Сумерки

           AndbeforeIcouldrespond,hewaswalkingbacktohiscar.Icouldfeeltheshockonmyface.IlookedforwardtoseeAlice,Rosalie,Emmett,andJasperallslidingintotheVolvo.Inhisrearviewmirror,Edward’seyeswereonme.Hewasunquestionablyshakingwithlaughter,asifhe’dheardeverywordTylerhadsaid.Myfootitchedtowardthegaspedal...onelittlebumpwouldn’thurtanyofthem,justthatglossysilverpaintjob.Irevvedtheengine.

           Buttheywereallin,andEdwardwasspeedingaway.Idrovehomeslowly,carefully,mutteringtomyselfthewholeway.

           WhenIgothome,Idecidedtomakechickenenchiladasfordinner.Itwasalongprocess,anditwouldkeepmebusy.WhileIwassimmeringtheonionsandchilies,thephonerang.Iwasalmostafraidtoanswerit,butitmightbeCharlieormymom.

           ItwasJessica,andshewasjubilant;Mikehadcaughtherafterschooltoacceptherinvitation.IcelebratedwithherbrieflywhileIstirred.Shehadtogo,shewantedtocallAngelaandLaurentotellthem.Isuggested-withcasualinnocence-thatmaybeAngela,theshygirlwhohadBiology

           withme,couldaskEric.AndLauren,astandoffishgirlwhohadalwaysignoredmeatthelunchtable,couldaskTyler;I’dheardhewasstillavailable.Jessthoughtthatwasagreatidea.NowthatshewassureofMike,sheactuallysoundedsincerewhenshesaidshewishedIwouldgotothedance.IgavehermySeattleexcuse.