2 new moon新月-第66章

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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　come　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　coming　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　complete　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；　then　when　I　found　you　in　Volterra；　you　would　have　
realized　immediately　what　was　happening；　instead　of　thinking　we　were　both　dead　together。　But　you　
didn't—you　said　'Amazing。　Carlisle　was　right；'〃　I　reminded　him；　triumphant。　〃There's　hope　in　you；　after　
all。〃　

For　once；　Edward　was　speechless。　

〃So　let's　both　just　be　hopeful；　all　right？〃　I　suggested。　〃Not　that　it　matters。　If　you　stay；　I　don't　need　
heaven。〃　

He　got　up　slowly；　and　came　to　put　his　hands　on　either　side　of　my　face　as　he　stared　into　my　eyes。　
〃Forever；〃　he　vowed；　still　a　little　staggered。　

〃That's　all　I'm　asking　for；〃　I　said；　and　stretched　up　on　my　toes　so　that　I　could　press　my　lips　to　his。　

EPILOGUE　TREATY　




ALMOST　EVERYTHING　WAS　BACK　TO　NORMAL—THE　GOOD；　pre…zombie　normal—in　less　
time　than　I　would　have　believed　possible。　The　hospital　welcomed　Carlisle　back　with　eager　arms；　not　even　
bothering　to　conceal　their　delight　that　Esme　had　found　life　in　L。A。　so　little　to　her　liking。　Thanks　to　the　
Calculus　test　I'd　missed　while　abroad；　Alice　and　Edward　were　in　better　to　shape　to　graduate　than　I　was　
at　the　moment。　Suddenly；　college　was　a　priority　（college　was　still　plan　B；　on　the　off　chance　that　Edward's　
offer　swayed　me　from　the　post…graduation　Carlisle　option）。　Many　deadlines　had　passed　me　by；　but　
Edward　had　a　new　stack　of　applications　for　me　to　fill　out　every　day。　He'd　already　done　the　Harvard　
route；　so　it　didn't　bother　him　that；　thanks　to　my　procrastination；　we　might　both　end　up　at　Peninsula　
Community　College　next　year。　

Charlie　was　not　happy　with　me；　or　speaking　to　Edward。　But　at　least　Edward　was　allowed—during　my　
designated　visiting　hours—inside　the　house　again。　I　just　wasn't　allowed　out　of　it。　

School　and　work　were　the　only　exceptions；　and　the　dreary；　dull　yellow　walls　of　my　classrooms　had　
become　oddly　inviting　to　me　of　late。　That　had　a　lot　to　do　with　the　person　who　sat　in　the　desk　beside　me。　

Edward　had　resumed　his　schedule　from　the　beginning　of　the　year；　which　put　him　in　most　of　my　classes　
again。　My　behavior　had　been　such　last　fall；　after　the　Cullens'　supposed　move　to　L。A。；　that　the　seat　beside　
me　had　never　been　filled。　Even　Mike；　always　eager　to　take　any　advantage；　had　kept　a　safe　distance。　
With　Edward　back　in　place；　it　was　almost　as　if　the　last　eight　months　were　just　a　disturbing　nightmare。　

Almost；　but　not　quite。　There　was　the　house　arrest　situation；　for　one　thing。　And　for　another；　before　the　fall；　
I　hadn't　been　best　friends　with　Jacob　Black。　So；　of　course；　I　hadn't　missed　him　then。　

I　wasn't　at　liberty　to　go　to　La　Push；　and　Jacob　wasn't　coming　to　see　me。　He　wouldn't　even　answer　my　
phone　calls。　

I　made　these　calls　mostly　at　night；　after　Edward　had　been　kicked　out—promptly　at　nine　by　a　grimly　
gleeful　Charlie—and　before　Edward　snuck　back　through　my　window　when　Charlie　was　asleep。　I　chose　
that　time　to　make　my　fruitless　calls　because　I'd　noticed　that　Edward　made　a　certain　face　every　time　I　
mentioned　Jacob's　name。　Sort　of　disapproving　and　wary…　maybe　even　angry。　I　guessed　that　he　had　

some　reciprocal　prejudice　against　the　werewolves；　though　he　wasn't　as　vocal　as　Jacob　had　been　about　
the　〃bloodsuckers。〃　

So；　I　didn't　mention　Jacob　much。　

With　Edward　near　me；　it　was　hard　to　think　about　unhappy　things—even　my　former　besi　fnend；　who　was　
probably　very　unhappy　right　now；　due　to　me。　When　I　did　think　of　Jake；　I　always　felt　guilty　for　not　
thinking　of　him　more。　

The　fairy　tale　was　back　on。　Prince　returned；　bad　spell　broken。　I　wasn't　sure　exactly　what　to　do　about　the　
leftover；　unresolved　character。　Where　was　his　happily　ever　after？　

Weeks　passed；　and　Jacob　still　wouldn't　answer　my　calls。　It　started　to　become　a　constant　worry。　Like　a　
dripping　faucet　in　the　back　of　my　head　that　I　couldn't　shut　off　or　ignore。　Drip；　drip；　drip。　Jacob；　Jacob；　
Jacob。　

So；　though　I　didn't　mention　Jacob　much；　sometimes　my　frustration　and　anxiety　boiled　over。　

〃It's　just　plain　rude！〃　I　vented　one　Saturday　afternoon　when　Edward　picked　me　up　from　work。　Being　
angry　about　things　was　easier　than　feeling　guilty。　〃Downright　insulting！〃　

I'd　varied　my　pattern；　in　hopes　of　a　different　response。　I'd　called　Jake　from　work　this　time；　only　to　get　an　
unhelpfulBilly。Again。　

〃Bil