Сумерки

           "CanIhelpyou?"

           "I’mIsabellaSwan,"Iinformedher,andsawtheimmediateawarenesslighthereyes.Iwasexpected,atopicofgossipnodoubt.DaughteroftheChief’sflightyex-wife,comehomeatlast.

           "Ofcourse,"shesaid.Shedugthroughaprecariouslystackedpileofdocumentsonherdesktillshefoundtheonesshewaslookingfor."Ihaveyourschedulerighthere,andamapoftheschool."Shebroughtseveralsheetstothecountertoshowroe.

           Shewentthroughmyclassesforme,highlightingthebestroutetoeachonthemap,andgavemeasliptohaveeachteachersign,whichIwastobringbackattheendoftheday.Shesmiledatmeandhoped,likeCharlie,thatIwouldlikeithereinForks.IsmiledbackasconvincinglyasIcould.

           WhenIwentbackouttomytruck,otherstudentswerestartingtoarrive.Idrovearoundtheschool,followingthelineoftraffic.Iwasgladtoseethatmostofthecarswereolderlikemine,nothingflashy.AthomeI’dlivedinoneofthefewlower-incomeneighborhoodsthatwereincludedintheParadiseValleyDistrict.ItwasacommonthingtoseeanewMercedesorPorscheinthestudentlot.ThenicestcarherewasashinyVolvo,anditstoodout.Still,IcuttheengineassoonasIwasinaspot,sothatthethunderousvolumewouldn’tdrawattentiontome.

           Ilookedatthemapinthetruck,tryingtomemorizeitnow;hopefullyIwouldn’thavetowalkaroundwithitstuckinfrontofmynoseallday.Istuffedeverythinginmybag,slungthestrapovermyshoulder,andsuckedinahugebreath.