Сумерки

           Ididn’treallywanttowalktoclasswithMikeasusual-heseemedtobeapopulartargetforthesnowballsnipers-butwhenwewenttothedoor,everyonebesidesmegroanedinunison.Itwasraining,washingalltracesofthesnowawayinclear,icyribbonsdownthesideofthewalkway.Ipulledmyhoodup,secretlypleased.IwouldbefreetogostraighthomeafterGym.

           Mikekeptupastringofcomplaintsonthewaytobuildingfour.

           Onceinsidetheclassroom,Isawwithreliefthatmytablewasstillempty.Mr.Bannerwaswalkingaroundtheroom,distributingonemicroscopeandboxofslidestoeachtable.Classdidn’tstartforafewminutes,andtheroombuzzedwithconversation.Ikeptmyeyesawayfromthedoor,doodlingidlyonthecoverofmynotebook.

           Iheardveryclearlywhenthechairnexttomemoved,butmyeyesstayedcarefullyfocusedonthepatternIwasdrawing.

           "Hello,"saidaquiet,musicalvoice.

           Ilookedup,stunnedthathewasspeakingtome.Hewassittingasfarawayfrommeasthedeskallowed,buthischairwasangledtowardme.Hishairwasdrippingwet,disheveled-evenso,helookedlikehe’djustfinishedshootingacommercialforhairgel.Hisdazzlingfacewasfriendly,open,aslightsmileonhisflawlesslips.Buthiseyeswerecareful.

           "MynameisEdwardCullen,"hecontinued."Ididn’thaveachancetointroducemyselflastweek.YoumustbeBellaSwan."

           Mymindwasspinningwithconfusion.HadImadeupthewholething?Hewasperfectlypolitenow.Ihadtospeak;hewaswaiting.