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第29部分

new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第29部分

小说: new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版) 字数: 每页4000字

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But Sam put his hand 
against Paul's chest and shook his head。 Paul looked at him for a minute and 
calmed down。 Honestly; it 
was like Sam was holding him back—like Paul was going to tear us up if Sam 
didn't stop him。〃 He 
groaned。 〃Like a bad western。 You know; Sam's a pretty big guy; he's twenty。 
But Paul's just sixteen; 
too; shorter than me and not as beefy as Quil。 I think any one of us could 
take him。〃 
〃Tough guys;〃 I agreed。 I could see it in my head as he described it; and it 
reminded me of something a 
trio of tall; dark men standing very still and close together in my father's 
living room。 The picture was 
sideways; because my head was lying against the couch while Dr。 Gerandy and 
Charlie leaned over 
me Had that been Sam's gang? 
I spoke quickly again to divert myself from the bleak memories。 〃Isn't Sam a 
little too old for this kind of 
thing?〃 
〃Yeah。 He was supposed to go to college; but he stayed。 And no one gave him 
any crap about it; either。 
The whole council pitched a fit when my sister turned down a partial 
scholarship and got married。 But; oh 
no; Sam Uley can do no wrong。〃 
His face was set in unfamiliar lines of outrage—outrage and something else I 
didn't recognize at first。 
〃It all sounds really annoying and strange。 But I don't get why you're 
taking it so personally。〃 I peeked 
over at his face; hoping I hadn't offended him。 He was suddenly calm; staring 
out the side window。 
〃You just missed the turn;〃 he said in an even voice。 
I executed a very wide U…turn; nearly hitting a tree as my circle ran the 
truck halfway off the road。 
〃Thanks for the heads…up;〃 I muttered as I started up the side road。 
〃Sorry; I wasn't paying attention。〃 
It was quiet for a brief minute。 
〃You can stop anywhere along here;〃 he said softly。 
I pulled over and cut the engine。 My ears rang in the silence that followed。 
We both got out; and Jacob 
headed around to the back to get the bikes。 I tried to read his expression。 
Something more was bothering 
him。 I'd hit a nerve。 
He smiled halfheartedly as he pushed the red bike to my side。 〃Happy late 
birthday。 Are you ready for 
this?〃 
〃I think so。〃 The bike suddenly looked intimidating; frightening; as I 
realized I would soon be astride it。 
〃We'll take it slow;〃 he promised。 I gingerly leaned the motorcycle against 
the truck's fender while he 
went to get his。 
〃Jake〃I hesitated as he came back around the truck。 
〃Yeah?〃 
〃What's really bothering you? About the Sam thing; I mean? Is there something 
else?〃 I watched his face。 
He grimaced; but he didn't seem angry。 He looked at the dirt and kicked his 
shoe against the front tire of 
his bike again and again; like he was keeping time。 
He sighed。 〃It's just the way they treat me。 It creeps me out。〃 The words 
started to rush out now。 〃You 
know; the council is supposed to be made up of equals; but if there was a 
leader; it would be my dad。 
I've never been able to figure out why people treat him the way they do。 Why 
his opinion counts the 
most。 It's got something to do with his father and his father's father。 My 
great…grandpa; Ephraim Black; 
was sort of the last chief we had; and they still listen to Billy; maybe 
because of that。 
〃But I'm just like everyone else。 Nobody treats me special until now。〃 
That caught me off guard。 〃Sam treats you special?〃 
〃Yeah;〃 he agreed; looking up at me with troubled eyes。 〃He looks at me like 
he's waiting for 
something like I'm going to join his stupid gang someday。 He pays more 
attention to me than any of the 
other guys。 I hate it。〃 
〃You don't have to join anything。〃 My voice was angry。 This was really 
upsetting Jacob; and that 
infuriated me。 Who did these 〃protectors〃 think they were? 
〃Yeah。〃 His foot kept up its rhythm against the tire。 
〃What?〃 I could tell there was more。 
He frowned; his eyebrows pulling up in a way that looked sad and worried 
rather than angry。 〃It's 
Embry。 He's been avoiding me lately。〃 
The thoughts didn't seem connected; but I wondered if I was to blame for the 
problems with his friend。 
〃You've been hanging out with me a lot;〃 I reminded him; feeling selfish。 I'd 
been monopolizing him。 
〃No; that's not it。 It's not just me—it's Quil; too; and everyone。 Embry 
missed a week of school; but he 
was never home when we tried to see him。 And when he came back; he looked he 
looked freaked 
out。 Terrified。 Quil and I both tried to get him to tell us what was wrong; 
but he wouldn't talk to either 
one of us。〃 
I stared at Jacob; biting my lip anxiously—he was really frightened。 But he 
didn't look at me。 He watched 
his own foot kicking the rubber as if it belonged to someone else。 The tempo 
increased。 
〃Then this week; out of nowhere; Embry's hanging out with Sam and the rest of 
them。 He was out on the 
cliffs today。〃 His voice was low and tense。 
He finally looked at me。 〃Bella; they bugged him even more than they bother 
me。 He didn't want anything 
to do with them。 And now Embry's following Sam around like he's joined a cult。 
〃And that's the way it was with Paul。 Just exactly the same。 He wasn't friends 
with Sam at all。 Then he 
stopped ing to school for a few weeks; and; when he came back; suddenly Sam 
owned him。 I don't 
know what it means。 I can't figure it out; and I feel like I have to; because 
Embry's my friend and 
Sam's looking at me funny 。 。 and〃 He trailed off。 
〃Have you talked to Billy about this?〃 I asked。 His horror was spreading to 
me。 I had chills running on the 
back of my neck。 
Now there was anger on his face。 〃Yes;〃 he snorted。 〃That was helpful。〃 
〃What did he say?〃 
Jacob's expression was sarcastic; and when he spoke; his voice mocked the deep 
tones of his father's 
voice。 〃It's nothing you need to worry about now; Jacob。 In a few years; if 
you don't well; I'll explain 
later。〃 And then his voice was his own。 〃What am I supposed to get from that? 
Is he trying to say it's 
some stupid puberty; ing…of…age thing? This is something else。 Something 
wrong。〃 
He was biting his lower lip and clenching his hands。 He looked like he was 
about to cry。 
I threw my arms around him instinctively; wrapping them around his waist and 
pressing my face against 
his chest。 He was so big; I felt like I was a child hugging a grown…up。 
〃Oh; Jake; it'll be okay!〃 I promised。 〃If it gets worse you can e live 
with me and Charlie。 Don't be 
scared; we'll think of something!〃 
He was frozen for a second; and then his long arms wrapped hesitantly around 
me。 〃Thanks; Bella。〃 His 
voice was huskier than usual。 
We stood like that for a moment; and it didn't upset me; in fact; I felt 
forted by the contact。 This 
didn't feel anything like the last time someone had embraced me this way。 This 
was friendship。 And Jacob 
was very warm。 
It was strange for me; being this close—emotionally rather than physically; 
though the physical was 
strange for me; too—to another human being。 It wasn't my usual style。 I 
didn't normally relate to people 
so easily; on such a basic level。 
Not human beings。 
〃If this is how you're going to react; I'll freak out more often。〃 Jacob's 
voice was light; normal again; and 
his laughter rumbled against my ear。 His fingers touched my hair; soft and 
tentative。 
Well; it was friendship for me。 
I pulled away quickly; laughing with him; but determined to put things back in 
perspective at once。 
〃It's hard to believe I'm two years older than you;〃 I said; emphasizing the 
word older。 〃You make me 
feel like a dwarf。〃 Standing this close to him; I really had to crane my neck 
to see his face。 
〃You're forgetting I'm in my forties; of course。〃 
〃Oh; that's right。〃 
He patted my head。 〃You're like a little doll;〃 he teased。 〃A porcelain doll。〃 
I rolled my eyes; taking another step away。 〃Let's not start with the albino 
cracks。〃 
〃Seriously; Bella; are you sure you're not?〃 He stretched his russet arm out 
next to mine。 The difference 
wasn't flattering。 〃I've never seen anyone paler than you well; except for—
〃 He broke off; and I 
looked away; trying to not understand what he had been about to say。 
〃So are we going to ride or what?〃 

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