第25部分(第2/7 页)

f。〃

〃Most　of　the　time　it's　just　annoying；　though。〃

Mike　got　out　of　his　car　and　crossed　the　road。

〃Hey；　Bella；〃　he　greeted　me；　and　then　his　eyes　turned　wary　as　he　looked　up　at

Jacob。　I　glanced　briefly　at

Jacob；　too；　trying　to　be　objective。　He　really　didn't　look　like　a　sophomore　at

all。　He　was　just　so

big—Mike's　head　barely　cleared　Jacob's　shoulder；　I　didn't　even　want　to　think

where　I　measured　next　to

him—and　then　his　face　was　older…looking　than　it　used　to　be；　even　a　month　ago。

〃Hey；　Mike！　Do　you　remember　Jacob　Black？〃

〃Not　really。〃　Mike　held　out　his　hand。

〃Old　family　friend；〃　Jacob　introduced　himself；　shaking　hands。　They　locked

hands　with　more　force　than

necessary。　When　their　grip　broke；　Mike　flexed　his　fingers。

I　heard　the　phone　ringing　from　the　kitchen。

〃I'd　better　get　that—it　might　be　Charlie；〃　I　told　them；　and　dashed　inside。

It　was　Ben。　Angela　was　sick　with　the　stomach　flu；　and　he　didn't　feel　like

ing　without　her。　He

apologized　for　bailing　on　us。

I　walked　slowly　back　to　the　waiting　boys；　shaking　my　head。　I　really　hoped

Angela　would　feel　better

soon；　but　I　had　to　admit　that　I　was　selfishly　upset　by　this　development。　Just

the　three　of　us；　Mike　and

Jacob　and　me；　together　for　the　evening—this　had　worked　out　brilliantly；　I

thought　with　grim　sarcasm。

It　didn't　seem　like　Jake　and　Mike　had　made　any　progress　towards　friendship　in

my　absence。　They　were

several　yards　apart；　facing　away　from　each　other　as　they　waited　for　me；　Mike's

expression　was　sullen；

though　Jacob's　was　cheerful　as　always。

〃Ang　is　sick；〃　I　told　them　glumly。　〃She　and　Ben　aren't　ing。〃

〃I　gue