1 twilight暮色-第12部分

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smiling。　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　someone　so　beautiful　could　be　real。　
I　was　afraid　that　he　might　disappear　in　a　sudden　puff　of　smoke；　and　I　
would　wake　up。　

He　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　me　to　say　something。　

〃This　is　different；〃　I　finally　managed。　

〃Well…〃　He　paused；　and　then　the　rest　of　the　words　followed　in　a　rush。　〃I　
decided　as　long　as　I　was　going　to　hell；　I　might　as　well　do　it　thoroughly。〃　

I　waited　for　him　to　say　something　that　made　sense。　The　seconds　ticked　by。　

〃You　know　I　don't　have　any　idea　what　you　mean；〃　I　eventually　pointed　out。　

〃I　know。〃　He　smiled　again；　and　then　he　changed　the　subject。　〃I　think　your　
friends　are　angry　with　me　for　stealing　you。〃　

〃They'll　survive。〃　I　could　feel　their　stares　boring　into　my　back。　

〃I　may　not　give　you　back；　though；〃　he　said　with　a　wicked　glint　in　his　
eyes。　

I　gulped。　

He　laughed。　〃You　look　worried。〃　

〃No；〃　I　said；　but；　ridiculously；　my　voice　broke。　〃Surprised；　actually…　
what　brought　all　this　on？〃　

〃I　told　you　—　I　got　tired　of　trying　to　stay　away　from　you。　So　I'm　giving　
up。〃　He　was　still　smiling；　but　his　ocher　eyes　were　serious。　

〃Giving　up？〃　I　repeated　in　confusion。　

〃Yes　—　giving　up　trying　to　be　good。　I'm　just　going　to　do　what　I　want　now；　
and　let　the　chips　fall　where　they　may。〃　His　smile　faded　as　he　explained；　
and　a　hard　edge　crept　into　his　voice。　

〃You　lost　me　again。〃　

The　breathtaking　crooked　smile　reappeared。　

〃I　always　say　too　much　when　I'm　talking　to　you　—　that's　one　of　the　
problems。〃　

〃Don't　worry　—　I　don't　understand　any　of　it；〃　I　said　wryly。　

〃I'm　counting　on　that。〃　

〃So；　in　plain　English；　are　we　friends　now？〃　

〃Friends…〃　he　mused；　dubious。　

〃Or　not；〃　I　muttered。　

He　grinned。　〃Well；　we　can　try；　I　suppose。　But　I'm　warning　you　now　that　
I'm　not　a　good　friend　for　you。〃　Behind　his　smile；　the　warning　was　real。　

〃You　say　that　a　lot；〃　I　noted；　trying　to　ignore　the　sudden　trembling　in　
my　stomach　and　keep　my　voice　even。　

〃Yes；　because　you're　not　listening　to　me。　I'm　still　waiting　for　you　to　
believe　it。　If　you're　smart；　you'll　avoid　me。〃　

〃I　think　you've　made　your　opinion　on　the　subject　of　my　intellect　clear；　
too。〃　My　eyes　narrowed。　

He　smiled　apologetically。　

〃So；　as　long　as　I'm　being…　not　smart；　we'll　try　to　be　friends？〃　I　
struggled　to　sum　up　the　confusing　exchange。　

〃That　sounds　about　right。〃　

I　looked　down　at　my　hands　wrapped　around　the　lemonade　bottle；　not　sure　
what　to　do　now。　

〃What　are　you　thinking？〃　he　asked　curiously。　

I　looked　up　into　his　deep　gold　eyes；　became　befuddled；　and；　as　usual；　
blurted　out　the　truth。　

〃I'm　trying　to　figure　out　what　you　are。〃　

His　jaw　tightened；　but　he　kept　his　smile　in　place　with　some　effort。　

〃Are　you　having　any　luck　with　that？〃　he　asked　in　an　offhand　tone。　

〃Not　too　much；〃　I　admitted。　

He　chuckled。　〃What　are　your　theories？〃　

I　blushed。　I　had　been　vacillating　during　the　last　month　between　Bruce　
Wayne　and　Peter　Parker。　There　was　no　way　I　was　going　to　own　up　to　that。　

〃Won't　you　tell　me？〃　he　asked；　tilting　his　head　to　one　side　with　a　
shockingly　tempting　smile。　

I　shook　my　head。　〃Too　embarrassing。〃　

〃That's　really　frustrating；　you　know；〃　he　plained。　

〃No；〃　I　disagreed　quickly；　my　eyes　narrowing；　〃I　can't　imagine　why　that　
would　be　frustrating　at　all　—　just　because　someone　refuses　to　tell　you　
what　they're　thinking；　even　if　all　the　while　they're　making　cryptic　
little　remarks　specifically　designed　to　keep　you　up　at　night　wondering　
what　they　could　possibly　mean…　now；　why　would　that　be　frustrating？〃　

He　grimaced。　

〃Or　better；〃　I　continued；　the　pentup　annoyance　flowing　freely　now；　〃say　
that　person　also　did　a　wide　range　of　bizarre　things　—　from　saving　your　
life　under　impossible　circumstances　one　day　to　treating　you　like　a　pariah　
the　next；　and　he　never　explained　any　of　that；　either；　even　after　he　
promised。　That；　also；　would　be　very　nonfrustrating。〃　

〃You've　got　a　bit　of　a　temper；　don't　you？〃　

〃I　don't　like　double　standards。〃　

We　stared　at　each　other；　unsmiling。　

He　glanced　over　my　shoulder；　and　then；　unexpectedly；　he　snickered。　

〃What？〃　

〃Your　boyfriend　seems　to　think　I'm　being　unpleasant　to　you　—　he's　
debating　whether　or　not　to　e　break　up　our　fight。〃　He　snickered　again。　

〃I　don't　know　who　you're　talking　about；〃　I　said　frostily。　〃But　I'm　sure　
you're　wrong；　anyway。〃　

〃I'm　not。　I　told　you；　most　people　are　easy　to　read。〃　

〃Except　me；　of　course。〃　

〃Yes。　Except　for　you。〃　His　mood　shifted　suddenly；　his　eyes　turned　
brooding。　〃I　wonder　why　that　is。〃　

I　had　to　look　away　from　the　intensity　of　his　stare。　I　concentrated　on　
unscrewing　the　lid　of　my　lemonade。　I　took　a　swig；　staring　at　the　table　

without　seeing　it。　

〃Aren't　you　hungry？〃　he　asked；　distracted。　

〃No。〃　I　didn't　feel　like　mentioning　that　my　stomach　was　already　full　—　of　
butterflies。　〃You？〃　I　looked　at　the　empty　table　in　front　of　him。　

〃No；　I'm　not　hungry。〃　I　didn't　understand　his　expression　—　it　looked　like　
he　was　enjoying　some　private　joke。　

〃Can　you　do　me　a　favor？〃　I　asked　after　a　second　of　hesitation。　

He　was　suddenly　wary。　〃That　depends　on　what　you　want。〃　

〃It's　not　much；〃　I　assured　him。　

He　waited；　guarded　but　curious。　

〃I　just　wondered…　if　you　could　warn　me　beforehand　the　next　time　you　
decide　to　ignore　me　for　my　own　good。　Just　so　I'm　prepared。〃　I　looked　at　
the　lemonade　bottle　as　I　spoke；　tracing　the　circle　of　the　opening　with　my　
pinkie　finger。　

〃That　sounds　fair。〃　He　was　pressing　his　lips　together　to　keep　from　
laughing　when　I　looked　up。　

〃Thanks。〃　

〃Then　can　I　have　one　answer　in　return？〃　he　demanded。　

〃One。〃　

〃Tell　me　one　theory。〃　

Whoops。　〃Not　that　one。〃　

〃You　didn't　qualify；　you　just　promised　one　answer；〃　he　reminded　me。　

〃And　you've　broken　promises　yourself；〃　I　reminded　him　back。　

〃Just　one　theory　—　I　won't　laugh。〃　

〃Yes；　you　will。〃　I　was　positive　about　that。　

He　looked　down；　and　then　glanced　up　at　me　through　his　long　black　lashes；　
his　ocher　eyes　scorching。　

〃Please？〃　he　breathed；　leaning　toward　me。　

I　blinked；　my　mind　going　blank。　Holy　crow；　how　did　he　do　that？　

〃Er；　what？〃　I　asked；　dazed。　

〃Please　tell　me　just　one　little　theory。〃　His　eyes　still　smoldered　at　me。　

〃Um；　well；　bitten　by　a　radioactive　spider？〃　Was　he　a　hypnotist；　too？　Or　
was　I　just　a　hopeless　pushover？　

〃That's　not　very　creative；〃　he　scoffed。　

〃I'm　sorry；　that's　all　I've　got；〃　I　said；　miffed。　

〃You're　not　even　close；〃　he　teased。　

〃No　spiders？〃　

〃Nope。〃　

〃And　no　radioactivity？〃　

〃None。〃　

〃Dang；〃　I　sighed。　

〃Kryptonite　doesn't　bother　me；　either；〃　he　chuckled。　

〃You're　not　supposed　to　laugh；　remember？〃　

He　struggled　to　pose　his　face。　

〃I'll　figure　it　out　eventually；〃　I　warned　him。　

〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　try。〃　He　was　serious　again。　

〃Because…　？〃　

〃What　if　I'm　not　a　superhero？　What　if　I'm　the　bad　guy？〃　He　smiled　
playfully；　but　his　eyes　were　imperable。　

〃Oh；〃　I　said；　as　several　things　he'd　hinted　fell　suddenly　into　place。　〃I　
see。〃　

〃Do　you？〃　His　face　was　abruptly　severe；　as　if　he　were　afraid　that　he'd　
accidentally　said　too　much。　

〃You're　dangerous？〃　I　guessed；　my　pulse　quickening　as　I　intuitively　
realized　the　truth　of　my　own　words。　He　was　dangerous。　He'd　been　trying　to　
tell　me　that　all　along。　

He　just　looked　at　me；　eyes　full　of　some　emotion　I　couldn't　prehend。　

〃But　not　bad；〃　I　whispered；　shaking　my　head。　〃No；　I　don't　believe　that　
you're　bad。〃　

〃You're　wrong。〃　His　voice　was　almost　inaudible。　He　looked　down；　stealing　
my　bottle　lid　and　then　spinning　it　on　its　side　between　his　fingers。　I　
stared　at　him；　wondering　why　I　didn't　feel　afraid。　He　meant　what　he　was　
saying　—　that　was　obvious。　But　I　just　felt　anxious；　on　edge…　and；　more　
than　anything　else；　fascinated。　The　same　way　I　always　felt　when　I　was　
near　him。　

The　silence　lasted　until　I　noticed　that　the　cafeteria　was　almost　empty。　

I　jumped　to　my　feet。　〃We're　going　to　be　late。〃　

〃I'm　not　going　to　class　today；〃　he　said；　twirling　the　lid　so　fast　it　was　
just　a　blur。　

〃Why　not？〃　

〃It's　healthy　to　ditch　class　now　and　then。〃　He　smiled　up　at　me；　but　his　
eyes　were　still　troubled。　

〃Well；　I'm　going；〃　I　told　him。　I　was　far　too　big　a　coward　to　risk　getting　
caught。　

He　turned　his　attention　back　to　his　makeshift　top。　〃I'll　see　you　later；　
then。〃　

I　hesitated；　torn；　but　then　the　first　bell　sent　me　hurrying　out　the　door　
—　with　a　last　glance　confirming　that　he　hadn't　moved　a　centimeter。　

As　I　halfran　to　class；　my　head　was　spinning　faster　than　the　bottle　cap。　
So　few　questions　had　been　answered　in　parison　to　how　many　new　
questions　had　been　raised。　At　least　the　rain　had　stopped。　

I　was　lucky；　Mr。　Banner　wasn't　in　the　room　yet　when　I　arrived。　I　settled　
quickly　into　my　seat；　aware　that　both　Mike　and　Angela　were　staring　at　me。　
Mike　looked　resentful；　Angela　looked　surprised；　and　slightly　awed。　

Mr。　Banner　came　in　the　room　then；　calling　the　class　to　order。　He　was　
juggling　a　few　small　cardboard　boxes　in　his　arms。　He　put　them　down　on　
Mike's　table；　telling　him　to　start　passing　them　around　the　class。　

〃Okay；　guys；　I　want　you　all　to　take　one　piece　from　each　box；〃　he　said　as　
he　produced　a　pair　of　rubber　gloves　from　the　pocket　of　his　lab　jacket　and　
pulled　them　on。　The　sharp　sound　as　the　gloves　snapped　into　place　against　
his　wrists　seemed　ominous　to　me。　〃The　first　should　be　an　indicator　card；〃　
he　went　on；　grabbing　a　white　card　with　four　squares　marked　on　it　and　
displaying　it。　〃The　second　is　a　fourpronged　applicator　—〃　he　held　up　
something　that　looked　like　a　nearly　toothless　hair　pick　〃—　and　the　third　
is　a　sterile　microlancet。〃　He　held　up　a　small　piece　of　blue　plastic　and　
split　it　open。　The　barb　was　invisible　from　this　distance；　but　my　stomach　
flipped。　

〃I'll　be　ing　around　with　a　dropper　of　water　to　prepare　your　cards；　so　
please　don't　start　until　I　get　to　you。〃　He　began　at　Mike's　table　again；　
carefully　putting　one　drop　of　water　in　each　of　the　four　squares。　〃Then　I　
want　you　to　carefully　prick　your　finger　with　the　lancet…〃　He　grabbed　
Mike's　hand　and　jabbed　the　spike　into　the　tip　of　Mike's　middle　finger。　Oh　
no。　Clammy　moisture　broke　out　across　my　forehead。　

〃Put　a　small　drop　of　blood　on　each　of　the　prongs。〃　He　demonstrated；　
squeezing　Mike's　finger　till　the　blood　flowed。　I　swallowed　convulsively；　
my　stomach　heaving。　

〃And　then　apply　it　to　the　card；〃　he　finished；　holding　up　the　dripping　red　
card　for　us　to　see。　I　closed　my　eyes；　trying　to　hear　through　the　ringing　
in　my　ears。　

〃The　Red　Cross　is　having　a　blood　drive　in　Port　Angeles　next　weekend；　so　I　
thought　you　should　all　know　your　blood　type。〃　He　sounded　proud　of　
himself。　〃Those　of　you　who　aren't　eighteen　yet　will　need　a　parent's　
permission　—　I　have　slips　at　my　desk。〃　

He　continued　through　the　room　with　his　water　drops。　I　put　my　cheek　
against　the　cool　black　tabletop　and　tried　to　hold　on　to　my　consciousness。　
All　around　me　I　could　hear　squeals；　plaints；　and　giggles　as　my　
classmates　skewered　their　fingers。　I　breathed　slowly　in　and　out　through　
my　mouth。　

〃Bella；　are　you　all　right？〃　Mr。　Banner　asked。　His　voice　was　close　to　my　
head；　and　it　sounded　alarmed。　

〃I　alread