　else。　
I　kept　my　eyes　straight　forward　and　was　relieved　when　I　finally　was　free　
of　the　school　grounds。　

The　Thriftway　was　not　far　from　the　school；　just　a　few　streets　south；　off　
the　highway。　It　was　nice　to　be　inside　the　supermarket；　it　felt　normal。　I　
did　the　shopping　at　home；　and　I　fell　into　the　pattern　of　the　familiar　
task　gladly。　The　store　was　big　enough　inside　that　I　couldn't　hear　the　
tapping　of　the　rain　on　the　roof　to　remind　me　where　I　was。　

When　I　got　home；　I　unloaded　all　the　groceries；　stuffing　them　in　wherever　
I　could　find　an　open　space。　I　hoped　Charlie　wouldn't　mind。　I　wrapped　
potatoes　in　foil　and　stuck　them　in　the　oven　to　bake；　covered　a　steak　in　
marinade　and　balanced　it　on　top　of　a　carton　of　eggs　in　the　fridge。　

When　I　was　finished　with　that；　I　took　my　book　bag　upstairs。　Before　
starting　my　homework；　I　changed　into　a　pair　of　dry　sweats；　pulled　my　damp　
hair　up　into　a　ponytail；　and　checked　my　email　for　the　first　time。　I　had　
three　messages。　

〃Bella；〃　my　mom　wrote…　



Write　me　as　soon　as　you　get　in。　Tell　me　how　your　flight　was。　Is　it　
raining？　I　miss　you　already。　I'm　almost　finished　packing　for　Florida；　but　
I　can't　find　my　pink　blouse。　Do　you　know　where　I　put　it？　Phil　says　hi。　
Mom。　



I　sighed　and　went　to　the　next。　It　was　sent　eight　hours　after　the　first。　

〃Bella；〃　she　wrote…　



Why　haven't　you　emailed　me　yet？　What　are　you　waiting　fo