5 midnight sun午夜阳光-第16部分

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ed。　She　looked　dizzy。　What　was　wrong　with　her？　But　I　wasn　t　giving　up　yet。　Please　tell　me　just　one　little　theory；　I　pleaded　in　my　soft；　nonscary　voice；　holding　her　eyes　in　mine。　To　my　surprise　and　satisfaction；　it　finally　worked。　Um；　well；　bitten　by　a　radioactive　spider？　ic　books？　No　wonder　she　thought　I　would　laugh。　That　s　not　very　creative；　I　chided　her；　trying　to　hide　my　fresh　relief。　I　m　sorry；　that　s　all　I　ve　got；　she　said；　offended。　This　relieved　me　even　more。　You　re　not　even　close。　No　spiders？　Nope。　And　no　radioactivity？　None。　Dang；　she　sighed。　Kryptonite　doesn　t　bother　me　either；　I　said　quickly　before　she　could　ask　about　bites　and　then　I　had　to　laugh；　because　she　thought　I　was　a　superhero。　You　re　not　supposed　to　laugh；　remember？　I　pressed　my　lips　together。　I　ll　figure　it　out　eventually；　she　promised。　And　when　she　did；　she　would　run。　I　wish　you　wouldn　t　try；　I　said；　all　teasing　gone。　Because　？　I　owed　her　honesty。　Still；　I　tried　to　smile；　to　make　my　words　sound　less　threatening。　What　if　I　m　not　a　superhero？　What　if　I　m　the　bad　guy？　Her　eyes　widened　by　a　fraction　and　her　lips　fell　slightly　apart。　And　then；　after　another　second；　I　see。　She　d　finally　heard　me。　Oh；　she　said。　I　was　able　to　tease　her　again。

Do　you？　I　asked；　working　to　conceal　my　agony。　You　re　dangerous？　she　guessed。　Her　breathing　hiked；　and　her　heart　raced。　I　couldn　t　answer　her。　Was　this　my　last　moment　with　her？　Would　she　run　now？　Could　I　be　allowed　to　tell　her　that　I　loved　her　before　she　left？　Or　would　that　frighten　her　more？　But　not　bad；　she　whispered；　shaking　her　head；　no　fear　in　her　clear　eyes。　don　t　believe　that　you　re　bad。　You　re　wrong；　I　breathed。　Of　course　I　was　bad。　Wasn　t　I　rejoicing　now；　that　she　thought　better　of　me　than　I　deserved？　If　I　were　a　good　person；　I　would　have　stayed　away　from　her。　I　stretched　my　hand　across　the　table；　reaching　for　the　lid　to　her　lemonade　bottle　as　an　excuse。　She　did　not　flinch　away　from　my　suddenly　closer　hand。　She　really　was　not　afraid　of　me。　Not　yet。　I　spun　the　lid　like　a　top；　watching　it　instead　of　her。　My　thoughts　were　in　a　snarl。　Run；　Bella；　run。　I　couldn　t　make　myself　say　the　words　out　loud。　She　jumped　to　her　feet。　We　re　going　to　be　late；　she　said；　just　as　I　d　started　to　worry　that　she　d　somehow　heard　my　silent　warning。　I　m　not　going　to　class。　Why　not？　Because　I　don　t　want　to　kill　you。　It　s　healthy　to　ditch　class　now　and　then。　No；　I　To　be　precise；　it　was　healthier　for　the　humans　if　the　vampires　ditched　on　days　when　human　blood　would　be　spilt。　Mr。　Banner　was　blood　typing　today。　Alice　had　already　ditched　her　morning　class。　Well；　I　m　going；　she　said。　always　did　the　right　thing。　She　was　my　opposite。　I　ll　see　you　later　then；　I　said；　trying　for　casual　again；　staring　down　at　the　whirling　lid。　And；　by　the　way；　I　adore　you　in　frightening；　dangerous　ways。　She　hesitated；　and　I　hoped　for　a　moment　that　she　would　stay　with　me　after　all。　But　the　bell　rang　and　she　hurried　away。　I　waited　until　she　was　gone；　and　then　I　put　the　lid　in　my　pocket　a　souvenir　of　this　most　consequential　conversation　and　walked　through　the　rain　to　my　car。　I　put　on　my　favorite　calming　CD　the　same　one　I　d　listened　to　that　first　day　but　I　wasn　t　hearing　Debussy　s　notes　for　long。　Other　notes　were　running　through　my　head；　a　fragment　of　a　tune　that　pleased　and　intrigued　me。　I　turned　down　the　stereo　and　listened　to　the　music　in　my　head；　playing　with　the　fragment　until　it　evolved　into　a　fuller　harmony。　Instinctively；　my　fingers　moved　in　the　air　over　imaginary　piano　keys。　The　new　position　was　really　ing　along　when　my　attention　was　caught　by　a　wave　of　mental　anguish。　This　didn　t　surprise　me。　She　was　responsible　she

I　looked　toward　the　distress。　Is　she　going　to　pass　out？　What　do　I　do？　Mike　panicked。　A　hundred　yards　away；　Mike　Newton　was　lowering　Bella　s　limp　body　to　the　sidewalk。　She　slumped　unresponsively　against　the　wet　concrete；　her　eyes　closed；　her　skin　chalky　as　a　corpse。　I　almost　took　the　door　off　the　car。　Bella？　I　shouted。　There　was　no　change　in　her　lifeless　face　when　I　yelled　her　name。　My　whole　body　went　colder　than　ice。　I　was　aware　of　Mike　s　aggravated　surprise　as　I　sifted　furiously　through　his　thoughts。　He　was　only　thinking　of　his　anger　toward　me；　so　I　didn　t　know　what　was　wrong　with　Bella。　If　he　d　done　something　to　harm　her；　I　would　annihilate　him。　What　s　wrong　is　she　hurt？　I　demanded；　trying　to　focus　his　thoughts。　It　was　maddening　to　have　to　walk　at　a　human　pace。　I　should　not　have　called　attention　to　my　approach。　Then　I　could　hear　her　heart　beating　and　her　even　breath。　As　I　watched；　she　squeezed　her　eyes　more　tightly　shut。　That　eased　some　of　my　panic。　I　saw　a　flicker　of　memories　in　Mike　s　head；　a　splash　of　images　from　the　Biology　room。　Bella　s　head　on　our　table；　her　fair　skin　turning　green。　Drops　of　red　against　the　white　cards　Blood　typing。　I　stopped　where　I　was；　holding　my　breath。　blood　was　another　altogether。　Her　scent　was　one　thing；　her　flowing　I　I　think　she　s　fainted；　Mike　said；　anxious　and　resentful　at　the　same　time。　don　t　know　what　happened；　she　didn　t　even　stick　her　finger。　Relief　washed　through　me；　and　I　breathed　again；　tasting　the　air。　Ah；　I　could　smell　the　tiny　flow　of　Mike　Newton　s　puncture　wound。　Once；　that　might　have　appealed　to　me。　I　knelt　beside　her　while　Mike　hovered　next　to　me；　furious　at　my　intervention。　Bella。　Can　you　hear　me？　Go　away。　She　was　fine。　But　she　wouldn　t　go　any　farther。　No；　she　moaned。　The　relief　was　so　exquisite　that　I　laughed。　I　was　taking　her　to　the　nurse；　Mike　said。　I　ll　take　her。　You　can　go　back　to　class；　I　said　dismissively。　No。　I　m　supposed　to　do　it。　Mike　s　teeth　clenched　together。　I　wasn　t　going　to　stand　around　arguing　with　the　wretch。

Thrilled　and　terrified；　halfgrateful　to　and　halfaggrieved　by　the　predicament　which　made　touching　her　a　necessity；　I　gently　lifted　Bella　from　the　sidewalk　and　held　her　in　my　arms；　touching　only　her　clothes；　keeping　as　much　distance　between　our　bodies　as　possible。　I　was　striding　forward　in　the　same　movement；　in　a　hurry　to　have　her　safe　farther　away　from　me；　in　other　words。　Her　eyes　popped　open；　astonished。　Put　me　down；　she　ordered　in　a　weak　voice　embarrassed　again；　I　guessed　from　her　expression。　She　didn　t　like　to　show　weakness。　I　barely　heard　Mike　s　shouted　protest　behind　us。　You　look　awful；　I　told　her；　grinning　because　there　was　nothing　wrong　with　her　but　a　light　head　and　a　weak　stomach。　Put　me　back　on　the　sidewalk；　she　said。　So　you　faint　at　the　sight　of　blood？　Her　lips　were　white。　Could　it　get　any　more　ironic？　She　closed　her　eyes　and　pressed　her　lips　together。　And　not　even　your　own　blood；　I　added；　my　grin　widening。　We　were　to　the　front　office。　out　of　my　way。　Ms。　Cope　jumped；　startled。　my　arms。　The　door　was　propped　an　inch　open；　and　I　kicked　it　Oh；　my；　she　gasped　as　she　examined　the　ashen　girl　in　She　fainted　in　Biology；　I　explained；　before　her　imagination　could　get　too　out　of　hand。　Ms。　Cope　hurried　to　open　the　door　to　the　nurse　s　office。　Bella　s　eyes　were　open　again；　watching　her。　I　heard　the　elderly　nurse　s　internal　astonishment　as　I　laid　the　girl　carefully　on　the　one　shabby　bed。　As　soon　as　Bella　was　out　of　my　arms；　I　put　the　width　of　the　room　between　us。　My　body　was　too　excited；　too　eager；　my　muscles　tense　and　the　venom　flowing。　She　was　so　warm　and　fragrant。　She　s　just　a　little　faint；　I　reassured　Mrs。　Hammond。　biology。　She　nodded；　understanding　now。　I　stifled　a　laugh。　There　s　always　one。　They　re　blood　typing　in　Trust　Bella　to　be　that　one。　It　ll　pass。　Just　lie　down　for　a　minute；　honey；　Mrs。　Hammond　said。　I　know；　Bella　said。　Does　this　happen　often？　the　nurse　asked。　Sometimes；　Bella　admitted。　I　tried　to　disguise　my　laughter　as　coughing。　This　brought　me　to　the　nurse　s　attention。　said。　You　can　go　back　to　class　now；　she

I　looked　her　straight　in　the　eye　and　lied　with　perfect　confidence。　to　stay　with　her。　Hmm。　I　wonder　oh　well。　Mrs。　Hammond　nodded。　Why　did　Bella　have　to　be　so　difficult？　I　m　supposed　It　worked　just　fine　on　her。　I　ll　go　get　you　some　ice　for　your　forehead；　dear；　the　nurse　said；　slightly　unfortable　from　looking　into　my　eyes　the　way　a　human　should　be　and　left　the　room。　You　were　right；　Bella　moaned；　closing　her　eyes。　What　did　she　mean？　I　jumped　to　the　worst　conclusion：　she　d　accepted　my　warnings。　I　usually　am；　I　said；　trying　to　keep　the　amusement　in　my　voice；　it　sounded　sour　now。　But　about　what　in　particular　this　time？　Ditching　is　healthy；　she　sighed。　Ah；　relief　again。　She　was　silent　then。　She　just　breathed　slowly　in　and　out。　Her　lips　were　beginning　to　turn　pink。　Her　mouth　was　slightly　out　of　balance；　her　lower　lip　just　a　little　too　full　to　match　the　top。　Staring　at　her　mouth　made　me　feel　strange。　Made　me　want　to　move　closer　to　her；　which　was　not　a　good　idea。　You　scared　me　for　a　minute　there；　I　said　to　restart　the　conversation　so　that　I　could　hear　her　voice　again。　I　thought　Newton　was　dragging　your　dead　body　off　to　bury　it　in　the　woods。　Ha　ha；　she　said。　Honestly　I　ve　seen　corpses　with　better　color。　This　was　actually　true。　concerned　that　I　might　have　to　avenge　your　murder。　And　I　would　have。　Poor　Mike；　she　sighed。　I　ll　bet　he　s　mad。　Her　concern　was　surely　just　I　was　Fury　pulsed　through　me；　but　I　contained　it　quickly。　pity。　She　was　kind。　That　was　all。　He　absolutely　loathes　me；　I　told　her；　cheered　by　that　idea。　You　can　t　know　that。　I　saw　his　face　I　could　tell。　It　was　probably　true　that　reading　his　face　would　have　given　me　enough　information　to　make　that　particular　deduction。　All　this　practice　with　Bella　was　sharpening　my　skill　at　reading　human　expressions。　How　did　you　see　me？　I　thought　you　were　ditching。　Her　face　looked　better　the　green　undertone　had　vanished　from　her　translucent　skin。　I　was　in　my　car；　listening　to　a　CD。　Her　expression　twitched；　like　my　very　ordinary　answer　had　surprised　her　somehow。

She　opened　her　eyes　again　when　Mrs。　Hammond　returned　with　an　ice　pack。　Here　you　go；　dear；　the　nurse　said　as　she　laid　it　across　Bella　s　forehead。　You　re　looking　better。　I　think　I　m　fine；　Bella　said；　and　she　sat　up　while　pulling　the　ice　pack　away。　Of　course。　She　didn　t　like　to　be　taken　care　of。　Mrs。　Hammond　s　wrinkled　hands　fluttered　toward　the　girl；　as　if　she　were　going　to　push　her　back　down；　but　just　then　Ms。　Cope　opened　the　door　to　the　office　and　leaned　in。　With　her　appearance　came　the　smell　of　fresh　blood；　just　a　whiff。　Invisible　in　the　office　behind　her；　Mike　Newton　was　still　very　angry；　wishing　the　heavy　boy　he　dragged　now　was　the　girl　who　was　in　here　with　me。　We　ve　got　another　one；　Ms。　Cope　said。　Bella　quickly　jumped　down　from　the　cot；　eager　to　be　out　of　the　spotlight。　Here；　she　said；　handing　the　press　back　to　Mrs。　Hammond。　I　don　t　need　this。　Mike　grunted　as　he　halfshoved　Lee　Stevens　through　the　door。　Blood　was　still　dripping　down　the　hand　Lee　held　to　his　face；　trickling　toward　his　wrist。　Oh　no。　This　was　my　cue　to　leave　and　Bella　s；　too；　it　seemed。　office；　Bella。　She　stared　up　at　me　with　bewildered　eyes。　Trust　me　go。　She　whirled　and　caught　the　door　before　it　had　swung　shut；　rushing　through　to　the　office。　I　followed　a　few　inches　behind　her。　Her　swinging　hair　brushed　my　hand　She　turned　to　look　at　me；　still　wideeyed。　You　actually　listened　to　me。　Her　small　nose　wrinkled。　That　was　a　first。　Get　out　to　the　I　smelled　the　blood。　People　can　t　smell　blood。　It　smells　like　rust　and　salt。　I　stared　at　her　in　blank　surprise。　Well；　I　can　that　s　what　makes　me　sick。　My　face　froze；　still　staring。　Was　she　really　even　human？　She　looked　human。　She　felt　soft　as　a　human。　She　smelled　human　well；　better　actually。　She　acted　human　sort　of。　But　she　didn　t　think　like　a　human；　or　respond　like　one。　What　other　option　was　there；　though？　What？　she　demanded。　It　s　nothing。　Mike　Newton　interrupted　us　then；　entering　the　room　with　resentful；　violent　thoughts。

You　look　better；　he　said　to　her　rudely。　My　hand　twitched；　wanting　to　teach　him　some　manners。　I　would　have　to　watch　myself；　or　I　would　end　up　actually　killing　this　obnoxious　boy。　Just　keep　your　hand　in　your　pocket；　she　said。　she　was　talking　to　me。　For　one　wild　second；　I　thought　Are　you　going　back　to　class？　It　s　not　bleeding　anymore；　he　answered　sullenly。　Are　you　kidding？　I　d　just　have　to　turn　around　and　e　back。　That　was　very　good。　I　d　thought　I　was　going　to　have　to　miss　this　whole　hour　with　her；　and　now　I　got　extra　time　instead。　I　felt　greedy；　a　miser　hording　over　each　minute。　Yeah；　I　guess　Mike　mumbled。　So　are　you　going　this　weekend？　To　the　beach？　Ah；　they　had　plans。　Anger　froze　me　in　place。　It　was　a　group　trip；　though。　I　d　seen　some　of　this　in　other　students　heads。　It　wasn　t　just　the　two　of　them。　I　was　still　furious。　I　leaned　motionlessly　against　the　counter；　trying　to　control　myself。　Sure；　I　said　I　was　in；　she　promised　him。　So　she　d　said　yes　to　him；　too。　The　jealousy　burned；　more　painful　than　thirst。　She　was　just　spending　No；　it　was　just　a　group　outing；　I　tried　to　convince　myself。　the　day　with　friends。　Nothing　more。　We　re　meeting　at　my　dad　s　store；　at　ten。　I　ll　be　there；　she　said。　I　ll　see　you　in　Gym；　then。　See　you；　she　replied。　And　Cullen　s　NOT　invited。　He　shuffled　off　to　his　class；　his　thoughts　full　of　ire。　What　does　she　see　in　that　freak？　Sure；　he　s　rich；　I　guess。　Chicks　think　he　s　hot；　but　I　don　t　see　that。　Too　too　perfect。　I　bet　his　dad　experiments　with　plastic　surgery　on　all　of　them。　That　s　why　they　re　all　so　white　and　pretty。　It　s　not　natural。　And　he　s　sort　of　scarylooking。　Sometimes；　when　he　stares　at　me；　I　d　swear　he　s　thinking　about　killing　me　Freak　Mike　wasn　t　entirely　unperceptive。　Gym；　Bella　repeated　quietly。　A　groan。　I　looked　at　her；　and　saw　that　she　was　sad　about　something　again。　I　wasn　t　sure　why；　but　it　was　clear　that　she　didn　t　want　to　go　to　her　next　class　with　Mike；　and　I　was　all　for　that　plan。　I　went　to　her　side　and　bent　close　to　her　face；　feeling　the　warmth　of　her　skin　radiating　out　to　my　lips。　I　didn　t　dare　breathe。　I　can　take　care　of　that；　I　murmured。　Go　sit　down　and　look　pale。

She　did　as　I　asked；　sitting　in　one　of　the　folding　chairs　and　leaning　her　head　back　against　the　wall；　while；　behind　me；　Ms。　Cope　came　out　of　the　back　room　and　went　to　her　desk。　With　her　eyes　closed；　Bella　looked　as　if　she　d　passed　out　again。　Her　full　color　hadn　t　returned　yet。　I　turned　to　the　secretary。　Hopefully　Bella　was　paying　attention　to　this；　I　thought　sardonically。　This　was　how　a　human　was　supposed　to　respond。　Ms。　Cope？　I　asked；　using　my　persuasive　voice　again。　Her　eyelashes　fluttered；　and　her　heart　sped　up。　yourself！　Yes？　That　was　interesting。　When　Shelly　Cope　s　pulse　quickened；　it　was　because　she　found　me　physically　attractive；　not　because　she　was　frightened。　I　was　used　to　that　around　human　females　yet　I　hadn　t　considered　that　explanation　for　Bella　s　racing　heart。　I　rather　liked　that。　louder。　Too　much；　in　fact。　I　smiled；　and　Mrs。　Cope　s　breathing　got　Too　young；　get　a　hold　of　Bella　has　gym　next　hour；　and　I　don　t　think　she　feels　well　enough。　Actually；　I　was　thinking　I　should　take　her　home　now。　Do　you　think　you　could　excuse　her　from　class？　I　stared　into　her　depthless　eyes；　enjoying　the　havoc　that　this　wreaked　on　her　thought　processes。　Was　it　possible　that　Bella　？　Mrs。　Cope　had　to　swallow　loudly　before　she　answered。　too；　Edward？　No；　I　have　Mrs。　Goff；　she　won　t　mind。　I　wasn　t　paying　much　attention　to　her　now。　I　was　exploring　this　new　possibility。　Hmm。　I　d　like　to　believe　that　Bella　found　me　attractive　like　other　humans　did；　but　when　did　Bella　ever　have　the　same　reactions　as　other　humans？　I　shouldn　t　get　my　hopes　up。　Okay；　it　s　all　taken　care　of。　You　feel　better；　Bella。　Do　yo