第26部分(第4/7 頁)

ever。　I'm　starting　to　feel　a　little　strange。〃

〃Oh　no；　not　you；　too！　Do　you　want　me　to　drive　you　home？〃

〃No。〃　He　shook　his　head；　his　eyebrows　pulling　together。　〃I　don't　feel　sick

yet。　Just　wrong。　If　I　have　to；

I'll　pull　over。〃

〃Will　you　call　me　as　soon　as　you　get　in？〃　I　asked　anxiously。

〃Sure；　sure。〃　He　frowned；　staring　ahead　into　the　darkness　and　biting　his　lip。

I　opened　my　door　to　get　out；　but　he　grabbed　my　wrist　lightly　and　held　me

there。　I　noticed　again　how　hot

his　skin　felt　on　mine。

〃What　is　it；　Jake？〃　I　asked。

〃There's　something　I　want　to　tell　you；　Bella　but　I　think　it's　going　to　sound

kind　of　corny。〃

I　sighed。　This　would　be　more　of　the　same　from　the　theater。　〃Go　ahead。〃

〃It's　just　that；　I　know　how　you're　unhappy　a　lot。　And；　maybe　it　doesn't　help

anything；　but　I　wanted　you　to

know　that　I'm　always　here。　I　won't　ever　let　you　down—I　promise　that　you　can

always　count　on　me。

Wow；　that　does　sound　corny。　But　you　know　that；　right？　That　I　would　never；　ever

hurt　you？〃

〃Yeah；　Jake。　I　know　that。　And　I　already　do　count　on　you；　probably　more　than

you　know。〃

The　smile　broke　across　his　face　the　way　the　sunrise　set　the　clouds　on　fire；

and　I　wanted　to　cut　my　tongue

out。　I　hadn't　said　one　word　that　was　a　lie；　but　I　should　have　lied。　The　truth

was　wrong；　it　would　hurt　him。

I　would　let　him　down。

A　strange　look　crossed　his　face。　〃I　really　think　I'd　better　go　home　now；〃　he

said。

I　got　out　quickly。

〃Call　me！〃　I　yelled　as　he　pulled　away。

I　watched　him　go；　and　he　seemed　to　be　in　control　of　the　car；　at　least。　I

stared　at　the　empty　street　when　he

was　gone；　feeling　a