he seemed to remember that far back。
〃Steak and potatoes；〃 I answered； and he looked relieved。
He seemed to feel awkward standing in the kitchen doing nothing； he
lumbered into the living room to watch TV while I worked。 We were both
more fortable that way。 I made a salad while the steaks cooked； and
set the table。
I called him in when dinner was ready； and he sniffed appreciatively as
he walked into the room。
〃Smells good； Bell。〃
〃Thanks。〃
We ate in silence for a few minutes。 It wasn't unfortable。 Neither of
us was bothered by the quiet。 In some ways； we were well suited for
living together。
〃So； how did you like school？ Have you made any friends？〃 he asked as he
was taking seconds。
〃Well； I have a few classes with a girl named Jessica。 I sit with her
friends at lunch。 And there's this boy； Mike； who's very friendly。
Everybody seems pretty nice。〃 With one outstanding exception。
〃That must be Mike Newton。 Nice kid — nice family。 His dad owns the
sporting goods store just outside of town。 He makes a good living off all
the backpackers who e through here。〃
〃Do you know the Cullen family？〃 I asked hesitantly。
〃Dr。 Cullen's family？ Sure。 Dr。 Cullen's a great man。〃
〃They… the kids… are a little different。 They don't seem to fit in very
well at school。〃
Charlie surprised me by looking angry。
〃People in this town；〃 he muttered。 〃Dr。 Cullen is a brilliant surgeon
who could probably work in any hospital in the world； make ten times the
salary he gets here；〃 he continued； getting louder。 〃We're lucky to have
him — lucky that his wife wanted to live in a small town。 He's an asset
to the munity； and all of those kids are well behaved and polite。 I
had my doubts； when they first moved in； with all those adopted
teenagers。 I thought we might have some problems with them。 But they're
all very mature — I haven't had one speck of trouble from any of them。
That's more than I can say for the children of some folks who have lived
in this town for generations。 And they stick together the way a family
should — camping trips every other weekend… Just because they're
newers； people have to talk。〃
It was the longest speech I'd ever heard Charlie make。 He must feel
strongly about whatever people were saying。
I backpedaled。 〃They seemed nice enough to me。 I just noticed they kept
to themselves。 They're all very attractive；〃 I added； trying to be more
plimentary。
〃You should see the doctor；〃 Charlie said； laughing。 〃It's a good thing
he's happily married。 A lot of the nurses at the hospital have a hard
time concentrating on their work with him around。〃
We lapsed back into silence as we finished eating。 He cleared the table
while I started on the dishes。 He went back to the TV； and after I
finished washing the dishes by hand — no dishwasher — I went upstairs
unwillingly to work on my math homework。 I could feel a tradition in the
making。
That night it was finally quiet。 I fell asleep quickly； exhausted。
The rest of the week was uneventful。 I got used to the routine of my
classes。 By Friday I was able to recognize； if not name； almost all the
students at school。 In Gym； the kids on my team learned not to pass me
the ball and to step quickly in front of me if the other team tried to
take advantage of my weakness。 I happily stayed out of their way。
Edward Cullen didn't e back to school。
Every day； I watched anxiously until the rest of the Cullens entered the
cafeteria without him。 Then I could relax and join in the lunchtime
conversation。 Mostly it centered around a trip to the La Push Ocean Park
in two weeks that Mike was putting together。 I was invited； and I had
agreed to go； more out of politeness than desire。 Beaches should be hot
and dry。
By Friday I was perfectly fortable entering my Biology class； no
longer worried that Edward would be there。 For all I knew； he had dropped
out of school。 I tried not to think about him； but I couldn't totally
suppress the worry that I was responsible for his continued absence；
ridiculous as it seemed。
My first weekend in Forks passed without incident。 Charlie； unused to
spending time in the usually empty house； worked most of the weekend。 I
cleaned the house； got ahead on my homework； and wrote my mom more
bogusly cheerful e…mail。 I did drive to the library Saturday； but it was
so poorly stocked that I didn't bother to get a card； I would have to
make a date to visit Olympia or Seattle soon and find a good bookstore。 I
wondered idly what kind of gas mileage the truck got… and shuddered at
the thought。
The rain stayed soft over the weekend； quiet； so I was able to sleep well。
People greeted me in the parking lot Monday morning。 I didn't know all
their names； but I waved back and smiled at everyone。 It was colder this
morning； but happily not raining。 In English； Mike took his accustomed
seat by my side。 We had a pop quiz on Wuthering Heights。 It was
straightforward； very easy。
All in all； I was feeling a lot more fortable than I had thought I
would feel by this point。 More fortable than I had ever expected to
feel here。
When we walked out of class； the air was full of swirling bits of white。
I could hear people shouting excitedly to each other。 The wind bit at my
cheeks； my nose。
〃Wow；〃 Mike said。 〃It's snowing。〃
I looked at the little cotton fluffs that were building up along the
sidewalk and swirling erratically past my face。
〃Ew。〃 Snow。 There went my good day。
He looked surprised。 〃Don't you like snow？〃
〃No。 That means it's too cold for rain。〃 Obviously。 〃Besides； I thought
it was supposed to e down in flakes — you know； each one unique and
all that。 These just look like the ends of Q…tips。〃
〃Haven't you ever seen snow fall before？〃 he asked incredulously。
〃Sure I have。〃 I paused。 〃On TV。〃
Mike laughed。 And then a big； squishy ball of dripping snow smacked into
the back of his head。 We both turned to see where it came from。 I had my
suspicions about Eric； who was walking away； his back toward us — in the
wrong direction for his next class。 Mike appatently had the same notion。
He bent over and began scraping together a pile of the white mush。
〃I'll see you at lunch； okay？〃 I kept walking as I spoke。 〃Once people
start throwing wet stuff； I go inside。〃
He just nodded； his eyes on Eric's retreating figure。
Throughout the morning； everyone chattered excitedly about the snow；
apparently it was the first snowfall of the new year。 I kept my mouth
shut。 Sure； it was drier than rain — until it melted in your socks。
I walked alertly to the cafeteria with Jessica after Spanish。 Mush balls
were flying everywhere。 I kept a binder in my hands； ready to use it as a
shield if necessary。 Jessica thought I was hilarious； but something in my
expression kept her from lobbing a snowball at me herself。
Mike caught up to us as we walked in the doors； laughing； with ice
melting the spikes in his hair。 He and Jessica were talking animatedly
about the snow fight as we got in line to buy food。 I glanced toward that
table in the corner out of habit。 And then I froze where I stood。 There
were five people at the table。
Jessica pulled on my arm。
〃Hello？ Bella？ What do you want？〃
I looked down； my ears were hot。 I had no reason to feel self…conscious；
I reminded myself。 I hadn't done anything wrong。
〃What's with Bella？〃 Mike asked Jessica。
〃Nothing；〃 I answered。 〃I'll just get a soda today。〃 I caught up to the
end of the line。
〃Aren't you hungry？〃 Jessica asked。
〃Actually； I feel a little sick；〃 I said； my eyes still on the floor。
I waited for them to get their food； and then followed them to a table；
my eyes on my feet。
I sipped my soda slowly； my stomach churning。 Twice Mike asked； with
unnecessary concern； how I was feeling。
I told him it was nothing； but I was wondering if I should play it up and
escape to the nurse's office for the next hour。
Ridiculous。 I shouldn't have to run away。
I decided to permit myself one glance at the Cullen family's table。 If he
was glaring at me； I would skip Biology； like the coward I was。
I kept my head down and glanced up under my lashes。 None of them were
looking this way。 I lifted my head a little。
They were laughing。 Edward； Jasper； and Emmett all had their hair
entirely saturated with melting snow。 Alice and Rosalie were leaning away
as Emmett shook his dripping hair toward them。 They were enjoying the
snowy day； just like everyone else — only they looked more like a scene
from a movie than the rest of us。
But； aside from the laughter and playfulness； there was something
different； and I couldn't quite pinpoint what that difference was。 I
examined Edward the most carefully。 His skin was less pale； I decided —
flushed from the snow fight maybe — the circles under his eyes much less
noticeable。 But there was something more。 I pondered； staring； trying to
isolate the change。
〃Bella； what are you staring at？〃 Jessica intruded； her eyes following my
stare。
At that precise moment； his eyes flashed over to meet mine。
I dropped my head； letting my hair fall to conceal my face。 I was sure；
though； in the instant our eyes met； that he didn't look harsh or
unfriendly as he had the last time I'd seen him。 He looked merely curious
again； unsatisfied in some way。
〃Edward Cullen is staring at you；〃 Jessica giggled in my ear。
〃He doesn't look angry； does he？〃 I couldn't help asking。
〃No；〃 she said； sounding confused by my question。 〃Should he be？〃
〃I don't think he likes me；〃 I confided。 I still felt queasy。 I put my
head down on my arm。
〃The Cullens don't like anybody… well； they don't notice anybody enough
to like them。 But he's still staring at you。〃
〃Stop looking at him；〃 I hissed。
She snickered； but she looked away。 I raised my head enough to make sure
that she did； contemplating violence if she resisted。
Mike interrupted us then — he was planning an epic battle of the blizzard
in the parking lot after school and wanted us to join。 Jessica agreed