Сумерки

           Itriedunsuccessfullytorelax,buttheelectriccurrentthatseemedtobeoriginatingfromsomewhereinhisbodyneverslackened.OccasionallyIwouldpermitmyselfaquickglanceinhisdirection,butheneverseemedtorelax,either.Theoverpoweringcravingtotouchhimalsorefusedtofade,andIcrushedmyfistssafelyagainstmyribsuntilmyfingerswereachingwiththeeffort.

           IbreathedasighofreliefwhenMr.Bannerflickedthelightsbackonattheendofclass,andstretchedmyarmsoutinfrontofme,flexingmystifffingers.Edwardchuckledbesideme.

           "Well,thatwasinteresting,"hemurmured.Hisvoicewasdarkandhiseyeswerecautious.

           "Umm,"wasallIwasabletorespond.

           "Shallwe?"heasked,risingfluidly.

           Ialmostgroaned.TimeforGym.Istoodwithcare,worriedmybalancemighthavebeenaffectedbythestrangenewintensitybetweenus.

           Hewalkedmetomynextclassinsilenceandpausedatthedoor;Iturnedtosaygoodbye.Hisfacestartledme-hisexpressionwastorn,almostpained,andsofiercelybeautifulthattheachetotouchhimflaredasstrongasbefore.Mygoodbyestuckinmythroat.

           Heraisedhishand,hesitant,conflictraginginhiseyes,andthenswiftlybrushedthelengthofmycheekbonewithhisfingertips.Hisskinwasasicyasever,butthetrailhisfingersleftonmyskinwasalarminglywarm-likeI’dbeenburned,butdidn’tfeelthepainofityet.

           Heturnedwithoutawordandstrodequicklyawayfromme.

           Iwalkedintothegym,lightheadedandwobbly.