第3部分(第7/7 頁)

living　room　and　the　TV。

Edward　smiled；　triumphant；　and　took　my　hand　to　pull　me　from　the　kitchen。

When　we　got　to　the　truck；　he　opened　the　passenger　door　for　me　again；　and　this

time　I　didn't　argue。　I　still

had　a　hard　time　finding　the　obscure　turnoff　to　his　house　in　the　dark。

Edward　drove　north　through　Forks；　visibly　chafing　at　the　speed　limit　enforced

by　my　prehistoric　Chevy。

The　engine　groaned　even　louder　than　usual　as　he　pushed　it　over　fifty。

〃Take　it　easy；〃　I　warned　him。

〃You　know　what　you　would　love？　A　nice　little　Audi　coupe。　Very　quiet；　lots　of

power〃

〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　my　truck。　And　speaking　of　expensive　nonessentials；

if　you　know　what's

good　for　you；　you　didn't　spend　any　money　on　birthday　presents。〃

〃Not　a　dime；〃　he　said　virtuously。

〃Good。〃

〃Can　you　do　me　a　favor？〃

〃That　depends　on　what　it　is。〃

He　sighed；　his　lovely　face　serious。　〃Bella；　the　last　real　birthday　any　of　us

had　was　Emmett　in　1935。　Cut　us

a　little　slack；　and　don't　be　too　difficult　tonight。　They're　all　very　excited。〃

It　always　startled　me　a　little　when　he　brought　up　things　like　that。　〃Fine；

I'll　behave。〃

〃I　probably　should　warn　you〃

〃Please　do。〃

〃When　I　say　they're　all　excited　I　do　mean　all　of　them。〃

〃Everyone？〃　I　choked。　〃I　thought　Emmett　and　Rosalie　were　in　Africa。〃　The　rest

of　Forks　was　under　the

impression　that　the　older　Cullens　had　gone　off　to　college　this　year；　to

Dartmouth；　but　I　knew　better。

〃Emmett　wanted　to　be　here。〃

〃But　Rosalie？〃

〃I　know；　Bella。　Don't　worry；　she'l