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！
〃Oh；〃 I murmured； 〃that。〃
〃Yes； that。〃 His voice was bleak。 〃Don't you want to know if I drink
blood？〃
I flinched。 〃Well； Jacob said something about that。〃
〃What did Jacob say？〃 he asked flatly。
〃He said you didn't… hunt people。 He said your family wasn't supposed to
be dangerous because you only hunted animals。〃
〃He said we weren't dangerous？〃 His voice was deeply skeptical。
〃Not exactly。 He said you weren't supposed to be dangerous。 But the
Quileutes still didn't want you on their land； just in case。〃
He looked forward； but I couldn't tell if he was watching the road or not。
〃So was he right？ About not hunting people？〃 I tried to keep my voice as
even as possible。
〃The Quileutes have a long memory；〃 he whispered。
I took it as a confirmation。
〃Don't let that make you placent； though；〃 he warned me。 〃They're
right to keep their distance from us。 We are still dangerous。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
〃We try；〃 he explained slowly。 〃We're usually very good at what we do。
Sometimes we make mistakes。 Me； for example； allowing myself to be alone
with you。〃
〃This is a mistake？〃 I heard the sadness in my voice； but I didn't know
if he could as well。
〃A very dangerous one；〃 he murmured。
We were both silent then。 I watched the headlights twist with the curves
of the road。 They moved too fast； it didn't look real； it looked like a
video game。 I was aware of the time slipping away so quickly； like the
black road beneath us； and I was hideously afraid that I would never have
another chance to be with him like this again — openly； the walls between
us gone for once。 His words hinted at an end； and I recoiled from the
idea。 I couldn't waste one minute I had with him。
〃Tell me more；〃 I asked desperately； not caring what he said； just so I
could hear his voice again。
He looked at me quickly； startled by the change in my tone。 〃What more do
you want to know？〃
〃Tell me why you hunt animals instead of people；〃 I suggested； my voice
still tinged with desperation。 I realized my eyes were wet； and I fought
against the grief that was trying to overpower me。
〃I don't want to be a monster。〃 His voice was very low。
〃But animals aren't enough？〃
He paused。 〃I can't be sure； of course； but I'd pare it to living on
tofu and soy milk； we call ourselves vegetarians； our little inside joke。
It doesn't pletely satiate the hunger — or rather thirst。 But it keens
us strong enough to resist。 Most of the time。〃 His tone turned ominous。
〃Sometimes it's more difficult than others。〃
〃Is it very difficult for you now？〃 I asked。
He sighed。 〃Yes。〃
〃But you're not hungry now；〃 I said confidently — stating； not asking。
〃Why do you think that？〃
〃Your eyes。 I told you I had a theory。 I've noticed that people — men in
particular — are crabbier when they're hungry。〃
He chuckled。 〃You are observant； aren't you？〃
I didn't answer； I just listened to the sound of his laugh； mitting it
to memory。
〃Were you hunting this weekend； with Emmett？〃 I asked when it was quiet
again。
〃Yes。〃 He paused for a second； as if deciding whether or not to say
something。 〃I didn't want to leave； but it was necessary。 It's a bit
easier to be around you when I'm not thirsty。〃
〃Why didn't you want to leave？〃
〃It makes me… anxious… to be away from you。〃 His eyes were gentle but
intense； and they seemed to be making my bones turn soft。 〃I wasn't
joking when I asked you to try not to fall in the ocean or get run over
last Thursday。 I was distracted all weekend； worrying about you。 And
after what happened tonight； I'm surprised that you did make it through a
whole weekend unscathed。〃 He shook his head； and then seemed to remember
something。 〃Well； not totally unscathed。〃
〃What？〃
〃Your hands；〃 he reminded me。 I looked down at my palms； at the
almosthealed scrapes across the heels of my hands。 His eyes missed
nothing。
〃I fell；〃 I sighed。
〃That's what I thought。〃 His lips curved up at the corners。 〃I suppose；
being you； it could have been much worse — and that possibility tormented
me the entire time I was away。 It was a very long three days。 I really
got on Emmett's nerves。〃 He smiled ruefully at me。
〃Three days？ Didn't you just get back today？〃
〃No； we got back Sunday。〃
〃Then why weren't any of you in school？〃 I was frustrated； almost angry
as I thought of how much disappointment I had suffered because of his
absence。
〃Well； you asked if the sun hurt me； and it doesn't。 But I can't go out
in the sunlight — at least； not where anyone can see。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I'll show you sometime；〃 he promised。
I thought about it for a moment。
〃You might have called me；〃 I decided。
He was puzzled。 〃But I knew you were safe。〃
〃But I didn't know where you were。 I —〃 I hesitated； dropping my eyes。
〃What？〃 His velvety voice was pelling。
〃I didn't like it。 Not seeing you。 It makes me anxious； too。〃 I blushed
to be saying this out loud。
He was quiet。 I glanced up； apprehensive； and saw that his expression was
pained。
〃Ah；〃 he groaned quietly。 〃This is wrong。〃
I couldn't understand his response。 〃What did I say？〃
〃Don't you see； Bella？ It's one thing for me to make myself miserable；
but a wholly other thing for you to be so involved。〃 He turned his
anguished eyes to the road； his words flowing almost too fast for me to
understand。 〃I don't want to hear that you feel that way。〃 His voice was
low but urgent。 His words cut me。 〃It's wrong。 It's not safe。 I'm
dangerous； Bella — please； grasp that。〃
〃No。〃 I tried very hard not to look like a sulky child。
〃I'm serious；〃 he growled。
〃So am I。 I told you； it doesn't matter what you are。 It's too late。〃
His voice whipped out； low and harsh。 〃Never say that。〃
I bit my lip and was glad he couldn't know how much that hurt。 I stared
out at the road。 We must be close now。 He was driving much too fast。
〃What are you thinking？〃 he asked； his voice still raw。 I just shook my
head； not sure if I could speak。 I could feel his gaze on my face； but I
kept my eyes forw