Сумерки

           Iwantedtolookaway,buthergazeheldmeuntilEdwardbrokeoffmid-sentenceandmadeanangrynoiseunderhisbreath.Itwasalmostahiss.

           Rosalieturnedherhead,andIwasrelievedtobefree.IlookedbackatEdward-andIknewhecouldseetheconfusionandfearthatwidenedmyeyes.

           Hisfacewastightasheexplained."I’msorryaboutthat.She’sjustworried.Yousee...it’sdangerousformorethanjustmeif,afterspendingsomuchtimewithyousopublicly..."Helookeddown.

           "If?"

           "Ifthisends...badly."Hedroppedhisheadintohishands,ashehadthatnightinPortAngeles.Hisanguishwasplain;Iyearnedtocomforthim,butIwasatalosstoknowhow.Myhandreachedtowardhiminvoluntarily;quickly,though,Idroppedittothetable,fearingthatmytouchwouldonlymakethingsworse.Irealizedslowlythathiswordsshouldfrightenme.Iwaitedforthatfeartocome,butallIcouldseem

           tofeelwasanacheforhispain.

           Andfrustration-frustrationthatRosaliehadinterruptedwhateverhewasabouttosay.Ididn’tknowhowtobringitupagain.Hestillhadhisheadinhishands.

           Itriedtospeakinanormalvoice."Andyouhavetoleavenow?"

           "Yes."Heraisedhisface;itwasseriousforamoment,andthenhismoodshiftedandhesmiled."It’sprobablyforthebest.WestillhavefifteenminutesofthatwretchedmovielefttoendureinBiology-Idon’tthinkIcouldtakeanymore."

           Istarted.Alice-hershort,inkyhairinahaloofspikydisarrayaroundherexquisite,elfinface-wassuddenlystandingbehindhisshoulder.