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to enjoy watching her reaction。 But; if it was not if Tyler s invitation was the one she d been hoping for then I wanted to know that; too。 I measured Tyler Crowley as a rival; knowing it was wrong to do so。 He seemed
tediously average and unremarkable to me; but what did I know of Bella s preferences? Maybe she liked average boys I winced at that thought。 I could never be an average boy。 How foolish it was to set myself up as a rival for her affections。 How could she ever care for someone who was; by any estimation; a monster? She was too good for a monster。 I ought to have let her escape; but my inexcusable curiosity kept me from doing what was right。 Again。 But what if Tyler missed his chance now; only to contact her later when I would have no way of knowing the oute? I pulled my Volvo out into the narrow lane; blocking her exit。 Emmett and the others were on their way; but he d described my strange behavior to them; and they were walking slowly; watching me; trying to decipher what I was doing。 I watched the girl in my rearview mirror。 She glowered toward the back of my car without meeting my gaze; looking as if she wished she were driving a tank rather than a rusted Chevy。 Tyler hurried to his car and got in line behind her; grateful for my inexplicable behavior。 He waved at her; trying to catch her attention; but she didn t notice。 He waited a moment; and then left his car; sauntering up to her passenger side window。 He tapped on the glass。 She jumped; and then stared at him in confusion。 After a second; she rolled the window down manually; seeming to have some trouble with it。 I m sorry; Tyler; she said; her voice irritated。 I m stuck behind Cullen。 She said my surname in a hard voice she was still angry with me。 Oh; I know; Tyler said; undeterred by her mood。 something while we re trapped here。 His grin was cocky。 I was gratified by the way she blanched at his obvious intent。 Will you ask me to the spring dance? he asked; no thought of defeat in his head。 I m not going to be in town; Tyler; she told him; irritation still plain in her voice。 Yeah; Mike said that。 Then why ? she stared to ask。 He shrugged。 I was hoping you were just letting him down easy。 Her eyes flashed; then cooled。 Sorry; Tyler; she said; not sounding sorry at all。 I really am going to be out of town。 He accepted that excuse; his selfassurance untouched。 have prom。 That s cool。 We still I just wanted to ask you
He strutted back to his car。 I was right to have waited for this。 The horrified expression on her face was priceless。 It told me what I should not so desperately need to know that she had no feelings for any of these human males who wished to court her。 Also; her expression was possibly the funniest thing I d ever seen。 My family arrived then; confused by the fact that I was; for a change; rocking with laughter rather than scowling murderously at everything in sight。 What s so funny? Emmett wanted to know。 I just shook my head while I also shook with fresh laughter as Bella revved her noisy engine angrily。 She looked like she was wishing for a tank again。 Let s go! Rosalie hissed impatiently。 Stop being an idiot。 If you can。 Her words didn t annoy me I was too entertained。 No one spoke to me on the way home。 thinking of Bella s face。 But I did as she asked。 I continued to chuckle every now and again; As I turned on to the drive speeding up now that there were no witnesses Alice ruined my mood。 So do I get to talk to Bella now? she asked suddenly; without considering the words first; thus giving me no warning。 No; I snapped。 Not fair! What am I waiting for? I haven t decided anything; Alice。 Whatever; Edward。 In her head; Bella s two destinies were clear again。 What s the point in getting to know her? I mumbled; suddenly morose。 just going to kill her? Alice hesitated for a second。 You have a point; she admitted。 If I m I took the final hairpin turn at niy miles an hour; and then screeched to a stop an inch from the back garage wall。 Enjoy your run; Rosalie said smugly as I threw myself out of the car。 But I didn t go running today。 Instead; I went hunting。 The others were scheduled to hunt tomorrow; but I couldn t afford to be thirsty now。 I overdid it; drinking more than necessary; glutting myself again a small grouping of elk and one black bear I was lucky to stumble across this early in the year。 I was so full it was unfortable。 Why couldn t that be enough? Why did her scent have to be so much stronger than anything else?
I had hunted in preparation for the next day; but; when I could hunt no more and the sun was still hours and hours from rising; I knew that the next day was not soon enough。 The jittery high swept through me again when I realized that I was going to go find the girl。 I argued with myself all the way back to Forks; but my less noble side won the argument; and I went ahead with my indefensible plan。 The monster was restless but wellfettered。 I knew I would keep a safe distance from her。 I only wanted to know where she was。 I just wanted to see her face。 It was past midnight; and Bella s house was dark and quiet。 Her truck was parked against the curb; her father s police cruiser in the driveway。 There were no conscious thoughts anywhere in the neighborhood。 I watched the house for a moment from the blackness of the forest that bordered it on the east。 The front door would probably be locked not a problem; except that I didn t want to leave a broken door as evidence behind me。 I decided to try the upstairs window first。 Not many people would bother installing a lock there。 I crossed the open yard and scaled the face of the house in half a second。 Dangling from the eave above the window by one hand; I looked through the glass; and my breath stopped。 It was her room。 I could see her in the one small bed; her covers on the floor and her sheets twisted around her legs。 As I watched; she twitched restlessly and threw one arm over her head。 She did not sleep soundly; at least not this night。 Did she sense the danger near her? I was repulsed by myself as I watched her toss again。 How was I any better than some sick peeping tom? I wasn t any better。 I was much; much worse。 I relaxed my fingertips; about to let myself drop。