2 new+moon新月-第48部分

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〃I　know；　but…　Seriously；　Bella！　I　don't　have　any　idea　how　to　not　killyou。〃　

〃You　can　do　it；〃　I　encouraged。　〃I　trust　you。〃　

Edward　snarled　in　fury。　

Alice　shook　her　head　quickly；　looking　panicked。　

〃Carlisle？〃　I　turned　to　look　at　him。　

Edward　grabbed　my　face　in　his　hand；　forcing　me　to　look　at　him。　His　other　hand　was　out；　palm　toward　
Carlisle。　

Carlisle　ignored　that。　〃I'm　able　to　do　it；〃　he　answered　my　question。　I　wished　I　could　see　his　expression。　
〃You　would　be　in　no　danger　of　me　losing　control。〃　

〃Sounds　good。〃　I　hoped　he　could　understand；　it　was　hard　to　talk　clearly　the　way　Edward　held　my　jaw。　

〃Hold　on；〃　Edward　said　between　his　teeth。　〃It　doesn't　have　to　be　now。〃　

〃There's　no　reason　for　it　not　to　be　now；〃　I　said；　the　words　ing　out　distorted。　

〃I　can　think　of　a　few。〃　

〃Of　course　you　can；〃　I　said　sourly。　〃Now　let　go　of　me。〃　

He　freed　my　face；　and　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。　〃In　about　two　hours；　Charlie　will　be　here　looking　
for　you。　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　him　to　involve　the　police。〃　

〃All　three　of　them。〃　But　I　frowned。　

This　was　always　the　hardest　part。　Charlie；　Renee。　Now　Jacob；　too。　The　people　I　would　lose；　the　people　
I　would　hurt。　I　wished　there　was　some　way　that　I　could　be　the　only　one　to　suffer；　but　I　knew　that　was　
impossible。　

At　the　same　time；　I　was　hurting　them　more　by　staying　human。　Putting　Charlie　in　constant　danger　through　
my　proximity。　Putting　Jake　in　worse　danger　still　by　drawing　his　enemies　across　the　land　he　felt　bound　to　
protect。　And　Renee—I　couldn't　even　risk　a　visit　to　see　my　own　mother　for　fear　of　bringing　my　deadly　
problems　along　with　me！　

I　was　a　danger　mag；　I'd　accepted　that　about　myself。　

Accepting　this；　I　knew　I　needed　to　be　able　to　take　care　of　myself　and　protect　the　ones　I　loved；　even　if　
that　meant　that　I　couldn't　be　with　them。　I　needed　to　be　strong。　

〃In　the　interest　of　remaining　inconspicuous；〃　Edward　said；　still　talking　through　his　gritted　teeth；　but　
looking　at　Carlisle　now；　〃I　suggest　that　we　put　this　conversation　off；　at　the　very　least　until　Bella　finishes　
high　school；　and　moves　out　of　Charlie's　house。〃　

〃That's　a　reasonable　request；　Bella；〃　Carlisle　pointed　out。　

I　thought　about　Charlie's　reaction　when　he　woke　up　this　morning；　if—after　all　that　life　had　put　him　through　
in　the　last　week　with　Harry's　loss；　and　then　I　had　put　him　through　with　my　unexplained　
disappearance—he　were　to　find　my　bed　empty。　Charlie　deserved　better　than　that。　It　was　just　a　little　more　
time；　graduation　wasn't　so　far　away…　

I　pursed　my　lips。　〃I'll　consider　it。〃　

Edward　relaxed。　His　jaw　unclenched。　

〃I　should　probably　take　you　home；〃　he　said；　more　calm　now；　but　clearly　in　a　hurry　to　get　me　out　of　here。　
〃Just　in　case　Charlie　wakes　up　early。〃　

I　looked　at　Carlisle。　〃After　graduation？〃　

〃You　have　my　word。〃　

I　took　a　deep　breath；　smiled；　and　turned　back　to　Edward。　〃Okay。　You　can　take　me　home。〃　

Edward　rushed　me　out　of　the　house　before　Carlisle　could　promise　me　anything　else。　He　took　me　out　the　
back；　so　I　didn't　get　to　see　what　was　broken　in　the　living　room。　

It　was　a　quiet　trip　home。　I　was　feeling　triumphant；　and　a　little　smug。　Scared　stiff；　too；　of　course；　but　I　tried　
not　to　think　about　that　part。　It　did　me　no　good　to　worry　about　the　pain—the　physical　or　the　
emotional—so　I　wouldn't。　Not　until　I　absolutely　had　to。　

When　we　got　to　my　house；　Edward　didn't　pause。　He　dashed　up　the　wall　and　through　my　window　in　half　a　
second。　Then　he　pulled　my　arms　frcm　around　his　neck　and　set　me　on　the　bed。　

I　thought　I　had　a　pretty　good　idea　of　what　he　was　thinking；　but　his　expression　surprised　me。　Instead　of　
furious；　it　was　calculating。　He　paced　silently　back　and　forth　across　my　dark　room　while　I　watched　with　
growing　suspicion。　

〃Whatever　you're　planning；　it's　not　going　to　work；〃　I　told　him。　

〃Shh。　I'm　thinking。〃　

〃Ugh；〃　I　groaned；　throwing　myself　back　on　the　bed　and　pulling　the　quilt　over　my　head。　

There　was　no　sound；　but　suddenly　he　was　there。　He　flipped　the　cover　back　so　he　could　see　me。　He　was　

lying　next　to　me。　His　hand　reached　up　to　brush　my　hair　from　my　cheek。　

〃If　you　don't　mind；　I'd　much　rather　you　didn't　hide　your　face。　I've　lived　without　it　for　as　long　as　I　can　
stand。　Now…　tell　me　something。〃　

〃What？〃　I　asked；　unwilling。　

〃If　you　could　have　anything　in　the　world；　anything　at　all；　what　would　it　be？〃　

I　could　feel　the　skepticism　in　my　eyes。　〃You。〃　

He　shook　his　head　impatiently。　〃Something　you　don't　already　have。〃　

I　wasn't　sure　where　he　was　trying　to　lead　me；　so　I　thought　carefully　before　I　answered。　I　came　up　with　
something　that　was　both　true；　and　also　probably　impossible。　

〃I　would　want…　Carlisle　not　to　have　to　do　it。　I　would　want　you　to　change　me。〃　

I　watched　his　reaction　warily；　expecting　more　of　the　fury　I'd　seen　at　his　house。　I　was　surprised　that　his　
expression　didn't　change。　It　was　still　calculating；　thoughtful。　

〃What　would　you　be　willing　to　trade　for　that？〃　

I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　I　gawked　at　his　posed　face　and　blurted　out　the　answer　before　I　could　
think　about　it。　

〃Anything。〃　

He　smiled　faintly；　and　then　pursed　his　lips。　〃Five　years？〃　

My　face　twisted　into　an　expression　somewhere　between　chagrin　and　horror。　

〃You　said　anything；〃　he　reminded　me。　

〃Yes；　but…　you'll　use　the　time　to　find　a　way　out　of　it。　I　have　to　strike　while　the　iron　is　hot。　Besides；　it's　
just　too　dangerous　to　be　human—for　me；　at　least。　So；　anything　but　that。〃　

He　frowned。　〃Three　years？〃　

〃No！〃　

〃Isn't　it　worth　anyrhing　to　you　at　all？　〃　

I　thought　about　how　much　I　wanted　this。　Better　to　keep　a　poker　face；　I　decided；　and　not　let　him　know　
how　very　much　that　was。　It　would　give　me　more　leverage。　〃Six　months？〃　

He　rolled　his　eyes。　〃Not　good　enough。〃　

〃One　year；　then；〃　I　said。　〃That's　my　limit。〃　

〃At　least　give　me　two。〃　

〃No　way。　Nieen　I'll　do。　But　I'm　not　going　anywhere　near　twenty。　If　you're　staying　in　your　teens　
forever；　then　so　am　I。〃　

He　thought　for　a　minute。　〃All　right。　Forget　time　limits。　If　you　want　me　to　be　the　one—then　you'll　just　have　

to　meet　one　condition。〃　

〃Condition？〃　My　voice　went　flat。　〃What　condition？〃　

His　eyes　were　cautious—he　spoke　slowly。　〃Marry　me　first。〃　

I　stared　at　him；　waiting…　〃Okay。　What's　the　punch　line？〃　

He　sighed。　〃You're　wounding　my　ego；　Bella。　I　just　proposed　to　you；　and　you　think　it's　a　joke。〃　

〃Edward；　please　be　serious。〃　

〃I　am　one　hundred　percent　serious。〃　He　gazed　at　me　with　no　hint　of　humor　in　his　face。　

〃Oh；　c'mon；〃　I　said；　an　edge　of　hysteria　in　my　voice。　〃I'm　only　eighteen。〃　

〃Well；　I'm　nearly　a　hundred　and　ten。　It's　time　I　settled　down。〃　

I　looked　away；　out　the　dark　window；　trying　to　control　the　panic　before　it　gave　me　away。　

〃Look；　marriage　isn't　exactly　that　high　on　my　list　of　priorities；　you　know？　It　was　sort　of　the　kiss　of　death　
for　Renee　and　Charlie。〃　

〃Interesting　choice　of　words。〃　

〃You　know　what　I　mean。〃　

He　inhaled　deeply。　〃Please　don't　tell　me　that　you're　afraid　of　the　mitment；〃　his　voice　was　disbelieving；　
and　I　understood　what　he　meant。　

〃That's　not　it　exactly；〃　I　hedged。　〃I'm…　afraid　of　Renee。　She　has　some　really　intense　opinions　on　getting　
married　before　you're　thirty。〃　

〃Because　she'd　rather　you　became　one　of　the　eternal　damned　than　get　married。〃　He　laughed　darkly。　

〃You　think　you're　joking。〃　

〃Bella；　if　you　pare　the　level　of　mitment　between　a　marital　union　as　opposed　to　bartering　your　soul　
in　exchange　for　an　eternity　as　a　vampire…〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃If　you're　not　brave　enough　to　marry　me；　
then—〃　

〃Well；〃　I　interrupted。　〃What　if　I　did？　What　if　I　told　you　to　take　me　to　Vegas　now？　Would　I　be　a　vampire　
in　three　days？〃　

He　smiled；　his　teeth　flashing　in　the　dark。　〃Sure；〃　he　said；　calling　my　bluff。　〃I'll　get　my　car。〃　

〃Dammit。〃　I　muttered。　〃I'll　give　you　eighteen　months。〃　

〃No　deal；〃　he　said；　grinning。　〃I　like　this　condition。〃　

〃Fine。　I'll　have　Carlisle　do　it　when　I　graduate。〃　

〃If　that's　what　you　really　want。〃　He　shrugged；　and　his　smile　became　absolutely　angelic。　

〃You're　impossible；〃　I　groaned。　〃A　monster。〃　

He　chuckled。　〃Is　that　why　you　won't　marry　me？〃　

I　groaned　again。　

He　leaned　toward　me；　his　nightdark　eyes　melted　and　smoldered　and　shattered　my　concentration。　〃　
Please；　Bella？〃　he　breathed。　

I　forgot　how　to　breathe　for　a　moment。　When　I　recovered；　I　shook　my　head　quickly；　trying　to　clear　my　
suddenly　clouded　mind。　

〃Would　this　have　gone　better　if　I　d　had　time　to　get　a　ring。'〃　

〃No！　No　rings！〃　I　very　nearly　snouted。　

〃Now　you've　done　it；〃　he　whispered。　

〃Oops。〃　

〃Charlie's　getting　up；　I'd　better　leave；〃　Edward　said　with　resignation。　

My　heart　stopped　beating。　

He　gauged　my　expression　for　a　second。　〃Would　it　be　childish　of　me　to　hide　in　your　closet；　then？〃　

〃No；〃　I　whispered　eagerly。　〃Stay。　Please。〃　

Edward　smiled　and　disappeared。　

I　seethed　in　the　darkness　as　I　waited　for　Charlie　to　check　on　me。　Edward　knew　exactly　what　he　was　
doing；　and　I　was　willing　to　bet　that　all　the　injured　surprise　was　part　of　the　ploy。　Of　course；　I　still　had　the　
Carlisle　option；　but　now　that　I　knew　there　was　a　chance　that　Edward　would　change　me　himself；　I　wanted　
it　bad。　He　was　such　a　cheater。　

My　door　cracked　open。　

〃Morning；　Dad。〃　

〃Oh；　hey；　Bella。〃　He　sounded　embarrassed　at　getting　caught。　〃I　didn't　know　you　were　awake。〃　

〃Yeah。　I've　just　been　waiting　ior　you　to　wake　up　so　I　could　take　a　shower。〃　I　started　to　get　up。　

〃Hold　on；〃　Charlie　said；　flipping　the　light　on。　I　blinked　in　the　sudden　brightness；　and　carefully　kept　my　
eyes　away　from　the　closet。　〃Let's　talk　for　a　minute　first。〃　

I　couldn't　control　my　grimace。　I'd　forgotten　to　ask　Alice　for　a　good　excuse。　

〃You　know　you're　in　trouble。〃　

〃Yeah；　I　know。〃　

〃I　just　about　went　crazy　these　last　three　days。　I　e　home　from　Harry's　funeral；　and　you're　gone。　
Jacob　could　only　tell　me　that　you'd　run　off　with　Alice　Cullen；　and　that　he　thought　you　were　in　trouble。　
You　didn't　leave　me　a　number；　and　you　didn't　call。　I　didn't　know　where　you　were　or　when—or　if—you　
were　ing　back。　Do　you　have　any　idea　how…　how…〃　He　couldn't　finish　the　sentence。　He　sucked　in　a　
sharp　breath　and　moved　on。　〃Can　you　give　me　one　reason　why　I　shouldn't　ship　you　off　to　Jacksonville　
this　second？〃　

My　eyes　narrowed。　So　it　was　going　to　be　threats；　was　it？　Two　could　play　at　that　game。　I　sat　up；　pulling　
the　quilt　around　me。　〃Because　I　won't　go。〃　

〃Now　just　one　minute；　young　lady—〃　

〃Look；　Dad；　I　accept　plete　responsibility　for　my　actions；　and　you　have　the　right　to　ground　me　for　as　
long　as　you　want。　I　will　also　do　all　the　chores　and　laundry　and　dishes　until　you　think　I've　learned　my　
lesson。　And　I　guess　you're　within　your　rights　if　you　want　to　kick　me　out；　too—but　that　won't　make　me　to　
go　to　Florida。〃　

His　face　turned　bright　red。　He　took　a　few　deep　breaths　before　he　answered。　

〃Would　you　like　to　explain　where　you've　been？〃　

Oh；　crap。　〃There　was…　an　emergency。〃　

He　raised　his　eyebrows　in　expectation　of　my　brilliant　explanation。　

I　filled　my　cheeks　with　air　and　then　blew　it　out　noisily。　〃I　don't　know　what　to　tell　you；　Dad。　It　was　mostly　
a　misunderstanding。　He　said；　she　said。　It　got　out　of　hand。〃　

He　waited　with　a　distrustful　expression。　

〃See；　Alice　told　Rosalie　about　me　jumping　off　the　cliff…〃　I　was　scrambling　frantically　to　make　this　work；　
to　keep　it　as　close　to　the　truth　as　possible　so　that　my　inability　to　lie　convincingly　would　not　undermine　the　
excuse；　but　before　I　could　go　on；　Charlie's　expression　reminded　me　that　he　didn't　know　arything　about　
thecliff。　

Major　oops。　As　if　I　wasn't　already　toast。　

〃I　guess　I　didn't　tell　you　about　that；〃　I　choked　out。　〃It　was　nothing。　Just　messing　around；　swimming　with　
Jake。　Anyway；　Rosalie　told　Edward；　and　he　was　upset。　She　sort　of　accidentally　made　it　sound　like　I　wa？　
trying　to　kill　myself　or　something。　He　wouldn't　answer　his　phone；　so　Alice　dragged　me　to…　L。A。；　to　
explain　in　person。〃　I　shrugged；　desperately　hoping　that　he　would　not　be　so　distracted　by　my　slip　that　he'd　
miss　the　brilliant　explanation　I'd　provided。　

Charlie's　face　was　frozen。　〃Were　you　trying　to　kill　yourself；　Bella？〃　

〃No；　of　course　not。　Just　having　fun　with　Jake。　Cliff　diving。　The　La　Push　kids　do　it　all　the　time。　Like　I　said；　
nothing。〃　

Charlie's　face　heated　up—from　frozen　to　hot　with　fury。　〃What's　it　to　Edward　Cullen　anyway？〃　he　barked。　
〃All　this　time；　he's　just　left　you　dangling　without　a　word—〃　

I　interrupted　him。　〃Another　misunderstanding。〃　

His　face　flushed　again。　〃So　is　he　back　then？〃　

〃I'm　not　sure　what　the　exact　plan　is。　I　think　they　all　are。〃　

He　shook　his　head；　the　vein　in　his　forehead　pulsing。　〃I　want　you　to　stay　away　from　him；　Bella。　I　don't　trust　
him。　He's　rotten　for　you。　I　won't　let　him　mess　you　up　like　that　again。〃　

〃Fine；〃　I　said　curtly。　

Charlie　rocked　back　onto　his　heels。　〃Oh。〃　He　scrambled　for　a　second；　exhaling　loudly　in　surprise。　〃I　
thought　you　were　going　to　be　difficult。〃　

〃I　am。〃　I　stared　straight　into　his　eyes。　〃I　meant；　'Fine；　I'll　move　out。'〃　

His　eyes　bulged；　his　face　turned　puce。　My　resolve　wavered　as　I　started　to　worry　about　his　health。　He　
was　no　younger　than　Harry…　

〃Dad；　I　don't　want　to　move　out；〃　I　said　in　a　softer　tone。　〃I　love　you。　I　know　you're　worried；　but　you　need　
to　trust　me　on　this。　And　you're　going　to　have　to　ease　up　on　Edward　if　you　want　me　to　stay。　Do　you　want　
me　to　live　here　or　not？〃　

〃That's　not　fair；　Bella。　You　know　I　want　you　to　stay。〃　

〃Then　be　nice　to　Edward；　because　he's　going　to　be　where　I　am。〃　I　said　it　with　confidence。　The　conviction　
of　my　epiphany　was　still　strong。　

〃Not　under　my　roof；〃　Charlie　stormed。　

I　sighed　a　heavy　sigh。　〃Look；　I'm　not　going　to　give　you　any　more　ultimatums　tonight—or　I　guess　it's　this　
morning。　Just　think　about　it　for　a　few　days；　okay？　But　keep　in　mind　that　Edward　and　I　are　sort　of　a　
package　deal。〃　

〃Bella—〃　

〃Think　it　over；〃　I　insisted。　〃And　while　you're　doing　that；　could　you　give　me　some　privacy？　I　really　need　a　
shower。〃　

Charlie's　face　was　a　strange　shade　of　purple；　but　he　left；　slamming　the　door　behind　him。　I　heard　him　
stomp　furiously　down　the　stairs。　

I　threw　off　my　quilt；　and　Edward　was　already　there；　sitting　in　the　rocking　chair　as　if　he　d　been　present　
through　the　whole　conversation。　

〃Sorry　about　that；〃　I　whispered。　

〃It's　not　as　if　I　don't　deserve　far　worse；〃　he　murmured。　〃Don't　start　anything　with　Charlie　over　me；　please。　
〃　

〃Don't　worry　about　it；〃　I　breathed　as　I　gathered　up　my　bathroom　things　and　a　set　of　clean　clothes。　〃I　will　
start　exactly　as　much　as　is　necessary；　and　no　more　than　that。　Or　are　you　trying　to　tell　me　I　have　nowhere　
to　go？〃　I　widened　my　eyes　with　false　alarm。　

〃You'd　move　in　with　a　house　full　of　vampires？〃　

〃That's　probably　the　safest　place　for　someone　like　me。　Besides…〃　I　grinned。　〃If　Charlie　kicks　me　out；　
then　there's　no　need　for　a　graduation　deadline；　is　there？〃　

His　jaw　tightened。　〃So　eager　for　eternal　damnation；〃　he　muttered。　

〃You　know　you　don't　really　believe　that。〃　

〃Oh；　don't　I？〃　he　fumed。　

〃No。　You　don't。〃　

He　glowered　at　me　and　started　to　speak；　but　I　cut　him　off。　

〃If　you　really　believed　that　you'd　lost　your　soul；　the