3 eclipse月食-第12部分

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　“What　are　you　doing　to　him？”　I　demanded。　
　“It’s　nothing；　Bella；”　Edward　told　me　quietly。　“Jacob　just　has　a　good　memory；　that’s　all。”　
　Jacob　grinned；　and　Edward　winced　again。　
　“Stop　it！　Whatever　you’re　doing。”　
　“Sure；　if　you　want。”　Jacob　shrugged。　“It’s　his　own　fault　if　he　doesn’t　like　the　things　I　remember；　though。”　
　I　glared　at　him；　and　he　smiled　back　impishly　—　like　a　kid　caught　doing　something　he　knows　he　shouldn’t　
by　someone　who　he　knows　won’t　punish　him。　
　“The　principal’s　on　his　way　to　discourage　loitering　on　school　property；”　Edward　murmured　to　me。　“Let’s　
get　to　English；　Bella；　so　you’re　not　involved。”　
　“Overprotective；　isn’t　he？”　Jacob　said；　talking　just　to　me。　“A　little　trouble　makes　life　fun。　Let　me　guess；　
you’re　not　allowed　to　have　fun；　are　you？”　
　Edward　glowered；　and　his　lips　pulled　back　from　his　teeth　ever　so　slightly。　
　“Shut　up；　Jake；”　I　said。　
　Jacob　laughed。　“That　sounds　like　a　no。　Hey；　if　you　ever　feel　like　having　a　life　again；　you　could　e　see　
me。　I’ve　still　got　your　motorcycle　in　my　garage。”　
　This　news　distracted　me。　“You　were　supposed　to　sell　that。　You　promised　Charlie　you　would。”　If　I　hadn’t　
begged　on　Jake’s　behalf　—　after　all；　he’d　put　weeks　of　labor　into　both　motorcycles；　and　he　deserved　some　
kind　of　payback　—　Charlie　would　have　thrown　my　bike　in　a　Dumpster。　And　possibly　set　that　Dumpster　on　
fire。　
　“Yeah；　right。　Like　I　would　do　that。　It　belongs　to　you；　not　me。　Anyway；　I’ll　hold　on　to　it　until　you　want　it　
back。”　
　A　tiny　hint　of　the　smile　I　remembered　was　suddenly　playing　around　the　edges　of　his　lips。　
　“Jake　。　。　。”　
　He　leaned　forward；　his　face　earnest　now；　the　bitter　sarcasm　fading。　“I　think　I　might　have　been　wrong　
before；　you　know；　about　not　being　able　to　be　friends。　Maybe　we　could　manage　it；　on　my　side　of　the　line。　
e　see　me。”　
　I　was　vividly　conscious　of　Edward；　his　arms　still　wrapped　protectively　around　me；　motionless　as　a　stone。　I　
shot　a　look　at　his　face　—　it　was　calm；　patient。　
　“I；　er；　don’t　know　about　that；　Jake。”　
　Jacob　dropped　the　antagonistic　faade　pletely。　It　was　like　he’d　forgotten　Edward　was　there；　or　at　
least　he　was　determined　to　act　that　way。　“I　miss　you　every　day；　Bella。　It’s　not　the　same　without　you。”　
　“I　know　and　I’m　sorry；　Jake；　I　just　。　。　。”　
　He　shook　his　head；　and　sighed。　“I　know。　Doesn’t　matter；　right？　I　guess　I’ll　survive　or　something。　Who　
needs　friends？”　He　grimaced；　trying　to　cover　the　pain　with　a　thin　attempt　at　bravado。　
　Jacob’s　suffering　had　always　triggered　my　protective　side。　It　was　not　entirely　rational　—　Jacob　was　hardly　
in　need　of　any　physical　protection　I　could　offer。　But　my　arms；　pinned　beneath　Edward’s；　yearned　to　reach　out　
to　him。　To　wrap　around　his　big；　warm　waist　in　a　silent　promise　of　acceptance　and　fort。　
　Edward’s　shielding　arms　had　bee　restraints。　
　“Okay；　get　to　class；”　a　stern　voice　sounded　behind　us。　“Move　along；　Mr。　Crowley。”　
　“Get　to　school；　Jake；”　I　whispered；　anxious　as　soon　as　I　recognized　the　principal’s　voice。　Jacob　went　to　
the　Quileute　school；　but　he　might　still　get　in　trouble　for　trespassing　or　the　equivalent。　
　Edward　released　me；　taking　just　my　hand　and　pulling　me　behind　his　body　again。　
　Mr。　Greene　pushed　through　the　circle　of　spectators；　his　brows　pressing　down　like　ominous　storm　clouds　
over　his　small　eyes。　
　“I　mean　it；”　he　was　threatening。　“Detention　for　anyone　who’s　still　standing　here　when　I　turn　around　again。”　
　The　audience　melted　away　before　he　was　finished　with　his　sentence。　
　“Ah；　Mr。　Cullen。　Do　we　have　a　problem　here？”　

“Not　at　all；　Mr。　Greene。　We　were　just　on　our　way　to　class。”　
“Excellent。　I　don’t　seem　to　recognize　your　friend。”　Mr。　Greene　turned　his　glower　on　Jacob。　“Are　you　a　
new　student　here？”　
Mr。　Greene’s　eyes　scrutinized　Jacob；　and　I　could　see　that　he’d　e　to　the　same　conclusion　everyone　
else　had：　dangerous。　A　troublemaker。　
“Nope；”　Jacob　answered；　half　a　smirk　on　his　broad　lips。　
“Then　I　suggest　you　remove　yourself　from　school　property　at　once；　young　man；　before　I　call　the　police。”　
Jacob’s　little　smirk　became　a　fullblown　grin；　and　I　knew　he　was　picturing　Charlie　showing　up　to　arrest　
him。　This　grin　was　too　bitter；　too　full　of　mocking　to　satisfy　me。　This　wasn’t　the　smile　I’d　been　waiting　to　see。　
Jacob　said；　“Yes；　sir；”　and　snapped　a　military　salute　before　he　climbed　on　his　bike　and　kicked　it　to　a　start　
right　there　on　the　sidewalk。　The　engine　snarled　and　then　the　tires　squealed　as　he　spun　it　sharply　around。　In　a　
matter　of　seconds；　Jacob　raced　out　of　sight。　
Mr。　Greene　gnashed　his　teeth　together　while　he　watched　the　performance。　
“Mr。　Cullen；　I　expect　you　to　ask　your　friend　to　refrain　from　trespassing　again。”　
“He’s　no　friend　of　mine；　Mr。　Greene；　but　I’ll　pass　along　the　warning。”　
Mr。　Greene　pursed　his　lips。　Edward’s　perfect　grades　and　spotless　record　were　clearly　a　factor　in　Mr。　
Greene’s　assessment　of　the　incident。　“I　see。　If　you’re　worried　about　any　trouble；　I’d　be　happy　to　—”　
“There’s　nothing　to　worry　about；　Mr。　Greene。　There　won’t　be　any　trouble。”　
“I　hope　that’s　correct。　Well；　then。　On　to　class。　You；　too；　Miss　Swan。”　
Edward　nodded；　and　pulled　me　quickly　along　toward　the　English　building。　
“Do　you　feel　well　enough　to　go　to　class？”　he　whispered　when　we　were　past　the　principal。　
“Yes；”　I　whispered　back；　not　quite　sure　if　this　was　a　lie。　
Whether　I　felt　well　or　not　was　hardly　the　most　important　consideration。　I　needed　to　talk　to　Edward　right　
away；　and　English　class　wasn’t　the　ideal　place　for　the　conversation　I　had　in　mind。　
But　with　Mr。　Greene　right　behind　us；　there　weren’t　a　lot　of　other　options。　
We　got　to　class　a　little　late　and　took　our　seats　quickly。　Mr。　Berty　was　reciting　a　Frost　poem。　He　ignored　
our　entrance；　refusing　to　let　us　break　his　rhythm。　
I　yanked　a　blank　page　out　of　my　notebook　and　started　writing；　my　handwriting　more　illegible　than　normal　
thanks　to　my　agitation。　


　　What　happened？　Tell　me　everything。　And　screw　the　protecting　me　crap；　please。　


I　shoved　the　note　at　Edward。　He　sighed；　and　then　began　writing。　It　took　him　less　time　than　me；　though　he　
wrote　an　entire　paragraph　in　his　own　personal　calligraphy　before　he　slipped　the　paper　back。　


　　Alice　saw　that　Victoria　was　ing　back。　I　took　you　out　of　town　merely　as　a　precaution　—　there　
　　was　never　a　chance　that　she　would　have　gotten　anywhere　close　to　you。　Emmett　and　Jasper　very　
　　nearly　had　her；　but　Victoria　seems　to　have　some　instinct　for　evasion。　She　escaped　right　down　the　
　　Quileute　boundary　line　as　if　she　were　reading　it　from　a　map。　It　didn’t　help　that　Alice’s　abilities　were　
　　nullified　by　the　Quileutes’　involvement。　To　be　fair；　the　Quileutes　might　have　had　her；　too；　if　we　
　　hadn’t　gotten　in　the　way。　The　big　gray　one　thought　Emmett　was　over　the　line；　and　he　got　defensive。　
　　Of　course　Rosalie　reacted　to　that；　and　everyone　left　the　chase　to　protect　their　panions。　Carlisle　
　　and　Jasper　got　things　calmed　down　before　it　got　out　of　hand。　But　by　then；　Victoria　had　slipped　
　　away。　That’s　everything。　


I　frowned　at　the　letters　on　the　page。　All　of　them　had　been　in　on　it　—　Emmett；　Jasper；　Alice；　Rosalie；　and　
Carlisle。　Maybe　even　Esme；　though　he　hadn’t　mentioned　her。　And　then　Paul　and　the　rest　of　the　Quileute　pack。　
It　might　so　easily　have　turned　into　a　fight；　pitting　my　future　family　and　my　old　friends　against　each　other。　Any　
one　of　them　could　have　been　hurt。　I　imagined　the　wolves　would　be　in　the　most　danger；　but　picturing　tiny　Alice　
next　to　one　of　the　huge　werewolves；　fighting　。　。　。　
I　shuddered。　
Carefully；　I　scrubbed　out　the　entire　paragraph　with　my　eraser　and　then　I　wrote　over　the　top：　

　　What　about　Charlie？　She　could　have　been　after　him。　


Edward　was　shaking　his　head　before　I　finished；　obviously　going　to　downplay　any　danger　on　Charlie’s　
behalf。　He　held　a　hand　out；　but　I　ignored　that　and　started　again。　


　　You　can’t　know　that　she　wasn’t　thinking　that；　because　you　weren’t　here。　Florida　was　a　bad　idea。　


He　took　the　paper　from　underneath　my　hand。　


　　I　wasn’t　about　to　send　you　off　alone。　With　your　luck；　not　even　the　black　box　would　survive。　


That　wasn’t　what　I’d　meant　at　all；　I　hadn’t　thought　of　going　without　him。　I’d　meant　that　we　should　have　
stayed　here　together。　But　I　was　sidetracked　by　his　response；　and　a　little　miffed。　Like　I　couldn’t　fly　cross　
country　without　bringing　the　plane　down。　Very　funny。　


　　So　let’s　say　my　bad　luck　did　crash　the　plane。　What　exactly　were　you　going　to　do　about　it？　
　　Why　is　the　plane　crashing？　


He　was　trying　to　hide　a　smile　now。　


　　The　pilots　are　passed　out　drunk。　
　　Easy。　I’d　fly　the　plane。　


Of　course。　I　pursed　my　lips　and　tried　again。　


　　Both　engines　have　exploded　and　we’re　falling　in　a　death　spiral　toward　the　earth。　
　　I’d　wait　till　we　were　close　enough　to　the　ground；　get　a　good　grip　on　you；　kick　out　the　wall；　and　
　　jump。　Then　I’d　run　you　back　to　the　scene　of　the　accident；　and　we’d　stumble　around　like　the　two　
　　luckiest　survivors　in　history。　


I　stared　at　him　wordlessly。　
“What？”　he　whispered。　
I　shook　my　head　in　awe。　“Nothing；”　I　mouthed。　
I　scrubbed　out　the　disconcerting　conversation　and　wrote　one　more　line。　


　　You　will　tell　me　next　time。　


I　knew　there　would　be　a　next　time。　The　pattern　would　continue　until　someone　lost。　
Edward　stared　into　my　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　I　wondered　what　my　face　looked　like　—　it　felt　cold；　so　
the　blood　hadn’t　returned　to　my　cheeks。　My　eyelashes　were　still　wet。　
He　sighed　and　then　nodded　once。　



　　Thanks。　



The　paper　disappeared　from　under　my　hand。　I　looked　up；　blinkingin　surprise；　just　as　Mr。　Berty　came　
down　the　aisle。　
“Is　that　something　you’d　like　to　share　there；　Mr。　Cullen？”　
Edward　looked　up　innocently　and　held　out　the　sheet　of　paper　on　top　of　his　folder。　“My　notes？”　he　asked；　
sounding　confused。　

Mr。　Berty　scanned　the　notes　—　no　doubt　a　perfect　transcription　of　his　lecture　—　and　then　walked　away　
frowning。　


It　was　later；　in　Calculus　—　my　one　class　without　Edward　—　that　I　heard　the　gossip。　
“My　money’s　on　the　big　Indian；”　someone　was　saying。　
I　peeked　up　to　see　that　Tyler；　Mike；　Aust