Сумерки

           Ihesitated,myhandonthedoorhandle,tryingtoprolongthemoment.

           "Bella?"heaskedinadifferenttone-serious,buthesitant.

           "Yes?"Iturnedbacktohimtooeagerly.

           "Willyoupromisemesomething?"

           "Yes,"Isaid,andinstantlyregrettedmyunconditionalagreement.Whatifheaskedmetostayawayfromhim?Icouldn’tkeepthatpromise.

           "Don’tgointothewoodsalone."

           Istaredathiminblankconfusion."Why?"

           Hefrowned,andhiseyesweretightashestaredpastmeoutthewindow.

           "I’mnotalwaysthemostdangerousthingoutthere.Let’sleaveitatthat."

           Ishudderedslightlyatthesuddenbleaknessinhisvoice,butIwasrelieved.This,atleast,wasaneasypromisetohonor."Whateveryousay."

           "I’llseeyoutomorrow,"hesighed,andIknewhewantedmetoleavenow.

           "Tomorrow,then."Iopenedthedoorunwillingly.

           "Bella?"Iturnedandhewasleaningtowardme,hispale,gloriousfacejustinchesfrommine.Myheartstoppedbeating.

           "Sleepwell,"hesaid.Hisbreathblewinmyface,stunningme.Itwasthesameexquisitescentthatclungtohisjacket,butinamoreconcentratedform.Iblinked,thoroughlydazed.Heleanedaway.

           Iwasunabletomoveuntilmybrainhadsomewhatunscrambleditself.ThenIsteppedoutofthecarawkwardly,havingtousetheframeforsupport.IthoughtIheardhimchuckle,butthesoundwastooquietformetobecertain.

           HewaitedtillIhadstumbledtothefrontdoor,andthenIheardhisenginequietlyrev.Iturnedtowatchthesilvercardisappeararoundthecorner.Irealizeditwasverycold.