Сумерки

           Bannerlookedatmenow;hisexpressionwasskeptical.

           "Haveyoudonethislabbefore?"heasked.

           Ismiledsheepishly."Notwithonionroot."

           "Whitefishblastula?"

           "Yeah."

           Mr.Bannernodded."WereyouinanadvancedplacementprograminPhoenix?"

           "Yes."

           "Well,"hesaidafteramoment,"Iguessit’sgoodyoutwoarelabpartners."Hemumbledsomethingelseashewalkedaway.Afterheleft,Ibegandoodlingonmynotebookagain.

           "It’stoobadaboutthesnow,isn’tit?"Edwardasked.Ihadthefeelingthathewasforcinghimselftomakesmalltalkwithme.Paranoiasweptovermeagain.ItwaslikehehadheardmyconversationwithJessicaatlunchandwastryingtoprovemewrong.

           "Notreally,"Iansweredhonestly,insteadofpretendingtobenormallikeeveryoneelse.Iwasstilltryingtodislodgethestupidfeelingofsuspicion,andIcouldn’tconcentrate.

           "Youdon’tlikethecold."Itwasn’taquestion.

           "Orthewet."

           "Forksmustbeadifficultplaceforyoutolive,"hemused.

           "Youhavenoidea,"Imuttereddarkly.

           HelookedfascinatedbywhatIsaid,forsomereasonIcouldn’timagine.HisfacewassuchadistractionthatItriednottolookatitanymorethancourtesyabsolutelydemanded.

           "Whydidyoucomehere,then?"

           Noonehadaskedmethat-notstraightoutlikehedid,demanding.

           "It’s...complicated."

           "IthinkIcankeepup,"hepressed.

           Ipausedforalongmoment,andthenmadethemistakeofmeetinghisgaze.Hisdarkgoldeyesconfusedme,andIansweredwithoutthinking.

           "Mymothergotremarried,"Isaid.