5 midnigh+sun-第36节

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had　never　much　considered　before　now。　
I　heard　her　worry　aloud　about　leaving　her　father　to　prepare　dinner　alone；　and　
smiled　at　this　proof　to　my　theory—yes；　she　was　a　care…taker。　
And　then　I　left；　knowing　I　would　return　when　she　was　asleep。　
I　would　not　trespass　on　her　privacy　the　way　the　peeping　tom　would　have。　　I　was　
here　for　her　protection；　not　to　leer　at　her　in　the　way　Mike　Newton　no　doubt　would；　were　
he　agile　enough　to　move　through　the　treetops　the　way　I　could。　　I　would　not　treat　her　so　
crassly。　
My　house　was　empty　when　I　returned；　which　was　fine　by　me。　　I　didn't　miss　the　
confused　or　disparaging　thoughts；　questioning　my　sanity。　　Emmett　had　left　a　note　stuck　to　
the　newel　post。　
Football　at　the　Rainier　field—c'mon！　　Please？　
I　found　a　pen　and　scrawled　the　word　sorry　beneath　his　plea。　　The　teams　were　even　
without　me；　in　any　case。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
164　

I　went　for　the　shortest　of　hunting　trips；　contenting　myself　with　the　smaller；　gentler　
creatures　that　did　not　taste　as　good　as　the　hunters；　and　then　changed　into　fresh　clothes　
before　I　ran　back　to　Forks。　
Bella　did　not　sleep　as　well　tonight。　　She　thrashed　in　her　blankets；　her　face　
sometimes　worried；　sometimes　sad。　　I　wondered　what　nightmare　haunted　her？and　then　
realized　that　perhaps　I　really　didn't　want　to　know。　
When　she　spoke；　she　mostly　muttered　derogatory　things　about　Forks　in　a　glum　
voice。　　Only　once；　when　she　sighed　out　the　words　〃Come　back〃　and　her　hand　twitched　
open—a　wordless　plea—did　I　have　a　chance　to　hope　she　might　be　dreaming　of　me。　
The　next　day　of　school；　the　last　day　the　sun　would　hold　me　prisoner；　was　much　
the　same　as　the　day　before。　　Bella　seemed　even　gloomier　than　yesterday；　and　I　wondered　
if　she　would　bow　out　of　her　plans—she　didn't　seem　in　the　mood。　
But；　being　Bella；　she　would　probably　put　her　friends'　enjoyment　above　that　of　her　
own。　
She　wore　a　deep　blue　blouse　today；　and　the　color　set　her　skin　off　perfectly；　
making　it　look　like　fresh　cream。　
School　ended；　and　Jessica　agreed　to　pick　the　other　girls　up—Angela　was　going；　
too；　for　which　I　was　grateful。　
I　went　home　to　get　my　car。　　When　I　found　that　Peter　and　Charlotte　were　there；　I　
decided　could　afford　to　give　the　girls　an　hour　or　so　for　a　head　start。　　I　would　never　be　able　
to　bear　following　behind　them；　driving　at　the　speed　limit—hideous　thought。　
I　came　in　through　the　kitchen；　nodding　vaguely　at　Emmett's　and　Esme's　greetings　
as　I　passed　by　everyone　in　the　front　room　and　went　straight　to　the　piano。　
Ugh；　he's　back。　　Rosalie；　of　course。　
Ah；　Edward。　　I　hate　to　see　him　suffering　so。　　Esme's　joy　was　becoming　marred　by　
concern。　　She　should　be　concerned。　　This　love　story　she　envisioned　for　me　was　careening　
toward　a　tragedy　more　perceptibly　every　moment。　
Have　fun　in　Port　Angeles　tonight；　Alice　thought　cheerfully。　　Let　me　know　when　
I'm　allowed　to　talk　to　Bella。　
You're　pathetic。　　I　can't　believe　you　missed　the　game　last　night　just　to　watch　
somebody　sleep；　Emmett　grumbled。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
165　

Jasper　paid　me　no　mind；　even　when　the　song　I　played　came　out　a　little　more　
stormily　than　I'd　intended。　　It　was　an　old　song；　with　a　familiar　theme：　impatience。　　Jasper　
was　saying　goodbye　to　his　friends；　who　eyed　me　curiously。　
What　a　strange　creature；　the　Alice…sized；　white…blond　Charlotte　was　thinking。　
And　he　was　so　normal　and　pleasant　the　last　time　we　met。　
Peter's　thoughts　were　in　sync　with　hers；　as　was　usually　the　case。　
It　must　be　the　animals。　　The　lack　of　human　blood　drives　them　mad　eventually；　he　
was　concluding。　　His　hair　was　just　as　fair　as　hers；　and　almost　as　long。　　They　were　very　
similar—except　for　size；　as　he　was　almost　as　tall　as　Jasper—in　both　look　and　thought。　　A　
well　matched　pair；　I'd　always　thought。　
Everyone　but　Esme　stopped　thinking　about　me　after　a　moment；　and　I　played　in　
more　subdued　tones　so　that　I　would　not　attract　notice。　
I　did　not　pay　attention　to　them　for　a　long　while；　just　letting　the　music　distract　me　
from　my　unease。　　It　was　hard　to　have　the　girl　out　of　sight　and　mind。　　I　only　returned　my　
attention　to　their　conversation　when　the　goodbyes　grew　more　final。　
〃If　you　see　Maria　again；〃　Jasper　was　saying；　a　little　warily；　〃tell　her　I　wish　her　
well。〃　
Maria　was　the　vampire　who　had　created　both　Jasper　and　Peter—Jasper　in　the　
latter　half　of　the　nineteenth　century；　Peter　more　recently；　in　the　nineteen　forties。　　She'd　
looked　Jasper　up　once　when　we　were　in　Calgary。　　It　had　been　an　eventful　visit—we'd　had　
to　move　immediately。　　Jasper　had　politely　asked　her　to　keep　her　distance　in　the　future。　
〃I　don't　imagine　that　will　happen　soon；〃　Peter　said　with　a　laugh—Maria　was　
undeniable　dangerous　and　there　was　not　much　love　lost　between　her　and　Peter。　　Peter　
had；　after　all；　been　instrumental　in　Jasper's　defection。　　Jasper　had　always　been　Maria's　
favorite；　she　considered　it　a　minor　detail　that　she　had　once　planned　to　kill　him。　　〃But；　
should　it　happen；　I　certainly　will。〃　
They　were　shaking　hands　then；　preparing　to　depart。　　I　let　the　song　I　was　playing　
trail　off　to　an　unsatisfying　end；　and　got　hastily　to　my　feet。　
〃Charlotte；　Peter；〃　I　said；　nodding。　
〃It　was　nice　to　see　you　again；　Edward；〃　Charlotte　said　doubtfully。　　Peter　just　
nodded　in　return。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
166　

Madman；　Emmett　threw　after　me。　
Idiot；　Rosalie　thought　at　the　same　time。　
Poor　boy。　　Esme。　
And　Alice；　in　a　chiding　tone。　　They're　going　straight　east；　to　Seattle。　　No　where　
near　Port　Angeles。　　She　showed　me　the　proof　in　her　visions。　
I　pretended　I　hadn't　heard　that。　　My　excuses　were　already　flimsy　enough。　
Once　in　my　car；　I　felt　more　relaxed；　the　robust　purr　of　the　engine　Rosalie　had　
boosted　for　me—last　year；　when　she　was　in　a　better　mood—was　soothing。　　　It　was　a　relief　
to　be　in　motion；　to　know　that　I　was　getting　closer　to　Bella　with　every　mile　that　flew　away　
under　my　tires。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
167　
9。　　Port　Angeles　
It　was　too　bright　for　me　to　drive　into　town　when　I　got　to　Port　Angeles；　the　sun　was　still　
too　high　overhead；　and；　though　my　windows　were　tinted　dark；　there　was　no　reason　to　take　
unnecessary　risks。　　More　unnecessary　risks；　I　should　say。　
I　was　certain　I　would　be　able　to　find　Jessica's　thoughts　from　a　distance—Jessica's　
thoughts　were　louder　than　Angela's；　but　once　I　found　the　first；　I'd　be　able　to　hear　the　
second。　　Then；　when　the　shadows　lengthened；　I　could　get　closer。　　For　now；　I　pulled　off　
the　road　onto　an　overgrown　driveway　just　outside　the　town　that　appeared　to　be　
infrequently　used。　
I　knew　the　general　direction　to　search　in—there　was　really　only　one　place　for　
dress　shopping　in　Port　Angeles。　　It　wasn't　long　before　I　found　Jessica；　spinning　in　front　of　
a　three　way　mirror；　and　I　could　see　Bella　in　her　peripheral　vision；　appraising　the　long　
black　dress　she　wore。　
Bella　still　looks　pissed。　　Ha　ha。　　Angela　was　right—Tyler　was　full　of　it。　　I　can't　
believe　she's　so　upset　about　it；　though。　　At　least　she　knows　she　has　a　back　up　date　for　the　
prom。　　What　if　Mike　doesn't　have　fun　at　the　dance；　and　he　doesn't　ask　me　out　again？　
What　if　he　asks　Bella　to　the　prom？　　Would　she　have　asked　Mike　to　the　dance　if　I　hadn't　
said　anything？　　Does　he　think　she's　prettier　than　me？　Does　she　think　she's　prettier　than　
me？　
〃I　think　I　like　the　blue　one　better。　　It　really　brings　out　your　eyes。〃　
Jessica　smiled　at　Bella　with　false　warmth；　while　eyeing　her　suspiciously。　
Does　she　really　think　that？　　Or　does　she　want　me　to　look　like　a　cow　on　Saturday？　
I　was　already　tired　of　listening　to　Jessica。　　I　searched　close　by　for　Angela—ah；　but　
Angela　was　in　the　process　of　changing　dresses；　and　I　skipped　quickly　out　of　her　head　to　
give　her　some　privacy。　
Well；　there　wasn't　much　trouble　Bella　could　get　into　in　a　department　store。　　I'd　let　
them　shop　and　then　catch　up　with　them　when　they　were　done。　　It　wouldn't　be　long　until　it　
was　dark—the　clouds　were　beginning　to　return；　drifting　in　from　the　west。　　I　could　only　
catch　glimpses　of　them　through　the　thick　trees；　but　I　could　see　how　they　would　hurry　the　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
168　

sunset。　　I　welcomed　them；　craved　them　more　than　I　had　ever　yearned　for　their　shadows　
before。　　Tomorrow　I　could　sit　beside　Bella　in　school　again；　monopolize　her　attention　at　
lunch　again。　　I　could　ask　her　all　the　questions　I'd　been　saving　up？　
So；　she　was　furious　about　Tyler's　presumption。　　I'd　seen　that　in　his　head—that　
he'd　meant　it　literally　when　he'd　spoken　of　the　prom；　that　he　was　staking　a　claim。　　I　
pictured　her　expression　from　that　other　afternoon—the　outraged　disbelief—and　I　
laughed。　　I　wondered　what　she　would　say　to　him　about　this。　　I　wouldn't　want　to　miss　her　
reaction。　
The　time　went　slowly　while　I　waited　for　the　shadows　to　lengthen。　　I　checked　in　
periodically　with　Jessica；　her　mental　voice　was　the　easiest　to　find；　but　I　didn't　like　to　
linger　there　long。　　I　saw　the　place　they　were　planning　to　eat。　　It　would　be　dark　by　dinner　
time？maybe　I　would　coincidentally　choose　the　same　restaurant。　　I　touched　the　phone　in　
my　pocket；　thinking　of　inviting　Alice　out　to　eat？　　She　would　love　that；　but　she　would　
also　want　to　talk　to　Bella。　　I　wasn't　sure　if　I　was　ready　to　have　Bella　more　involved　with　
m