I nodded. "I know, i don't want to freak her out. Better to protect her. This stuff isn't for thefainthearted."His lips twisted up to the side ruefully. "I would have tried to protect you, too, if I'd known how. But Iguess you've never fit into the fainthearted category, have you?"I smiled back, pulling a blazing breath in through my teeth.
Charlie patted his stomach absently. "I'll think of something. We've got time to discuss this, right?""Right," I promised him.
It had been a long day in some ways, and so short in others. Charlie was late for dinner—SueClearwater was cooking for him and Billy. That was going to be an awkward evening, but at least he'dbe eating real food; I was glad someone was trying to keep him from starving due to his lack of cookingability.
All day the tension had made the minutes pass slowly; Charlie had never relaxed the stiff set of hisshoulders. But he'd been in no hurry to leave, either. He'd watched two whole games—thankfully soabsorbed in his thoughts that he was totally oblivious2 to Emmett's suggestive jokes that got more pointedand less football-related with each aside—and the after-game commentaries, and then the news, notmoving until Seth had reminded him of the time.
"You gonna stand Billy and my mom up, Charlie? C'mon. Bella and Nessie'll be here tomorrow. Let'sget some grub, eh?"It had been clear in Charlie's eyes that he hadn't trusted Seth's assessment3, but he'd let Seth lead the wayout. The doubt was still there as he paused now. The clouds were thinning, the rain gone. The sun mighteven make an appearance just in time to set.
"Jake says you guys were going to take off on me," he muttered to me now.
"I didn't want to do that if there was any way at all around it. That's why we're still here.""He said you could stay for a while, but only if I'm tough enough, and if I can keep my mouth shut.""Yes... but I can't promise that we'll never leave, Dad. It's pretty complicated___""Need to know," he reminded me.
"Right.""You'll visit, though, if you have to go?""I promise, Dad. Now that you know/usf enough, I think this can work. I'll keep as close as you want."He chewed on his lip for half a second, then leaned slowly toward me with his arms cautiously extended.
I shifted Renesmee—napping now—to my left arm, locked my teeth, held my breath, and wrapped myright arm very lightly around his warm, soft waist.
"Keep real close, Bells," he mumbled4. "Real close.""Love you, Dad," I whispered through my teeth.
He shivered and pulled away. I dropped my arm.
"Love you, too, kid. Whatever else has changed, that hasn't." He touched one finger to Renesmee's pinkcheek. "She sure looks a lot like you."I kept my expression casual, though I felt anything but. "More like Edward, I think." I hesitated, and thenadded, "She has your curls."Charlie started, then snorted. "Huh. Guess she does. Huh. Grandpa." He shook his head doubtfully. "DoI ever get to hold her?"I blinked in shock and then composed myself. After considering for a half second and judgingRenesmee's appearance—she looked completely out—I decided5 that I might as well push my luck to thelimit, since things were going so well today___"Here," I said, holding her out to him. He automatically made an awkward cradle with his arms, and Itucked Renesmee into it. His skin wasn't quite as hot as hers, but it made my throat tickle6 to feel thewarmth flowing under the thin membrane7. Where my white skin brushed him it left goose bumps. I wasn'tsure if this was a reaction to my new temperature or totally psychological.
Charlie grunted8 quietly as he felt her weight. "She's... sturdy."I frowned. She felt feather-light to me. Maybe my measure was off.
"Sturdy is good," Charlie said, seeing my expression. Then he muttered to himself, "She'll need to betough, surrounded by all this craziness." He bounced his arms gently, swaying a little from side to side.
"Prettiest baby I ever saw, including you, kid. Sorry, but it's true.""I know it is.""Pretty baby," he said again, but it was closer to a coo this time.
I could see it in his face—I could watch it growing there. Charlie was just as helpless against her magicas the rest of us. Two seconds in his arms, and already she owned him.
"Can I come back tomorrow?""Sure, Dad. Of course. We'll be here.""You'd better be," he said sternly, but his face was soft, still gazing at Renesmee. "See you tomorrow,Nessie.""Not you, too!""Huh?""Her name is Renesmee. Like Renee and Esme, put together. No variations." I struggled to calm myselfwithout the deep breath this time. "Do you want to hear her middle name?""Sure.""Carlie. With a C. Like Carlisle and Charlie put together."Charlie's eye-creasing grin lit up his face, taking me off guard. "Thanks, Bells.""Thank you, Dad. So much has changed so quickly. My head hasn't stopped spinning. If I didn't haveyou now, I don't know how I'd keep my grip on—on reality." I'd been about to say my grip on who Iwas. That was probably more than he needed.
Charlie's stomach growled.
"Go eat, Dad. We will be here." I remembered how it felt, that first uncomfortable immersion9 in fantasy—the sensation that everything would disappear in the light of the rising sun.
Charlie nodded and then reluctantly returned Renesmee to me. He glanced past me into the house; hiseyes were a little wild for a minute as he stared around the big bright room. Everyone was still there,besides Jacob, who I could hear raiding the refrigerator in the kitchen; Alice was lounging on the bottomstep of the staircase with Jasper's head in her lap; Carlisle had his head bent10 over a fat book in his lap;Esme was humming to herself, sketching11 on a notepad, while Rosalie and Emmett laid out the foundationfor a monumental house of cards under the stairs; Edward had drifted to his piano and was playing verysoftly to himself. There was no evidence that the day was coming to a close, that it might be time to eat orshift activities in preparation for evening. Something intangible had changed in the atmosphere. TheCullens weren't trying as hard as they usually did—the human charade12 had slipped ever so slightly,enough for Charlie to feel the difference.
He shuddered13, shook his head, and sighed. "See you tomorrow, Bella." He frowned and then added, "Imean, it's not like you don't look... good. I'll get used to it.""Thanks, Dad."Charlie nodded and walked thoughtfully toward his car. I watched him drive away; it wasn't until I heardhis tires hit the freeway that I realized I'd done it. I'd actually made it through the whole day withouthurting Charlie. All by myself. I must have a superpower!
It seemed too good to be true. Could I really have both my new family and some of my old as well?
And I'd thought that yesterday had been perfect.
"Wow," I whispered. I blinked and felt the third set of contact lenses disintegrate14.
The sound of the piano cut off, and Edward's arms were around my waist, his chin resting on myshoulder.
"You took the word right out of my mouth.""Edward, i did it!""You did. You were unbelievable. All that worrying over being a newborn, and then you skip italtogether.'7He laughed quietly.
"I'm not even sure she's really a vampire15, let alone a newborn," Emmett called from under the stairs.
"She's too tame."All the embarrassing comments he'd made in front of my father sounded in my ears again, and it wasprobably a good thing I was holding Renesmee. Unable to help my reaction entirely16, I snarled17 under mybreath.
"Oooo, scary," Emmett laughed.
I hissed18, and Renesmee stirred in my arms. She blinked a few times, then looked around, her expressionconfused. She sniffed19, then reached for my face.
"Charlie will be back tomorrow," I assured her.
"Excellent," Emmett said. Rosalie laughed with him this time.
"Not brilliant, Emmett," Edward said scornfully, holding out his hands to take Renesmee from me. Hewinked when I hesitated, and so, a little confused, I gave her to him.
"What do you mean?" Emmett demanded.
"It's a little dense20, don't you think, to antagonize the strongest vampire in the house?"Emmett threw his head back and snorted. "Please!""Bella," Edward murmured to me while Emmett listened closely, "do you remember a few months ago, Iasked you to do me a favor once you were immortal21?"That rang a dim bell. I sifted22 through the blurry23 human conversations. After a moment, I rememberedand I gasped24, "Oh!"Alice trilled a long, pealing25 laugh. Jacob poked27 his head around the corner, his mouth stuffed with food.
"What?" Emmett growled.
"Really?" I asked Edward.
"Trust me," he said.
I took a deep breath. "Emmett, how do you feel about a little bet?"He was on his feet at once. "Awesome28. Bring it."I bit my lip for a second. He was just so huge.
"Unless you're too afraid... ?" Emmett suggested.
I squared my shoulders. "You. Me. Arm-wrestling. Dining room table. Now."Emmett's grin stretched across his face.
"Er, Bella," Alice said quickly, "I think Esme is fairly fond of that table. It's an antique.""Thanks," Esme mouthed at her.
"No problem," Emmett said with a gleaming smile. "Right this way, Bella."I followed him out the back, toward the garage; I could hear all the others trailing behind. There was alargish granite29 boulder30 standing31 up out of a tumble of rocks near the river, obviously Emmett's goal.
Though the big rock was a little rounded and irregular, it would do the job.
Emmett placed his elbow on the rock and waved me forward.
I was nervous again as I watched the thick muscles in Emmett's arm roll, but I kept my face smooth.
Edward had promised I would be stronger than anyone for a while. He seemed very confident about this,and I felt strong. That strong? I wondered, looking at Emmett's biceps. I wasn't even two days old,though, and that ought to count for something. Unless nothing was normal about me. Maybe I wasn't asstrong as a normal newborn. Maybe that's why control was so easy for me.
I tried to look unconcerned as I set my elbow against the stone.
"Okay, Emmett. I win, and you cannot say one more word about my sex life to anyone, not even Rose.
No allusions33, no innuendos—no nothing."His eyes narrowed. "Deal. I win, and it's going to get a lot worse."He heard my breath stop and grinned evilly. There was no hint of bluff34 in his eyes.
"You gonna back down so easy, little sister?" Emmett taunted35. "Not much wild about you, is there? I betthat cottage doesn't have a scratch." He laughed. "Did Edward tell you how many houses Rose and Ismashed?"I gritted36 my teeth and grabbed his big hand. "One, two—""Three," he grunted, and shoved against my hand.
Nothing happened.
Oh, I could feel the force he was exerting. My new mind seemed pretty good at all kinds of calculations,and so I could tell that if he wasn't meeting any resistance, his hand would have pounded right through therock without difficulty. The pressure increased, and I wondered randomly38 if a cement truck doing fortymiles an hour down a sharp decline would have similar power. Fifty miles an hour? Sixty? Probablymore.
It wasn't enough to move me. His hand shoved against mine with crushing force, but it wasn't unpleasant.
It felt kind of good in a weird39 way. I'd been so very careful since the last time I woke up, trying so hardnot to break things. It was a strange relief to use my muscles. To let the strength flow rather thanstruggling to restrain it.
Emmett grunted; his forehead creased37 and his whole body strained in one rigid40 line toward the obstacleof my unmoving hand. I let him sweat—figuratively—for a moment while I enjoyed the sensation of thecrazy force running through my arm.
A few seconds, though, and I was a little bored with it. I flexed41; Emmett lost an inch.
I laughed. Emmett snarled harshly through his teeth.
"Just keep your mouth shut," I reminded him, and then I smashed his hand into the boulder. A deafeningcrack echoed off the trees. The rock shuddered, and a piece—about an eighth of the mass—broke off atan invisible fault line and crashed to the ground. It fell on Emmett's foot, and I snickered. I could hearJacob's and Edward's muffled42 laughter.
Emmett kicked the rock fragment across the river. It sliced a young maple43 in half before thudding intothe base of a big fir, which swayed and then fell into another tree.
"Rematch. Tomorrow.""It's not going to wear off that fast," I told him. "Maybe you ought to give it a month."Emmett growled, flashing his teeth. "Tomorrow.""Hey, whatever makes you happy, big brother."As he turned to stalk away, Emmett punched the granite, shattering off an avalanche44 of shards45 andpowder. It was kind of neat, in a childish way.
Fascinated by the undeniable proof that I was stronger than the strongest vampire I'd ever known, Iplaced my hand, fingers spread wide, against the rock. Then I dug my fingers slowly into the stone,crushing rather than digging; the consistency47 reminded me of hard cheese. I ended up with a handful ofgravel.
"Cool," I mumbled.
With a grin stretching my face, I whirled in a sudden circle and karate-chopped the rock with the side ofmy hand. The stone shrieked48 and groaned49 and—with a big poof of dust—split in two.
I started giggling50.
I didn't pay much attention to the chuckles51 behind me while I punched and kicked the rest of the boulderinto fragments. I was having too much fun, snickering away the whole time. It wasn't until I heard a newlittle giggle52, a high-pitched peal26 of bells, that I turned away from my silly game.
"Did she just laugh?"Everyone was staring at Renesmee with the same dumbstruck expression that must have been on myface.
"Yes," Edward said.
"Who wasnt laughing?" Jake muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Tell me you didn't let go a bit on your first run, dog," Edward teased, no antagonism53 in his voice at all.
"That's different," Jacob said, and I watched in surprise as he mock-punched Edward's shoulder.
"Bella's supposed to be a grown-up. Married and a mom and all that. Shouldn't there be more dignity?"Renesmee frowned, and touched Edward's face.
"What does she want?" I asked.
"Less dignity," Edward said with a grin. "She was having almost as much fun watching you enjoy yourselfas I was.""Am I funny?" I asked Renesmee, darting54 back and reaching for her at the same time that she reachedfor me. I took her out of Edward's arms and offered her the shard46 of rock in my hand. "You want totry?"She smiled her glittering smile and took the stone in both hands. She squeezed, a little dent32 formingbetween her eyebrows55 as she concentrated.
There was a tiny grinding sound, and a bit of dust. She frowned, and held the chunk56 up to me.
Til get it," I said, pinching the stone into sand.
She clapped and laughed; the delicious sound of it made us all join in.
The sun suddenly burst through the clouds, shooting long beams of ruby57 and gold across the ten of us,and I was immediately lost in the beauty of my skin in the light of the sunset. Dazed by it.
Renesmee stroked the smooth diamond-bright facets58, then laid her arm next to mine. Her skin had just afaint luminosity, subtle and mysterious. Nothing that would keep her inside on a sunny day like myglowing sparkle. She touched my face, thinking of the difference and feeling disgruntled.
"You're the prettiest," I assured her.
Tm not sure I can agree to that," Edward said, and when I turned to answer him, the sunlight on his facestunned me into silence.
Jacob had his hand in front of his face, pretending to shield his eyes from the glare. "Freaky Bella," hecommented.
"What an amazing creature she is," Edward murmured, almost in agreement, as if Jacob's comment wasmeant as a compliment. He was both dazzling and dazzled.
It was a strange feeling—not surprising, I supposed, since everything felt strange now—this being anatural at something. As a human, I'd never been best at anything. I was okay at dealing59 with Renee, butprobably lots of people could have done better; Phil seemed to be holding his own. I was a goodstudent, but never the top of the class. Obviously, I could be counted out of anything athletic60. Not artisticor musical, no particular talents to brag61 of. Nobody ever gave away a trophy62 for reading books. Aftereighteen years of mediocrity, I was pretty used to being average. I realized now that I'd long ago given upany aspirations63 of shining at anything. I just did the best with what I had, never quite fitting into my world.
So this was really different. I was amazing now—to them and to myself. It was like I had been born tobe a vampire. The idea made me want to laugh, but it also made me want to sing. I had found my trueplace in the world, the place I fit, the place I shined.
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1
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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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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assessment
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| n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额 | |
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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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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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tickle
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| v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒 | |
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membrane
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| n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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sketching
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| n.草图 | |
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charade
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| n.用动作等表演文字意义的字谜游戏 | |
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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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disintegrate
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| v.瓦解，解体，（使）碎裂，（使）粉碎 | |
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vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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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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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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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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sifted
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| v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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blurry
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| adj.模糊的；污脏的，污斑的 | |
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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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pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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awesome
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| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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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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dent
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| n.凹痕，凹坑；初步进展 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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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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creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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randomly
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| adv.随便地，未加计划地 | |
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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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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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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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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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shards
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| n.（玻璃、金属或其他硬物的）尖利的碎片( shard的名词复数 ) | |
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shard
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| n.（陶瓷器、瓦等的）破片，碎片 | |
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consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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48
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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50
giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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51
chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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52
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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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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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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56
chunk
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| n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量） | |
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57
ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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58
facets
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| n.（宝石或首饰的）小平面( facet的名词复数 )；（事物的）面；方面 | |
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59
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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60
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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61
brag
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| v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的 | |
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62
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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63
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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