"I'll just drag you back," he threatened, guessing my plan.
I tried to maintain what dignity I could as I got into his car. I wasn't very successful — I looked like a half-drowned cat and my boots squeaked.
"This is completely unnecessary," I said stiffly.
He didn't answer. He fiddled with the controls, turning the heater up and the music down. As he pulled out of the parking lot, I was preparing to give him the silent treatment — my face in full pout mode — but then I recognized the music playing, and my curiosity got the better of my intentions.
"Clair de Lune?" I asked, surprised.
"You know Debussy?" He sounded surprised, too.
"Not well," I admitted. "My mother plays a lot of classical music around the house — I only know my favorites."
"It's one of my favorites, too." He stared out through the rain, lost in thought.
I listened to the music, relaxing against the light gray leather seat. It was impossible not to respond to the familiar, soothing melody. The rain blurred everything outside the window into gray and green smudges. I began to realize we were driving very fast; the car moved so steadily, so evenly, though, I didn't feel the speed. Only the town flashing by gave it away.
"What is your mother like?" he asked me suddenly.
I glanced over to see him studying me with curious eyes.
"She looks a lot like me, but she's prettier," I said. He raised his eyebrows.
斯蒂芬妮·梅尔,2005年之后,她的书销量逾1000万册
就这样,梅尔开始创作“暮光之城”,《暮色》出版后,梅尔又写了《新月》《月食》《破晓》,故事中美丽、聪慧的女主角贝拉与帅气迷人的吸血鬼爱德华的惊险浪漫的故事成了数以百万计的青少年读者的至爱,仅仅在美国本土,“暮光之城”系列的销量就已超过700万册,而前3部小说的全球销量已超过1000万册!在整个2005年,《暮色》是人们谈论话题最多的畅销书,目前,这部小说总印量已逾200万册,版权输出到40个国家。才35岁的梅尔人气直逼“哈利·波特之母”、英国单身母亲罗琳。“罗琳小心翼翼组装作品,梅尔则文思泉涌酣畅淋漓;罗琳的作品体现了英国人的严谨和保守,梅尔的书里则充满着狂风暴雨般的激情……”评论界自然认为她是当仁不让的罗琳的接班人,对此,梅尔表示非常愿意大家将她的作品与“哈利·波特”系列相提并论,“我明白很难再有作品能取得‘哈利·波特’这样的成绩,但我非常满意‘暮光之城’系列,也对现在所获得的成功感到非常惊讶。”