Midnight Sun(70)

yet another gaffe. I'd been too distracted to remember to ask her where she was supposed to meet her
friends.
But, instead of finishing the inquiry and pressing the point, Bella just shook her head and half-smiled.#p#分页标题#e#
What did that mean?
Well, I didn't have time to puzzle over her strange acceptance of my stranger knowledge. I opened my
door.
"What are you doing?" she asked, sounding startled.
Not letting you out of my sight. Not allowing myself to be alone tonight. In that order. "I'm taking you to
dinner."
Well this should be interesting. It seemed like another night entirely when I'd imagined bringing Alice
along and pretending to choose the same restaurant as Bella and her friends by accident. And now, here
I was, practically on a date with the girl. Only it didn't count, because I wasn't giving her a chance to say
no.
She already had her door half open before I'd walked around the car-it wasn't usually so frustrating to
have to move at an inconspicuous speed-instead of waiting for me to get it for her. Was this because she
wasn't used to being treated like a lady, or because she didn't think of me as a gentleman?
I waited for her to join me, getting more anxious as her girlfriends continued in toward the dark corner.
"Go stop Jessica and Angela before I have to track them down, too," I ordered quickly. "I don't think I
could restrain myself if I ran into your other friends again." No, I would not be strong enough for that.
She shuddered, and then quickly collected herself. She took half a step after them, calling, "Jess!
Angela!" in a loud voice. They turned, and she waved her arm over her head to catch their attention.
Bella! Oh, she's safe! Angela thought with relief.
Late much? Jessica grumbled to herself, but she, too, was thankful that Bella wasn't lost or hurt. This
made me like her a little more than I had.
They hurried back, and then stopped, shocked, when they saw me beside her.
Uh -uh ! Jess thought, stunned. No freaking way!
Edward Cullen? Did she go away by herself to find him? But why would she ask about them being out of
town if she knew he was here... I got a brief flash of Bella's mortified expression when she'd asked
Angela if my family was often absent from school. No, she couldn't have known, Angela decided.
Jessica's thoughts were moving past the surprise and on to suspicion. Bella's been holding out on me.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, staring at Bella, but peeking at me from the corner of her eye.
"I got lost. And then I ran into Edward," Bella said, waving one hand toward me. Her tone was
remarkably normal. Like that was truly all that had happened. She must be in shock. That was the only
explanation for her calm.
"Would it be all right if I joined you?" I asked -to be polite; I knew that they'd already eaten.
Holy crap but he's hot! Jessica thought, her head suddenly slightly incoherent.
Angela wasn't much more composed. Wish we hadn't eaten. Wow. Just. Wow.
Now why couldn't I do that to Bella?
"Er...sure," Jessica agreed.
Angela frowned. "Um, actually, Bella, we already ate while we were waiting," she admitted. "Sorry."
What? Shut up! Jess complained internally.
Bella shrugged casually. So at ease. Definitely in shock. "That's fine-I'm not hungry."
"I think you should eat something," I disagreed. She needed sugar in her bloodstream -though it smelled
sweet enough as it was, I thought wryly. The horror was going to come crashing down on her
momentarily, and an empty stomach wouldn't help. She was an easy fainter, as I knew from experience.
These girls wouldn't be in any danger if they went straight home. Danger didn't stalk their every step.
And I'd rather be alone with Bella-as long as she was willing to be alone with me. "Do you mind if I drive
Bella home tonight?" I said to Jessica before Bella could respond. "That way you won't have to wait
while she eats."
"Uh, no problem, I guess..." Jessica stared intently at Bella, looking for some sign that this was what she
wanted.
I want to stay...but she probably wants him to herself. Who wouldn't? Jess thought. At the same time,
she watched Bella wink.
Bella winked?
"Okay," Angela said quickly, in a hurry to be out of the way if that was what Bella wanted. And it seemed
that she did want that. "See you tomorrow, Bella...Edward." She struggled to say my name in a casual
tone. Then she grabbed Jessica's hand and began towing her away.
I would have to find some way to thank Angela for this.
Jessica's car was close by and in a bright circle of light cast by a streetlamp. Bella watched them
carefully, a little crease of concern between her eyes, until they were in the car, so she must be fully
aware of the danger she'd been in. Jessica waved as she drove away, and Bella waved back. It wasn't