5 midnigh+sun-第56节

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〃That　was　a　group　decision　apparently。〃　　I　wanted　to　be　sure　that　Ben　was　clear　
on　this。　　〃Angela's　shy。　　If　B—well；　if　a　guy　doesn't　have　the　nerve　to　ask　her　out；　she'd　
never　ask　him。〃　
〃You　like　shy　girls；〃　Emmett　said；　back　to　improvisation。　　Quiet　girls。　　Girls　
like？hmm；　I　don't　know。　　Maybe　Bella　Swan？　
I　grinned　at　him。　　〃Exactly。〃　　Then　I　returned　to　the　performance。　　〃Maybe　Angela　
will　get　tired　of　waiting。　　Maybe　I'll　ask　her　to　the　prom。〃　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
256　

No；　you　won't；　Ben　thought；　straightening　up　in　his　chair。　　So　what　if　she's　so　
much　taller　than　me？　　If　she　doesn't　care；　then　neither　do　I。　　She's　the　nicest；　smartest；　
prettiest　girl　in　this　school？　and　she　wants　me。　
I　liked　this　Ben。　　He　seemed　bright　and　well…meaning。　　Maybe　even　worthy　of　a　
girl　like　Angela。　
I　gave　Emmett　a　thumbs　up　under　the　desk　as　Mrs。　Goff　stood　and　greeted　the　
class。　
Okay；　I'll　admit　it—that　was　sort　of　fun；　Emmett　thought。　
I　smiled　to　myself；　pleased　that　I'd　been　able　to　shape　one　love　story's　happy　
ending。　　I　was　positive　that　Ben　would　follow　through；　and　Angela　would　receive　my　
anonymous　gift。　　My　debt　was　repaid。　
How　silly　humans　were；　to　let　a　six　inch　height　differential　confound　their　
happiness。　
My　success　put　me　in　a　good　mood。　　I　smiled　again　as　I　settled　into　my　chair　and　
prepared　to　be　entertained。　　After　all；　as　Bella　had　pointed　out　at　lunch；　I'd　never　seen　her　
in　action　in　her　gym　class　before。　
Mike's　thoughts　were　the　easiest　to　pinpoint　in　the　babble　of　voices　that　swarmed　
through　the　gym。　　His　mind　had　gotten　far　too　familiar　over　the　last　few　weeks。　　With　a　
sigh；　I　resigned　myself　to　listening　through　him。　　At　least　I　could　be　sure　that　he　would　be　
paying　attention　to　Bella。　
I　was　just　in　time　to　hear　him　offer　to　be　her　badminton　partner；　as　he　made　the　
suggestion；　other　partnerings　ran　through　his　mind。　　My　smile　faded；　my　teeth　clenched　
together；　and　I　had　to　remind　myself　that　murdering　Mike　Newton　was　not　a　permissible　
option。　
〃Thanks；　Mike—you　don't　have　to　do　this；　you　know。〃　
〃Don't　worry；　I'll　keep　out　of　your　way。〃　
They　grinned　at　each　other；　and　flashes　of　numerous　accidents—always　in　some　
way　connected　to　Bella—flashed　through　Mike's　head。　
Mike　played　alone　at　first；　while　Bella　hesitated　on　the　back　half　of　the　court；　
holding　her　racket　gingerly；　as　if　it　was　some　kind　of　weapon。　　Then　Coach　Clapp　ambled　
by　and　ordered　Mike　to　let　Bella　play。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
257　

Uh　oh；　Mike　thought　as　Bella　moved　forward　with　a　sigh；　holding　her　racquet　at　
an　awkward　angle。　
Jennifer　Ford　served　the　birdie　directly　toward　Bella　with　a　smug　twist　to　her　
thoughts。　　Mike　saw　Bella　lurch　toward　it；　swinging　the　racket　yards　wide　of　her　target；　
and　he　rushed　in　to　try　to　save　the　volley。　
I　watched　the　trajectory　of　Bella's　racquet　with　alarm。　　Sure　enough；　it　hit　the　taut　
net　and　sprung　back　at　her；　clipping　her　forehead　before　it　spun　out　to　strike　Mike's　arm　
with　a　resounding　thwack。　
Ow。　　Ow。　　Ungh。　　That's　going　to　leave　a　bruise。　
Bella　was　kneading　her　forehead。　　It　was　hard　to　stay　in　my　seat　where　I　belonged；　
knowing　she　was　hurt。　　But　what　could　I　do；　if　I　were　there？　　And　it　didn't　seem　to　be　
serious？　　I　hesitated；　watching。　　If　she　intended　to　continue　to　try　to　play；　I　was　going　to　
have　to　manufacture　an　excuse　to　pull　her　out　of　class。　
The　coach　laughed。　　〃Sorry；　Newton。〃　　That　girl's　the　worst　jinx　I've　ever　seen。　
Shouldn't　inflict　her　on　the　others？　
He　turned　his　back　deliberately　and　moved　to　watch　another　game　so　that　Bella　
could　return　to　her　former　spectator's　role。　
Ow；　Mike　thought　again；　massaging　his　arm。　　He　turned　to　Bella。　　〃Are　you　
okay？〃　
〃Yeah；　are　you？〃　she　asked　sheepishly；　blushing。　
〃I　think　I'll　make　it。〃　　Don't　want　to　sound　like　a　crybaby。　　But；　man；　that　hurts！　
Mike　swung　his　arm　in　a　circle；　wincing。　
〃I'll　just　stay　back　here；〃　Bella　said；　embarrassment　and　chagrin　on　her　face　
rather　than　pain。　　Maybe　Mike　had　got　the　worst　of　it。　　I　certainly　hoped　that　was　the　case。　
At　least　she　wasn't　playing　anymore。　　She　held　her　racquet　so　carefully　behind　her　back；　
her　eyes　wide　with　remorse？　　I　had　to　disguise　my　laugh　as　coughing。　
What's　funny？　Emmett　wanted　to　know。　
〃Tell　you　later；〃　I　muttered。　
Bella　didn't　venture　into　the　game　again。　　The　coach　ignored　her　and　let　Mike　
play　alone。　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
258　

I　breezed　through　the　quiz　at　the　end　of　the　hour；　and　Mrs。　Goff　let　me　go　early。　　I　
was　listening　intently　to　Mike　as　I　walked　across　the　campus。　　He'd　decided　to　confront　
Bella　about　me。　
Jessica　swears　they're　dating。　　Why？　　Why　did　he　have　to　pick　her？　
He　didn't　recognize　the　real　phenomenon—that　she'd　picked　me。　
〃So。〃　
〃So　what？〃　she　wondered。　
〃You　and　Cullen；　huh？〃　　You　and　the　freak。　　I　guess；　if　a　rich　guy　is　that　
important　to　you。。。　
I　gritted　my　teeth　at　his　degrading　assumption。　
〃That's　none　of　your　business；　Mike。〃　
Defensive。　　So　it's　true。　　Crap。　　〃I　don't　like　it。〃　
〃You　don't　have　to；〃　she　snapped。　
Why　can't　she　see　what　a　circus　sideshow　he　is？　　Like　they　all　are。　　The　way　he　
stares　at　her。　　It　gives　me　chills　to　watch。　　〃He　looks　at　you　like？like　you're　something　to　
eat。〃　
I　cringed；　waiting　for　her　response。　
Her　face　turned　bright　red；　and　her　lips　pressed　together　like　she　was　holding　her　
breath。　　Then；　suddenly；　a　giggle　burst　through　her　lips。　
Now　she's　laughing　at　me。　　Great。　
Mike　turned；　thoughts　sullen；　and　wandered　off　to　change。　
I　leaned　against　the　gym　wall　and　tried　to　compose　myself。　
How　could　she　have　laughed　at　Mike's　accusation—so　entirely　on　target　that　I　
began　to　worry　that　Forks　was　becoming　too　aware？　　Why　would　she　laugh　at　the　
suggestion　that　I　could　kill　her；　when　she　knew　that　it　was　entirely　true？　　Where　was　the　
humor　in　that？　
What　was　wrong　with　her？　
Did　she　have　morbid　sense　of　humor？　　That　didn't　fit　with　my　idea　of　her　
character；　but　how　could　I　be　sure？　　Or　maybe　my　daydream　of　the　giddy　angel　was　true　
in　the　one　respect；　in　that　she　had　no　sense　of　fear　at　all。　　Brave—that　was　one　word　for　
it。　　Others　might　say　stupid；　but　I　knew　how　bright　she　was。　　No　matter　what　the　reason；　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
259　

though；　this　lack　of　fear　or　twisted　sense　of　humor　wasn't　good　for　her。　　Was　it　this　
strange　lack　that　put　her　in　danger　so　constantly？　　Maybe　she　would　always　need　me　
here？　
Just　like　that；　my　mood　was　soaring。　
If　I　could　just　discipline　myself；　make　myself　safe；　then　perhaps　it　would　be　right　
for　me　to　stay　with　her。　
When　she　walked　through　the　gym　doors；　her　shoulders　were　stiff　and　her　lower　
lip　was　between　her　teeth　again—a　sign　of　anxiety。　　But　as　soon　as　her　eyes　met　mine；　
her　rigid　shoulders　relaxed　and　a　wide　smile　spread　across　her　face。　　It　was　an　oddly　
peaceful　expression。　　She　walked　right　to　my　side　without　hesitation；　only　stopping　when　
she　was　so　close　that　her　body　heat　crashed　over　me　like　a　tidal　wave。　
〃Hi；〃　she　whispered。　
The　happiness　I　felt　in　this　moment　was；　again；　without　precedent。　
〃Hello；〃　I　said；　and　then—because　with　my　mood　suddenly　so　light　I　couldn't　
resist　teasing　her—I　added；　〃How　was　gym？〃　
Her　smile　wavered。　　〃Fine。〃　
She　was　a　poor　liar。　
〃Really？〃　I　asked；　about　to　press　the　issue—I　was　still　concerned　about　her　head；　
was　she　in　pain？—but　then　Mike　Newton's　thoughts　we　so　loud　they　broke　my　
concentration。　
I　hate　him。　　I　wish　he　would　die。　　I　hope　he　drives　that　shiny　car　right　off　a　cliff。　
Why　couldn't　he　just　leave　her　alone？　　Stick　to　his　own　kind—to　the　freaks。　
〃What？〃　Bella　demanded。　
My　eyes　refocused　on　her　face。　　She　looked　at　Mike's　retreating　back；　and　then　at　
me　again。　
〃Newton's　getting　on　my　nerves；〃　I　admitted。　
Her　mouth　fell　open；　and　her　smile　disappeared。　　She　must　have　forgotten　that　I'd　
had　the　power　to　watch　through　her　calamitous　last　hour；　or　hoped　that　I　hadn't　utilized　it。　
〃You　weren't　listening　again？〃　
〃How's　your　head？〃　
？　2008　Stephenie　Meyer　
　
260　

〃You're　unbelievable！〃　she　said　through　her　teeth；　and　then　she　turned　away　from　
me　and　stalked　furiously　toward　the　parking　lot。　　Her　skin　flushed　dark　red—she　was　
embarrassed。　
I　kept　pace　with　her；　hoping　that　her　anger　would　pass　soon。　　She　was　usually　
quick　to　forgive　me。　
〃You　were　the　one　who　mentioned　how　I'd　never　seen　you　in　Gym；〃　I　explained。　
〃It　made　me　curious。〃　
She　didn't　answer；　her　eyebrows　pulled　together。　
She　came　to　a　sudden　halt　in　the　parking　lot　when　she　realized　that　the　way　to　my　
car　was　blocked　by　a　crowd　of　male　students。　
I　wonder　how　fast　they've　gone　in　this　thing？　
Look　at　the　SMG　shift　paddles。　　I've　never　seen　those　outside　of　a　magazine？　
Nice　side　grills？　
Sure　wish　I　had　sixty　thousand　dollars　laying　around？　
This　was　exactly　why　it　was　better　for　Rosalie　to　only　use　her　car　out　of　town。　
I　wound　through　the　throng　of　lustful　boys　to　my　car；　after　a　second　of　hesitation；　
Bella　followed　suit。　
〃Ostentatious；〃　I　muttered　as　she　climbed　in。　
〃What　kind　of　car　is　that？〃　she　wondered。　
〃An　M3。〃　
She　frowned。　　〃I　don't　speak　Car　and　Driver。〃　
〃It's　a　BMW。〃　　I　rolled　my　eyes　and　then　fo