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new moon(暮光之城-新月英文版)-第4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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I looked at Charlie hopefully。 Maybe he had some concept of birthdays as stay
…at…home; family 
affairs—this was my first birthday with him; the first birthday since my mom; 
Renee; had remarried and 
gone to live in Florida; so I didn't know what he would expect。 
〃That's fine—the Mariners are playing the Sox tonight;〃 Charlie explained; 
and my hope disappeared。 
〃So I won't be any kind of pany Here。〃 He scooped up the camera he'd 
gotten me on Renee's 
suggestion (because I would need pictures to fill up my scrap…book); and threw 
it to me。 
He ought to know better than that—I'd always been coordinationally 
challenged。 The camera glanced off 
the tip of my finger; and tumbled toward the floor。 Edward snagged it before 
it could crash onto the 
linoleum。 
〃Nice save;〃 Charlie noted。 〃If they're doing something fun at the Cullens' 
tonight; Bella; you should take 
some pictures。 You know how your mother gets—she'll be wanting to see the 
pictures faster than you 
can take them。〃 
〃Good idea; Charlie;〃 Edward said; handing me the camera。 
I turned the camera on Edward; and snapped the first picture。 〃It works。〃 
〃That's good。 Hey; say hi to Alice for me。 She hasn't been over in a while。〃 
Charlie's mouth pulled down 
at one corner。 
〃It's been three days; Dad;〃 I reminded him。 Charlie was crazy about Alice。 
He'd bee attached last 
spring when she'd helped me through my awkward convalescence; Charlie would be 
fore'ter grateful to 
her for saving him from the horror of an almost…adult daughter who needed help 
showering。 〃I'll tell her。〃 
〃Okay。 You kids have fun tonight。〃 It was clearly a dismissal。 Charlie was 
already edging toward the 
living room and the TV。 
Edward smiled; triumphant; and took my hand to pull me from the kitchen。 
When we got to the truck; he opened the passenger door for me again; and this 
time I didn't argue。 I still 
had a hard time finding the obscure turnoff to his house in the dark。 
Edward drove north through Forks; visibly chafing at the speed limit enforced 
by my prehistoric Chevy。 
The engine groaned even louder than usual as he pushed it over fifty。 
〃Take it easy;〃 I warned him。 
〃You know what you would love? A nice little Audi coupe。 Very quiet; lots of 
power〃 
〃There's nothing wrong with my truck。 And speaking of expensive nonessentials; 
if you know what's 
good for you; you didn't spend any money on birthday presents。〃 
〃Not a dime;〃 he said virtuously。 
〃Good。〃 
〃Can you do me a favor?〃 
〃That depends on what it is。〃 
He sighed; his lovely face serious。 〃Bella; the last real birthday any of us 
had was Emmett in 1935。 Cut us 
a little slack; and don't be too difficult tonight。 They're all very excited。〃 
It always startled me a little when he brought up things like that。 〃Fine; 
I'll behave。〃 
〃I probably should warn you〃 
〃Please do。〃 
〃When I say they're all excited I do mean all of them。〃 
〃Everyone?〃 I choked。 〃I thought Emmett and Rosalie were in Africa。〃 The rest 
of Forks was under the 
impression that the older Cullens had gone off to college this year; to 
Dartmouth; but I knew better。 
〃Emmett wanted to be here。〃 
〃But Rosalie?〃 
〃I know; Bella。 Don't worry; she'll be on her best behavior。〃 
I didn't answer。 Like I could just not worry; that easy。 Unlike Alice; 
Edward's other 〃adopted〃 sister; the 
golden blond and exquisite Rosalie; didn't like me much。 Actually; the feeling 
was a little bit stronger than 
just dislike。 As far as Rosalie was concerned; I was an unwele intruder 
into her family's secret life。 
I felt horribly guilty about the present situation; guessing that Rosalie and 
Emmett's prolonged absence 
was my fault; even as I furtively enjoyed not having to see her Emmett; 
Edward's playful bear of a 
brother; I did miss。 He was in many ways just like the big brother I'd always 
wanted only much; much 
more terrifying。 
Edward decided to change the subject。 〃So; if you won't let me get you the 
Audi; isn't there anything that 
you'd like for your birthday?〃 
The words came out in a whisper。 〃You know what I want。〃 
A deep frown carved creases into his marble forehead。 He obviously wished he'd 
stuck to the subject of 
Rosalie。 
It felt like we'd had this argument a lot today。 
〃Not tonight; Bella。 Please。〃 
〃Well; maybe Alice will give me what I want。〃 
Edward growled—a deep; menacing sound。 〃This isn't going to be your last 
birthday; Bella;〃 he vowed。 
〃That's not fair!〃 
I thought I heard his teeth clench together。 
We were pulling up to the house now。 Bright light shined from every window on 
the first two floors。 A 
long line of glowing Japanese lanterns hung from the porch eaves; reflecting a 
soft radiance on the huge 
cedars that surrounded the house。 Big bowls of flowers—pink roses—lined the 
wide stairs up to the 
front doors。 
I moaned。 
Edward took a few deep breaths to calm himself。 〃This is a party;〃 he reminded 
me。 〃Try to be a good 
sport。〃 
〃Sure;〃 I muttered。 
He came around to get my door; and offered me his hand。 
〃I have a question。〃 
He waited warily。 
〃If I develop this film;〃 I said; toying with the camera in my hands; 〃will 
you show up in the picture?〃 
Edward started laughing。 He helped me out of the car; pulled me up the stairs; 
and was still laughing as he 
opened the door for me。 
They were all waiting in the huge white living room; when I walked through the 
door; they greeted me 
with a loud chorus of 〃Happy birthday; Bella!〃 while I blushed and looked 
down。 Alice; I assumed; had 
covered every flat surface with pink candles and dozens of crystal bowls 
filled with hundreds of roses。 
There was a table with a white cloth draped over it next to Edward's grand 
piano; holding a pink birthday 
cake; more roses; a stack of glass plates; and a small pile of silver…wrapped 
presents。 
It was a hundred times worse than I'd imagined。 
Edward; sensing my distress; wrapped an encouraging arm around my waist and 
kissed the top of my 
head。 
Edward's parents; Carlisle and Esme—impossibly youthful and lovely as ever—
were the closest to the 
door。 Esme hugged me carefully; her soft; caramel…colored hair brushing 
against my cheek as she kissed 
my forehead; and then Carlisle put his arm around my shoulders。 
〃Sorry about this; Bella;〃 he stage…whispered。 〃We couldn't rein Alice in。〃 
Rosalie and Emmett stood behind them。 Rosalie didn't smile; but at least she 
didn't glare。 Emmett's face 
was stretched into a huge grin。 It had been months since I'd seen them; I'd 
forgotten how gloriously 
beautiful Rosalie was—it almost hurt to look at her。 And had Emmett always 
been so big? 
〃You haven't changed at all;〃 Emmett said with mock disappointment。 〃I 
expected a perceptible 
difference; but here you are; red…faced just like always。〃 
〃Thanks a lot; Emmett;〃 I said; blushing deeper。 
He laughed; 〃I have to step out for a second〃—he paused to wink conspicuously 
at Alice—〃Don't do 
anything funny while I'm gone。〃 
〃I'lltry。〃 
Alice let go of Jasper's hand and skipped forward; all her teeth sparkling in 
the bright light。 Jasper smiled; 
too; but kept his distance。 He leaned; long and blond; against the post at the 
foot of the stairs。 During the 
days we'd had to spend cooped up together in Phoenix; I'd thought he'd gotten 
over his aversion to me。 
But he'd gone back to exactly how he'd acted before—avoiding me as much as 
possible—the moment 
he was free from that temporary obligation to protect me。 I knew it wasn't 
personal; just a precaution; 
and I tried not to be overly sensitive about it。 Jasper had more trouble 
sticking to the Cullens' diet than 
the rest of them; the scent of human blood was much harder for him to resist 
than the others—he hadn't 
been trying as long。 
〃Time to open presents;〃 Alice declared。 She put her cool hand under my elbow 
and towed me to the 
table with the cake and the shiny packages。 
I put on my best martyr face。 〃Alice; I know I told you I didn't want anything
—〃 
〃But I didn't listen;〃 she interrupted; smug。 〃Open it。〃 She took the camera 
from my hands and replaced it 
with a big; square silver box。 
The box was so light that it felt empty。 The tag on top said that it was from 
Emmett; Rosalie; and Jasper。 
Selfconsciously; I tore the paper off and then stared at the box it concealed。 
It was something electrical; with lots of numbers in the name。 I opened the 
box; hoping for further 
illumination。 But the box was empty。 
〃Um thanks。〃 
Rosalie actually cracked a smile。 Jasper laughed。 〃It's a stereo for your 
truck;〃 he explained。 〃Emmett's 
installing it right now so that you can't return it。〃 
Alice was always one step ahead of me。 〃Thanks; Jasper; Rosalie;〃 I told them; 
grinning as I remembered 
Edward's plaints about my radio this afternoon—all a setup; apparently。 
〃Thanks; Emmett!〃 I called 
more loudly。 
I heard his booming laugh from my truck; and I couldn't help laughing; too。 
〃Open mine and Edward's next;〃 Alice said; so excited her voice was a high…
pitched trill。 She held a 
small; flat square in her hand。 
I turned to give Edward a basilisk glare。 〃You promised。〃 
Before he could answer; Emmett bounded through the door。 〃Just in time!〃 he 
crowed。 He pushed in 
behind Jasper; who had also drifted closer than usual to get a good look。 
〃I didn't spend a dime;〃 Edward assured me。 He brushed a strand of hair from 
my face; leaving my skin 
tingling from his touch。 
I inhaled deeply and turned to Alice。 〃Give it to me;〃 I sighed。 
Emmett chuckled with delight。 
I took the little package; rolling my eyes at Edward while I stuck my finger 
under the edge of the paper 
and jerked it under the tape。 
〃Shoot;〃 I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to 
examine the damage。 A single drop 
of blood oozed from the tiny cut。 
It all happened very quickly then。 
〃No!〃 Edward roared。 
He threw himself at me; flinging me back across the table。 It fell; as I did; 
scattering the cake and the 
presents; the flowers and the plates。 I landed in the mess of shattered 
crystal。 
Jasper slammed into Edward; and the sound was like the crash of boulders in a 
rock slide。 
There

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