1 twilight暮色-第15部分

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earlier　arrangement。　Surely　he　wouldn't　cancel　without　at　least　telling　
me。　

After　school；　Jessica　followed　me　home　in　her　old　white　Mercury　so　that　I　
could　ditch　my　books　and　truck。　I　brushed　through　my　hair　quickly　when　I　
was　inside；　feeling　a　slight　lift　of　excitement　as　I　contemplated　getting　
out　of　Forks。　I　left　a　note　for　Charlie　on　the　table；　explaining　again　
where　to　find　dinner；　switched　my　scruffy　wallet　from　my　school　bag　to　a　
purse　I　rarely　used；　and　ran　out　to　join　Jessica。　We　went　to　Angela's　
house　next；　and　she　was　waiting　for　us。　My　excitement　increased　
exponentially　as　we　actually　drove　out　of　the　town　limits。　

===========================================================================　


8。　PORT　ANGELES　




Jess　drove　faster　than　the　Chief；　so　we　made　it　to　Port　Angeles　by　four。　
It　had　been　a　while　since　I'd　had　a　girls'　night　out；　and　the　estrogen　
rush　was　invigorating。　We　listened　to　whiny　rock　songs　while　Jessica　
jabbered　on　about　the　boys　we　hung　out　with。　Jessica's　dinner　with　Mike　
had　gone　very　well；　and　she　was　hoping　that　by　Saturday　night　they　would　

have　progressed　to　the　firstkiss　stage。　I　smiled　to　myself；　pleased。　
Angela　was　passively　happy　to　be　going　to　the　dance；　but　not　really　
interested　in　Eric。　Jess　tried　to　get　her　to　confess　who　her　type　was；　
but　I　interrupted　with　a　question　about　dresses　after　a　bit；　to　spare　
her。　Angela　threw　a　grateful　glance　my　way。　

Port　Angeles　was　a　beautiful　little　tourist　trap；　much　more　polished　and　
quaint　than　Forks。　But　Jessica　and　Angela　knew　it　well；　so　they　didn't　
plan　to　waste　time　on　the　picturesque　boardwalk　by　the　bay。　Jess　drove　
straight　to　the　one　big　department　store　in　town；　which　was　a　few　streets　
in　from　the　bay　area's　visitorfriendly　face。　

The　dance　was　billed　as　semiformal；　and　we　weren't　exactly　sure　what　that　
meant。　Both　Jessica　and　Angela　seemed　surprised　and　almost　disbelieving　
when　I　told　them　I'd　never　been　to　a　dance　in　Phoenix。　

〃Didn't　you　ever　go　with　a　boyfriend　or　something？〃　Jess　asked　dubiously　
as　we　walked　through　the　front　doors　of　the　store。　

〃Really；〃　I　tried　to　convince　her；　not　wanting　to　confess　my　dancing　
problems。　〃I've　never　had　a　boyfriend　or　anything　close。　I　didn't　go　out　
much。〃　

〃Why　not？〃　Jessica　demanded。　

〃No　one　asked　me；〃　I　answered　honestly。　

She　looked　skeptical。　〃People　ask　you　out　here；〃　she　reminded　me；　〃and　
you　tell　them　no。〃　We　were　in　the　juniors'　section　now；　scanning　the　
racks　for　dressup　clothes。　

〃Well；　except　for　Tyler；〃　Angela　amended　quietly。　

〃Excuse　me？〃　I　gasped。　〃What　did　you　say？〃　

〃Tyler　told　everyone　he's　taking　you　to　prom；〃　Jessica　informed　me　with　
suspicious　eyes。　

〃He　said　what？〃　I　sounded　like　I　was　choking。　

〃I　told　you　it　wasn't　true；〃　Angela　murmured　to　Jessica。　

I　was　silent；　still　lost　in　shock　that　was　quickly　turning　to　irritation。　
But　we　had　found　the　dress　racks；　and　now　we　had　work　to　do。　

〃That's　why　Lauren　doesn't　like　you；〃　Jessica　giggled　while　we　pawed　
through　the　clothes。　

I　ground　my　teeth。　〃Do　you　think　that　if　I　ran　him　over　with　my　truck　he　
would　stop　feeling　guilty　about　the　accident？　That　he　might　give　up　on　
making　amends　and　call　it　even？〃　

〃Maybe；〃　Jess　snickered。　'〃If　that's　why　he's　doing　this。〃　

The　dress　selection　wasn't　large；　but　both　of　them　found　a　few　things　to　
try　on。　I　sat　on　a　low　chair　just　inside　the　dressing　room；　by　the　
threeway　mirror；　trying　to　control　my　fuming。　

Jess　was　torn　between　two　—　one　a　long；　strapless；　basic　black　number；　
the　other　a　kneelength　electric　blue　with　spaghetti　straps。　I　encouraged　
her　to　go　with　the　blue；　why　not　play　up　the　eyes？　Angela　chose　a　pale　
pink　dress　that　draped　around　her　tall　frame　nicely　and　brought　out　honey　
tints　in　her　light　brown　hair。　I　plimented　them　both　generously　and　
helped　by　returning　the　rejects　to　their　racks。　The　whole　process　was　
much　shorter　and　easier　than　similar　trips　I'd　taken　with　Renée　at　home。　
I　guess　there　was　something　to　be　said　for　limited　choices。　

We　headed　over　to　shoes　and　accessories。　While　they　tried　things　on　I　
merely　watched　and　critiqued；　not　in　the　mood　to　shop　for　myself；　though　
I　did　need　new　shoes。　The　girls'night　high　was　wearing　off　in　the　wake　
of　my　annoyance　at　Tyler；　leaving　room　for　the　gloom　to　move　back　in。　

〃Angela？〃　I　began；　hesitant；　while　she　was　trying　on　a　pair　of　pink　
strappy　heels　—　she　was　overjoyed　to　have　a　date　tall　enough　that　she　
could　wear　high　heels　at　all。　

Jessica　had　drifted　to　the　jewelry　counter　and　we　were　alone。　

〃Yes？〃　She　held　her　leg　out；　twisting　her　ankle　to　get　a　better　view　of　
the　shoe。　

I　chickened　out。　〃I　like　those。〃　

〃I　think　I'll　get　them　—　though　they'll　never　match　anything　but　the　one　
dress；〃　she　mused。　

〃Oh；　go　ahead　—　they're　on　sale；〃　I　encouraged。　She　smiled；　putting　the　
lid　back　on　a　box　that　contained　more　practicallooking　offwhite　shoes。　

I　tried　again。　〃Um；　Angela…〃　She　looked　up　curiously。　

〃Is　it　normal　for　the…　Cullens〃　—　I　kept　my　eyes　on　the　shoes　—　〃to　be　
out　of　school　a　lot？〃　I　failed　miserably　in　my　attempt　to　sound　
nonchalant。　

〃Yes；　when　the　weather　is　good　they　go　backpacking　all　the　time　—　even　
the　doctor。　They're　all　real　outdoorsy；〃　she　told　me　quietly；　examining　
her　shoes；　too。　She　didn't　ask　one　question；　let　alone　the　hundreds　that　
Jessica　would　have　unleashed。　I　was　beginning　to　really　like　Angela。　

〃Oh。〃　I　let　the　subject　drop　as　Jessica　returned　to　show　us　the　
rhinestone　jewelry　she'd　found　to　match　her　silver　shoes。　

We　planned　to　go　to　dinner　at　a　little　Italian　restaurant　on　the　
boardwalk；　but　the　dress　shopping　hadn't　taken　as　long　as　we'd　expected。　
Jess　and　Angela　were　going　to　take　their　clothes　back　to　the　car　and　then　
walk　down　to　the　bay。　I　told　them　I　would　meet　them　at　the　restaurant　in　
an　hour　—　I　wanted　to　look　for　a　bookstore。　They　were　both　willing　to　
e　with　me；　but　I　encouraged　them　to　go　have　fun　—　they　didn't　know　how　
preoccupied　I　could　get　when　surrounded　by　books；　it　was　something　I　
preferred　to　do　alone。　They　walked　off　to　the　car　chattering　happily；　and　
I　headed　in　the　direction　Jess　pointed　out。　

I　had　no　trouble　finding　the　bookstore；　but　it　wasn't　what　I　was　looking　
for。　The　windows　were　full　of　crystals；　dreamcatchers；　and　books　about　
spiritual　healing。　I　didn't　even　go　inside。　Through　the　glass　I　could　see　
a　fiftyyearold　woman　with　long；　gray　hair　worn　straight　down　her　back；　
clad　in　a　dress　right　out　of　the　sixties；　smiling　welingly　from　behind　
the　counter。　I　decided　that　was　one　conversation　I　could　skip。　There　had　
to　be　a　normal　bookstore　in　town。　

I　meandered　through　the　streets；　which　were　filling　up　with　
endoftheworkday　traffic；　and　hoped　I　was　headed　toward　downtown。　I　
wasn't　paying　as　much　attention　as　I　should　to　where　I　was　going；　I　was　
wrestling　with　despair。　I　was　trying　so　hard　not　to　think　about　him；　and　
what　Angela　had　said…　and　more　than　anything　trying　to　beat　down　my　hopes　
for　Saturday；　fearing　a　disappointment　more　painful　than　the　rest；　when　I　
looked　up　to　see　someone's　silver　Volvo　parked　along　the　street　and　it　
all　came　crashing　down　on　me。　Stupid；　unreliable　vampire；　I　thought　to　
myself。　

I　stomped　along　in　a　southerly　direction；　toward　some　glassfronted　shops　
that　looked　promising。　But　when　I　got　to　them；　they　were　just　a　repair　
shop　and　a　vacant　space。　I　still　had　too　much　time　to　go　looking　for　Jess　
and　Angela　yet；　and　I　definitely　needed　to　get　my　mood　in　hand　before　I　
met　back　up　with　them。　I　ran　my　fingers　through　my　hair　a　couple　of　times　
and　took　some　deep　breaths　before　I　continued　around　the　corner。　

I　started　to　realize；　as　I　crossed　another　road；　that　I　was　going　the　
wrong　direction。　The　little　foot　traffic　I　had　seen　was　going　north；　and　
it　looked　like　the　buildings　here　were　mostly　warehouses。　I　decided　to　
turn　east　at　the　next　corner；　and　then　loop　around　after　a　few　blocks　and　
try　my　luck　on　a　different　street　on　my　way　back　to　the　boardwalk。　

A　group　of　four　men　turned　around　the　corner　I　was　heading　for；　dressed　
too　casually　to　be　heading　home　from　the　office；　but　they　were　too　grimy　
to　be　tourists。　As　they　approached　me；　I　realized　they　weren't　too　many　
years　older　than　I　was。　They　were　joking　loudly　among　themselves；　
laughing　raucously　and　punching　each　other's　arms。　I　scooted　as　far　to　
the　inside　of　the　sidewalk　as　I　could　to　give　them　room；　walking　swiftly；　
looking　past　them　to　the　corner。　

〃Hey；　there！〃　one　of　them　called　as　they　passed；　and　he　had　to　be　talking　
to　me　since　no　one　else　was　around。　I　glanced　up　automatically。　Two　of　
them　had　paused；　the　other　two　were　slowing。　The　closest；　a　heavyset；　
darkhaired　man　in　his　early　twenties；　seemed　to　be　the　one　who　had　
spoken。　He　was　wearing　a　flannel　shirt　open　over　a　dirty　tshirt；　cutoff　
jeans；　and　sandals。　He　took　half　a　step　toward　me。　

〃Hello；〃　I　mumbled；　a　kneejerk　reaction。　Then　I　quickly　looked　away　and　
walked　faster　toward　the　corner。　I　could　hear　them　laughing　at　full　
volume　behind　me。　

〃Hey；　wait！〃　one　of　them　called　after　me　again；　but　I　kept　my　head　down　
and　rounded　the　corner　with　a　sigh　of　relief。　I　could　still　hear　them　
chortling　behind　me。　

I　found　myself　on　a　sidewalk　leading　past　the　backs　of　several　
sombercolored　warehouses；　each　with　large　bay　doors　for　unloading　
trucks；　padlocked　for　the　night。　The　south　side　of　the　street　had　no　
sidewalk；　only　a　chainlink　fence　topped　with　barbed　wire　protecting　some　
kind　of　engine　parts　storage　yard。　I'd　wandered　far　past　the　part　of　Port　
Angeles　that　I；　as　a　guest；　was　intended　to　see。　It　was　getting　dark；　I　
realized；　the　clouds　finally　returning；　piling　up　on　the　western　horizon；　
creating　an　early　sunset。　The　eastern　sky　was　still　clear；　but　graying；　
shot　through　with　streaks　of　pink　and　orange。　I'd　left　my　jacket　in　the　
car；　and　a　sudden　shiver　made　me　cross　my　arms　tightly　across　my　chest。　A　
single　van　passed　me；　and　then　the　road　was　empty。　

The　sky　suddenly　darkened　further；　and；　as　I　looked　over　my　shoulder　to　
glare　at　the　offending　cloud；　I　realized　with　a　shock　that　two　men　were　
walking　quietly　twenty　feet　behind　me。　

They　were　from　the　same　group　I'd　passed　at　the　corner；　though　neither　
was　the　dark　one　who'd　spoken　to　me。　I　turned　my　head　forward　at　once；　
quickening　my　pace。　A　chill　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　weather　made　
me　shiver　again。　My　purse　was　on　a　shoulder　strap　and　I　had　it　slung　
across　my　body；　the　way　you　were　supposed　to　wear　it　so　it　wouldn't　get　
snatched。　I　knew　exactly　where　my　pepper　spray　was　—　still　in　my　duffle　
bag　under　the　bed；　never　unpacked。　I　didn't　have　much　money　with　me；　just　
a　twenty　and　some　ones；　and　I　thought　about　〃accidentally〃　dropping　my　
bag　and　walking　away。　But　a　small；　frightened　voice　in　the　back　of　my　
mind　warned　me　that　they　might　be　something　worse　than　thieves。　

I　listened　intently　to　their　quiet　footsteps；　which　were　much　too　quiet　
when　pared　to　the　boisterous　noise　they'd　been　making　earlier；　and　it　
didn't　sound　like　they　were　speeding　up；　or　getting　any　closer　to　me。　
Breathe；　I　had　to　remind　myself。　You　don't　know　they're　following　you。　I　
continued　to　walk　as　quickly　as　I　could　without　actually　running；　
focusing　on　the　righthand　turn　that　was　only　a　few　yards　away　from　me　
now。　I　could　hear　them；　staying　as　far　back　as　they'd　been　before。　A　blue　
car　turned　onto　the　street　from　the　south　and　drove　quickly　past　me。　I　
thought　of　jumping　out　in　front　of　it；　but　I　hesitated；　inhibited；　unsure　
that　I　was　really　being　pursued；　and　then　it　was　too　late。　

I　reached　the　corner；　but　a　swift　glance　revealed　that　it　was　only　a　
blind　drive　to　the　back　of　another　building。　I　was　halfturned　in　
anticipation；　I　had　to　hurriedly　correct　and　dash　across　the　narrow　
drive；　back　to　the　sidewalk。　The　street　ended　at　the　next　corner；　where　
there　was　a　stop　sign。　I　concentrated　on　the　faint　footsteps　behind　me；　
deciding　whether　or　not　to　run。　They　sounded　farther　back；　though；　and　I　
knew　they　could　outrun　me　in　any　case。　I　was　sure　to　trip　and　go　
sprawling　if　I　tried　to　go　any　faster。　The　footfalls　were　definitely　
farther　back。　I　risked　a　quick　glance　over　my　shoulder；　and　they　were　
maybe　forty　feet　back　now；　I　saw　with　relief。　But　they　were　both　staring　
at　me。　

It　seemed　to　take　forever　for　me　to　get　to　the　corner。　I　kept　my　pace　
steady；　the　men　behind　me　falling　ever　so　slightly　farther　behind　with　
every　step。　Maybe　they　realized　they　had　scared　me　and　were　sorry。　I　saw　
two　cars　going　north　pass　the　intersection　I　was　heading　for；　and　I　
exhaled　in　relief。　There　would　be　more　people　around　once　I　got　off　this　
deserted　street。　I　skipped　around　the　corner　with　a　grateful　sigh。　

And　skidded　to　a　stop。　

The　street　was　lined　on　both　sides　by　blank；　doorless；　windowless　walls。　
I　could　see　in　the　distance；　two　intersections　down；　streetlamps；　cars；　
and　more　pedestrians；　but　they　were　all　too　far　away。　Because　lounging　
against　the　western　building；　midway　down　the　street；　were　the　other　two　
men　from　the　group；　both　watching　with　excited　smiles　as　I　froze　dead　on　
the　sidewalk。　I　realized　then　that　I　wasn't　being　followed。　

I　was　being　herded。　

I　paused　for　only　a　second；　but　it　felt　like　a　very　long　time。　I　turned　
then　and　darted　to　the　other　side　of　the　road。　I　had　a　sinking　feeling　
that　it　was　a　wasted　attempt。　The　footsteps　behind　me　were　louder　now。　

〃There　you　are！〃　The　booming　voice　of　the　stocky；　darkhaired　man　
shattered　the　intense　quiet　and　made　me　jump。　In　the　gathering　darkness；　
it　seemed　like　he　was　looking　past　me。　

〃Yeah；〃　a　voice　called　loudly　from　behind　me；　making　me　jump　again　as　I　
tried　to　hurry　down　the　street。　〃We　just　took　a　little　detour。〃　

My　steps　had　to　slow　now。　I　was　closing　the　distance　between　myself　and　
the　lounging　pair　too　quickly。　I　had　a　good　loud　scream；　and　I　sucked　in　
air；　preparing　to　use　it；　but　my　throat　was　so　dry　I　wasn't　sure　how　much　
volume　I　could　manage。　With　a　quick　movement　I　slipped　my　purse　over　my　
head；　gripping　the　strap　with　one　hand；　ready　to　surrender　it　or　use　it　
as　weapon　as　need　demanded。　

The　thickset　man　shrugged　away　from　the　wall　as　I　warily　came　to　a　stop；　
and　walked　slowly　into　the　street。　

〃Stay　away　from　me；〃　I　warned　in　a　voice　that　was　supposed　to　sound　
strong　and　fearless。　But　I　was　right　about　the　dry　throat　—　no　volume。　

〃Don't　be　like　that；　sugar；〃　he　called；　and　the　raucous　laughter　started　
again　behind　me。　

I　braced　myself；　feet　apart；　trying　to　remember　through　my　panic　what　
little　selfdefense　I　knew。　Heel　of　the　hand　thrust　upward；　hopefully　
breaking　the　nose　or　shoving　it　into　the　brain。　Finger　through　the　eye　
socket　—　try　to　hook　around　and　pop　the　eye　out。　And　the　standard　knee　to　
the　groin；　of　course。　That　same　pessimistic　voice　in　my　mind　spoke　up　
then；　reminding　me　that　I　probably　wouldn't　have　a　chance　against　one　of　
them；　and　there　were　four。　Shut　up！　I　manded　the　voice　before　terror　
could　incapacitate　me。　I　wasn't　going　out　without　taking　someone　with　me。　
I　tried　to　swallow　so　I　could　build　up　a　decent　s