2 new moon新月-第20节

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〃What　kind　of　Volkswagen　is　that？〃　I　asked。　

〃It's　an　old　Rabbit—1986；　a　classic。〃　

〃How's　it　going？〃　

〃Almost　finished；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　And　then　his　voice　dropped　into　a　lower　key。　〃My　dad　made　good　
on　his　promise　last　spring。〃　

〃Ah；〃　I　said。　

He　seemed　to　understand　my　reluctance　to　open　the　subject。　I　tried　not　to　remember　last　May　at　the　
prom。　Jacob　had　been　bribed　by　his　father　with　money　and　car　parts　to　deliver　a　message　there。　Billy　
wanted　me　to　stay　a　safe　distance　from　the　most　important　person　in　my　life。　It　turned　out　that　his　
concern　was；　in　the　end；　unnecessary。　I　was　all　too　safe　now。　

But　I　was　going　to　see　what　I　could　do　to　change　that。　

〃Jacob；　what　do　you　know　about　motorcycles？〃　I　asked。　

He　shrugged。　〃Some。　My　friend　Embry　has　a　dirt　bike。　We　work　on　it　together　sometimes。　Why？〃　

〃Well…〃　I　pursed　my　lips　as　I　considered。　I　wasn't　sure　if　he　could　keep　his　mouth　shut；　but　I　didn't　have　
many　other　options。　〃I　recently　acquired　a　couple　of　bikes；　and　they're　not　in　the　greatest　condition。　I　
wonder　if　you　could　get　them　running？〃　

〃Cool。〃　He　seemed　truly　pleased　by　the　challenge。　His　face　glowed。　〃I'll　give　it　a　try。〃　

I　held　up　one　finger　in　warning。　〃The　thing　is；〃　I　explained；　〃Charlie　doesn't　approve　of　motorcycles。　
Honestly；　he'd　probably　bust　a　vein　in　his　forehead　if　he　knew　about　this。　So　you　can't　tell　Billy。〃　

〃Sure；　sure。〃　Jacob　smiled。　〃I　understand。〃　

〃I'll　pay　you；〃　I　continued。　

This　offended　him。　〃No。　I　want　to　help。　You　can't　pay　me。〃　

〃Well…　how　about　a　trade；　then？〃　I　was　making　this　up　as　I　went；　but　it　seemed　reasonable　enough。　〃I　
only　need　one　bike—and　I'll　need　lessons；　too。　So　how　about　this？　I'll　give　you　the　other　bike；　and　then　
you　can　teach　me。〃　

〃Swee…eet。〃　He　made　the　word　into　two　syllables。　

〃Wait　a　sec—are　you　legal　yet？　When's　your　birthday？〃　

〃You　missed　it；〃　he　teased；　narrowing　his　eyes　in　mock　resentment。　〃I'm　sixteen。〃　

〃Not　that　your　age　ever　stopped　you　before；〃　I　muttered。　〃Sorry　about　your　birthday。〃　

〃Don't　worry　about　it。　I　missed　yours。　What　are　you；　forty？〃　

I　sniffed。　〃Close。〃　

〃We'll　have　a　joint　party　to　make　up　for　it。〃　

〃Sounds　like　a　date。〃　

His　eyes　sparkled　at　the　word。　

I　needed　to　reign　in　the　enthusiasm　before　I　gave　him　the　wrong　idea—it　was　just　that　it　had　been　a　long　
time　since　I'd　felt　so　light　and　buoyant。　The　rarity　of　the　feeling　made　it　more　difficult　to　manage。　

〃Maybe　when　the　bikes　are　finished—our　present　to　ourselves；〃　I　added。　

〃Deal。　When　will　you　bring　them　down？〃　

I　bit　my　lip；　embarrassed。　〃They're　in　my　truck　now；〃　I　admitted。　

〃Great。〃　He　seemed　to　mean　it。　

〃Will　Billy　see　if　we　bring　them　around？〃　

He　winked　at　me。　〃We'll　be　sneaky。〃　

We　eased　around　from　the　east；　sticking　to　the　trees　when　we　were　in　view　of　the　windows；　affecting　a　
casual…looking　stroll；　just　in　case。　Jacob　unloaded　the　bikes　swiftly　from　the　truck　bed；　wheeling　them　
one　by　one　into　the　shrubbery　where　I　hid。　It　looked　too　easy　for　him—I'd　remembered　the　bikes　being　
much；　much　heavier　than　that。　

〃These　aren't　half　bad；〃　Jacob　appraised　as　we　pushed　them　through　the　cover　of　the　trees。　〃This　one　
here　will　actually　be　worth　something　when　I'm　done—it's　an　old　Harley　Sprint。〃　

〃That　one's　yours；　then。〃　

〃Are　you　sure？〃　

〃Absolutely。〃　

〃These　are　going　to　take　some　cash；　though；〃　he　said；　frowning　down　at　the　blackened　metal。　〃We'll　have　
to　save　up　for　parts　first。〃　

〃We　nothing；〃　I　disagreed。　〃If　you're　doing　this　for　free；　I'll　pay　for　the　parts。〃　

〃I　don't　know…〃　he　muttered。　

〃I've　got　some　money　saved。　College　fund；　you　know。〃　College；　schmollege；　I　thought　to　myself。　It　
wasn't　like　I'd　saved　up　enough　to　go　anywhere　special—and　besides；　I　had　no　desire　to　leave　Forks　
anyway。　What　difference　would　it　make　if　I　skimmed　a　little　bit　off　the　top？　

Jacob　just　nodded。　This　all　made　perfect　sense　to　him。　

As　we　skulked　back　to　the　makeshift　garage；　I　contemplated　my　luck。　Only　a　teenage　boy　would　agree　
to　this：　deceiving　both　our　parents　while　repairing　dangerous　vehicles　using　money　meant　for　my　college　
education。　He　didn't　see　anything　wrong　with　that　picture。　Jacob　was　a　gift　from　the　gods。　

6。　FRIENDS　




THE　MOTORCYCLES　DIDN'T　NEED　TO　BE　HIDDEN　ANY　further　than　simply　placing　them　in　
Jacob's　shed。　Billy's　wheelchair　couldn't　maneuver　the　uneven　ground　separating　it　from　the　house。　

Jacob　started　pulling　the　first　bike—the　red　one；　which　was　destined　for　me—to　pieces　immediately。　He　
opened　up　the　passenger　door　of　the　Rabbit　so　I　could　sit　on　the　seat　instead　of　the　ground。　While　he　
worked；　Jacob　chattered　happily；　needing　only　the　lightest　of　nudges　from　me　to　keep　the　conversation　
rolling。　He　updated　me　on　the　progress　of　his　sophomore　year　of　school；　running　on　about　his　classes　and　

his　two　best　friends。　

〃Quil　and　Embry？〃　I　interrupted。　〃Those　are　unusual　names。〃　

Jacob　chuckled。　〃Quil's　is　a　hand…me…down；　and　I　think　Embry　got　named　after　a　soap　opera　star。　I　can't　
say　anything；　though。　They　fight　dirty　if　you　start　on　their　names—they'll　tag　team　you。〃　

〃Good　friends。〃　I　raised　one　eyebrow。　

〃No；　they　are。　Just　don't　mess　with　their　names。〃　

Just　then　a　call　echoed　in　the　distance。　〃Jacob？〃　someone　shouted。　

〃Is　that　Billy？〃　I　asked。　

〃No。〃　Jacob　ducked　his　head；　and　it　looked　like　he　was　blushing　under　his　brown　skin。　〃Speak　of　the　
devil；〃　he　mumbled；　〃and　the　devil　shall　appear。〃　

〃Jake？　Are　you　out　here？〃　The　shouting　voice　was　closer　now。　

〃Yeah！〃　Jacob　shouted　back；　and　sighed。　

We　waited　through　the　short　silence　until　two　tall；　dark…skinned　boys　strolled　around　the　corner　into　the　
shed。　

One　was　slender；　and　almost　as　tall　as　Jacob。　His　black　hair　was　chin…length　and　parted　down　the　
middle；　one　side　tucked　behind　his　left　ear　while　the　right　side　swung　free。　The　shorter　boy　was　more　
burly。　His　white　T…shirt　strained　over　his　well…developed　chest；　and　he　seemed　gleefully　conscious　of　that　
fact。　His　hair　was　so　short　it　was　almost　a　buzz。　

Both　boys　stopped　short　when　they　saw　me。　The　thin　boy　glanced　swiftly　back　and　forth　between　Jacob　
and　me；　while　the　brawny　boy　kept　his　eyes　on　me；　a　slow　smile　spreading　across　his　face。　

〃Hey；　guys；〃　Jacob　greeted　them　halfheartedly。　

〃Hey；　Jake；〃　the　short　one　said　without　looking　away　from　me。　I　had　to　smile　in　response；　his　grin　was　so　
impish。　When　I　did；　he　winked　at　me。　〃Hi；　there。〃　

〃Quil；　Embry—this　is　my　friend；　Bella。〃　

Quil　and　Embry；　I　still　didn't　know　which　was　which；　exchanged　a　loaded　look。　

〃Charlie's　kid；　right？〃　the　brawny　boy　asked　me；　holding　out　his　hand。　

〃That's　right；〃　I　confirmed；　shaking　hands　with　him。　His　grasp　was　firm；　it　looked　like　he　was　flexing　his　
bicep。　

〃I'm　Quil　Ateara；〃　he　announced　grandly　before　releasing　my　hand。　

〃Nice　to　meet　you；　Quil。〃　

〃Hey；　Bella。　I'm　Embry；　Embry　Call—you　probably　already　figured　that　out；　though。〃　Embry　smiled　a　shy　
smile　and　waved　with　one　hand；　which　he　then　shoved　in　the　pocket　of　his　jeans。　

I　nodded。　〃Nice　to　meet　you；　too。〃　

〃So　what　are　you　guys　doing？〃　Quil　asked；　still　looking　at　me。　

〃Bella　and　I　are　going　to　fix　up　these　bikes；〃　Jacob　explained　inaccurately。　But　bikes　seemed　to　be　the　
magic　word。　Both　boys　went　to　examine　Jacob's　project；　drilling　him　with　educated　questions。　Many　of　
the　words　they　used　were　unfamiliar　to　me；　and　I　figured　I'd　have　to　have　a　Y　chromosome　to　really　
understand　the　excitement。　

They　were　still　immersed　in　talk　of　parts　and　pieces　when　I　decided　that　I　needed　to　head　back　home　
before　Charlie　showed　up　here。　With　a　sigh；　I　slid　out　of　the　Rabbit。　

Jacob　looked　up；　apologetic。　〃We're　boring　you；　aren't　we？〃　

〃Naw。〃　And　it　wasn't　a　lie。　I　was　enjoying　myself—how　strange。　〃I　just　have　to　go　cook　dinner　for　
Charlie。〃　

〃Oh…　well；　I'll　finish　taking　these　apart　tonight　and　figure　out　what　more　we'll　need　to　get　started　
rebuilding　them。　When　do　you　want　to　work　on　them　again？〃　

〃Could　I　come　back　tomorrow？〃　Sundays　were　the　bane　of　my　existence。　There　was　never　enough　
homework　to　keep　me　busy。　

Quil　nudged　Embry's　arm　and　they　exchanged　grins。　

Jacob　smiled　in　delight。　〃That　would　be　great！〃　

〃If　you　make　a　list；　we　can　go　shop　for　parts；〃　I　suggested。　

Jacob's　face　fell　a　little。　〃I'm　still　not　sure　I　should　let　you　pay　for　everything。〃　

I　shook　my　head。　〃No　way。　I'm　bankrolling　this　party。　You　just　have　to　supply　the　labor　and　expertise。〃　

Embry　rolled　his　eyes　at　Quil。　

〃That　doesn't　seem　right；〃　Jacob　shook　his　head。　

〃Jake；　if　I　took　these　to　a　mechanic；　how　much　would　he　charge　me？〃　I　pointed　out。　

He　smiled。　〃Okay；　you're　getting　a　deal。〃　

〃Not　to　mention　the　riding　lessons；〃　I　added。　

Quil　grinned　widely　at　Embry　and　whispered　something　I　didn't　catch。　Jacob's　hand　flashed　out　to　smack　
the　back　of　Quil's　head。　〃That's　it；　get　out；〃　he　muttered。　

〃No；　really；　I　have　to　go；〃　I　protested；　heading　for　the　door。　〃I'll　see　you　tomorrow；　Jacob。〃　

As　soon　as　I　was　out　of　sight；　I　heard　Quil　and　Embry　chorus；　〃Wooooo！〃　

The　sound　of　a　brief　scuffle　f