1 twilight暮色- 第11部分

〃So　that's　all；〃　I　insisted；　wondering　why　he　was　still　staring　at　me　
that　way。　

His　gaze　became　appraising。　〃You　put　on　a　good　show；〃　he　said　slowly。　
〃But　I'd　be　willing　to　bet　that　you're　suffering　more　than　you　let　anyone　
see。〃　

I　grimaced　at　him；　resisting　the　impulse　to　stick　out　my　tongue　like　a　
fiveyearold；　and　looked　away。　

〃Am　I　wrong？〃　

I　tried　to　ignore　him。　

〃I　didn't　think　so；〃　he　murmured　smugly。　

〃Why　does　it　matter　to　you？〃　I　asked；　irritated。　I　kept　my　eyes　away；　
watching　the　teacher　make　his　rounds。　

〃That's　a　very　good　question；〃　he　muttered；　so　quietly　that　I　wondered　if　
he　was　talking　to　himself。　However；　after　a　few　seconds　of　silence；　I　
decided　that　was　the　only　answer　I　was　going　to　get。　

I　sighed；　scowling　at　the　blackboard。　

〃Am　I　annoying　you？〃　he　asked。　He　sounded　amused。　

I　glanced　at　him　without　thinking…　and　told　the　truth　again。　〃Not　
exactly。　I'm　more　annoyed　at　myself。　My　face　is　so　easy　to　read　—　my　
mother　always　calls　me　her　open　book。〃　I　frowned。　

〃On　the　contrary；　I　find　you　very　difficult　to　read。〃　Despite　everything　
that　I'd　said　and　he'd　guessed；　he　sounded　like　he　meant　it。　

〃You　must　be　a　good　reader　then；〃　I　replied。　

〃Usually。〃　He　smiled　widely；　flashing　a　set　of　perfect；　ultrawhite　teeth。　

Mr。　Banner　called　the　class　to　order　then；　and　I　turned　with　relief　to　
listen。　I　was　in　disbelief　that　I'd　just　explained　my　dreary　life　to　this　
bizarre；　beautiful　boy　who　may　or　may　not　despise　me。　He'd　seemed　
engrossed　in　our　conversation；　but　now　I　could　see；　from　the　corner　of　my　
eye；　that　he　was　leaning　away　from　me　again；　his　hands　gripping　the　edge　
of　the　table　with　unmistakable　tension。　

I　tried　to　appear　attentive　as　Mr。　Banner　illustrated；　with　
transparencies　on　the　overhead　projector；　what　I　had　seen　without　
difficulty　through　the　microscope。　But　my　thoughts　were　unmanageable。　

When　the　bell　finally　rang；　Edward　rushed　as　swiftly　and　as　gracefully　
from　the　room　as　he　had　last　Monday。　And；　like　last　Monday；　I　stared　
after　him　in　amazement。　

Mike　skipped　quickly　to　my　side　and　picked　up　my　books　for　me。　I　imagined　
him　with　a　wagging　tail。　

〃That　was　awful；〃　he　groaned。　〃They　all　looked　exactly　the　same。　You're　
lucky　you　had　Cullen　for　a　partner。〃　

〃I　didn't　have　any　trouble　with　it；〃　I　said；　stung　by　his　assumption。　I　
regretted　the　snub　instantly。　〃I've　done　the　lab　before；　though；〃　I　added　
before　he　could　get　his　feelings　hurt。　

〃Cullen　seemed　friendly　enough　today；〃　he　mented　as　we　shrugged　into　
our　raincoats。　He　didn't　seem　pleased　about　it。　

I　tried　to　sound　indifferent。　〃I　wonder　what　was　with　him　last　Monday。〃　

I　couldn't　concentrate　on　Mike's　chatter　as　we　walked　to　Gym；　and　RE。　
didn't　do　much　to　hold　my　attention；　either。　Mike　was　on　my　team　today。　
He　chivalrously　covered　my　position　as　well　as　his　own；　so　my　
woolgathering　was　only　interrupted　when　it　was　my　turn　to　serve；　my　team　
ducked　warily　out　of　the　way　every　time　I　was　up。　

The　rain　was　just　a　mist　as　I　walked　to　the　parking　lot；　but　I　was　
happier　when　I　was　in　the　dry　cab。　I　got　the　heater　running；　for　once　not　
caring　about　the　mindnumbing　roar　of　the　engine。　I　unzipped　my　jacket；　
put　the　hood　down；　and　fluffed　my　damp　hair　out　so　the　heater　could　dry　
it　on　the　way　home。　

I　looked　around　me　to　make　sure　it　was　clear。　That's　when　I　noticed　the　
still；　white　figure。　Edward　Cullen　was　leaning　against　the　front　door　of　
the　Volvo；　three　cars　down　from　me；　and　staring　intently　in　my　direction。　
I　swiftly　looked　away　and　threw　the　truck　into　reverse；　almost　hitting　a　
rusty　Toyota　Corolla　in　my　haste。　Lucky　for　the　Toyota；　I　stomped　on　the　
brake　in　time。　It　was　just　the　sort　of　car　that　my　truck　would　make　scrap　
metal　of。　I　took　a　deep　breath；　still　looking　out　the　other　side　of　my　
car；　and　cautiously　pulled　out　again；　with　greater　success。　I　stared　
straight　ahead　as　I　passed　the　Volvo；　but　from　a　peripheral　peek；　I　would　
swear　I　saw　him　laughing。　

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3。　PHENOMENON　

When　I　opened　my　eyes　in　the　morning；　something　was　different。　

It　was　the　light。　It　was　still　the　graygreen　light　of　a　cloudy　day　in　
the　forest；　but　it　was　clearer　somehow。　I　realized　there　was　no　fog　
veiling　my　window。　

I　jumped　up　to　look　outside；　and　then　groaned　in　horror。　

A　fine　layer　of　snow　covered　the　yard；　dusted　the　top　of　my　truck；　and　
whitened　the　road。　But　that　wasn't　the　worst　part。　All　the　rain　from　
yesterday　had　frozen　solid　—　coating　the　needles　on　the　trees　in　
fantastic；　gorgeous　patterns；　and　making　the　driveway　a　deadly　ice　slick。　
I　had　enough　trouble　not　falling　down　when　the　ground　was　dry；　it　might　
be　safer　for　me　to　go　back　to　bed　now。　

Charlie　had　left　for　work　before　I　got　downstairs。　In　a　lot　of　ways；　
living　with　Charlie　was　like　having　my　own　place；　and　I　found　myself　
reveling　in　the　aloneness　instead　of　being　lonely。　

I　threw　down　a　quick　bowl　of　cereal　and　some　orange　juice　from　the　
carton。　I　felt　excited　to　go　to　school；　and　that　scared　me。　I　knew　it　
wasn't　the　stimulating　learning　environment　I　was　anticipating；　or　seeing　
my　new　set　of　friends。　If　I　was　being　honest　with　myself；　I　knew　I　was　
eager　to　get　to　school　because　I　would　see　Edward　Cullen。　And　that　was　
very；　very　stupid。　

I　should　be　avoiding　him　entirely　after　my　brainless　and　embarrassing　
babbling　yesterday。　And　I　was　suspicious　of　him；　why　should　he　lie　about　
his　eyes？　I　was　still　frightened　of　the　hostility　I　sometimes　felt　
emanating　from　him；　and　I　was　still　tonguetied　whenever　I　pictured　his　
perfect　face。　I　was　well　aware　that　my　league　and　his　league　were　spheres　
that　did　not　touch。　So　I　shouldn't　be　at　all　anxious　to　see　him　today。　

It　took　every　ounce　of　my　concentration　to　make　it　down　the　icy　brick　
driveway　alive。　I　almost　lost　my　balance　when　I　finally　got　to　the　truck；　
but　I　managed　to　cling　to　the　side　mirror　and　save　myself。　Clearly；　today　
was　going　to　be　nightmarish。　

Driving　to　school；　I　distracted　myself　from　my　fear　of　falling　and　my　
unwanted　speculations　about　Edward　Cullen　by　thinking　about　Mike　and　
Eric；　and　the　obvious　difference　in　how　teenage　boys　responded　to　me　
here。　I　was　sure　I　looked　exactly　the　same　as　I　had　in　Phoenix。　Maybe　it　
was　just　that　the　boys　back　home　had　watched　me　pass　slowly　through　all　
the　awkward　phases　of　adolescence　and　still　thought　of　me　that　way。　
Perhaps　it　was　because　I　was　a　novelty　here；　where　novelties　were　few　and　
far　between。　Possibly　my　crippling　clumsiness　was　seen　as　endearing　
rather　than　pathetic；　casting　me　as　a　damsel　in　distress。　Whatever　the　
reason；　Mike's　puppy　dog　behavior　and　Eric's　apparent　rivalry　with　him　
were　disconcerting。　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　didn't　prefer　being　ignored。　

My　truck　seemed　to　have　no　problem　with　the　black　ice　that　covered　the　
roads。　I　drove　very　slowly；　though；　not　wanting　to　carve　a　path　of　
destruction　through　Main　Street。　

When　I　got　out　of　my　truck　at　school；　I　saw　why　I'd　had　so　little　
trouble。　Something　silver　caught　my　eye；　and　I　walked　to　the　back　of