1 twilight暮色-第3部分

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Finding　the　school　wasn't　difficult；　though　I'd　never　been　there　before。　
The　school　was；　like　most　other　things；　just　off　the　highway。　It　was　not　
obvious　that　it　was　a　school；　only　the　sign；　which　declared　it　to　be　the　
Forks　High　School；　made　me　stop。　It　looked　like　a　collection　of　matching　
houses；　built　with　marooncolored　bricks。　There　were　so　many　trees　and　
shrubs　I　couldn't　see　its　size　at　first。　Where　was　the　feel　of　the　
institution？　I　wondered　nostalgically。　Where　were　the　chainlink　fences；　
the　metal　detectors？　

I　parked　in　front　of　the　first　building；　which　had　a　small　sign　over　the　
door　reading　front　office。　No　one　else　was　parked　there；　so　I　was　sure　it　
was　off　limits；　but　I　decided　I　would　get　directions　inside　instead　of　
circling　around　in　the　rain　like　an　idiot。　I　stepped　unwillingly　out　of　
the　toasty　truck　cab　and　walked　down　a　little　stone　path　lined　with　dark　
hedges。　I　took　a　deep　breath　before　opening　the　door。　

Inside；　it　was　brightly　lit；　and　warmer　than　I'd　hoped。　The　office　was　
small；　a　little　waiting　area　with　padded　folding　chairs；　orangeflecked　
mercial　carpet；　notices　and　awards　cluttering　the　walls；　a　big　clock　
ticking　loudly。　Plants　grew　everywhere　in　large　plastic　pots；　as　if　there　
wasn't　enough　greenery　outside。　The　room　was　cut　in　half　by　a　long　
counter；　cluttered　with　wire　baskets　full　of　papers　and　brightly　colored　
flyers　taped　to　its　front。　There　were　three　desks　behind　the　counter；　one　
of　which　was　manned　by　a　large；　redhaired　woman　wearing　glasses。　She　was　
wearing　a　purple　tshirt；　which　immediately　made　me　feel　overdressed。　

The　redhaired　woman　looked　up。　〃Can　I　help　you？〃　

〃I'm　Isabella　Swan；〃　I　informed　her；　and　saw　the　immediate　awareness　
light　her　eyes。　I　was　expected；　a　topic　of　gossip　no　doubt。　Daughter　of　
the　Chief's　flighty　exwife；　e　home　at　last。　

〃Of　course；〃　she　said。　She　dug　through　a　precariously　stacked　pile　of　
documents　on　her　desk　till　she　found　the　ones　she　was　looking　for。　〃I　
have　your　schedule　right　here；　and　a　map　of　the　school。〃　She　brought　
several　sheets　to　the　counter　to　show　roe。　

She　went　through　my　classes　for　me；　highlighting　the　best　route　to　each　
on　the　map；　and　gave　me　a　slip　to　have　each　teacher　sign；　which　I　was　to　
bring　back　at　the　end　of　the　day。　She　smiled　at　me　and　hoped；　like　
Charlie；　that　I　would　like　it　here　in　Forks。　I　smiled　back　as　
convincingly　as　I　could。　

When　I　went　back　out　to　my　truck；　other　students　were　starting　to　arrive。　
I　drove　around　the　school；　following　the　line　of　traffic。　I　was　glad　to　
see　that　most　of　the　cars　were　older　like　mine；　nothing　flashy。　At　home　
I'd　lived　in　one　of　the　few　lowerine　neighborhoods　that　were　included　
in　the　Paradise　Valley　District。　It　was　a　mon　thing　to　see　a　new　
Mercedes　or　Porsche　in　the　student　lot。　The　nicest　car　here　was　a　shiny　
Volvo；　and　it　stood　out。　Still；　I　cut　the　engine　as　soon　as　I　was　in　a　
spot；　so　that　the　thunderous　volume　wouldn't　draw　attention　to　me。　

I　looked　at　the　map　in　the　truck；　trying　to　memorize　it　now；　hopefully　I　
wouldn't　have　to　walk　around　with　it　stuck　in　front　of　my　nose　all　day。　I　
stuffed　everything　in　my　bag；　slung　the　strap　over　my　shoulder；　and　
sucked　in　a　huge　breath。　I　can　do　this；　I　lied　to　myself　feebly。　No　one　
was　going　to　bite　me。　I　finally　exhaled　and　stepped　out　of　the　truck。　

I　kept　my　face　pulled　back　into　my　hood　as　I　walked　to　the　sidewalk；　
crowded　with　teenagers。　My　plain　black　jacket　didn't　stand　out；　I　noticed　
with　relief。　

Once　I　got　around　the　cafeteria；　building　three　was　easy　to　spot。　A　large　

black　〃3〃　was　painted　on　a　white　square　on　the　east　corner。　I　felt　my　
breathing　gradually　creeping　toward　hyperventilation　as　I　approached　the　
door。　I　tried　holding　my　breath　as　I　followed　two　unisex　raincoats　
through　the　door。　

The　classroom　was　small。　The　people　in　front　of　me　stopped　just　inside　
the　door　to　hang　up　their　coats　on　a　long　row　of　hooks。　I　copied　them。　
They　were　two　girls；　one　a　porcelaincolored　blonde；　the　other　also　pale；　
with　light　brown　hair。　At　least　my　skin　wouldn't　be　a　standout　here。　

I　took　the　slip　up　to　the　teacher；　a　tall；　balding　man　whose　desk　had　a　
nameplate　identifying　him　as　Mr。　Mason。　He　gawked　at　me　when　he　saw　my　
name　—　not　an　encouraging　response　—　and　of　course　I　flushed　tomato　red。　
But　at　least　he　sent　me　to　an　empty　desk　at　the　back　without　introducing　
me　to　the　class。　It　was　harder　for　my　new　classmates　to　stare　at　me　in　
the　back；　but　somehow；　they　managed。　I　kept　my　eyes　down　on　the　reading　
list　the　teacher　had　given　me。　It　was　fairly　basic：　Bronte；　Shakespeare；　
Chaucer；　Faulkner。　I'd　already　read　everything。　That　was　forting…　and　
boring。　I　wondered　if　my　mom　would　send　me　my　folder　of　old　essays；　or　if　
she　would　think　that　was　cheating。　I　went　through　different　arguments　
with　her　in　my　head　while　the　teacher　droned　on。　

When　the　bell　rang；　a　nasal　buzzing　sound；　a　gangly　boy　with　skin　
problems　and　hair　black　as　an　oil　slick　leaned　across　the　aisle　to　talk　
to　me。　

〃You're　Isabella　Swan；　aren't　you？〃　He　looked　like　the　overly　helpful；　
chess　club　type。　

〃Bella；〃　I　corrected。　Everyone　within　a　threeseat　radius　turned　to　look　
at　me。　

〃Where's　your　next　class？〃　he　asked。　

I　had　to　check　in　my　bag。　〃Um；　Government；　with　Jefferson；　in　building　
six。〃　

There　was　nowhere　to　look　without　meeting　curious　eyes。　

〃I'm　headed　toward　building　four；　I　could　show　you　the　way…〃　Definitely　
overhelpful。　〃I'm　Eric；〃　he　added。　

I　smiled　tentatively。　〃Thanks。〃　

We　got　our　jackets　and　headed　out　into　the　rain；　which　had　picked　up。　I　
could　have　sworn　several　people　behind　us　were　walking　close　enough　to　
eavesdrop。　I　hoped　I　wasn't　getting　paranoid。　

〃So；　this　is　a　lot　different　than　Phoenix；　huh？〃　he　asked。　

〃Very。〃　

〃It　doesn't　rain　much　there；　does　it？〃　

〃Three　or　four　times　a　year。〃　

〃Wow；　what　must　that　be　like？〃　he　wondered。　

〃Sunny；〃　I　told　him。　

〃You　don't　look　very　tan。〃　

〃My　mother　is　part　albino。〃　

He　studied　my　face　apprehensively；　and　I　sighed。　It　looked　like　clouds　
and　a　sense　of　humor　didn't　mix。　A　few　months　of　this　and　I'd　forget　how　
to　use　sarcasm。　

We　walked　back　around　the　cafeteria；　to　the　south　buildings　by　the　gym。　
Eric　walked　me　right　to　the　door；　though　it　was　clearly　marked。　

〃Well；　good　luck；〃　he　said　as　I　touched　the　handle。　〃Maybe　we'll　have　

some　other　classes　together。〃　He　sounded　hopeful。　

I　smiled　at　him　vaguely　and　went　inside。　

The　rest　of　the　morning　passed　in　about　the　same　fashion。　My　Trigonometry　
teacher；　Mr。　Varner；　who　I　would　have　hated　anyway　just　because　of　the　
subject　he　taught；　was　the　only　one　who　made　me　stand　in　front　of　the　
class　and　introduce　myself。　I　stammered；　blushed；　and　tripped　over　my　own　
boots　on　the　way　to　my　seat。　

After　two　classes；　I　started　to　recognize　several　of　the　faces　in　each　
class。　There　was　always　someone　braver　than　the　others　who　would　
introduce　themselves　and　ask　me　questions　about　how　I　was　liking　Forks。　I　
tried　to　be　diplomatic；　but　mostly　I　just　lied　a　lot。　At　least　I　never　
needed　the　map。　

One　girl　sat　next　to　me　in　both　Trig　and　Spanish；　and　she　walked　with　me　
to　the　cafeteria　for　lunch。　She　was　tiny；　several　inches　shorter　than　my　
five　feet　four　inches；　but　her　wildly　curly　dark　hair　made　up　a　lot　of　
the　difference　between　our　heights。　I　couldn't　remember　her　name；　so　I　
smiled　and　nodded　as　she　prattled　about　teachers　and　classes。　I　didn't　
try　to　keep　up。　

We　sat　at　the　end　of　a　full　table　with　several　of　her　friends；　who　she　
introduced　to　me。　I　forgot　all　their　names　as　soon　as　she　spoke　them。　
They　seemed　impressed　by　her　bravery　in　speaking　to　me。　The　boy　from　
English；　Eric；　waved　at　me　from　across　the　room。　

It　was　there；　sitting　in　the　lunchroom；　trying　to　make　conversation　with　
seven　curious　strangers；　that　I　first　saw　them。　

They　were　sitting　in　the　corner　of　the　cafeteria；　as　far　away　from　where　
I　sat　as　possible　in　the　long　room。　There　were　five　of　them。　They　weren't　
talking；　and　they　weren't　eating；　though　they　each　had　a　tray　of　
untouched　food　in　front　of　them。　They　weren't　gawking　at　me；　unlike　most　
of　the　other　students；　so　it　was　safe　to　stare　at　them　without　fear　of　
meeting　an　excessively　interested　pair　of　eyes。　But　it　was　none　of　these　
things　that　caught；　and　held；　my　attention。　

They　didn't　look　anything　alike。　Of　the　three　boys；　one　was　big　—　muscled　
like　a　serious　weight　lifter；　with　dark；　curly　hair。　Another　was　taller；　
leaner；　but　still　muscular；　and　honey　blond。　The　last　was　lanky；　less　
bulky；　with　untidy；　bronzecolored　hair。　He　was　more　boyish　than　the　
others；　who　looked　like　they　could　be　in　college；　or　even　teachers　here　
rather　than　students。　

The　girls　were　opposites。　The　tall　one　was　statuesque。　She　had　a　
beautiful　figure；　the　kind　you　saw　on　the　cover　of　the　Sports　Illustrated　
swimsuit　issue；　the　kind　that　made　every　girl　around　her　take　a　hit　on　
her　selfesteem　just　by　being　in　the　same　room。　Her　hair　was　golden；　
gently　waving　to　the　middle　of　her　back。　The　short　girl　was　pixielike；　
thin　in　the　extreme；　with　small　features。