1 twilight暮色-第54部分

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And　then　I　saw　the　black　car；　a　weathered　Ford；　parked　in　Charlie's　
driveway　—　and　heard　Edward　mutter　something　unintelligible　in　a　low；　
harsh　voice。　

Leaning　away　from　the　rain　under　the　shallow　front　porch；　Jacob　Black　
stood　behind　his　father's　wheelchair。　Billy's　face　was　impassive　as　stone　
as　Edward　parked　my　truck　against　the　curb。　Jacob　stared　down；　his　
expression　mortified。　

Edward's　low　voice　was　furious。　〃This　is　crossing　the　line。〃　

〃He　came　to　warn　Charlie？〃　I　guessed；　more　horrified　than　angry。　

Edward　just　nodded；　answering　Billy's　gaze　through　the　rain　with　narrowed　
eyes。　

I　felt　weak　with　relief　that　Charlie　wasn't　home　yet。　

〃Let　me　deal　with　this；〃　I　suggested。　Edward's　black　glare　made　me　
anxious。　

To　my　surprise；　he　agreed。　〃That's　probably　best。　Be　careful；　though。　The　
child　has　no　idea。〃　

I　bridled　a　little　at　the　word　child。　〃Jacob　is　not　that　much　younger　
than　I　am；〃　I　reminded　him。　

He　looked　at　me　then；　his　anger　abruptly　fading。　〃Oh；　I　know；〃　he　assured　
me　with　a　grin。　

I　sighed　and　put　my　hand　on　the　door　handle。　

〃Get　them　inside；〃　he　instructed；　〃so　I　can　leave。　I'll　be　back　around　
dusk。〃　

〃Do　you　want　my　truck？〃　I　offered；　meanwhile　wondering　how　I　would　
explain　its　absence　to　Charlie。　

He　rolled　his　eyes。　〃I　could　walk　home　faster　than　this　truck　moves。〃　

〃You　don't　have　to　leave；〃　I　said　wistfully。　

He　smiled　at　my　glum　expression。　〃Actually；　I　do。　After　you　get　rid　of　
them〃　—　he　threw　a　dark　glance　in　the　Blacks'　direction　—　〃you　still　have　
to　prepare　Charlie　to　meet　your　new　boyfriend。〃　He　grinned　widely；　
showing　all　of　his　teeth。　

I　groaned。　〃Thanks　a　lot。〃　

He　smiled　the　crooked　smile　that　I　loved。　〃I'll　be　back　soon；〃　he　
promised。　His　eyes　flickered　back　to　the　porch；　and　then　he　leaned　in　to　
swiftly　kiss　me　just　under　the　edge　of　my　jaw。　My　heart　lurched　
frantically；　and　I；　too；　glanced　toward　the　porch。　Billy's　face　was　no　
longer　impassive；　and　his　hands　clutched　at　the　armrests　of　his　chair。　

〃Soon；〃　I　stressed　as　I　opened　the　door　and　stepped　out　into　the　rain。　

I　could　feel　his　eyes　on　my　back　as　I　halfran　through　the　light　sprinkle　

toward　the　porch。　

〃Hey；　Billy。　Hi；　Jacob。〃　I　greeted　them　as　cheerfully　as　I　could　manage。　
〃Charlie's　gone　for　the　day　—　I　hope　you　haven't　been　waiting　long。〃　

〃Not　long；〃　Billy　said　in　a　subdued　tone。　His　black　eyes　were　piercing。　
〃I　just　wanted　to　bring　this　up。〃　He　indicated　a　brown　paper　sack　resting　
in　his　lap。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　said；　though　I　had　no　idea　what　it　could　be。　〃Why　don't　you　
e　in　for　a　minute　and　dry　off？〃　

I　pretended　to　be　oblivious　to　his　intense　scrutiny　as　I　unlocked　the　
door；　and　waved　them　in　ahead　of　me。　

〃Here；　let　me　take　that；〃　I　offered；　turning　to　shut　the　door。　I　allowed　
myself　one　last　glance　at　Edward。　He　was　waiting；　perfectly　still；　his　
eyes　solemn。　

〃You'll　want　to　put　it　in　the　fridge；〃　Billy　noted　as　he　handed　me　the　
package。　〃It's　some　of　Harry　Clearwater's　homemade　fish　fry　—　Charlie's　
favorite。　The　fridge　keeps　it　drier。〃　He　shrugged。　

〃Thanks；〃　I　repeated；　but　with　feeling　this　time。　〃I　was　running　out　of　
new　ways　to　fix　fish；　and　he's　bound　to　bring　home　more　tonight。〃　

〃Fishing　again？〃　Billy　asked　with　a　subtle　gleam　in　his　eye。　〃Down　at　the　
usual　spot？　Maybe　I'll　run　by　and　see　him。〃　

〃No；〃　I　quickly　lied；　my　face　going　hard。　〃He　was　headed　someplace　new…　
but　I　have　no　idea　where。〃　

He　took　in　my　changed　expression；　and　it　made　him　thoughtful。　

〃Jake；〃　he　said；　still　appraising　me。　〃Why　don't　you　go　get　that　new　
picture　of　Rebecca　out　of　the　car？　I'll　leave　that　for　Charlie；　too。〃　

〃Where　is　it？〃　Jacob　asked；　his　voice　morose。　I　glanced　at　him；　but　he　
was　staring　at　the　floor；　his　eyebrows　pulling　together。　

〃I　think　I　saw　it　in　the　trunk；〃　Billy　said。　〃You　may　have　to　dig　for　it。〃　

Jacob　slouched　back　out　into　the　rain。　

Billy　and　I　faced　each　other　in　silence。　After　a　few　seconds；　the　quiet　
started　to　feel　awkward；　so　I　turned　and　headed　to　the　kitchen。　I　could　
hear　his　wet　wheels　squeak　against　the　linoleum　as　he　followed。　

I　shoved　the　bag　onto　the　crowded　top　shelf　of　the　fridge；　and　spun　
around　to　confront　him。　His　deeply　lined　face　was　unreadable。　

〃Charlie　won't　be　back　for　a　long　time。〃　My　voice　was　almost　rude。　

He　nodded　in　agreement；　but　said　nothing。　

〃Thanks　again　for　the　fish　fry；〃　I　hinted。　

He　continued　nodding。　I　sighed　and　folded　my　arms　across　my　chest。　

He　seemed　to　sense　that　I　had　given　up　on　small　talk。　〃Bella；〃　he　said；　
and　then　he　hesitated。　

I　waited。　

〃Bella；〃　he　said　again；　〃Charlie　is　one　of　my　best　friends。〃　

〃Yes。〃　

He　spoke　each　word　carefully　in　his　rumbling　voice。　〃I　noticed　you've　
been　spending　time　with　one　of　the　Cullens。〃　

〃Yes；〃　I　repeated　curtly。　

His　eyes　narrowed。　〃Maybe　it's　none　of　my　business；　but　I　don't　think　
that　is　such　a　good　idea。〃　

〃You're　right；〃　I　agreed。　〃It　is　none　of　your　business。〃　

He　raised　his　graying　eyebrows　at　my　tone。　〃You　probably　don't　know　this；　
but　the　Cullen　family　has　an　unpleasant　reputation　on　the　reservation。〃　

〃Actually；　I　did　know　that；〃　I　informed　him　in　a　hard　voice。　This　
surprised　him。　〃But　that　reputation　couldn't　be　deserved；　could　it？　
Because　the　Cullens　never　set　foot　on　the　reservation；　do　they？〃　I　could　
see　that　my　less　than　subtle　reminder　of　the　agreement　that　both　bound　
and　protected　his　tribe　pulled　him　up　short。　

〃That's　true；〃　he　acceded；　his　eyes　guarded。　〃You　seem…　well　informed　
about　the　Cullens。　More　informed　than　I　expected。〃　

I　stared　him　down。　〃Maybe　even　better　informed　than　you　are。〃　

He　pursed　his　thick　lips　as　he　considered　that。　〃Maybe。〃　he　allowed；　but　
his　eyes　were　shrewd。　〃Is　Charlie　as　well　informed？〃　

He　had　found　the　weak　chink　in　my　armor。　

〃Charlie　likes　the　Cullens　a　lot；〃　I　hedged。　He　clearly　understood　my　
evasion。　His　expression　was　unhappy；　but　unsurprised。　

〃It's　not　my　business；〃　he　said。　〃But　it　may　be　Charlie's。〃　

〃Though　it　would　be　my　business；　again；　whether　or　not　I　think　that　it's　
Charlie's　business；　right？〃　

I　wondered　if　he　even　understood　my　confused　question　as　I　struggled　not　
to　say　anything　promising。　But　he　seemed　to。　He　thought　about　it　while　
the　rain　picked　up　against　the　roof；　the　only　sound　breaking　the　silence。　

〃Yes；〃　he　finally　surrendered。　〃I　guess　that's　your　business；　too。〃　

I　sighed　with　relief。　〃Thanks；　Billy。〃　

〃Just　think　about　what　you're　doing；　Bella；〃　he　urged。　

〃Okay；〃　I　agreed　quickly。　

He　frowned。　〃What　I　meant　to　say　was；　don't　do　what　you're　doing。〃　

I　looked　into　his　eyes；　filled　with　nothing　but　concern　for　me；　and　there　
was　nothing　I　could　say。　

Just　then　the　front　door　banged　loudly；　and　I　jumped　at　the　sound。　

〃There's　no　picture　anywhere　in　that　car。〃　Jacob's　plaining　voice　
reached　us　before　he　did。　The　shoulders　of　his　shirt　were　stained　with　
the　rain；　his　hair　dripping；　when　he　rounded　the　corner。　

〃Hmm；〃　Billy　grunted；　suddenly　detached；　spinning　his　chair　around　to　
face　his　son。　〃I　guess　I　left　it　at　home。〃　

Jacob　rolled　his　eyes　dramatically。　〃Great。〃　

〃Well；　Bella；　tell　Charlie〃　—　Billy　paused　before　continuing　—　〃that　we　
stopped　by；　I　mean。〃　

〃I　will；〃　I　muttered。　

Jacob　was　surprised。　〃Are　we　leaving　already？〃　

〃Charlie's　gonna　be　out　late；〃　Billy　explained　as　he　rolled　himself　past　
Jacob。　

〃Oh。〃　Jacob　looked　disappointed。　〃Well；　I　guess　I'll　see　you　later；　then；　

Bella。〃　

〃Sure；〃　I　agreed。　

〃Take　care；〃　Billy　warned　me。　I　didn't　answer。　

Jacob　helped　his　father　out　the　door。　I　waved　briefly；　glancing　swiftly　
toward　my　nowempty　truck；　and　then　shut　the　door　before　they　were　gone。　

I　stood　in　the　hallway　for　a　minute；　listening　to　the　sound　of　their　car　
as　it　backed　out　and　drove　away。　I　stayed　where　I　was；　waiting　for　the　
irritation　and　anxiety　to　subside。　When　the　tension　eventually　faded　a　
bit；　I　headed　upstairs　to　change　out　of　my　dressy　clothes。　

I　tried　on　a　couple　of　different　tops；　not　sure　what　to　expect　tonight。　
As　I　concentrated　on　what　was　ing；　what　had　just　passed　became　
insignificant。　Now　that　I　was　removed　from　Jasper's　and　Edward's　
influence；　I　began　to　make　up　for　not　being　terrified　before。　I　gave　up　
quickly　on　choosing　an　outfit　—　throwing　on　an　old　flannel　shirt　and　
jeans　—　knowing　I　would　be　in　my　raincoat　all　night　anyway。　

The　phone　rang　and　I　sprinted　downstairs　to　get　it。　There　was　only　one　
voice　I　wanted　to　hear；　anything　else　would　be　a　disappointment。　But　I　
knew　that　if　he　wanted　to　talk　to　me；　he'd　probably　just　materialize　in　
my　room。　

〃Hello？〃　I　asked；　breathless。　

〃Bella？　It's　me；〃　Jessica　said。　

〃Oh；　hey；　Jess。〃　I　scrambled　for　a　moment　to　e　back　down　to　reality。　
It　felt　like　months　rather　than　days　since　I'd　spoken　to　Jess。　〃How　was　
the　dance？〃　

〃It　was　so　much　fun！〃　Jessica　gushed。　Needing　no　more　invitation　than　
that；　she　launched　into　a　minutebyminute　account　of　the　previous　night。　
I　mmm'd　and　ahh'd　at　the　right　places；　but　it　wasn't　easy　to　concentrate。　
Jessica；　Mike；　the　dance；　the　school　—　they　all　seemed　strangely