3 eclipse月食-第3章

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　“ing！”　I　called　while　Charlie　mumbled　something　that　sounded　like；　“Go　away。”　I　ignored　him　and　
went　to　let　Edward　in。　
　I　wrenched　the　door　out　of　my　way　—　ridiculously　eager　—　and　there　he　was；　my　personal　miracle。　
　Time　had　not　made　me　immune　to　the　perfection　of　his　face；　and　I　was　sure　that　I　would　never　take　any　
aspect　of　him　for　granted。　My　eyes　traced　over　his　pale　white　features：　the　hard　square　of　his　jaw；　the　softer　
curve　of　his　full　lips　—　twisted　up　into　a　smile　now；　the　straight　line　of　his　nose；　the　sharp　angle　of　his　
cheekbones；　the　smooth　marble　span　of　his　forehead　—　partially　obscured　by　a　tangle　of　raindarkened　
bronze　hair。　。　。　。　

I　saved　his　eyes　for　last；　knowing　that　when　I　looked　into　them　I　was　likely　to　lose　my　train　of　thought。　
They　were　wide；　warm　with　liquid　gold；　and　framed　by　a　thick　fringe　of　black　lashes。　Staring　into　his　eyes　
always　made　me　feel　extraordinary　—　sort　of　like　my　bones　were　turning　spongy。　I　was　also　a　little　
lightheaded；　but　that　could　have　been　because　I’d　forgotten　to　keep　breathing。　Again。　
It　was　a　face　any　male　model　in　the　world　would　trade　his　soul　for。　Of　course；　that　might　be　exactly　the　
asking　price：　one　soul。　
No。　I　didn’t　believe　that。　I　felt　guilty　for　even　thinking　it；　and　was　glad　—　as　I　was　often　glad　—　that　I　was　
the　one　person　whose　thoughts　were　a　mystery　to　Edward。　
I　reached　for　his　hand；　and　sighed　when　his　cold　fingers　found　mine。　His　touch　brought　with　it　the　strangest　
sense　of　relief　—　as　if　I’d　been　in　pain　and　that　pain　had　suddenly　ceased。　
“Hey。”　I　smiled　a　little　at　my　anticlimactic　greeting。　
He　raised　our　interlaced　fingers　to　brush　my　cheek　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　“How　was　your　afternoon？”　
“Slow。”　
“For　me；　as　well。”　
He　pulled　my　wrist　up　to　his　face；　our　hands　still　twisted　together。　His　eyes　closed　as　his　nose　skimmed　
along　the　skin　there；　and　he　smiled　gently　without　opening　them。　Enjoying　the　bouquet　while　resisting　the　wine；　
as　he’d　once　put　it。　
I　knew　that　the　scent　of　my　blood　—　so　much　sweeter　to　him　than　any　other　person’s　blood；　truly　like　
wine　beside　water　to　an　alcoholic　—　caused　him　actual　pain　from　the　burning　thirst　it　engendered。　But　he　
didn’t　seem　to　shy　away　from　it　as　much　as　he　once　had。　I　could　only　dimly　imagine　the　Herculean　effort　
behind　this　simple　gesture。　
It　made　me　sad　that　he　had　to　try　so　hard。　I　forted　myself　with　the　knowledge　that　I　wouldn’t　be　
causing　him　pain　much　longer。　
I　heard　Charlie　approaching　then；　stamping　his　feet　on　the　way　to　express　his　customary　displeasure　with　
our　guest。　Edward’s　eyes　snapped　open　and　he　let　our　hands　fall；　keeping　them　twined。　
“Good　evening；　Charlie。”　Edward　was　always　flawlessly　polite；　though　Charlie　didn’t　deserve　it。　
Charlie　grunted　at　him；　and　then　stood　there　with　his　arms　crossed　over　his　chest。　He　was　taking　the　idea　
of　parental　supervision　to　extremes　lately。　
“I　brought　another　set　of　applications；”　Edward　told　me　then；　holding　up　a　stuffed　manila　envelope。　He　
was　wearing　a　roll　of　stamps　like　a　ring　around　his　littlest　finger。　
I　groaned。　How　were　there　any　colleges　left　that　he　hadn’t　forced　me　to　apply　to　already？　And　how　did　
he　keep　finding　these　loophole　openings？　It　was　so　late　in　the　year。　
He　smiled　as　if　he　could　read　my　thoughts；　they　must　have　been　very　obvious　on　my　face。　“There　are　still　
a　few　open　deadlines。　And　a　few　places　willing　to　make　exceptions。”　
I　could　just　imagine　the　motivations　behind　such　exceptions。　And　the　dollar　amounts　involved。　
Edward　laughed　at　my　expression。　
“Shall　we？”　he　asked；　towing　me　toward　the　kitchen　table。　
Charlie　huffed　and　followed　behind；　though　he　could　hardly　plain　about　the　activity　on　tonight’s　
agenda。　He’d　been　pestering　me　to　make　a　decision　about　college　on　a　daily　basis。　
I　cleared　the　table　quickly　while　Edward　organized　an　intimidating　stack　of　forms。　When　I　moved　
Wuthering　Heights　to　the　counter；　Edward　raised　one　eyebrow。　I　knew　what　he　was　thinking；　but　Charlie　
interrupted　before　Edward　could　ment。　
“Speaking　of　college　applications；　Edward；”　Charlie　said；　his　tone　even　more　sullen　—　he　tried　to　avoid　
addressing　Edward　directly；　and　when　he　had　to；　it　exacerbated　his　bad　mood。　“Bella　and　I　were　just　talking　
about　next　year。　Have　you　decided　where　you’re　going　to　school？”　
Edward　smiled　up　at　Charlie　and　his　voice　was　friendly。　“Not　yet。　I’ve　received　a　few　acceptance　letters；　
but　I’m　still　weighing　my　options。”　
“Where　have　you　been　accepted？”　Charlie　pressed。　
“Syracuse　。　。　。　Harvard　。　。　。　Dartmouth　。　。　。　and　I　just　got　accepted　to　the　University　of　Alaska　Southeast　
today。”　Edward　turned　his　face　slightly　to　the　side　so　that　he　could　wink　at　me。　I　stifled　a　giggle。　
“Harvard？　Dartmouth？”　Charlie　mumbled；　unable　to　conceal　his　awe。　“Well　that’s　pretty　。　。　。　that’s　
something。　Yeah；　but　the　University　of　Alaska　。　。　。　you　wouldn’t　really　consider　that　when　you　could　go　Ivy　

League。　I　mean；　your　father　would　want　you　to　。　。　。”　
“Carlisle’s　always　fine　with　whatever　I　choose　to　do；”　Edward　told　him　serenely。　
“Hmph。”　
“Guess　what；　Edward？”　I　asked　in　a　bright　voice；　playing　along。　
“What；　Bella？”　
I　pointed　to　the　thick　envelope　on　the　counter。　“I　just　got　my　acceptance　to　the　University　of　Alaska！”　
“Congratulations！”　He　grinned。　“What　a　coincidence。”　
Charlie’s　eyes　narrowed　and　he　glared　back　and　forth　between　the　two　of　us。　“Fine；”　he　muttered　after　a　
minute。　“I’m　going　to　go　watch　the　game；　Bella。　Nihirty。”　
That　was　his　usual　parting　mand。　
“Er；　Dad？　Remember　the　very　recent　discussion　about　my　freedom　。　。　。　？”　
He　sighed。　“Right。　Okay；　tenthirty。　You　still　have　a　curfew　on　school　nights。”　
“Bella’s　no　longer　grounded？”　Edward　asked。　Though　I　knew　he　wasn’t　really　surprised；　I　couldn’t　detect　
any　false　note　to　the　sudden　excitement　in　his　voice。　
“Conditionally；”　Charlie　corrected　through　his　teeth。　“What’s　it　to　you？”　
I　frowned　at　my　dad；　but　he　didn’t　see。　
“It’s　just　good　to　know；”　Edward　said。　“Alice　has　been　itching　for　a　shopping　partner；　and　I’m　sure　Bella　
would　love　to　see　some　city　lights。”　He　smiled　at　me。　
But　Charlie　growled；　“No！”　and　his　face　flushed　purple。　
“Dad！　What’s　the　problem？”　
He　made　an　effort　to　unclench　his　teeth。　“I　don’t　want　you　going　to　Seattle　right　now。”　
“Huh？”　
“I　told　you　about　that　story　in　the　paper　—　there’s　some　kind　of　gang　on　a　killing　spree　in　Seattle　and　I　
want　you　to　steer　clear；　okay？”　
I　rolled　my　eyes。　“Dad；　there’s　a　better　chance　that　I’ll　get　struck　by　lightning　than　that　the　one　day　I’m　in　
Seattle　—”　
“No；　that’s　fine；　Charlie；”　Edward　said；　interrupting　me。　“I　didn’t　mean　Seattle。　I　was　thinking　Portland；　
actually。　I　wouldn’t　have　Bella　in　Seattle；　either。　Of　course　not。”　
I　looked　at　him　in　disbelief；　but　he　had　Charlie’s　newspaper　in　his　hands　and　he　was　reading　the　front　page　
intently。　
He　must　have　been　trying　to　appease　my　father。　The　idea　of　being　in　danger　from　even　the　most　deadly　of　
humans　while　I　was　with　Alice　or　Edward　was　downright　hilarious。　
It　worked。　Charlie　stared　at　Edward　for　one　second　more；　and　then　shrugged。　“Fine。”　He　stalked　off　
toward　the　living　room；　in　a　bit　of　a　hurry　now　—　maybe　he　didn’t　want　to　miss　tipoff。　
I　waited　till　the　TV　was　on；　so　that　Charlie　wouldn’t　be　able　to　hear　me。　
“What　—；”　I　started　to　ask。　
“Hold　on；”　Edward　said　without　looking　up　from　the　paper。　His　eyes　stayed　focused　on　the　page　as　he　
pushed　the　first　application　toward　me　across　the　table。　“I　think　you　can　recycle　your　essays　for　this　one。　
Same　questions。”　
Charlie　must　still　be　listening。　I　sighed　and　started　to　fill　out　the　repetitive　information：　name；　address；　
social。　。　。　。　After　a　few　minutes　I　glanced　up；　but　Edward　was　now　staring　pensively　out　the　window。　As　I　bent　
my　head　back　to　my　work；　I　noticed　for　the　first　time　the　name　of　the　school。　
I　snorted　and　shoved　the　papers　aside。　
“Bella？”　
“Be　serious；　Edward。　Dartmouth？”　
Edward　lifted　the　discarded　application　and　laid　it　gently　in　front　of　me　again。　“I　think　you’d　like　New　
Hampshire；”　he　said。　“There’s　a　full　plement　of　night　courses　for　me；　and　the　forests　are　very　conveniently　
located　for　the　avid　hiker。　Plentiful　wildlife。”　He　pulled　out　the　crooked　smile　he　knew　I　couldn’t　resist。　
I　took　a　deep　breath　through　my　nose。　
“I’ll　let　you　pay　me　back；　if　that　makes　you　happy；”　he　promised。　“If　you　want；　I　can　charge　you　interest。”　
“Like　I　could　even　get　in　without　some　enormous　bribe。　Or　was　that　part　of　the　loan？　The　new　Cullen　
wing　of　the　library？　Ugh。　Why　are　we　having　this　discussion　again？”　

“Will　you　just　fill　out　the　application；　please；　Bella？　It　won’t　hurt　you　to　apply。”　
My　jaw　flexed。　“You　know　what？　I　don’t　think　I　will。”　
I　reached　for　the　papers；　planning　to　crumple　them　into　a　suitable　shape　for　lobbing　at　the　trashcan；　but　
they　were　already　gone。　I　stared　at　the　empty　table　for　a　moment；　and　then　at　Edward。　He　didn’t　appear　to　
have　moved；　but　the　application　was　probably　already　tucked　away　in　his　jacket。　
“What　are　you　doing？”　I　demanded。　
“I　sign　your　name　better　than　you　do　yourself。　You’ve　already　written　the　essays。”　
“You’re　going　way　overboard　with　this；　you　know。”　I　whispered　on　the　off　chance　that　Charlie　wasn’t　
pletely　lost　in　his　game。　“I　really　don’t　need　to　apply　anywhere　else。　I’ve　been　accepted　in　Alaska。　I　can　
almost　afford　the　first　semester’s　tuition。　It’s　as　good　an　alibi　as　any。　There’s　no　need　to　throw　away　a　bunch　
of　money；　no　matter　whose　it　is。”　
A　pained　looked　tightened　his　face。　“Bella　—”　
“Don’t　start。　I　agree　that　I　need　to　go　through　the　motions　for　Charlie’s　sake；　but　we　both　know　I’m　not　
going　to　be　in　any　condition　to　go　to　school　next　fall。　To　be　anywhere　near　people。”　
My　knowledge　of　those　first　few　years　as　a　new　vampire　was　sketchy。　Edward　had　never　gone　into　details　
—　it　wasn’t　his　favorite　subject　—　but　I　knew　it　wasn’t　pretty。　Selfcontrol　was　apparently　an　acquired　skill。　
Anything　more　than　correspondence　school　was　out　of　the　question。　
“I　thought　t