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！
She hadn't really said no； so I pressed that advantage。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
114
Would she say no？ What would I do if she did？
〃But can your truck make it there on one tank of gas？〃
〃I don't see how that is any of your business；〃 she grumbled。
That still wasn't a no。 And her heart was beating faster again； her breath coming
more quickly。
〃The wasting of finite resources is everyone's business。〃
〃Honestly； Edward； I can't keep up with you。 I thought you didn't want to be my
friend。〃
A thrill shot through me when she spoke my name。
How to keep it light and yet be honest at the same time？ Well； it was more
important to be honest。 Especially on this point。
〃I said it would be better if we weren't friends； not that I didn't want to be。〃
〃Oh； thanks； now that's all cleared up；〃 she said sarcastically。
She paused； under the edge of the cafeteria's roof； and met my gaze again。 Her
heartbeats stuttered。 Was she afraid？
I chose my words carefully。 No； I could not leave her； but maybe she would be
smart enough to leave me； before it was too late。
〃It would be more？prudent for you not to be my friend。〃 Staring into the melted
chocolate depths of her eyes； I lost my hold on light。 〃But I'm tired of trying to stay
away from you； Bella。〃 The words burned with much too much fervor。
Her breathing stopped and； in the second it took for it to restart； that worried me。
How much had I scared her？ Well； I would find out。
〃Will you go to Seattle with me？〃 I demanded； point blank。
She nodded； her heart drumming loudly。
Yes。 She'd said yes to me。
And then my conscious smote me。 What would this cost her？
〃You really should stay away from me；〃 I warned her。 Did she hear me？ Would
she escape the future I was threatening her with？ Couldn't I do anything to save her from
me？
Keep it light； I shouted at myself。 〃I'll see you in class。〃
I had to concentrate to stop myself from running as I fled。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
115
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
116
6。 Blood Type
I followed her all day through other people's eyes； barely aware of my own surroundings。
Not Mike Newton's eyes； because I couldn't stand any more of his offensive
fantasies； and not Jessica Stanley's； because her resentment toward Bella made me angry
in a way that was not safe for the petty girl。 Angela Weber was a good choice when her
eyes were available； she was kind—her head was an easy place to be。 And then
sometimes it was the teachers who provided the best view。
I was surprised； watching her stumble through the day—tripping over cracks in
the sidewalk； stray books； and； most often； her own feet—that the people I eavesdropped
on thought of Bella as clumsy。
I considered that。 It was true that she often had trouble staying upright。 I
remembered her stumbling into the desk that first day； sliding around on the ice before
the accident； falling over the low lip of the doorframe yesterday？ How odd； they were
right。 She was clumsy。
I didn't know why this was so funny to me； but I laughed out loud as I walked
from American History to English and several people shot me wary looks。 How had I
never noticed this before？ Perhaps because there was something very graceful about her
in stillness； the way she held her head； the arch of her neck？
There was nothing graceful about her now。 Mr。 Varner watched as she caught the
toe of her boot on the carpet and literally fell into her chair。
I laughed again。
The time moved with incredible sluggishness while I waited for my chance to see
her with my own eyes。 Finally； the bell rang。 I strode quickly to the cafeteria to secure
my spot。 I was one of the first there。 I chose a table that was usually empty； and was
sure to remain that way with me seated here。
When my family entered and saw me sitting alone in a new place； they were not
surprised。 Alice must have warned them。
Rosalie stalked past me without a glance。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
117
Idiot。
Rosalie and I had never had an easy relationship—I'd offended her the very first
time she'd heard me speak； and it was downhill from there—but it seemed like she was
even more ill…tempered than usual the last few days。 I sighed。 Rosalie made everything
about herself。
Jasper gave me half a smile as he walked by。
Good luck； he thought doubtfully。
Emmett rolled his eyes and shook his head。
Lost his mind； poor kid。
Alice was beaming； her teeth shining too brightly。
Can I talk to Bella now？？
〃Keep out of it；〃 I said under my breath。
Her face fell； and then brightened again。
Fine。 Be stubborn。 It's only a matter of time。
I sighed again。
Don't forget about today's biology lab； she reminded me。
I nodded。 No； I hadn't forgotten that。
While I waited for Bella to arrive； I followed her in the eyes of the freshman who
was walking behind Jessica on his way to the cafeteria。 Jessica was babbling about the
upcoming dance； but Bella said nothing in response。 Not that Jessica gave her much of a
chance。
The moment Bella walked through the door； her eyes flashed to the table where
my siblings sat。 She stared for a moment； and then her forehead crumpled and her eyes
dropped to the floor。 She hadn't noticed me here。
She looked so？sad。 I felt a powerful urge to get up and go to her side； to
comfort her somehow； only I didn't know what she would find comforting。 I had no idea
what made her look that way。 Jessica continued to jabber about the dance。 Was Bella
sad that she was going to miss it？ That didn't seem likely？
But that could be remedied； if she wished。
She bought a drink for her lunch and nothing else。 Was that right？ Didn't she
need more nutrition than that？ I'd never paid much attention to a human's diet before。
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
118
Humans were quite exasperatingly fragile！ There were a million different things
to worry about？
〃Edward Cullen is staring at you again；〃 I heard Jessica say。 〃I wonder why he's
sitting alone today？〃
I was grateful to Jessica—though she was even more resentful now—because
Bella's head snapped up and her eyes searched until they met mine。
There was no trace of sadness in her face now。 I let myself hope that she'd been
sad because she'd thought I'd left school early； and that hope made me smile。
I motioned with my finger for her to join me。 She looked so startled by this that I
wanted to tease her again。
So I winked； and her mouth fell open。
〃Does he mean you？〃 Jessica asked rudely。
〃Maybe he needs help with his Biology homework；〃 she said in a low； uncertain
voice。 〃Um； I'd better go see what he wants。〃
This was another yes。
She stumbled twice on her way to my table； though there was nothing in her way
but perfectly even linoleum。 Seriously； how had I missed this before？ I'd been paying
more attention to her silent thoughts； I supposed？ What else had I missed？
Keep it honest； keep it light； I chanted to myself。
She stopped behind the chair across from me； hesitating。 I inhaled deeply；
through my nose this time rather than my mouth。
Feel the burn； I thought dryly。
〃Why don't you sit with me today？〃 I asked her。
She pulled the chair out and sat； staring at me the whole while。 She seemed
nervous； but her physical acceptance was yet another yes。
I waited for her to speak。
It took a moment； but； finally； she said； 〃This is different。〃
〃Well？〃 I hesitated。 〃I decided as long as I was going to hell； I might as well do
it thoroughly。〃
？ 2008 Stephenie Meyer
119
What had made me say that？ I supposed it was honest； at least。 And perhaps
she'd hear the unsubtle warning my words implied。 Maybe she would realize that she
should get up and walk away as quickly as possible？
She didn't get up。 She stared at me； waiting； as if I'd left my sentence unfinished。
〃You know I don't have any idea what you mean；〃 she said when I didn't
continue。
That was a relief。 I smiled。
〃I know。〃
It was hard to ignore the thoughts screaming at me from behind her back—and I
wanted to change the subject anyway。
〃I think your friends are angry at me for stealing you。〃
This did not appear to concern her。 〃They'll survive。〃
〃I may not give you back； though。〃 I didn't even know if I was trying to be
honest now； or just trying to tease her again。 Being near her made it hard to make sense
of my own thoughts。
Bella swallowed loudly。
I laughed at her expression。 〃You look worried。〃 It really shouldn't be funny？
She should worry。
〃No。〃 She was a bad liar； it didn't help that her voice broke。 〃Surprised；
actually？。 What brought this on？〃
〃I told you；〃 I reminded her。 〃I got tired of trying to stay away from you。 So I'm
giving up。〃 I held my smile in place with a bit of effort。 This wasn't working at all—
trying to be honest and casual at the same time。
〃Giving up？〃 she repeated； baffled。
〃Yes—giving up trying to be good。〃 And； apparently； giving up trying to be
casual。 〃I'm just going to do what I want now； and let the chips fall where they may。〃
That was honest enough。 Let her see my selfishness。 Let that warn her； too。
〃You lost me ag