友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
第三电子书 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第24部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!

were making about the bear sightings。 I wanted to ask Billy not to say 
anything about this to Charlie; but I 
was afraid that making the request would cause the opposite result。 
〃Maybe we'll see the super bear;〃 Jacob joked; eyes on his design。 
I glanced at Billy swiftly; fearing a Charlie…style reaction。 
But Billy just laughed at his son。 〃Maybe you should take a jar of honey; just 
in case。〃 
Jake chuckled。 〃Hope your new boots are fast; Bella。 One little jar isn't 
going to keep a hungry bear 
occupied for long。〃 
〃I only have to be faster than you。〃 
〃Good luck with that!〃 Jacob said; rolling his eyes as he refolded the map。 
〃Let's go。〃 
〃Have fun;〃 Billy rumbled; wheeling himself toward the refrigerator。 
Charlie was not a hard person to live with; but it looked to me like Jacob had 
it even easier than I did。 
I drove to the very end of the dirt road; stopping near the sign that marked 
the beginning of the trailhead。 
It had been a long time since I'd been here; and my stomach reacted nervously。 
This might be a very bad 
thing。 But it would be worth it; if I got to hear him。 
I got out and looked at the dense wall of green。 
〃I went this way;〃 I murmured; pointing straight ahead。 
〃Hmm;〃 Jake muttered。 
〃What?〃 
He looked at the direction I'd pointed; then at the clearly marked trail; and 
back。 
〃I would have figured you for a trail kind of girl。〃 
〃Not me。〃 I smiled bleakly。 〃I'm a rebel。〃 
He laughed; and then pulled out our map。 
〃Give me a second。〃 He held the pass in a skilled way; twisting the map 
around till it angled the way 
he wanted。 
〃Okay—first line on the grid。 Let's do it。〃 
I could tell that I was slowing Jacob up; but he didn't plain。 I tried not 
to dwell on my last trip through 
this part of the forest; with a very different panion。 Normal memories were 
still cangerous。 If I let 
myself slip up; I'd end up with my arms clutching my chest to hold it 
together; gasping for air; and how 
would I explain that to Jacob? 
It wasn't as hard as I would have thought to keep focused on the present。 The 
forest looked a lot like any 
other part of the peninsula; and Jacob set a vastly different mood。 
He whistled cheerfully; an unfamiliar tune; swinging his arms and moving 
easily through the rough 
undergrowth。 The shadows didn't seem as dark as usual。 Not with my personal 
sun along。 
Jacob checked the pass every few minutes; keeping us in a straight line 
with one of the radiating 
spokes of his grid。 He really looked like he knew what he was doing。 I was 
going to pliment him; but 
I caught myself。 No doubt he'd add another few years to his inflated age。 
My mind wandered as I walked; and I grew curious。 I hadn't forgotten the 
conversation we'd had by the 
sea cliffs—I'd been waiting for him to bring it up again; but it didn't look 
like that was going to happen。 
〃Hey Jake?〃 I asked hesitantly。 
〃Yeah?〃 
〃How are things with Embry? Is he back to normal yet?〃 
Jacob was silent for a minute; still moving forward with long paces。 When he 
was about ten feet ahead; 
he stopped to wait for me。 
〃No。 He's not back to normal;〃 Jacob said when I reached him; his mouth 
pulling down at the corners。 
He didn't start walking again。 I immediately regretted bringing it up。 
〃StillwithSam。〃 
〃Yup。〃 
He put his arm around my shoulder; and he looked so troubled that I didn't 
playfully shake it off; as I 
might have otherwise。 
〃Are they still looking at you funny?〃 I half…whispered。 
Jacob stared through the trees。 〃Sometimes。〃 
〃AndBilly?〃 
〃As helpful as ever;〃 he said in a sour; angry voice that disturbed me。 
〃Our couch is always open;〃 I offered。 
He laughed; breaking out of the unnatural gloom。 〃But think of the position 
that would put Charlie 
in—when Billy calls the police to report my kidnapping。〃 
I laughed too; glad to have Jacob back to normal。 
We stopped when Jacob said we'd gone six miles; cut west for a short time; and 
headed back along 
another line of his grid。 Everything looked exactly the same as the way in; 
and I had a feeling that my silly 
quest was pretty much doomed。 I admitted as much when it started to get 
darker; the sunless day fading 
toward a starless night; but Jacob was more confident。 
〃As long as you're sure we're starting from the right place〃 He glanced down 
at me。 
〃Yes; I'm sure。〃 
〃Then we'll find it;〃 he promised; grabbing my hand and pulling me through a 
mass of ferns。 On the other 
side was the truck。 He gestured toward it proudly。 〃Trust me。〃 
〃You're good;〃 I admitted。 〃Next time we bring flashlights; though。〃 
〃We'll save hiking for Sundays from now on。 I didn't know you were that slow。〃 
I yanked my hand back and stomped around to the driver's side while he 
chuckled at my reaction。 
〃So you up for another try tomorrow。'〃 he asked; sliding into the passenger 
seat。 
〃Sure。 Unless you want to go without me so I don't tie you down to my gimpy 
pace。〃 
〃I'll survive;〃 he assured me。 〃If we're hiking again; though; you might want 
to pick up some moleskin。 I 
bet you can feel those new boots right now。〃 
〃A little;〃 I confessed。 It felt like I had more blisters than I had space to 
fit them。 
〃I hope we see the bear tomorrow。 I'm sort of disappointed about that。〃 
〃Yes; me; too;〃 I agreed sarcastically。 〃Maybe we'll get lucky tomorrow and 
something will eat us!〃 
〃Bears don't want to eat people。 We don't taste that good。〃 He grinned at me 
in the dark cab。 〃Of 
course; you might be an exception。 I bet you'd taste good。〃 
〃Thanks so much;〃 I said; looking away。 He wasn't the first person to tell me 
that。 
 9。 THIRD WHEEL
TIME BEGAN TO TRIP ALONG MUCH MORE QUICKLY than before。 School; work; and 
Jacob—though not necessarily in that order—created a neat and effortless 
pattern to follow。 And Charlie 
got his wish: I wasn't miserable anymore。 Of course; I couldn't fool myself 
pletely。 When I stopped 
to take stock of my life; which I tried not to do too often; I couldn't ignore 
the implications of my 
behavior。 
I was like a lost moon—my planet destroyed in some cataclysmic; disaster…
movie scenario of 
desolation—that continued; nevertheless; to circle in a tight little orbit 
around the empty space left behind; 
ignoring the laws of gravity。 
I was getting better with my bike; which meant fewer bandages to worry 
Charlie。 But it also meant that 
the voice in my head began to fade; until I heard it no more。 Quietly; I 
panicked。 I threw myself into the 
search for the meadow with slightly frenzied intensity。 I racked my brain for 
other adrenaline…producing 
activities。 
I didn't keep track of the days :hat passed—there was no reason; as I tried 
to live as much in the present 
as possible; no past fading; no future impending。 So I was surprised by the 
date when Jacob brought it 
up on one of our homework days。 He was waiting when I pulled up in front of 
his house。 
〃Happy Valentine's Day;〃 Jacob said; smiling; but ducking his head as he 
greeted me。 
He held out a small; pink box; balancing it on his palm。 Conversation hearts。 
〃Well; I feel like a schmuck;〃 I mumbled。 〃Is today Valentine's Day?〃 
Jacob shook his head with mock sadness。 〃You can be so out of it sometimes。 
Yes; it is the fourteenth 
day of February。 So are you going to be my Valentine? Since you didn't get me 
a fifty…cent box of candy; 
it's the least you can do。〃 
I started to feel unfortable。 The words were teasing; but only on the 
surface。 
〃What exactly does that entail?〃 I hedged。 
〃The usual—slave for life; that kind of thing。〃 
〃Oh; well; if that's all〃 I took the candy。 But I was trying to think of 
some way to make the boundaries 
clear。 Again。 They seemed to get blurred a lot with Jacob。 
〃So; what are we doing tomorrow? Hiking; or the ER?〃 
〃Hiking;〃 I decided。 〃You're not the only one who can be obsessive。 I'm 
starting to think I imagined that 
place〃 I frowned into space。 
〃We'll find it;〃 he assured me。 〃Bikes Friday?〃 he offered。 
I saw a chance and took it without taking time to think it through。 
〃I'm going to a movie Friday。 I've been promising my cafeteria crowd that I 
would go out forever。〃 Mike 
would be pleased。 
But Jacob's face fell。 I caught the expression in his dark eyes before he 
dropped them to look at the 
ground。 
〃You'll e too; right?〃 I added quickly。 〃Or will it be too much of a drag 
with a bunch of boring 
seniors?〃 So much for my chance to put some distance between us。 I couldn't 
stand hurting Jacob; we 
seemed to be connected in an odd way; and his pain set off little stabs of my 
own。 Also; the idea of 
having his pany for the ordeal—I had promised Mike; but really didn't feel 
any enthusiasm at the 
thought of following through—was just too tempting。 
〃You'd like me to e; with your friends there?〃 
〃Yes;〃 I admitted honestly; knowing as I continued that I was probably 
shooting myself in the foot with 
my words。 〃I'll have a lot more fun if you're there。 Bring Quil; and we'll 
make it a party。〃 
〃Quil's gonna freak。 Senior girls。〃 He chortled and rolled his eyes。 I didn't 
mention Embry; and neither did 
he。 I laughed; too。 〃I'll try to get hin a good selection。〃 
I broached the subject with Mike in English。 
〃Hey; Mike;〃 I said when class was over。 〃Are you free Friday night?〃 
He looked up; his blue eyes instantly hopeful。 〃Yeah; I am。 You want to go 
out?〃 
I worded my reply carefully。 〃I was thinking about getting a group〃—I 
emphasized the word—〃together 
to go see Crosshairs。〃 I'd done my homework this time—even reading the movie 
spoilers to be sure I 
wouldn't be caught off guard。 This movie was supposed to be a bloodbath from 
start to finish。 I wasn't so 
recovered that I could stand to sit through a romance。 〃Does that sound like 
fun?〃 
〃Sure;〃 he agreed; visibly less eager。 
〃Cool。〃 
After a second; he perked back up to near his former excitement level。 〃How 
about we get Angela and 
Ben? Or Eric and Katie?〃 
He was determined to make this some kind of double date; apparently。 
〃How about both?〃 I suggested 〃And Jessica; too; of course。 And Tyler and 
Conner; and maybe 
Lauren;〃 I tacked on grudgingly。 I had promised Quil variety。 
〃Okay;〃 Mike muttered; foiled。 
〃And;〃 I continued; 〃I've got a couple of friends from La Push I'm inviting。 
So it sounds like we'll need 
your Suburban if everyone es。〃 
Mike's eyes narrowed in suspicion。 
〃These are the friends you spend all your time studying with now?〃 
〃Yep; the very ones;〃 I answered cheerfully。 〃Though you could look at it as 
tutoring—they're only 
sophomores。〃 
〃Oh;〃 Mike said; surprised。 After a second of thought; he smiled。 
In the end; though; the Suburban wasn't necessary。 
Jessica and Lauren claimed to be busy as soon as Mike let it slip that I was 
involved in the planning。 Eric 
and Katie already had plans—it was their three…week anniversary or something。 
Lauren got to Tyler and 
Conner before Mike could; so those two were also busy。 Even Quil was out—
grounded for fighting at 
school。 In the end; only Angela and Ben; and; of course Jacob; were able to 
go。 
The diminished numbers didn't dampen Mike's anticipation; though。 It was all 
he could talk about
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 1
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!