2 new+moon新月- 第22部分

〃I　would　say…　that's　too　bad；　but　I'll　bet　we　could　figure　out　something　else　to　do。　If　we　got　really　
desperate；　we　could　even　do　homework。〃　

Jacob　smiled；　and　his　shoulders　relaxed。　He　sat　down　next　to　the　bike　and　picked　up　a　wrench。　〃So　you　
think　you'll　still　e　over　when　I'm　done；　then？〃　

〃Is　that　what　you　meant？〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃I　guess　I　am　taking　advantage　of　your　very　underpriced　
mechanical　skills。　But　as　long　as　you　let　me　e　over；　I'll　be　here。〃　

〃Hoping　to　see　Quil　again？〃　he　teased。　

〃You　caught　me。〃　

He　chuckled。　〃You　really　like　spending　time　with　me？〃　he　asked；　marveling。　

〃Very；　very　much。　And　I'll　prove　it。　I　have　to　work　tomorrow；　but　Wednesday　we'll　do　something　
nonmechanical。〃　

〃Like　what？〃　

〃I　have　no　idea。　We　can　go　to　my　place　so　you　won't　be　tempted　to　be　obsessive。　You　could　bring　your　
schoolwork—you　have　to　be　getting　behind；　because　I　know　I　am。〃　

〃Homework　might　be　a　good　idea。〃　He　made　a　face；　and　I　wondered　how　much　he　was　leaving　undone　
to　be　with　me。　

〃Yes；〃　I　agreed。　〃We'll　have　to　start　being　responsible　occasionally；　or　Billy　and　Charlie　aren't　going　to　be　
so　easygoing　about　this。〃　I　made　a　gesture　indicating　the　two　of　us　as　a　single　entity。　He　liked　that—he　
beamed。　

〃Homework　once　a　week？〃　he　proposed。　

〃Maybe　we'd　better　go　with　twice；〃　I　suggested；　thinking　of　the　pile　I'd　just　been　assigned　today。　

He　sighed　a　heavy　sigh。　Then　he　reached　over　his　toolbox　to　a　paper　grocery　sack。　He　pulled　out　two　
cans　of　soda；　cracking　one　open　and　handing　it　to　me。　He　opened　the　second；　and　held　it　up　
ceremoniously。　

〃Here's　to　responsibility；〃　he　toasted。　〃Twice　a　week。〃　

〃And　recklessness　every　day　in　between；〃　I　emphasized。　

He　grinned　and　touched　his　can　to　mine。　



I　got　home　later　than　I'd　planned　and　found　Charlie　had　ordered　a　pizza　rather　than　wait　for　me。　He　
wouldn't　let　me　apologize。　

〃I　don't　mind；〃　he　assured　me。　〃You　deserve　a　break　from　all　the　cooking；　anyway。〃　

I　knew　he　was　just　relieved　that　I　was　still　acting　like　a　normal　person；　and　he　was　not　about　to　rock　the　
boat。　

I　checked　my　email　before　I　started　on　my　homework；　and　there　was　a　long　one　from　Renee。　She　
gushed　over　every　detail　I'd　provided　her　with；　so　I　sent　back　another　exhaustive　description　of　my　day。　
Everything　but　the　motorcycles。　Even　happygolucky　Renee　was　likely　to　be　alarmed　by　that。　

School　Tuesday　had　its　ups　and　downs。　Angela　and　Mike　seemed　ready　to　wele　me　back　with　open　
arms—to　kindly　overlook　my　few　months　of　aberrant　behavior。　Jess　was　more　resistant。　I　wondered　if　
she　needed　a　formal　written　apology　for　the　Port　Angeles　incident。　

Mike　was　animated　and　chatty　at　work。　It　was　like　he'd　stored　up　the　semester's　worth　of　talk；　and　it　
was　all　spilling　out　now。　I　found　that　I　was　able　to　smile　and　laugh　with　him；　though　it　wasn't　as　effortless　
as　it　was　with　Jacob。　It　seemed　harmless　enough；　until　quitting　time。　

Mike　put　the　closed　sign　in　the　window　while　I　folded　my　vest　and　shoved　it　under　the　counter。　

〃This　was　fun　tonight；〃　Mike　said　happily。　

〃Yeah；〃　I　agreed；　though　I'd　much　rather　have　spent　the　afternoon　in　the　garage。　

〃It's　too　bad　that　you　had　to　leave　the　movie　early　last　week。〃　

I　was　a　little　confused　by　his　train　of　thought。　I　shrugged。　〃I'm　just　a　wimp；　I　guess。〃　

〃What　I　mean　is；　you　should　go　to　a　better　movie；　something　you'd　enjoy；〃　he　explained。　

〃Oh；〃　I　muttered；　still　confused。　

〃Like　maybe　this　Friday。　With　me。　We　could　go　see　something　that　isn't　scary　at　all。〃　

I　bit　my　lip。　

I　didn't　want　to　screw　things　up　with　Mike；　not　when　he　was　one　of　the　only　people　ready　to　forgive　me　
for　being　crazy。　But　this；　again；　felt　far　too　familiar。　Like　the　last　year　had　never　happened。　I　wished　I　had　
Jess　as　an　excuse　this　time。　

〃Like　a　date？〃　I　asked。　Honesty　was　probably　the　best　policy　at　this　point。　Get　it　over　with。　

He　processed　the　tone　of　my　voice　〃If　you　want。　But　it　doesn't　have　to　be　like　that。〃　

〃I　don't　date；〃　I　said　slowly；　realizing　how　true　that　was。　That　whole　world　seemed　impossibly　distant。　

〃Just　as　friends？〃　he　suggested。　His　clear　blue　eyes　were　not　as　eager　now。　I　hoped　he　really　meant　that　
we　could　be　friends　anyway。　

〃That　would　be　fun。　But　I　actually　have　plans　already　this　Friday；　so　maybe　next　week？〃　

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked；　less　casually　than　I　think　he　wanted　to　sound。　

〃Homework。　I　have　a…　study　session　planned　with　a　friend。〃　

〃Oh。　Okay。　Maybe　next　week。〃　

He　walked　me　to　my　car；　less　exuberant　than　before。　It　reminded　me　so　clearly　of　my　first　months　in　
Forks。　I'd　e　full　circle；　and　now　everything　felt　like　an　echo—an　empty　echo；　devoid　of　the　interest　it　
used　to　have。　

The　next　night；　Charlie　didn't　seem　the　smallest　bit　surprised　to　find　Jacob　and　me　sprawled　across　the　
living　room　floor　with　our　books　scattered　around　us；　so　I　guessed　that　he　and　Billy　were　talking　behind　
our　backs。　

〃Hey；　kids；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　straying　to　the　kitchen。　The　smell　of　the　lasagna　I'd　spent　the　afternoon　
making—while　Jacob　watched　and　occasionally　sampled—wafted　down　the　hall；　I　was　being　good；　
trying　to　atone　for　all　the　pizza。　

Jacob　stayed　for　dinner；　and　took　a　plate　home　for　Billy。　He　grudgingly　added　another　year　to　my　
negotiable　age　for　being　a　good　cook。　

Friday　was　the　garage；　and　Saturday；　after　my　shift　at　Newton's；　was　homework　again。　Charlie　felt　
secure　enough　in　my　sanity　to　spend　the　day　fishing　with　Harry。　When　he　got　back；　we　were　all　
done—feeling　very　sensible　and　mature　about　it；　too—and　watching　Monster　Garage　on　the　Discovery　
Channel。　

〃I　probably　ought　to　go。〃　Jacob　sighed。　〃It's　later　than　I　thought。〃　

〃Okay；　fine；〃　I　grumbled。　〃I'll　take　you　home。〃　

He　laughed　at　my　unwilling　expression—it　seemed　to　please　him。　

〃Tomorrow；　back　to　work；〃　I　said　as　soon　as　we　were　safe　in　the　truck。　〃What　time　do　you　want　me　to　
e　up？〃　

There　was　an　unexplained　excitement　in　his　answering　smile。　〃I'll　call　you　first；　okay？〃　

〃Sure。〃　I　frowned　to　myself；　wondering　what　was　up。　His　smile　widened。　

I　cleaned　the　house　the　next　morning—waiting　for　Jacob　to　call　and　trying　to　shake　off　the　Litest　
nightmare。　The　scenery　had　changed。　Last　night　I'd　wandered　in　a　wide　sea　of　ferns　interspersed　with　
huge　hemlock　trees。　There　was　nothing　else　there；　and　I　was　lost；　wandering　aimless　and　alone；　searching　
for　nothing。　I　wanted　to　kick　myself　for　the　stupid　field　trip　last　week。　I　shoved　the　dream　out　of　my　
conscious　mind；　hoping　it　would　stay　locked　up　somewhere　and　not　escape　again。　

Charlie　was　outside　washing　the　cruiser；　so　when　the　phone　rang；　I　dropped　the　toilet　brush　and　ran　
downstairs　to　answer　it。　

〃Hello？〃　I　asked　breathlessly。　

〃Bella；〃　Jacob　said；　a　strange；　formal　tone　to　his　voice。　

〃Hey；　Jake。〃　

〃I　believe　that…　we　have　a　date〃　he　said；　his　tone　thick　with　implications。　

It　took　me　a　second　before　I　got　it。　〃They're　done？　I　can't　believe　it！〃　What　perfect　timing。　I　needed　
something　to　distract　me　from　nightmares　and　nothingness。　

〃Yeah；　they　run　and　everything。〃　

〃Jacob；　you　are　absolutely；　without　a　doubt；　the　most　talented　and　wonderful　person　I　know。　You　get　ten　
years　for　this　one。〃　

〃Cool！　I'm　middleaged　now。〃　

I　laughed。　〃I'm　on　my　way　up！〃　

I　threw　the　cleaning　supplies　under　the　bathroom　counter　and　grabbed　my　jacket。　

〃Headed　to　see　Jake；〃　Charlie　said　when　I　ran　past　him。　It　wasn't　really　a　question。　

〃Yep；〃　I　replied　as　I　jumped　in　my　truck。　

〃I'll　be　at　the　station　later；〃　Charlie　called　after　me。　

〃Okay；〃　I　yelled　back；　turning　the　key。　

Charlie　said　something　else；　but　I　couldn't　hear　him　clearly　over　the　roar　of　the　engine。　It　sounded　sort　of　
like；　〃Where's　the　fire？〃　

I　parked　my　truck　off　to　the　side　of　the　Blacks'　house；　close　to　the　trees；　to　make　it　easier　for　us　to　sneak　
the　bikes　out。　When　I　got　out；　a　splash　of　color　caught　my　eye—two　shiny　motorcycles；　one　red；　one　
black；　were　hidden　under　a　spruce；　invisible　from　the　house。　Jacob　was　prepared。　

There　was　a　piece　of　blue　ribbon　tied　in　a　small　bow　around　each　of　the　handlebars。　I　was　laughing　at　
that　when　Jacob　ran　out　of　the　house。　

〃Ready？〃　he　asked　in　a　low　voice；　his　eyes　sparkling。　

I　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　Billy。　

〃Yeah；〃　I　said；　but　I　didn't　feel　quite　as　excited　as　before；　I　was　trying　to　imagine　myself　actually　on　the　
motorcycle。　

Jacob　loaded　the　bikes　into　the　bed　of　the　truck　with　ease；　laying　them　carefully　on　their　sides　so　they　
didn't　show。　

〃Let's　go；〃　he　said；　his　voice　higher　than　usual　with　excitement。　〃I　know　the　perfect　spot—no　one　will　
catch　us　there。〃　

We　drove　south　out　of　town。　The　dirt　road　wove　in　and　out　of　the　forest—sometimes　there　was　nothing　
but　trees；　and　then　there　would　suddenly　be　a　breathtaking　glimpse　of　the　Pacific　Ocean；　reaching　to　the　
horizon；　dark　gray　under　the　clouds。　We　were　above　the　shore；　on　top　of　the　cliffs　that　bordered　the　
beach　here　and　the　view　seemed　to　stretch　on　forever。　

I　was　driving　slowly；　so　that　I　could　safely　stare　out　across　the　ocean　now　and　then；　as　the　road　wound　
closer　to　the　sea　cliffs。　Jacob　was　talking　about　finishing　the　bikes；　but　his　descriptions　were　getting　
technical；　so　I　wasn't　paying　close　attention。　

That　was　when　I　noticed　four　figures　standing　on　a　rocky　ledge；　much　too　close　to　the　precipice。　I　
couldn't　tell　from　the　distance　how　old　they　were；　but　I　assumed　they　were　men。　Despite　the　chill　in　the　
air　today；　they　seemed　to　be　wearing　only　shorts。　

As　I　watched；　the　tallest　person　stepped　closer　to　the　brink。　I　slowed　automatically；　my　foot　hesitating　
over　the　brake　pedal。　

And　then　he　threw　himself　off　the　edge。　

〃No！〃　I　shouted；　stomping　down　on　the　brake。　

〃What's　wrong？〃　Jacob　shouted　back；　alarmed。　

〃That　guy—he　just　jumped　off　the　cliff！　Why　didn't　they　stop　him？　We've　got　to　call　an　ambulance！〃　I　
threw　open　my　door　and　started　to　get　out；　which　made　no　sense　at　all。　The　fastest　way　to　a　phone　was　
to　drive　back　to　Billy's。　But　I　couldn't　believe　what　I'd　just　seen。　Maybe；　subconsciously；　I　hoped　I　
would　see