2 new moon新月-第23章

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say　anything；　though。　They　fight　dirty　if　you　start　on　their　names—they'll　tag　team　you。〃　

〃Good　friends。〃　I　raised　one　eyebrow。　

〃No；　they　are。　Just　don't　mess　with　their　names。〃　

Just　then　a　call　echoed　in　the　distance。　〃Jacob？〃　someone　shouted。　

〃Is　that　Billy？〃　I　asked。　

〃No。〃　Jacob　ducked　his　head；　and　it　looked　like　he　was　blushing　under　his　brown　skin。　〃Speak　of　the　
devil；〃　he　mumbled；　〃and　the　devil　shall　appear。〃　

〃Jake？　Are　you　out　here？〃　The　shouting　voice　was　closer　now。　

〃Yeah！〃　Jacob　shouted　back；　and　sighed。　

We　waited　through　the　short　silence　until　two　tall；　dark…skinned　boys　strolled　around　the　corner　into　the　
shed。　

One　was　slender；　and　almost　as　tall　as　Jacob。　His　black　hair　was　chin…length　and　parted　down　the　
middle；　one　side　tucked　behind　his　left　ear　while　the　right　side　swung　free。　The　shorter　boy　was　more　
burly。　His　white　T…shirt　strained　over　his　well…developed　chest；　and　he　seemed　gleefully　conscious　of　that　
fact。　His　hair　was　so　short　it　was　almost　a　buzz。　

Both　boys　stopped　short　when　they　saw　me。　The　thin　boy　glanced　swiftly　back　and　forth　between　Jacob　
and　me；　while　the　brawny　boy　kept　his　eyes　on　me；　a　slow　smile　spreading　across　his　face。　

〃Hey；　guys；〃　Jacob　greeted　them　halfheartedly。　

〃Hey；　Jake；〃　the　short　one　said　without　looking　away　from　me。　I　had　to　smile　in　response；　his　grin　was　so　
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　come　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　coming　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　come　back。　Because　something　must　be　coming。　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　come　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…consc