分节阅读_86

  ,
  smoothing my cainst my neck, fidgeting with the taill
  it hung right over my jeans. i s look out the window to see
  that charlie was already gohin, y layer of clouds veiled the
  sky. they didn't l.
  i ate breakfast without tasting the f to up when i was
  dohe window again, but nothing had ged. i had just
  finished brushih and was heading bastairs whe
  k my heart thudding against my rib cage.
  i flew to the door; i had a little trouble with the simple dead bolt, but
  i yahe door open at last, and there he was. all the agitation
  dissolved as soon as i looked at his face, g its place. i
  breathed a sigh of relief — yesterday's fears seemed very foolish with
  him here.
  he wasn't smiling at first — his faber. but then his expression
  lightened as he looked me over, and he laughed.
  ”g,” he chuckled.
  ”what's wrong?” i glao make sure i hadn't fotten anything
  important, like shoes, or pants.
  ”we match.” he laughed again. i realized he had a long, light taer
  on, with a white c uh, and blue jeans. i laughed
  with him, hidiwi — why did he have to look like
  a runway model when i 't?
  i locked the door behind me while he walked to the truck. he waited by
  the passenger door with a martyred expression that was easy to uand.
  ”we made a deal,” i reminded him smugly, g into the driver's seat,
  and reag over to unlock his door.
  ”where to?” i asked.
  ”put your seat belt on — i'm nervous already.”
  i gave him a dirty look as i plied.
  ”where to?” i repeated with a sigh.
  ”take the oh,” he ordered.
  it risingly difficult to trate on the road while feeling
  his gaze on my fapensated by driving more carefully than usual
  through the still-sleeping town.
  ”were you planni of fhtfall?”
  ”this truck is old enough to be yrandfather — have some
  respect,” i retorted.
  we were soon out of the town limits, despite his y. thick
  underbrush ahed truhe lawns and houses.
  ”turn right oeed just as i was about to ask. i
  obeyed silently.
  ”now we drive u ends.”
  i could hear a smile in his voice, but i was too afraid off
  the r him right to look over and be sure.
  ”and what's there, at the pavement's end?” i wondered.
  ”a trail.”
  ”we're hiking?” thank goodness i'd worn tennis shoes.
  ”is that a problem?” he sounded as if he'd expected as much.
  ”no.” i tried to make the lie sou if he thought my truck
  was slow…
  ”don't worry, it's only five miles or so, and we're in no hurry.”
  five miles. i didn't ahat he wouldn't hear my voice
  panic. five miles of treacherous roots a to twist
  my aheracitate me. this was goiing.
  we drove in silence for a while as i plated the ing horror.
  ”what are you thinking?” he asked impatiently after a few moments.
  i lied again. ”just w where we're going.”
  ”it's a place i like to go wheher is h gla
  the windows at the thinning clouds after he spoke.
  ”charlie said it would be warm today.”
  ”and did you tell charlie what you were up to?” he asked.
  ”nope.”
  ”but jessiks we're goiogether?” he seemed cheered
  by the idea.
  ”no, i told her you e — which is true.”
  ”no one knows you're with me?” angrily, now.
  ”that depends… i assume you told alice?”
  ”that's very helpful, bella,” he snapped.
  i pretended i did.
  ”are you so depressed by forks that it's made you suicidal?”