It took him just one word.
"Renesmee..."I sighed. She would be awake soon. It must be nearly seven in the morning. Would she be looking forme? Abruptly2, something close to panic had my body freezing up. What would she look like today?
Edward felt the total distraction3 of my stress. "It's all right, love. Get dressed, and we'll be back to thehouse in two seconds."I probably looked like a cartoon, the way I sprung up, then looked back at him—his diamond bodyfaintly glinting in the diffuse4 light—then away to the west, where Renesmee waited, then back at himagain, then back toward her, my head whipping from side to side a half dozen times in a second. Edwardsmiled, but didn't laugh; he was a strong man.
"It's all about balance, love. You're so good at all of this, I don't imagine it will take too long to puteverything in perspective.""And we have all night, right?"He smiled wider. "Do you think I could bear to let you get dressed now if that weren't the case?"That would have to be enough to get me through the daylight hours. I would balance this overwhelming,devastating desire so that I could be a good— It was hard to think the word. Though Renesmee wasvery real and vital in my life, it was still difficult to think of myself as a mother. I supposed anyone wouldfeel the same, though, without nine months to get used to the idea. And with a child that changed by thehour.
The thought of Renesmee's speeding life had me stressed-out again in an instant. I didn't even pause atthe ornately carved double doors to catch my breath before finding out what Alice had done. I just burstthrough, intenton wearing the first things I touched. I should have known it wouldn't be that easy.
"Which ones are mine?" I hissed7. As promised, the room was bigger than our bedroom. It might havebeen bigger than the rest of the house put together, but I'd have to pace it off to be positive. I had a briefmental flash of Alice trying to persuade Esme to ignore classic proportions and allow this monstrosity. Iwondered how Alice had won that one.
Everything was wrapped in garment bags, pristine9 and white, row after row after row.
"To the best of my knowledge, everything but this rack here"—he touched a bar that stretched along thehalf-wall to the left of the door—"is yours.""All of this?"He shrugged10.
"Alice," we said together. He said her name like an explanation; I said it like an expletive.
"Fine," I muttered, and I pulled down the zipper11 on the closest bag. I growled12 under my breath when Isaw the floorlength silk gown inside—baby pink.
Finding something normal to wear could take all day!
"Let me help," Edward offered. He sniffed13 carefully at the air and then followed some scent15 to the backof the long room. There was a built-in dresser there. He sniffed again, then opened a drawer. With atriumphant grin, he held out a pair of artfully faded blue jeans.
I flitted to his side. "How did you do that?""Denim16 has its own scent just like anything else. Now... stretch cotton?"He followed his nose to a half-rack, unearthing17 a long-sleeved white t-shirt. He tossed it to me.
"Thanks," I said fervently18. I inhaled19 each fabric20, memorizing the scent for future searches through thismadhouse. I remembered silk and satin; I would avoid those.
It only took him seconds to find his own clothes—if I hadn't seen him undressed, I would have swornthere was nothing more beautiful than Edward in his khakis and pale beige pullover—and then he tookmy hand. We darted21 through the hidden garden, leaped lightly over the stone wall, and hit the forest at adead sprint22. I pulled my hand free so that we could race back. He beat me this time.
Renesmee was awake; she was sitting up on the floor with Rose and Emmett hovering23 over her, playingwith a little pile of twisted silverware. She had a mangled24 spoon in her right hand. As soon as she spiedme through the glass, she chucked the spoon on the floor—where it left a divot in the wood—andpointed in my direction imperiously. Her audience laughed; Alice, Jasper, Esme, and Carlisle were sittingon the couch, watching her as if she were the most engrossing25 film.
I was through the door before their laughter had barely begun, bounding across the room and scoopingher up from the floor in the same second. We smiled widely at each other.
She was different, but not so much. A little longer again, her proportions drifting from babyish tochildlike. Her hair was longer by a quarter inch, the curls bouncing like springs with every movement. I'dlet my imagination run wildon the trip back, and I'd imagined worse than this. Thanks to my overdone26 fears, these little changeswere almost a relief. Even without Carlisle's measurements, I was sure the changes were slower thanyesterday.
Renesmee patted my cheek. I winced27. She was hungry again.
"How long has she been up?" I asked as Edward disappeared through the kitchen doorway28. I was surehe was on his way to get her breakfast, having seen what she'd just thought as clearly as I had. Iwondered if he would ever have noticed her little quirk29, if he'd been the only one to know her. To him, itprobably would have seemed like hearing anyone.
"Just a few minutes," Rose said. "We would have called you soon. She's been asking for you—demandingmight be a better description. Esme sacrificed her second-best silver service to keep the littlemonster entertained." Rose smiled at Renesmee with so much gloating affection that the criticism wasentirely weightless. "We didn't want to... er, bother you."Rosalie bit her lip and looked away, trying not to laugh. I could feel Emmett's silent laughter behind me,sending vibrations32 through the foundations of the house.
I kept my chin high. "We'll get your room set up right away," I said to Renesmee. "You'll like thecottage. It's magic." I look up at Esme. "Thank you, Esme. So much. It's absolutely perfect."Before Esme could respond, Emmett was laughing again—it wasn't silent this time.
"So it's still standing33?" he managed to get out between his snickers. "I would've thought you two hadknocked it to rubble34 by now. What were you doing last night? Discussing the national debt?" He howledwith laughter.
I gritted35 my teeth and reminded myself of the negative consequences when I'd let my temper get awayfrom me yesterday. Of course, Emmett wasn't as breakable as Seth___Thinking of Seth made me wonder. "Where're the wolves today?" I glanced out the window wall, butthere had been no sign of Leah on the way in.
"Jacob took off this morning pretty early," Rosalie told me, a little frown creasing36 her forehead. "Sethfollowed him out.""What was he so upset about?" Edward asked as he came back into the room with Renesmee's cup.
There must have been more in Rosalie's memory than I'd seen in her expression.
Without breathing, I handed Renesmee off to Rosalie. Super-self-control, maybe, but there was no wayI was going to be able to feed her. Not yet.
"I don't know—or care," Rosalie grumbled37, but she answered Edward's question more fully14. "He waswatching Nessie sleep, his mouth hanging open like the moron38 he is, and then he just jumped to his feetwithout any kind of trigger—that I noticed, anyway—and stormed out. / was glad to be rid of him. Themore time he spends here, the less chance there is that we'll ever get the smell out.""Rose," Esme chided gently.
Rosalie flipped39 her hair. "I suppose it doesn't matter. We won't be here that much longer.""I still say we should go straight to New Hampshire and get things set up," Emmett said, obviouslycontinuing anearlier conversation. "Bella's already registered at Dartmouth. Doesn't look like it will take her all thatlong to be able to handle school." He turned to look at me with a teasing grin. Tm sure you'll ace8 yourclasses... apparently41 there's nothing interesting for you to do at night besides study."Rosalie giggled42.
Do not lose your temper, do not lose your temper,I chanted to myself. And then I was proud of myselffor keeping my head.
So I was pretty surprised that Edward didn't.
He growled—an abrupt1, shocking rasp of sound—and the blackest fury rolled across his expression likestorm clouds.
Before any of us could respond, Alice was on her feet.
"What is he doing? What is that dog doing that has erased43 my schedule for the entire day? I can't seeanything] No!" She shot me a tortured glance. "Look at you! You neec/meto show you how to use yourcloset."For one second I was grateful for whatever Jacob was up to.
And then Edward's hands balled up into fists and he snarled44, "He talked to Charlie. He thinks Charlie isfollowing after him. Coming here. Today."Alice said a word that sounded very odd in her trilling, ladylike voice, and then she blurred45 into motion,streaking out the backdoor.
"He told Charlie?" I gasped46. "But—doesn't he understand? How could he do that?" Charlie couldn'tknow about me! About vampires47! That would put him on a hit list that even the Cullens couldn't save himfrom. "No!"Edward spoke49 through his teeth. "Jacob's on his way in now."It must have started raining farther east. Jacob came through the door shaking his wet hair like a dog,flipping droplets50 on the carpet and the couch where they made little round gray spots on the white. Histeeth glinted against his dark lips; his eyes were bright and excited. He walked with jerky movements,like he was all hyped-up about destroying my father's life.
"Hey, guys," he greeted us, grinning.
It was perfectly51 silent.
Leah and Seth slipped in behind him, in their human forms—for now; both of their hands were tremblingwith the tension in the room.
"Rose," I said, holding my arms out. Wordlessly, Rosalie handed me Renesmee. I pressed her close tomy motionless heart, holding her like a talisman52 against rash behavior. I would keep her in my arms until Iwas sure my decision to kill Jacob was based entirely30 on rational judgment53 rather than fury.
She was very still, watching and listening. How much did she understand?
"Charlie'll be here soon," Jacob said to me casually54. "Just a heads-up. I assume Alice is getting yousunglasses or something?""You assume way too much," I spit through my teeth. "What. Have. You. Done?"Jacob's smile wavered, but he was still too wound up to answer seriously. "Biondie and Emmett wokeme up this morning going on and on about you all moving cross-country. Like I could let you leave.
Charlie was the biggest issue there, right? Well, problem solved.'7"Do you even realize what you've done? The danger you've put him in?"He snorted. "I didn't put him in danger. Except from you. But you've got some kind of supernaturalself-control, right? Not as good as mind reading, if you ask me. Much less exciting."Edward moved then, darting55 across the room to get in Jacob's face. Though he was half a head shorterthan Jacob, Jacob leaned away from his staggering anger as if Edward towered over him.
"That's just a theory, mongrel," he snarled. "You think we should test it out on Charlie? Did youconsider the physical pain you're putting Bella through, even if she can resist? Or the emotional pain if shedoesn't? I suppose what happens to Bella no longer concerns you!" He spit the last word.
Renesmee pressed her fingers anxiously to my cheek, anxiety coloring the replay in her head.
Edward's words finally cut through Jacob's strangely electric mood. His mouth dropped into a frown.
"Bella will be in pain?""Like you've shoved a white-hot branding iron down her throat!"I flinched56, remembering the scent of pure human blood.
"I didn't know that," Jacob whispered.
"Then perhaps you should have asked first," Edward growled back through his teeth.
"You would have stopped me.""You should have been stopped—""This isn't about me," I interrupted. I stood very still, keeping my hold on Renesmee and sanity57. "This isabout Charlie, Jacob. How could you put him in danger this way? Do you realize it's death or vampire48 lifefor him now, too?" My voice trembled with the tears my eyes could no longer shed.
Jacob was still troubled by Edward's accusations59, but mine didn't seem to bother him. "Relax, Bella. Ididn't tell him anything you weren't planning to tell him.""But he's coming here!""Yeah, that's the idea. Wasn't the whole let him make the wrong assumptions' thing your plan? I think Iprovided a very nice red herring, if I do say so myself."My fingers flexed60 away from Renesmee. I curled them back in securely. "Say it straight, Jacob. I don'thave the patience for this.""I didn't tell him anything about you, Bella. Not really. I told him about me. Well, show is probably abetter61 verb.""He phased in front of Charlie," Edward hissed.
I whispered, "You what?""He's brave. Brave as you are. Didn't pass out or throw up or anything. I gotta say, I was impressed.
You should've seen his face when I started taking my clothes off, though. Priceless," Jacob chortled.
"You absolute moronl You could have given him a heart attack!""Charlie's fine. He's tough. If you'd give this just a minute, you'll see that I did you a favor here.""You have half of that, Jacob." My voice was flat and steely. "You have thirty seconds to tell me everysingle word before I give Renesmee to Rosalie and rip your miserable62 head off. Seth won't be able tostop me this time.""Jeez, Bells. You didn't used to be so melodramatic. Is that a vampire thing?""Twenty-six seconds."Jacob rolled his eyes and flopped63 into the nearest chair. His little pack moved to stand on his flanks, notat all relaxed the way he seemed to be; Leah's eyes were on me, her teeth slightly bared.
"So I knocked on Charlie's door this morning and asked him to come for a walk with me. He wasconfused, but when I told him it was about you and that you were back in town, he followed me out tothe woods. I told him you weren't sick anymore, and that things were a little weird64, but good. He wasabout to take off to see you, but I told him I had to show him something first. And then I phased." Jacobshrugged.
My teeth felt like a vise was pushing them together. "I want every word, you monster.""Well, you said I only had thirty seconds—okay, okay." My expression must have convinced him that Iwasn't in the mood for teasing. "Lemme see... I phased back and got dressed, and then after he startedbreathing again, I said something like, 'Charlie, you don't live in the world you thought you lived in. Thegood news is, nothing has changed—except that now you know. Life'll go on the same way it alwayshas. You can go right back to pretending that you don't believe any of this.'
"It took him a minute to get his head together, and then he wanted to know what was really going onwith you, with the whole rare-disease thing. I told him that you had been sick, but you were fine now—itwas just that you'd had to change a little bit in the process of getting better. He wanted to know what Imeant by 'change,' and I told him that you looked a lot more like Esme now than you looked like Renee."Edward hissed while I stared in horror; this was headed in a dangerous direction.
"After a few minutes, he asked, real quietly, if you turned into an animal, too. And I said, 'She wishes shewas that cool!'" Jacob chuckled65.
Rosalie made a noise of disgust.
"I started to tell him more about werewolves, but I didn't even get the whole word out—Charlie cut meoff and said he'd 'rather not know the specifics.' Then he asked if you'd known what you were gettingyourself into when you married Edward, and I said, 'Sure, she's known all about this for years, since shefirst came to Forks.' He didn't like that very much. I let him rant66 till he got it out of his system. After hegot calmed down, he just wanted two things. He wanted to see you, and I said it would be better if hegave me a head start to explain."I inhaled deeply. "What was the other thing he wanted?"Jacob smiled. "You'll like this. His main request is that he be told as little as possible about all of this. Ifit's not absolutely essential for him to know something, then keep it to yourself. Need to know, only."I felt relief for the first time since Jacob had walked in. "I can handle that part.""Other than that, he'd just like to pretend things are normal." Jacob's smile turned smug; he must suspectthat I would be starting to feel the first faint stirrings of gratitude67 about now.
"What did you tell him about Renesmee?" I struggled to maintain the razor edge in my voice, fighting thereluctant appreciation68. It was premature69. There was still so much wrong with this situation. Even ifJacob's intervention70 had brought out a better reaction in Charlie than I'd ever hoped for...
"Oh yeah. So I told him that you and Edward had inherited a new little mouth to feed." He glanced atEdward. "She's your orphaned72 ward—like Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson." Jacob snorted. "I didn'tthink you'd mind me lying. That's all part of the game, right?" Edward didn't respond in any way, soJacob went on. "Charlie was way past being shocked at this point, but he did ask if you were adoptingher. 'Like a daughter? Like I'm sort of a grandfather?' were his exact words. I told him yes. 'Congrats,Gramps,' and all of that. He even smiled a little."The stinging returned to my eyes, but not out of fear or anguish73 this time. Charlie was smiling at the ideaof being a grandpa? Charlie would meet Renesmee?
"But she's changing so fast," I whispered.
"I told him that she was more special than all of us put together," Jacob said in a soft voice. He stoodand walked right up to me, waving Leah and Seth off when they started to follow. Renesmee reached outto him, but I hugged her more tightly to me. "I told him, Trust me, you don't want to know about this. Butif you can ignore all the strange parts, you're going to be amazed. She's the most wonderful person in thewhole world.' And then I told him that if he could deal with that, you all would stick around for a whileand he would have a chance to get to know her. But that if it was too much for him, you would leave. Hesaid as long as no one forced too much information on him, he'd deal."Jacob stared at me with half a smile, waiting.
"I'm not going to say thank you," I told him. "You're still putting Charlie at a huge risk.""I am sorry about it hurting you. I didn't know it was like that. Bella, things are different with us now, butyou'll always be my best friend, and I'll always love you. But I'll love you the right way now. There'sfinally a balance. We both have people we can't live without."He smiled his very most Jacob-y smile. "Still friends?"Try as hard as I could to resist, I had to smile back. Just a tiny smile.
He held out his hand: an offer.
I took a deep breath and shifted Renesmee's weight to one arm. I put my left hand in his—he didn't evenflinch at the feel of my cool skin. "If I don't kill Charlie tonight, I'll consider forgiving you for this.""Whenyou don't kill Charlie tonight, you'll owe me huge."I rolled my eyes.
He held out his other hand toward Renesmee, a request this time. "Can I?""I'm actually holding her so that my hands aren't free to kill you, Jacob. Maybe later."He sighed but didn't push me on it. Wise of him.
Alice raced back through the door then, her hands full and her expression promising74 violence.
"You, you, and you," she snapped, glaring at the werewolves. "If you must stay, get over in the cornerand commit to being there for a while. I need to see. Bella, you'd better give him the baby, too. You'llneed your arms free, anyway."Jacob grinned in triumph.
Undiluted fear ripped through my stomach as the enormity of what I was about to do hit me. I was goingto gamble on my iffy self-control with my pure human father as the guinea pig. Edward's earlier wordscrashed in my ears again.
Did you consider the physical pain you're putting Bella through, even if she can resist? Or the emotionalpain if she doesn't?
I couldn't imagine the pain of failure. My breathing turned to gasps75.
"Take her," I whispered, sliding Renesmee into Jacob's arms.
He nodded, concern wrinkling his forehead. He gestured to the others, and they all went to the farcorner of the room. Seth and Jake slouched on the floor at once, but Leah shook her head and pursedher lips.
"Am I allowed to leave?" she griped. She looked uncomfortable in her human body, wearing the samedirty t-shirt and cotton shorts she'd worn to shriek76 at me the other day, her short hair sticking up inirregular tufts. Her hands were still shaking.
"Of course," Jake said.
"Stay east so you don't cross Charlie's path," Alice added.
Leah didn't look at Alice; she ducked out the back door and stomped77 into the bushes to phase.
Edward was back at my side, stroking my face. "You can do this. I know you can. Ill help you; we allwill."I met Edward's eyes with panic screaming from my face. Was he strong enough to stop me if I made awrong move?
"If I didn't believe you could handle it, we'd disappear today. This very minute. But you can. And you'llbe happier if you can have Charlie in your life."I tried to slow my breathing.
Alice held out her hand. There was a small white box on her palm. "These will irritate your eyes—theywon't hurt, but they'll cloud your vision. It's annoying. They also won't match your old color, but it's stillbetter than bright red, right?"She flipped the contact box into the air and I caught it.
"When did you—""Before you left on the honeymoon78. I was prepared for several possible futures79."I nodded and opened the container. I'd never worn contacts before, but it couldn't be that hard. I tookthe little brown quarter-sphere and pressed it, concave side in, to my eye.
I blinked, and a film interrupted my sight. I could see through it, of course, but I could also see thetexture of thethin screen. My eye kept focusing on the microscopic80 scratches and warped81 sections.
"I see what you mean," I murmured as I stuck the other one in. I tried to not blink this time. My eyeautomatically wanted to dislodge the obstruction82.
"How do I look?"Edward smiled. "Gorgeous. Of course—""Yes, yes, she always looks gorgeous," Alice finished his thought impatiently. "It's better than red, butthat's the highest commendation I can give. Muddy brown. Your brown was much prettier. Keep in mindthat those won't last forever—the venom83 in your eyes will dissolve them in a few hours. So if Charliestays longer than that, you'll have to excuse yourself to replace them. Which is a good idea anyway,because humans need bathroom breaks." She shook her head. "Esme, give her a few pointers on actinghuman while I stock the powder room with contacts.""How long do I have?""Charlie will be here in five minutes. Keep it simple."Esme nodded once and came to take my hand. "The main thing is not to sit too still or move too fast,"she told me.
"Sit down if he does," Emmett interjected. "Humans don't like to just stand there.""Let your eyes wander every thirty seconds or so," Jasper added. "Humans don't stare at one thing fortoo long.""Cross your legs for about five minutes, then switch to crossing your ankles for the next five," Rosaliesaid.
I nodded once at each suggestion. I'd noticed them doing some of these things yesterday. I thought Icould mimic84 their actions.
"And blink at least three times a minute," Emmett said. He frowned, then darted to where the televisionremote sat on the end table. He flipped the TV on to a college football game and nodded to himself.
"Move your hands, too. Brush your hair back or pretend to scratch something," Jasper said.
"I said Esme" Alice complained as she returned. "You'll overwhelm her.""No, I think I got it all," I said. "Sit, look around, blink, fidget.""Right," Esme approved. She hugged my shoulders.
Jasper frowned. "You'll be holding your breath as much as possible, but you need to move yourshoulders a little to make it /oo/clike you're breathing."I inhaled once and then nodded again.
Edward hugged me on my free side. "You can do this," he repeated, murmuring the encouragement inmy ear.
"Two minutes," Alice said. "Maybe you should start out already on the couch. You've been sick, afterall. That way he won't have to see you move right at first."Alice pulled me to the sofa. I tried to move slowly, to make my limbs more clumsy. She rolled her eyes,so I must not have been doing a good job.
"Jacob, I need Renesmee," I said.
Jacob frowned, unmoving.
Alice shook her head. "Bella, that doesn't help me see.""But I need her. She keeps me calm.'7The edge of panic in my voice was unmistakable.
"Fine," Alice groaned85. "Hold her as still as you can and I'll try to see around her." She sighed wearily,like she'd been asked to work overtime86 on a holiday. Jacob sighed, too, but brought Renesmee to me,and then retreated quickly from Alice's glare.
Edward took a seat beside me and put his arms around Renesmee and me. He leaned forward andlooked Renesmee very seriously in the eyes.
"Renesmee, someone special is coming to see you and your mother," he said in a solemn voice, as if heexpected her to understand every word. Did she? She looked back at him with clear, grave eyes. "Buthe's not like us, or even like Jacob. We have to be very careful with him. You shouldn't tell him things theway you tell us."Renesmee touched his face.
"Exactly," he said. "And he's going to make you thirsty. But you mustn't bite him. He won't heal likeJacob.""Can she understand you?" I whispered.
"She understands. You'll be careful, won't you, Renesmee? You'll help us?"Renesmee touched him again.
"No, I don't care if you bite Jacob. That's fine."Jacob chuckled.
"Maybe you should leave, Jacob," Edward said coldly, glaring in his direction. Edward hadn't forgivenJacob, because he knew that no matter what happened now, I was going to be hurting. But I'd take theburn happily if that were the worst thing I'd face tonight.
"I told Charlie I'd be here," Jacob said. "He needs the moral support.""Moral support," Edward scoffed87. "As far as Charlie knows, you're the most repulsive88 monster of us all.""Repulsive?" Jake protested, and then he laughed quietly to himself.
I heard the tires turn off the highway onto the quiet, damp earth of the Cullens' drive, and my breathingspiked again. My heart ought to have been hammering. It made me anxious that my body didn't have theright reactions.
I concentrated on the steady thrumming of Renesmee's heart to calm myself. It worked pretty quickly.
"Well done, Bella," Jasper whispered in approval.
Edward tightened89 his arm over my shoulders.
"You're sure?" I asked him.
"Positive. You can do anything" He smiled and kissed me.
It wasn't precisely90 a peck on the lips, and my wild vampiric91 reactions took me off guard yet again.
Edward's lips were like a shot of some addictive92 chemical straight into my nervous system. I was instantlycraving more. It took all my concentration to remember the baby in my arms.
Jasper felt my mood change. "Er, Edward, you might not want to distract her like that right now. Sheneeds to beable to focus."Edward pulled away. "Oops," he said.
I laughed. That had been my line from the very beginning, from the very first kiss.
"Later," I said, and anticipation93 curled my stomach into a ball.
"Focus, Bella," Jasper urged.
"Right." i pushed the trembly feelings away. Charlie, that was the main thing now. Keep Charlie safetoday. We would have all night___"Bella.""Sorry, Jasper."Emmett laughed.
The sound of Charlie's cruiser got closer and closer. The second of levity94 passed, and everyone was still.
I crossed my legs and practiced my blinks.
The car pulled in front of the house and idled for a few seconds. I wondered if Charlie was as nervousas I was. Then the engine cut off, and a door slammed. Three steps across the grass, and then eightechoing thuds against the wooden stairs. Four more echoing footsteps across the porch. Then silence.
Charlie took two deep breaths.
Knock, knock, knock.
I inhaled for what might be the last time. Renesmee nestled deeper into my arms, hiding her face in myhair.
Carlisle answered the door. His stressed expression changed to one of welcome, like switching thechannel on the TV.
"Hello, Charlie," he said, looking appropriately abashed95. After all, we were supposed to be in Atlanta atthe Center for Disease Control. Charlie knew he'd been lied to.
"Carlisle," Charlie greeted him stiffly. "Where's Bella?""Right here, Dad."Ugh! My voice was so wrong. Plus, I'd used up some of my air supply. I gulped96 in a quick refill, gladthat Charlie's scent had not saturated97 the room yet.
Charlie's blank expression told me how off my voice was. His eyes zeroed in on me and widened.
I read the emotions as they scrolled98 across his face.
Shock. Disbelief. Pain. Loss. Fear. Anger. Suspicion. More pain.
I bit my lip. It felt funny. My new teeth were sharper against my granite99 skin than my human teeth hadbeen against my soft human lips.
"Is that you, Bella?" he whispered.
"Yep." I winced at my wind-chime voice. "Hi, Dad."He took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Hey, Charlie," Jacob greeted him from the corner. "How're things?"Charlie glowered100 at Jacob once, shuddered101 at a memory, and then stared at me again.
Slowly, Charlie walked across the room until he was a few feet away from me. He darted an accusingglare at Edward, and then his eyes flickered102 back to me. The warmth of his body heat beat against mewith each pulse of his heart.
"Bella?" heasked again.
I spoke in a lower voice, trying to keep the ring out of it."It's really me."His jaw103 locked.
"I'm sorry, Dad," I said.
"Are you okay?" he demanded.
"Really and truly great," I promised. "Healthy as a horse."That was it for my oxygen.
"Jake told me this was... necessary. That you were dying." He said the words like he didn't believe themone bit.
I steeled myself, focused on Renesmee's warm weight, leaned into Edward for support, and took a deepbreath.
Charlie's scent was a fistful of flames, punching straight down my throat. But it was so much more thanpain. It was a hot stabbing of desire, too. Charlie smelled more delicious than anything I'd ever imagined.
As appealing as the anonymous104 hikers had been on the hunt, Charlie was doubly tempting105. And he wasjust a few feet away, leaking mouthwatering heat and moisture into the dry air.
But I wasn't hunting now. And this was my father.
Edward squeezed my shoulders sympathetically, and Jacob shot an apologetic glance at me across theroom.
I tried to collect myself and ignore the pain and longing106 of the thirst. Charlie was waiting for my answer.
"Jacob was telling you the truth.""That makes one of you," Charlie growled.
I hoped Charlie could see past the changes in my new face to read the remorse107 there.
Under my hair, Renesmee sniffed as Charlie's scent registered with her, too. I tightened my grip on her.
Charlie saw my anxious glance down and followed it. "Oh," he said, and all the anger fell off his face,leaving only shock behind. "This is her. The orphan71 Jacob said you're adopting.""My niece," Edward lied smoothly108. He must have decided109 that the resemblance between Renesmee andhim was too pronounced to be ignored. Best to claim they were related from the beginning.
"I thought you'd lost your family," Charlie said, accusation58 returning to his voice.
"I lost my parents. My older brother was adopted, like me. I never saw him after that. But the courtslocated me when he and his wife died in a car accident, leaving their only child without any other family."Edward was so good at this. His voice was even, with just the right amount of innocence110. I neededpractice so that I could do that.
Renesmee peeked111 out from under my hair, sniffing112 again. She glanced shyly at Charlie from under herlong lashes113, then hid again.
"She's... she's,well, she's a beauty.""Yes," Edward agreed.
"Kind of a big responsibility, though. You two are just getting started.""What else could we do?" Edward brushed his fingers lightly over her cheek. I saw him touch her lips forjust a moment—a reminder114. "Would you have refused her?""Hmph. Well." Heshook his head absently. "Jake says you call her Nessie?""No, we don't," I said, my voice too sharp and piercing. "Her name is Renesmee."Charlie refocused on me. "How do you feel about this? Maybe Carlisle and Esme could—""She's mine," I interrupted. "I want her."Charlie frowned. "You gonna make me a grandpa so young?"Edward smiled. "Carlisle is a grandfather, too."Charlie shot an incredulous glance at Carlisle, still standing by the front door; he looked like Zeus'syounger, better-looking brother.
Charlie snorted and then laughed. "I guess that does sort of make me feel better."His eyes strayed backto Renesmee. "She sure is something to look at." His warm breath blew lightly across the space betweenus.
Renesmee leaned toward the smell, shaking off my hair and looking him full in the face for the first time.
Charlie gasped.
I knew what he was seeing. My eyes—his eyes—copied exactly into her perfect face.
Charlie started hyperventilating. His lips trembled, and I could read the numbers he mouthed. He wascounting backward, trying to fit nine months into one. Trying to put it together but not able to force theevidence right in front of him to make any sense.
Jacob got up and came over to pat Charlie on the back. He leaned in to whisper something in Charlie'sear; only Charlie didn't know we could all hear.
"Need to know, Charlie. It's okay. I promise."Charlie swallowed and nodded. And then his eyes blazed as he took a step closer to Edward with hisfists tightly clenched115.
"I don't want to know everything, but I'm done with the lies!""I'm sorry," Edward said calmly, "but you need to know the public story more than you need to knowthe truth. If you're going to be part of this secret, the public story is the one that counts. It's to protectBella and Renesmee as well as the rest of us. Can you go along with the lies for them?"The room wasfull of statues. I crossed my ankles.
Charlie huffed once and then turned his glare on me. "You might've given me some warning, kid.""Would it really have made this any easier?"He frowned, and then he knelt on the floor in front of me. I could see the movement of the blood in hisneck under his skin. I could feel the warm vibration31 of it.
So could Renesmee. She smiled and reached one pink palm out to him. I held her back. She pushed herotherhand against my neck, thirst, curiosity, and Charlie's face in her thoughts. There was a subtle edge to themessage that made me think that she'd understood Edward's words perfectly; she acknowledged thirst,but overrode116 it in the same thought.
"Whoa," Charlie gasped, his eyes on her perfect teeth. "How old is she?""Urn40...""Three months," Edward said, and then added slowly, "rather, she's the size of a three-month-old, moreor less. She's younger in some ways, more mature in others."Very deliberately117, Renesmee waved at him.
Charlie blinked spastically.
Jacob elbowed him. "Told you she was special, didn't I?"Charlie cringed away from the contact.
"Oh, c'mon, Charlie," Jacob groaned. "I'm the same person I've always been. Just pretend this afternoondidn't happen."The reminder made Charlie's lips go white, but he nodded once. "Just what is your part in all this, Jake?"he asked. "How much does Billy know? Why are you here?" He looked at Jacob's face, which wasglowing as he stared at Renesmee.
"Well, I could tell you all about it—Billy knows absolutely everything—but it involves a lot of stuff aboutwerewo—""Ungh!" Charlie protested, covering his ears. "Never mind."Jacob grinned. "Everything's going to be great, Charlie. Just try to not believe anything you see."My dad mumbled118 something unintelligible119.
"Woo!" Emmett suddenly boomed in his deep bass120. "Go Gators!"Jacob and Charlie jumped. The rest of us froze.
Charlie recovered, then looked at Emmett over his shoulder. "Florida winning?""Just scored the first touchdown," Emmett confirmed. He shot a look in my direction, wagging hiseyebrows like a villain121 in vaudeville122. "'Bout5 time somebody scored around here."I fought back a hiss6. In front of Charlie? That was over the line.
But Charlie was beyond noticing innuendos123. He took yet another deep breath, sucking the air in like hewas trying to pull it down to his toes. I envied him. He lurched to his feet, stepped around Jacob, andhalf-fell into an open chair. "Well," he sighed, "I guess we should see if they can hold on to the lead."
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1
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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diffuse
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| v.扩散；传播；adj.冗长的；四散的，弥漫的 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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pristine
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| adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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11
zipper
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| n.拉链；v.拉上拉链 | |
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12
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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13
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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14
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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16
denim
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| n.斜纹棉布；斜纹棉布裤，牛仔裤 | |
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17
unearthing
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| 发掘或挖出某物( unearth的现在分词 )； 搜寻到某事物，发现并披露 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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19
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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21
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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22
sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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23
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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24
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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25
engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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26
overdone
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去分词 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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27
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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quirk
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| n.奇事，巧合；古怪的举动 | |
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30
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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33
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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34
rubble
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| n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾 | |
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35
gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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36
creasing
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的现在分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 挑檐 | |
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37
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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38
moron
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| n.极蠢之人，低能儿 | |
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39
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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40
urn
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| n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮 | |
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41
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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42
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
erased
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| v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除 | |
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44
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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45
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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46
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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47
vampires
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| n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 )；吸血蝠；高利贷者；（舞台上的）活板门 | |
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48
vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
droplets
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| n.小滴( droplet的名词复数 ) | |
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51
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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52
talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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53
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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54
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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55
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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56
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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58
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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59
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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60
flexed
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| adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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61
abetter
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| n.教唆者，怂恿者 | |
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62
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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63
flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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64
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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65
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
rant
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| v.咆哮；怒吼；n.大话；粗野的话 | |
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67
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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68
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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69
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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70
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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71
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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72
orphaned
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| [计][修]孤立 | |
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73
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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74
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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75
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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76
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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77
stomped
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| v.跺脚，践踏，重踏( stomp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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79
futures
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| n.期货，期货交易 | |
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80
microscopic
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| adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的 | |
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81
warped
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| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
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82
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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83
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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84
mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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85
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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86
overtime
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| adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地 | |
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87
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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89
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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91
vampiric
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| adj.（似）吸血鬼的 | |
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92
addictive
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| adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的 | |
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93
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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94
levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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95
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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97
saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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98
scrolled
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| adj.具有涡卷装饰的v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的过去式和过去分词 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕 | |
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99
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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100
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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101
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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102
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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103
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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104
anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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105
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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106
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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107
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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108
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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109
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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110
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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111
peeked
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| v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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112
sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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113
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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114
reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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115
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
overrode
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| 越控( override的过去式 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要 | |
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117
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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118
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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119
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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120
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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121
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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122
vaudeville
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| n.歌舞杂耍表演 | |
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123
innuendos
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| n.影射的话( innuendo的名词复数 )；讽刺的话；含沙射影；暗讽 | |
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