Сумерки

           AfterIhungup,Itriedtoconcentrateondinner-dicingthechickenespecially;Ididn’twanttotakeanothertriptotheemergencyroom.Butmyheadwasspinning,tryingtoanalyzeeverywordEdwardhadspokentoday.Whatdidhemean,itwasbetterifweweren’tfriends?

           MystomachtwistedasIrealizedwhathemusthavemeant.HemustseehowabsorbedIwasbyhim;hemustnotwanttoleadmeon...sowecouldn’tevenbefriends...becausehewasn’tinterestedinmeatall.

           Ofcoursehewasn’tinterestedinme,Ithoughtangrily,myeyesstinging-adelayedreactiontotheonions.Iwasn’tinteresting.Andhewas.Interesting...andbrilliant...andmysterious...andperfect...andbeautiful...andpossiblyabletoliftfull-sizedvanswithonehand.

           Well,thatwasfine.Icouldleavehimalone.Iwouldleavehimalone.Iwouldgetthroughmyself-imposedsentencehereinpurgatory,andthenhopefullysomeschoolintheSouthwest,orpossiblyHawaii,wouldoffermeascholarship.IfocusedmythoughtsonsunnybeachesandpalmtreesasIfinishedtheenchiladasandputthemintheoven.

           Charlieseemedsuspiciouswhenhecamehomeandsmelledthegreenpeppers.Icouldn’tblamehim-theclosestedibleMexicanfoodwasprobablyinsouthernCalifornia.Buthewasacop,evenifjustasmall-towncop,sohewasbraveenoughtotakethefirstbite.Heseemedtolikeit.Itwasfuntowatchasheslowlybegantrustingmeinthekitchen.

           "Dad?"Iaskedwhenhewasalmostdone.