And Edward was staring at me curiously, that same, familiar edge of
frustration even more distinct now in his black eyes.

I stared back, surprised, expecting him to look quickly away. But instead
he continued to gaze with probing intensity into my eyes. There was no
question of me looking away. My hands started to shake.

"Mr. Cullen?" the teacher called, seeking the answer to a question that I
hadn't heard.

"The Krebs Cycle," Edward answered, seeming reluctant as he turned to
look at Mr. Banner.

I looked down at my book as soon as his eyes released me, trying to find
my place. Cowardly as ever, I shifted my hair over my right shoulder to
hide my face. I couldn't believe the rush of emotion pulsing through me —
just because he'd happened to look at me for the first time in a
half-dozen weeks. I couldn't allow him to have this level of influence
over me. It was pathetic. More than pathetic, it was unhealthy.

I tried very hard not to be aware of him for the rest of the hour, and,
since that was impossible, at least not to let him know that I was aware
of him. When the bell rang at last, I turned my back to him to gather my
things, expecting him to leave immediately as usual.

"Bella?" His voice shouldn't have been so familiar to me, as if I'd known
the sound of it all my life rather than for just a few short weeks.

I turned slowly, unwillingly. I didn't want to feel what I knew I would
feel when I looked at his too-perfect face. My expression was wary when I
finally turned to him; his expression was unreadable. He didn't say
anything.

"What? Are you speaking to me again?" I finally asked, an unintentional
note of petulance in my voice.

His lips twitched, fighting a smile. "No, not really," he admitted.

I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly through my nose, aware that I was
gritting my teeth. He waited.

"Then what do you want, Edward?" I asked, keeping my eyes closed; it was
easier to talk to him coherently that way.

"I'm sorry." He sounded sincere. "I'm being very rude, I know. But it's
better this way, really."

I opened my eyes. His face was very serious.

"I don't know what you mean," I said, my voice guarded.

"It's better if we're not friends," he explained. "Trust me."

My eyes narrowed. I'd heard that before.

"It's too bad you didn't figure that out earlier," I hissed through my
teeth. "You could have saved yourself all this regret."

邀请（4）

    不想爱德华正好奇地盯着我，此时他黑色的眼睛里那熟悉的失望之情更为明显了。

    我很惊讶，于是也盯着他，以为他会迅速把目光移开的。可是他并没有移开，而是继续以强烈的探询的眼神盯着我的眼睛。我没法把自己的目光移开。我的双手开始发抖了。

    "卡伦先生？"老师叫他回答一个问题，是个什么问题我没听见。

    "克雷布斯循环，"爱德华答道，他扭过头去看班纳先生的时候，显得有些不太情愿。

    他的目光一松劲，我就赶紧垂下眼睛看着书了，想找到讲到什么地方了。我还像以前一样胆小，把头发甩到了右肩，以便将脸遮起来。我不能相信刚才一下子，仅仅因为他六周以来第一次碰巧瞅了我一眼，感情居然就冲动得那么厉害。我不能让他对我有这么大的影响。这真可怜。还不止是可怜，简直是有病。

    一节课接下来的时间里，我极力地不让自己注意他的存在，但因为这是不可能的事，所以至少极力地不让他知道我在注意他的存在。下课铃终于响了，我转过身去，背对着他收拾东西，等着他像平常一样马上离开。

    "贝拉？"他的声音不应该有这么熟悉的，好像我已经熟悉它一辈子了，而不只是短短的几周时间。

    我慢慢地、很不情愿地转过身来。我不想心里又泛起自己很清楚的那种每当看到他那过于完美的脸庞时的感觉。我终于转过身朝着他时，脸上的表情十分谨慎；而他的表情有点不可捉摸。他一句话也没有说。

    "怎么？你又和我说话了吗？"我终于开口问道，声音里带着一丝并非有意的任性。

    他的嘴唇动了动，努力挤出一丝笑容。"不，其实不是。"他承认道。

    我闭上眼睛，鼻子慢慢地吸着气，意识到自己在咬牙切齿了。他在等着我开口。

    "那么你想要怎样，爱德华？"我问道，眼睛依然闭着；这样更容易比较连贯地跟他说话。

    "我很抱歉。"他听起来还算诚恳，"我知道自己表现得比较粗鲁。可这样才会更好，真的。"

    我睁开了眼睛。他一脸的严肃。

    "我不明白你的意思，"我说道，声音十分警惕。

    "如果我俩不做朋友会更好，"他解释道，"相信我。"

    我把眼睛眯了起来。以前也听过这句话。

    "之前你没有琢磨出这一点来，真是太不幸了，"我从牙缝里挤出这么一句来，"你本来可以完全用不着这样后悔的。"