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！
room was dark； there was the same electric spark； the same restless
craving to stretch my hand across the short space and touch his cold
skin； as yesterday。
I leaned forward on the table； resting my chin on my folded arms； my
hidden fingers gripping the table's edge as I fought to ignore the
irrational longing that unsettled me。 I didn't look at him； afraid that
if he was looking at me； it would only make selfcontrol that much
harder。 I sincerely tried to watch the movie； but at the end of the hour
I had no idea what I'd just seen。 I sighed in relief again when Mr。
Banner turned the lights on； finally glancing at Edward； he was looking
at me； his eyes ambivalent。
He rose in silence and then stood still； waiting for me。 We walked toward
the gym in silence； like yesterday。 And； also like yesterday； he touched
my face wordlessly — this time with the back of his cool hand； stroking
once from my temple to my jaw — before he turned and walked away。
Gym passed quickly as I watched Mike's oneman badminton show。 He didn't
speak to me today； either in response to my vacant expression or because
he was still angry about our squabble yesterday。 Somewhere； in a corner
of my mind； I felt bad about that。 But I couldn't concentrate on him。
I hurried to change afterward； ill at ease； knowing the faster I moved；
the sooner I would be with Edward。 The pressure made me more clumsy than
usual； but eventually I made it out the door； feeling the same release
when I saw him standing there； a wide smile automatically spreading
across my face。 He smiled in reaction before launching into more
crossexamination。
His questions were different now； though； not as easily answered。 He
wanted to know what I missed about home； insisting on descriptions of
anything he wasn't familiar with。 We sat in front of Charlie's house for
hours； as the sky darkened and rain plummeted around us in a sudden
deluge。
I tried to describe impossible things like the scent of creosote —
bitter； slightly resinous； but still pleasant — the high； keening sound
of the cicadas in July； the feathery barrenness of the trees； the very
size of the sky； extending whiteblue from horizon to horizon； barely
interrupted by the low mountains covered with purple volcanic rock。 The
hardest thing to explain was why it was so beautiful to me — to justify a
beauty that didn't depend on the sparse； spiny vegetation that often
looked half dead； a beauty that had more to do with the exposed shape of
the land； with the shallow bowls of valleys between the craggy hills； and
the way they held on to the sun。 I found myself using my hands as I tried
to describe it to him。
His quiet； probing questions kept me talking freely； forgetting； in the
dim light of the storm； to be embarrassed for monopolizing the
conversation。 Finally； when I had finished detailing my cluttered room at
home； he paused instead of responding with another question。
〃Are you finished？〃 I asked in relief。
〃Not even close — but your father will be home soon。〃
〃Charlie！〃 I suddenly recalled his existence； and sighed。 I looked out at
the raindarkened sky； but it gave nothing away。 〃How late is it？〃 I
wondered out loud as I glanced at the clock。 I was surprised by the time
— Charlie would be driving home now。
〃It's twilight；〃 Edward murmured； looking at the western horizon；
obscured as it was with clouds。 His voice was thoughtful； as if his mind
were somewhere far away。 I stared at him as he gazed unseeingly out the
windshield。
I was still staring when his eyes suddenly shifted back to mine。
〃It's the safest time of day for us；〃 he said； answering the unspoken
question in my eyes。 〃The easiest time。 But also the saddest； in a way…
the end of another day； the return of the night。 Darkness is so
predictable； don't you think？〃 He smiled wistfully。
〃I like the night。 Without the dark； we'd never see the stars。〃 I
frowned。 〃Not that you see them here much。〃
He laughed； and the mood abruptly lightened。
〃Charlie will be here in a few minutes。 So； unless you want to tell him
that you'll be with me Saturday…〃 He raised one eyebrow。
〃Thanks； but no thanks。〃 I gathered my books； realizing I was stiff from
sitting still so long。 〃So is it my turn tomorrow； then？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 His face was teasingly outraged。 〃I told you I wasn't
done； didn't I？〃
〃What more is there？〃
〃You'll find out tomorrow。〃 He reached across to open my door for me； and
his sudden proximity sent my heart into frenzied palpitations。
But his hand froze on the handle。
〃Not good；〃 he muttered。
〃What is it？〃 I was surprised to see that his jaw was clenched； his eyes
disturbed。
He glanced at me for a brief second。 〃Another plication；〃 he said
glumly。
He flung the door open in one swift movement； and then moved； almost
cringed； swiftly away from me。
The flash of headlights through the rain caught my attention as a dark
car pulled up to the curb just a few feet away； facing us。
〃Charlie's around the corner；〃 he warned； staring through the downpour at
the other vehicle。
I hopped out at once； despite my confusion and curiosity。 The rain was
louder as it glanced off my jacket。
I tried to make out the shapes in the front seat of the other car； but it
was too dark。 I could see Edward illuminated in the glare of the new
car's headlights； he was still staring ahead； his gaze locked on
something or someone I couldn't see。 His expression was a strange mix of
frustration and defiance。
Then he revved the engine； and the tires squealed against the wet
pavement。 The Volvo was out of sight in seconds。
〃Hey； Bella；〃 called a familiar； husky voice from the driver's side of
the little black car。
〃Jacob？〃 I asked； squinting through the rain。 Just then； Charlie's
cruiser swung around the corner； his lights shining on the occupants of
the car in front of me。
Jacob was already climbing out； his wide grin visible even through the
darkness。 In the passenger seat was a much older man； a heavyset man with
a memorable face — a face that ove