new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第17部分

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impish。　When　I　did；　he　winked　at　me。　〃Hi；　there。〃　
〃Quil；　Embry—this　is　my　friend；　Bella。〃　
Quil　and　Embry；　I　still　didn't　know　which　was　which；　exchanged　a　loaded　look。　
〃Charlie's　kid；　right？〃　the　brawny　boy　asked　me；　holding　out　his　hand。　
〃That's　right；〃　I　confirmed；　shaking　hands　with　him。　His　grasp　was　firm；　it　
looked　like　he　was　flexing　his　
bicep。　
〃I'm　Quil　Ateara；〃　he　announced　grandly　before　releasing　my　hand。　
〃Nice　to　meet　you；　Quil。〃　
〃Hey；　Bella。　I'm　Embry；　Embry　Call—you　probably　already　figured　that　out；　
though。〃　Embry　smiled　a　shy　
smile　and　waved　with　one　hand；　which　he　then　shoved　in　the　pocket　of　his　
jeans。　
I　nodded。　〃Nice　to　meet　you；　too。〃　
〃So　what　are　you　guys　doing？〃　Quil　asked；　still　looking　at　me。　
〃Bella　and　I　are　going　to　fix　up　these　bikes；〃　Jacob　explained　inaccurately。　
But　bikes　seemed　to　be　the　
magic　word。　Both　boys　went　to　examine　Jacob's　project；　drilling　him　with　
educated　questions。　Many　of　
the　words　they　used　were　unfamiliar　to　me；　and　I　figured　I'd　have　to　have　a　Y　
chromosome　to　really　
understand　the　excitement。　
They　were　still　immersed　in　talk　of　parts　and　pieces　when　I　decided　that　I　
needed　to　head　back　home　
before　Charlie　showed　up　here。　With　a　sigh；　I　slid　out　of　the　Rabbit。　
Jacob　looked　up；　apologetic。　〃We're　boring　you；　aren't　we？〃　
〃Naw。〃　And　it　wasn't　a　lie。　I　was　enjoying　myself—how　strange。　〃I　just　have　
to　go　cook　dinner　for　
Charlie。〃　
〃Oh　well；　I'll　finish　taking　these　apart　tonight　and　figure　out　what　more　
we'll　need　to　get　started　
rebuilding　them。　When　do　you　want　to　work　on　them　again？〃　
〃Could　I　e　back　tomorrow？〃　Sundays　were　the　bane　of　my　existence。　There　was　
never　enough　
homework　to　keep　me　busy。　
Quil　nudged　Embry's　arm　and　they　exchanged　grins。　
Jacob　smiled　in　delight。　〃That　would　be　great！〃　
〃If　you　make　a　list；　we　can　go　shop　for　parts；〃　I　suggested。　
Jacob's　face　fell　a　little。　〃I'm　still　not　sure　I　should　let　you　pay　for　
everything。〃　
I　shook　my　head。　〃No　way。　I'm　bankrolling　this　party。　You　just　have　to　supply　
the　labor　and　expertise。〃　
Embry　rolled　his　eyes　at　Quil。　
〃That　doesn't　seem　right；〃　Jacob　shook　his　head。　
〃Jake；　if　I　took　these　to　a　mechanic；　how　much　would　he　charge　me？〃　I　pointed　
out。　
He　smiled。　〃Okay；　you're　getting　a　deal。〃　
〃Not　to　mention　the　riding　lessons；〃　I　added。　
Quil　grinned　widely　at　Embry　and　whispered　something　I　didn't　catch。　Jacob's　
hand　flashed　out　to　smack　
the　back　of　Quil's　head。　〃That's　it；　get　out；〃　he　muttered。　
〃No；　really；　I　have　to　go；〃　I　protested；　heading　for　the　door。　〃I'll　see　you　
tomorrow；　Jacob。〃　
As　soon　as　I　was　out　of　sight；　I　heard　Quil　and　Embry　chorus；　〃Wooooo！〃　
The　sound　of　a　brief　scuffle　followed；　interspersed　with　an　〃ouch〃　and　a　
〃hey！〃　
〃If　either　of　you　set　so　much　as　one　toe　on　my　land　tomorrow〃　I　heard　Jacob　
threaten。　His　voice　was　
lost　as　I　walked　through　the　trees。　
I　giggled　quietly。　The　sound　made　my　eyes　widen　in　wonder。　I　was　laughing；　
actually　laughing；　and　there　
wasn't　even　anyone　watching。　I　felt　so　weightless　that　I　laughed　again；　just　
make　the　feeling　last　longer。　
I　beat　Charlie　home。　When　he　walked　in　I　was　just　taking　the　fried　chicken　out　
of　the　pan　and　laying　it　on　
a　pile　of　paper　towels。　
〃Hey；　Dad。〃　I　flashed　him　a　grin。　
Shock　flitted　across　his　face　before　he　pulled　his　expression　together。　〃Hey；　
honey；〃　he　said；　his　voice　
uncertain。　〃Did　you　have　fun　with　Jacob？〃　
I　started　moving　the　food　to　the　table。　〃Yeah；　I　did。〃　
〃Well；　that's　good。〃　He　was　still　cautious。　〃What　did　you　two　do？〃　
Now　it　was　my　turn　to　be　cautious。　〃I　hung　out　in　his　garage　and　watched　him　
work。　Did　you　know　he's　
rebuilding　a　Volkswagen？〃　
〃Yeah；　I　think　Billy　mentioned　that。〃　
The　interrogation　had　to　stop　when　Charlie　began　chewing；　but　he　continued　to　
study　my　face　as　he　ate。　
After　dinner；　I　dithered　around；　cleaning　the　kitchen　twice；　and　then　did　my　
homework　slowly　in　the　front　
room　while　Charlie　watched　a　hockey　game。　I　waited　as　long　as　I　could；　but　
finally　Charlie　mentioned　the　
late　hour。　When　I　didn't　respond；　he　got　up；　stretched；　and　then　left；　turning　
out　the　light　behind　him。　
Reluctantly；　I　followed。　
As　I　climbed　the　stairs；　I　felt　the　last　of　the　afternoon's　abnormal　sense　of　
well…being　drain　from　my　
system；　replaced　by　a　dull　fear　at　the　thought　of　what　I　was　going　to　have　to　
live　through　now。　
I　wasn't　numb　anymore。　Tonight　would；　no　doubt；　be　as　horrific　as　last　night。　
I　lay　down　on　my　bed　and　
curled　into　a　ball　in　preparation　for　the　onslaught。　I　squeezed　my　eyes　shut　
and　the　next　thing　I　next　I　
knew；　it　was　morning。　
I　stared　at　the　pale　silver　light　ing　through　my　window；　stunned。　
For　the　first　time　in　more　than　four　months；　I'd　slept　without　dreaming。　
Dreaming　or　screaming。　I　couldn't　
tell　which　emotion　was　stronger—the　relief　or　the　shock。　
I　lay　still　in　my　bed　for　a　few　minutes；　waiting　for　it　to　e　back。　Because　
something　must　be　ing。　If　
not　the　pain；　then　the　numbness。　I　waited；　but　nothing　happened。　I　felt　more　
rested　than　I　had　in　a　long　
time。　
I　didn't　trust　this　to　last。　It　was　a　slippery；　precarious　edge　that　I　
balanced　on；　and　it　wouldn't　take　much　
to　knock　me　back　down。　Just　glancing　around　my　room　with　these　suddenly　clear　
eyes—noticing　how　
strange　it　looked；　too　tidy；　like　I　didn't　live　here　at　all—was　dangerous。　
I　pushed　that　thought　from　my　mind；　and　concentrated；　as　I　got　dressed；　on　the　
fact　that　I　was　going　to　
see　Jacob　again　today。　The　thought　made　me　feel　almost　hopeful。　Maybe　it　
would　be　the　same　as　
yesterday。　Maybe　I　wouldn't　have　to　remind　myself　to　look　interested　and　to　
nod　or　smile　at　appropriate　
intervals；　the　way　I　had　to　with　everyone　else。　Maybe　but　I　wouldn't　trust　
this　to　last；　either。　Wouldn't　
trust　it　to　be　the　same—so　easy—as　yesterday。　I　wasn't　going　to　set　myself　
up　for　disappointment　like　
that。　
At　breakfast；　Charlie　was　being　careful；　too。　He　tried　to　hide　his　scrutiny；　
keeping　his　eyes　on　his　eggs　
until　he　thought　I　wasn't　looking。　
〃What　are　you　up　to　today？〃　he　asked；　eyeing　a　loose　thread　on　the　edge　of　his　
cuff　like　he　wasn't　paying　
much　attention　to　my　answer。　
〃I'm　going　to　hang　out　with　Jacob　again。〃　
He　nodded　without　looking　up。　〃Oh；〃　he　said。　
〃Do　you　mind？〃　I　pretended　to　worry。　〃I　could　stay〃　
He　glanced　up　quickly；　a　hint　of　panic　in　his　eyes。　〃No；　no！　You　go　ahead。　
Harry　was　going　to　e　up　
to　watch　the　game　with　me　anyway。〃　
〃Maybe　Harry　could　give　Billy　a　ride　up；〃　I　suggested。　The　fewer　witnesses　the　
better。　
〃That's　a　great　idea。〃　
I　wasn't　sure　if　the　game　was　just　an　excuse　for　kicking　me　out；　but　he　looked　
excited　enough　now。　He　
headed　to　the　phone　while　I　donned　my　rain　jacket。　I　felt　self…conscious　with　
the　checkbook　shoved　in　
my　jacket　pocket。　It　was　something　I　never　used。　
Outside；　the　rain　came　down　like　water　slopped　from　a　bucket。　I　had　to　drive　
more　slowly　than　I　wanted　
to；　I　could　hardly　see　a　car　length　in　front　of　the　truck。　But　I　finally　made　
it　through　the　muddy　lanes　to　
Jacob's　house。　Before　I'd　killed　the　engine；　the　front　door　opened　and　Jacob　
came　running　out　with　a　
huge　black　umbrella。　
He　held　it　over　my　door　while　I　opened　it。　
〃Charlie　called—said　you　were　on　your　way；〃　Jacob　explained　with　a　grin。　
Effortlessly；　without　a　conscious　mand　to　the　muscles　around　my　lips；　my　
answering　smile　spread　
across　my　face。　A　strange　feeling　of　warmth　bubbled　up　in　my　throat；　despite　
the　icy　rain　splattering　on　
my　cheeks。　
〃Hi；　Jacob。〃　
〃Good　call　on　inviting　Billy　up。〃　He　held　up　his　hand　for　a　high　five。　
I　had　to　reach　so　high　to　slap　his　hand　that　he　laughed。　
Harry　showed　up　to　get　Billy　just　a　few　minutes　later。　Jacob　took　me　on　a　
brief　tour　of　his　tiny　room　
while　we　waited　to　be　unsupervised。　
〃So　where　to；　Mr。　Goodwrench？〃　I　asked　as　soon　as　the　door　closed　behind　
Billy。　
Jacob　pulled　a　folded　paper　out　of　his　pocket　and　smoothed　it　out。　〃We'll　
start　at　the　dump　first；　see　if　
we　can　get　lucky。　This　could　get　a　little　expensive；〃　he　warned　me。　〃Those　
bikes　are　going　to　need　a　lot　
of　help　before　they'll　run　again。〃　My　face　didn't　look　worried　enough；　so　he　
continued。　〃I'm　talking　about　
maybe　more　than　a　hundred　dollars　here。〃　
I　pulled　my　checkbook　out；　fanned　myself　with　it；　and　rolled　my　eyes　at　his　
worries。　〃We're　covered。〃　
It　was　a　very　strange　kind　of　day。　I　enjoyed　myself。　Even　at　the　dump；　in　the　
slopping　rain　and　
ankle…deep　mud。　I　wondered　at　first　if　it　was　just　the　aftershock　of　losing　
the　numbness；　but　I　didn't　think　
that　was　enough　of　an　explanation。　
I　was　beginning　to　think　it　was　mostly　Jacob。　It　wasn't　just　that　he　was　
always　so　happy　to　see　me；　or　
that　he　didn't　watch　me　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　waiting　for　me　to　do　
something　that　would　mark　me　
as　crazy　or　depressed。　It　was　nothing　that　related　to　me　at　all。　
It　was　Jacob　himself。　Jacob　was　simply　a　perpetually　happy　person；　and　he　
carried　that　happiness　with　
him　like　an　aura；　sharing　it　with　whoever　was　near　him。　Like　an　earthbound　
sun；　whenever　someone　was　
within　his　gravitational　pull；　Jacob　warmed　them。　It　was　natural；　a　part　of　
who　he　was。　No　wonder　I　was　
so　eager　to　see　him。　
Even　when　he　mented　on　the　gaping　hole　in　my　dashboard；　it　didn't　send　me　
into　a　panic　like　it　
should　have。　
〃Did　the　stereo　break？〃　he　wondered。　
〃Yeah；〃　I　lied。　
He　poked　around　in　the　cavity。　〃Who　took　it　out？　There's　a　lot　of　damage〃　
〃I　did；〃　I　admitted。　
He　laughed。　〃Maybe　you　shouldn't　touch　the　motorcycles　too　much。〃　
〃No　problem。〃　
According　to　Jacob；　we　did　get　lucky　at　the　dump。　He　was　very　excited　about　
several　grease…blackened　
pieces　of　twisted　metal　that　he　found；　I　was　just　impressed　that　he　could　tell　
what　they　were　supposed　to　
be。　
From　there　we　went　to　the　Checker　Auto　Parts　down　in　Hoquiam。　In　my　truck；　it　
was　more　than　a　two　
hour　drive　south　on　the　winding　freeway；　but　the　time　passed　easily　with　
Jacob。　He　chattered　about　his　
friends　and　his　school；　and　I　found　myself　asking　questions；　not　even　
pretending；　truly　curious　to　hear　
what　he　had　to　say。　
〃I'm　doing　all　the　talking；〃　he　plained　after　a　long　story　about　Quil　and　
the　trouble　he'd　stirred　up　by　
asking　out　a　senior's　steady　girlfriend。　〃Why　don't　you　take　a　turn？　What's　
going　on　in　Forks？　It　has　to　be　
more　exciting　than　La　Push。〃　
〃Wrong；〃　I　sighed。　〃There's　really　nothing。　Your　friends　are　a　lot　more　
interesting　than　mine。　I　like　your　
friends。　Quil's　funny。〃　
He　frowned。　〃I　think　Quil　likes　you；　too。〃　
I　laughed。　〃He's　a　little　young　for　me。〃　
Jacob's　frown　deepened。　〃He's　not　that　much　younger　than　you。　It's　just　a　year　
and　a　few　months。〃　
I　had　a　feeling　we　weren't　talking　about　Quil　anymore。　I　kept　my　voice　light；　
teasing。　〃Sure；　but；　
considering　the　difference　in　maturity　between　guys　and　girls；　don't　you　have　
to　count　that　in　dog　years？　
What　does　that　make　me；　about　twelve　years　older？〃　
He　laughed；　rolling　his　eyes。　〃Okay；　but　if　you're　going　to　get　picky　like　
that；　you　have　to　average　in　size；　
too。　You're　so　small；　I'll　have　to　knock　ten　years　off　your　total。〃　
〃Five　foot　four　is　perfectly　average。〃　I　sniffed。　〃It's　not　my　fault　y