2 new+moon新月-第3部分

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threw　myself　into　the　kiss　with　a　little　too　much　enthusiasm。　I　could　feel　his　lips　curve　upward　as　he　let　go　
of　my　face　and　reached　back　to　unlock　my　grip　on　him。　

Edward　had　drawn　many　careful　lines　for　our　physical　relationship；　with　the　intent　being　to　keep　me　alive。　
Though　I　respected　the　need　for　maintaining　a　safe　distance　between　my　skin　and　his　razorsharp；　
venomcoated　teeth；　I　tended　to　forget　about　trivial　things　like　that　when　he　was　kissing　me。　

〃Be　good；　please；〃　he　breathed　against　my　cheek。　He　pressed　his　lips　gently　to　mine　one　more　time　and　
then　pulled　away；　folding　my　arms　across　my　stomach。　

My　pulse　was　thudding　in　my　ears。　I　put　one　hand　over　my　heart。　It　drummed　hyperactively　under　my　
palm。　

〃Do　you　think　I'll　ever　get　better　at　this？〃　I　wondered；　mostly　to　myself。　〃That　my　heart　might　someday　
stop　trying　to　jump　out　of　my　chest　whenever　you　touch　me？〃　

〃I　really　hope　not；〃　he　said；　a　bit　smug。　

I　rolled　my　eyes。　〃Let's　go　watch　the　Capulets　and　Montagues　hack　each　other　up；　all　right？〃　

〃Your　wish；　my　mand。〃　

Edward　sprawled　across　the　couch　while　I　started　the　movie；　fastforwarding　through　the　opening　
credits。　

When　I　perched　on　the　edge　of　the　sofa　in　front　of　him；　he　wrapped　his　arms　around　my　waist　and　pulled　
me　against　his　chest。　It　wasn't　exactly　as　fortable　as　a　sofa　cushion　would　be；　what　with　his　chest　
being　hard　and　cold—and　perfect—as　an　ice　sculpture；　but　it　was　definitely　preferable。　He　pulled　the　old　
afghan　off　the　back　of　the　couch　and　draped　it　over　me　so　I　wouldn't　freeze　beside　his　body。　

〃You　know；　I've　never　had　much　patience　with　Romeo；〃　he　mented　as　the　movie　started。　

〃What's　wrong　with　Romeo？〃　I　asked；　a　little　offended。　Romeo　was　one　of　my　favorite　fictional　
characters。　Until　I'd　met　Edward；　I'd　sort　of　had　a　thing　for　him。　

〃Well；　first　of　all；　he's　in　love　with　this　Rosaline—don't　you　think　it　makes　him　seem　a　little　fickle？　And　
then；　a　few　minutes　after　their　wedding；　he　kills　Juliet's　cousin。　That's　not　very　brilliant。　Mistake　after　
mistake。　Could　he　have　destroyed　his　own　happiness　any　more　thoroughly？〃　

I　sighed。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　watch　this　alone？〃　

〃No；　I'll　mostly　be　watching　you；　anyway。〃　His　fingers　traced　patterns　across　the　skin　of　my　arm；　raising　
goose　bumps。　〃Will　you　cry？〃　

〃Probably；〃　I　admitted；　〃if　I'm　paying　attention。〃　

〃I　won't　distract　you　then。〃　But　I　felt　his　lips　on　my　hair；　and　it　was　very　distracting。　

The　movie　eventually　captured　my　interest；　thanks　in　large　part　to　Edward　whispering　Romeo's　lines　in　
my　ear—his　irresistible；　velvet　voice　made　the　actor's　voice　sound　weak　and　coarse　by　parison。　And　
I　did　cry；　to　his　amusement；　when　Juliet　woke　and　found　her　new　husband　dead。　

〃I'll　admit；　I　do　sort　of　envy　him　here；〃　Edward　said；　drying　the　tears　with　a　lock　of　my　hair。　

〃She's　very　pretty。〃　

He　made　a　disgusted　sound。　〃I　don't　envy　him　the　girl—just　the　ease　of　the　suicide；〃　he　clarified　in　a　
teasing　tone。　〃You　humans　have　it　so　easy！　All　you　have　to　do　is　throw　down　one　tiny　vial　of　plant　
extracts…〃　

〃What？〃　I　gasped。　

〃It's　something　I　had　to　think　about　once；　and　I　knew　from　Carlisle's　experience　that　it　wouldn't　be　
simple。　I'm　not　even　sure　how　many　ways　Carlisle　tried　to　kill　himself　in　the　beginning…　after　he　realized　
what　he'd　bee…〃　His　voice；　which　had　grown　serious；　turned　light　again。　〃And　he's　clearly　still　in　
excellent　health。〃　

I　twisted　around　so　that　I　could　read　his　face。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　I　demanded。　〃What　do　you　
mean；　this　something　you　had　to　think　about　once？〃　

〃Last　spring；　when　you　were…　nearly　killed…〃　He　paused　to　take　a　deep　breath；　snuggling　to　return　to　
his　teasing　tone。　〃Of　course　I　was　trying　to　focus　on　finding　you　alive；　but　part　of　my　mind　was　making　
contingency　plans。　Like　I　said；　it's　not　as　easy　for　me　as　it　is　for　a　human。〃　

For　one　second；　the　memory　of　my　last　trip　to　Phoenix　washed　through　my　head　and　made　me　feel　dizzy。　
I　could　see　it　all　so　clearly—the　blinding　sun；　the　heat　waves　ing　off　the　concrete　as　I　ran　with　
desperate　haste　to　find　the　sadistic　vampire　who　wanted　to　torture　me　to　death。　James；　waiting　in　the　
mirrored　room　with　my　mother　as　his　hostage—or　so　I'd　thought。　I　hadn't　known　it　was　all　a　ruse。　Just　as　
James　hadn't　known　that　Edward　was　racing　to　save　me；　Edward　made　it　in　time；　but　it　had　been　a　close　
one。　Unthinkingly；　my　fingers　traced　the　crescentshaped　scar　on　my　hand　that　was　always　just　a　few　
degrees　cooler　than　the　rest　of　my　skin。　

I　shook　my　head—as　if　I　could　shake　away　the　bad　memories—and　tried　to　grasp　what　Edward　meant。　
My　stomach　plunged　unfortably。　〃Contingency　plans？〃　I　repeated。　

〃Well；　I　wasn't　going　to　live　without　you。〃　He　rolled　his　eyes　as　if　that　fact　were　childishly　obvious。　〃But　I　
wasn't　sure　how　to　do　it—I　knew　Emmett　and　Jasper　would　never　help…　so　I　was　thinking　maybe　I　
would　go　to　Italy　and　do　something　to　provoke　the　Volturi。〃　

I　didn't　want　to　believe　he　was　serious；　but　his　golden　eyes　were　brooding；　focused　on　something　far　
away　in　the　distance　as　he　contemplated　ways　to　end　his　own　life。　Abruptly；　I　was　furious。　

〃What　is　a　Volturi？〃　I　demanded。　

〃The　Volturi　are　a　family；〃　he　explained；　his　eyes　still　remote。　〃A　very　old；　very　powerful　family　of　our　
kind。　They　are　the　closest　thing　our　world　has　to　a　royal　family；　I　suppose。　Carlisle　lived　with　them　briefly　
in　his　early　years；　in　Italy；　before　he　settled　in　America—do　you　remember　the　story？〃　

〃Of　course　I　remember。〃　

I　would　never　forget　the　first　time　I'd　gone　to　his　home；　the　huge　white　mansion　buried　deep　in　the　forest　
beside　the　river；　or　the　room　where　Carlisle—Edward's　father　in　so　many　real　ways—kept　a　wall　of　
paintings　that　illustrated　his　personal　history。　The　most　vivid；　most　wildly　colorful　canvas　there；　the　largest；　
was　from　Carlisle's　time　in　Italy。　Of　course　I　remembered　the　calm　quartet　of　men；　each　with　the　
exquisite　face　of　a　seraph；　painted　into　the　highest　balcony　overlooking　the　swirling　mayhem　of　color。　
Though　the　painting　was　centuries　old；　Carlisle—the　blond　angel—remained　unchanged。　And　I　
remembered　the　three　others；　Carlisle's　early　acquaintances。　Edward　had　never　used　the　name　Volturi　

for　the　beautiful　trio；　two　blackhaired；　one　snow　white。　He'd　called　them　Aro；　Caius；　and　Marcus；　
nighttime　patrons　of　the　arts…　

〃Anyway；　you　don't　irritate　the　Volturi；〃　Edward　went　on；　interrupting　ray　reverie。　〃Not　unless　you　want　
to　die—or　whatever　it　is　we　do。〃　His　voice　was　so　calm；　it　made　him　sound　almost　bored　by　the　
prospect。　

My　anger　turned　to　horror。　I　took　his　marble　face　between　my　hands　and　held　it　very　tightly。　

〃You　must　never；　never；　never　think　of　anything　like　that　again！〃　I　said。　〃No　matter　what　might　ever　
happen　to　me；　you　are　not　allowed　to　hurt　yourself！〃　

〃I'll　never　put　you　in　danger　again；　so　it's　a　moot　point。〃　

〃Put　me　in　danger！　I　thought　we'd　established　that　all　the　bad　luck　is　my　fault？〃　I　was　getting　angrier。　
〃How　dare　you　even　think　like　that？〃　The　idea　of　Edward　ceasing　to　exist；　even　if　I　were　dead；　was　
impossiblypainful。　

〃What　would　you　do；　if　the　situation　were　reversed？〃　he　asked。　

〃That's　not　the　same　thing。〃　

He　didn't　seem　to　understand　the　difference。　He　chuckled。　

〃What　if　something　did　happen　to　you？〃　I　blanched　at　the　thought。　〃Would　you　want　me　to　go　off　
myself？〃　

A　trace　of　pain　touched　his　perfect　features。　

〃I　guess　I　see　your　point…　a　little；〃　he　admitted。　〃But　what　would　I　do　without　you？〃　

〃Whatever　you　were　doing　before　I　came　along　and　plicated　your　existence。〃　

He　sighed。　〃You　make　that　sound　so　easy。〃　

〃It　should　be。　I'm　not　really　that　interesting。〃　

He　was　about　to　argue；　but　then　he　let　it　go。　〃Moot　point；〃　he　reminded　me。　Abruptly；　he　pulled　himself　
up　into　a　more　formal　posture；　shifting　me　to　the　side　so　that　we　were　no　longer　touching。　

〃Charlie？〃　I　guessed。　

Edward　smiled。　After　a　moment；　I　heard　the　sound　of　the　police　cruiser　pulling　into　the　driveway。　I　
reached　out　and　took　his　hand　firmly。　My　dad　could　deal　with　that　much。　

Charlie　came　in　with　a　pizza　box　in　his　hands。　

〃Hey；　kids。〃　He　grinned　at　me。　〃I　thought　you'd　like　a　break　from　cooking　and　washing　dishes　for　your　
birthday。　Hungry？〃　

〃Sure。　Thanks；　Dad。〃　

Charlie　didn't　ment　on　Edward's　apparent　lack　of　appetite。　He　was　used　to　Edward　passing　on　
dinner。　

〃Do　you　mind　if　I　borrow　Bella　for　the　evening？〃　Edward　asked　when　Charlie　and　I　were　done。　

I　looked　at　Charlie　hopefully。　Maybe　he　had　some　concept　of　birthdays　as　stayathome；　family　
affairs—this　was　my　first　birthday　with　him；　the　first　birthday　since　my　mom；　Renee；　had　remarried　and　
gone　to　live　in　Florida；　so　I　didn't　know　what　he　would　expect。　

〃That's　fine—the　Mariners　are　playing　the　Sox　tonight；〃　Charlie　explained；　and　my　hope　disappeared。　
〃So　I　won't　be　any　kind　of　pany…　Here。〃　He　scooped　up　the　camera　he'd　gotten　me　on　Renee's　
suggestion　（because　I　would　need　pictures　to　fill　up　my　scrapbook）；　and　threw　it　to　me。　

He　ought　to　know　better　than　that—I'd　always　been　coordinationally　challenged。　The　camera　glanced　off　
the　tip　of　my　finger；　and　tumbled　toward　the　floor。　Edward　snagged　it　before　it　could　crash　onto　the　
linoleum。　

〃Nice　save；〃　Charlie　noted。　〃If　they're　doing　something　fun　at　the　Cullens'　tonight；　Bella；　you　should　take　
some　pictures。　You　know　how　your　mother　gets—she'll　be　wanting　to　see　the　pictures　faster　than　you　
can　take　them。〃　

〃Good　idea；　Charlie；〃　Edward　said；　handing　me　the　camera。　

I　turned　the　camera　on　Edward；　and　snapped　the　first　picture。　〃It　works。〃　

〃That's　good。　Hey；　say　hi　to　Alice　for　me。　She　hasn't　been　over　in　a　while。〃　Charlie's　mouth　pulled　down　
at　one　corner。　

〃It's　been　three　days；　Dad；〃　I　reminded　him。　Charlie　was　crazy　about　Alice。　He'd　bee　attached　last　
spring　when　she'd　helped　me　through　my　awkward　convalescence；　Charlie　would　be　fore'ter　grateful　to　
her　for　saving　him　from　the　horror　of　an　almostadult　daughter　who　needed　help　showering。　〃I'll　tell　her。〃　

〃Okay。　You　kids　have　fun　tonight。〃　It　was　clearly　a　dismissal。　Charlie　was　already　edging　toward　the　
living　room　and　the　TV。　

Edward　smiled；　triumphant；　and　took　my　hand　to　pull　me　from　the　kitchen。　

When　we　got　to　the　truck；　he　opened　the　passenger　door　for　me　again；　and　this　time　I　didn't　argue。　I　still　
had　a　hard　time　finding　the　obscure　turnoff　to　his　house　in　the　dark。　

Edward　drove　north　through　Forks；　visibly　chafing　at　the　speed　limit　enforced　by　my　prehistoric　Chevy。　
The　engine　groaned　even　louder　than　usual　as　he　pushed　it　over　fifty。　

〃Take　it　easy；〃　I　warned　him。　

〃You　know　what　you　would　love？　A　nice　little　Audi　coupe。　Very　quiet；　lots　of　power…〃　

〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　my　truck。　And　speaking　of　expensive　nonessentials；　if　you　know　what's　
good　for　you；　you　didn't　spend　any　money　on　birthday　presents。〃　

〃Not　a　dime；〃　he　said　virtuously。　

〃Good。〃　

〃Can　you　do　me　a　favor？〃　

〃That　depends　on　what　it　is。〃　

He　sighed；　his　lovely　face　serious。　〃Bella；　the　last　real　birthday　any　of　us　had　was　Emmett　in　1935。　Cut　us　
a　little　slack；