Сумерки

           "No-itwasSaturday,atthebeach."Iriskedaglanceupathisface.Helookedpuzzled.

           "Iranintoanoldfamilyfriend-JacobBlack,"Icontinued."HisdadandCharliehavebeenfriendssinceIwasababy."

           Hestilllookedconfused.

           "HisdadisoneoftheQuileuteelders."Iwatchedhimcarefully.Hisconfusedexpressionfrozeinplace."Wewentforawalk-"Ieditedallmyschemingoutofthestory"-andhewastellingmesomeoldlegends-tryingtoscareme,Ithink.Hetoldmeone..."Ihesitated.

           "Goon,"hesaid.

           "Aboutvampires."IrealizedIwaswhispering.Icouldn’tlookathisfacenow.ButIsawhisknucklestightenconvulsivelyonthewheel.

           "Andyouimmediatelythoughtofme?"Stillcalm.

           "No.He...mentionedyourfamily."

           Hewassilent,staringattheroad.

           Iwasworriedsuddenly,worriedaboutprotectingJacob.

           "Hejustthoughtitwasasillysuperstition,"Isaidquickly."Hedidn’texpectmetothinkanythingofit."Itdidn’tseemlikeenough;Ihadtoconfess."Itwasmyfault,Iforcedhimtotellme."

           "Why?"

           "Laurensaidsomethingaboutyou-shewastryingtoprovokeme.Andanolderboyfromthetribesaidyourfamilydidn’tcometothereservation,onlyitsoundedlikehemeantsomethingdifferent.SoIgotJacobaloneandItrickeditoutofhim,"Iadmitted,hangingmyhead.

           Hestartledmebylaughing.Iglaredupathim.Hewaslaughing,buthiseyeswerefierce,staringahead.

           "Trickedhimhow?"heasked.

           "Itriedtoflirt-itworkedbetterthanIthoughtitwould."DisbeliefcoloredmytoneasIremembered.