Сумерки

           "Didyoueverthinkthatmaybemynumberwasupthefirsttime,withthevan,andthatyou’vebeeninterferingwithfate?"Ispeculated,distractingmyself.

           "Thatwasn’tthefirsttime,"hesaid,andhisvoicewashardtohear.Istaredathiminamazement,buthewaslookingdown."YournumberwasupthefirsttimeImetyou."

           Ifeltaspasmoffearathiswords,andtheabruptmemoryofhisviolentblackglarethatfirstday...buttheoverwhelmingsenseofsafetyIfeltinhispresencestifledit.Bythetimehelookeduptoreadmyeyes,therewasnotraceoffearinthem.

           "Youremember?"heasked,hisangel’sfacegrave.

           "Yes."Iwascalm.

           "Andyethereyousit."Therewasatraceofdisbeliefinhisvoice;heraisedoneeyebrow.

           "Yes,hereIsit...becauseofyou."Ipaused."Becausesomehowyouknewhowtofindmetoday...?"Iprompted.

           Hepressedhislipstogether,staringatmethroughnarrowedeyes,decidingagain.Hiseyesflasheddowntomyfullplate,andthenbacktome.

           "Youeat,I’lltalk,"hebargained.

           Iquicklyscoopedupanotherravioliandpoppeditinmymouth.

           "It’sharderthanitshouldbe-keepingtrackofyou.UsuallyIcanfindsomeoneveryeasily,onceI’veheardtheirmindbefore."Helookedatmeanxiously,andIrealizedIhadfrozen.Imademyselfswallow,thenstabbedanotherravioliandtosseditin.

           "IwaskeepingtabsonJessica,notcarefully-likeIsaid,onlyyoucouldfindtroubleinPortAngeles-andatfirstIdidn’tnoticewhenyoutookoffonyourown.