《1 twilight暮色》

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1 twilight暮色- 第96部分


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〃Okay… but; geez; this sounds bad。〃 He shook his head。 〃He said to tell 
you; no; to warn you; that — and this is his plural; not mine〃 — he 
lifted one hand from my waist and made little quotations marks in the air 
— '〃We'll be watching。'〃 He watched warily for my reaction。 

It sounded like something from a mafia movie。 I laughed out loud。 

〃Sorry you had to do this; Jake;〃 I snickered。 

〃I don't mind that much。〃 He grinned in relief。 His eyes were appraising 
as they raked quickly over my dress。 〃So; should I tell him you said to 
butt the hell out?〃 he asked hopefully。 

〃No;〃 I sighed。 〃Tell him I said thanks。 I know he means well。〃 

The song ended; and I dropped my arms。 

His hands hesitated at my waist; and he glanced at my bum leg。 〃Do you 
want to dance again? Or can I help you get somewhere?〃 

Edward answered for me。 〃That's all right; Jacob。 I'll take it from here。〃 

Jacob flinched; and stared wideeyed at Edward; who stood just beside us。 

〃Hey; I didn't see you there;〃 he mumbled。 〃I guess I'll see you around; 
Bella。〃 He stepped back; waving halfheartedly。 

I smiled。 〃Yeah; I'll see you later。〃 

〃Sorry;〃 he said again before he turned for the door。 

Edward's arms wound around me as the next song started。 It was a little 
uptempo for slow dancing; but that didn't seem to concern him。 I leaned 
my head against his chest; content。 

〃Feeling better?〃 I teased。 

〃Not really;〃 he said tersely。 

〃Don't be mad at Billy;〃 I sighed。 〃He just worries about me for 
Charlie's sake。 It's nothing personal。〃 

〃I'm not mad at Billy;〃 he corrected in a clipped voice。 〃But his son is 
irritating me。〃 

I pulled back to look at him。 His face was very serious。 

〃Why?〃 

〃First of all; he made me break my promise。〃 

I stared at him in confusion。 

He halfsmiled。 〃I promised I wouldn't let go of you tonight;〃 he 
explained。 

〃Oh。 Well; I forgive you。〃 

〃Thanks。 But there's something else。〃 Edward frowned。 

I waited patiently。 

〃He called you pretty;〃 he finally continued; his frown deepening。 
〃That's practically an insult; the way you look right now。 You're much 
more than beautiful。〃 

I laughed。 〃You might be a little biased。〃 

〃I don't think that's it。 Besides; I have excellent eyesight。〃 

We were twirling again; my feet on his as he held me close。 

〃So are you going to explain the reason for all of this?〃 I wondered。 

He looked down at me; confused; and I glared meaningfully at the crepe 
paper。 

He considered for a moment; and then changed direction; spinning me 
through the crowd to the back door of the gym。 I caught a glimpse of 
Jessica and Mike dancing; staring at me curiously。 Jessica waved; and I 
smiled back quickly。 Angela was there; too; looking blissfully happy in 
the arms of little Ben Cheney; she didn't look up from his eyes; a head 
lower than hers。 Lee and Samantha; Lauren; glaring toward us; with 
Conner; I could name every face that spiraled past me。 And then we were 
outdoors; in the cool; dim light of a fading sunset。 

As soon as we were alone; he swung me up into his arms; and carried me 
across the dark grounds till he reached the bench beneath the shadow of 
the madrone trees。 He sat there; keeping me cradled against his chest。 
The moon was already up; visible through the gauzy clouds; and his face 
glowed pale in the white light。 His mouth was hard; his eyes troubled。 

〃The point?〃 I prompted softly。 

He ignored me; staring up at the moon。 

〃Twilight; again;〃 he murmured。 〃Another ending。 No matter how perfect 
the day is; it always has to end。〃 

〃Some things don't have to end;〃 I muttered through my teeth; instantly 
tense。 

He sighed。 

〃I brought you to the prom;〃 he said slowly; finally answering my 
question; 〃because I don't want you to miss anything。 I don't want my 
presence to take anything away from you; if I can help it。 I want you to 
be human。 I want your life to continue as it would have if I'd died in 
nieeneighteen like I should have。〃 

I shuddered at his words; and then shook my head angrily。 〃In what 
strange parallel dimension would I ever have gone to prom of my own free 
will? If you weren't a thousand times stronger than me; I would never 
have let you get away with this。〃 

He smiled briefly; but it didn't touch his eyes。 〃It wasn't so bad; you 
said so yourself。〃 

〃That's because I was with you。〃 

We were quiet for a minute; he stared at the moon and I stared at him。 I 
wished there was some way to explain how very uninterested I was in a 
normal human life。 

〃Will you tell me something?〃 he asked; glancing down at me with a slight 
smile。 

〃Don't I always?〃 

〃Just promise you'll tell me;〃 he insisted; grinning。 

I knew I was going to regret this almost instantly。 〃Fine。〃 

〃You seemed honestly surprised when you figured out that I was taking you 
here;〃 he began。 

〃I was;〃 I interjected。 

〃Exactly;〃 he agreed。 〃But you must have had some other theory… I'm 
curious — what did you think I was dressing you up for?〃 

Yes; instant regret。 I pursed my lips; hesitating。 〃I don't want to tell 
you。〃 

〃You promised;〃 he objected。 

〃I know。〃 

〃What's the problem?〃 

I knew he thought it was mere embarrassment holding me back。 〃I think it 
will make you mad — or sad。〃 

His brows pulled together over his eyes as he thought that through。 〃I 
still want to know。 Please?〃 

I sighed。 He waited。 

〃Well… I assumed it was some kind of… occasion。 But I didn't think it 
would be some trite human thing… prom!〃 I scoffed。 

〃Human?〃 he asked flatly。 He'd picked up on the key word。 

I looked down at my dress; fidgeting with a stray piece of chiffon。 He 
waited in silence。 

〃Okay;〃 I confessed in a rush。 〃So I was hoping that you might have 
changed your mind… that you were going to change me; after all。〃 

A dozen emotions played across his face。 Some I recognized: anger… pain… 
and then he seemed to collect himself and his expression became amused。 

〃You thought that would be a black tie occasion; did you?〃 he teased; 
touching the lapel of his tuxedo jacket。 

I scowled to hide my embarrassment。 〃I don't know how these things work。 
To me; at least; it seems more rational than prom does。〃 He was still 
grinning。 〃It's not funny;〃 I said。 

〃No; you're right; it's not;〃 he agreed; his smile fading。 〃I'd rather 
treat it like a joke; though; than believe you're serious。〃 

〃But I am serious。〃 

He sighed deeply。 〃I know。 And you're really that willing?〃 

The pain was back in his eyes。 I bit my lip and nodded。 

〃So ready for this to be the end;〃 he murmured; almost to himself; 〃for 
this to be the twilight of your life; though your life has barely 
started。 You're ready to give up everything。〃 

〃It's not the end; it's the beginning;〃 I disagreed under my breath。 

〃I'm not worth it;〃 he said sadly。 

〃Do you remember when you told me that I didn't see myself very clearly?〃 
I asked; raising my eyebrows。 〃You obviously have the same blindness。〃 

〃I know what I am。〃 

I sighed。 

But his mercurial mood shifted on me。 He pursed his lips; and h

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