Сумерки

           "Well,heseemsverynice,and,mygoodness,he’sincrediblygood-looking,butyou’resoyoung,Bella..."Hervoicewasunsure;asfarasIcouldremember,thiswasthefirsttimesinceIwaseightthatshe’dcomeclosetotryingtosoundlikeaparentalauthority.Irecognizedthereasonable-but-firmtoneofvoicefromtalksI’dhadwithheraboutmen.

           "Iknowthat,Mom.Don’tworryaboutit.It’sjustacrush,"Isoothedher.

           "That’sright,"sheagreed,easilypleased.

           Thenshesighedandglancedguiltilyoverhershoulderatthebig,roundclockonthewall.

           "Doyouneedtogo?"

           Shebitherlip."Phil’ssupposedtocallinalittlewhile...Ididn’tknowyouweregoingtowakeup..."

           "Noproblem,Mom."Itriedtotonedownthereliefsoshewouldn’tgetherfeelingshurt."Iwon’tbealone."

           "I’llbebacksoon.I’vebeensleepinghere,youknow,"sheannounced,proudofherself.

           "Oh,Mom,youdon’thavetodothat!Youcansleepathome-I’llnevernotice."Theswirlofpainkillersinmybrainwasmakingithardtoconcentrateevennow,though,apparently,I’dbeensleepingfordays.

           "Iwastoonervous,"sheadmittedsheepishly."There’sbeensomecrimeintheneighborhood,andIdon’tlikebeingtherealone."

           "Crime?"Iaskedinalarm.

           "Someonebrokeintothatdancestudioaroundthecornerfromthehouseandburnedittotheground-there’snothingleftatall!Andtheyleftastolencarrightoutfront.Doyourememberwhenyouusedtodancethere,honey?"

           "Iremember."Ishivered,andwinced.

           "Icanstay,baby,ifyouneedme."