Сумерки

           He’dseemedengrossedinourconversation,butnowIcouldsee,fromthecornerofmyeye,thathewasleaningawayfrommeagain,hishandsgrippingtheedgeofthetablewithunmistakabletension.

           ItriedtoappearattentiveasMr.Bannerillustrated,withtransparenciesontheoverheadprojector,whatIhadseenwithoutdifficultythroughthemicroscope.Butmythoughtswereunmanageable.

           Whenthebellfinallyrang,EdwardrushedasswiftlyandasgracefullyfromtheroomashehadlastMonday.And,likelastMonday,Istaredafterhiminamazement.

           Mikeskippedquicklytomysideandpickedupmybooksforme.Iimaginedhimwithawaggingtail.

           "Thatwasawful,"hegroaned."Theyalllookedexactlythesame.You’reluckyyouhadCullenforapartner."

           "Ididn’thaveanytroublewithit,"Isaid,stungbyhisassumption.Iregrettedthesnubinstantly."I’vedonethelabbefore,though,"Iaddedbeforehecouldgethisfeelingshurt.

           "Cullenseemedfriendlyenoughtoday,"hecommentedasweshruggedintoourraincoats.Hedidn’tseempleasedaboutit.

           Itriedtosoundindifferent."IwonderwhatwaswithhimlastMonday."

           Icouldn’tconcentrateonMike’schatteraswewalkedtoGym,andRE.didn’tdomuchtoholdmyattention,either.Mikewasonmyteamtoday.Hechivalrouslycoveredmypositionaswellashisown,somywoolgatheringwasonlyinterruptedwhenitwasmyturntoserve;myteamduckedwarilyoutofthewayeverytimeIwasup.

           TherainwasjustamistasIwalkedtotheparkinglot,butIwashappierwhenIwasinthedrycab