Chapter 2

           Thenextdaywasbetter...andworse.

           Itwasbetterbecauseitwasn’trainingyet,thoughthecloudsweredenseandopaque.ItwaseasierbecauseIknewwhattoexpectofmyday.MikecametositbymeinEnglish,andwalkedmetomynextclass,withChessClubEricglaringathimallthewhile;thatwasnattering.Peopledidn’tlookatmequiteasmuchastheyhadyesterday.IsatwithabiggroupatlunchthatincludedMike,Eric,Jessica,andseveralotherpeoplewhosenamesandfacesInowremembered.IbegantofeellikeIwastreadingwater,insteadofdrowninginit.

           ItwasworsebecauseIwastired;Istillcouldn’tsleepwiththewindechoingaroundthehouse.ItwasworsebecauseMr.VarnercalledonmeinTrigwhenmyhandwasn’traisedandIhadthewronganswer.ItwasmiserablebecauseIhadtoplayvolleyball,andtheonetimeIdidn’tcringeoutofthewayoftheball,Ihitmyteammateintheheadwithit.AnditwasworsebecauseEdwardCullenwasn’tinschoolatall.

           AllmorningIwasdreadinglunch,fearinghisbizarreglares.Partofmewantedtoconfronthimanddemandtoknowwhathisproblemwas.WhileIwaslyingsleeplessinmybed,IevenimaginedwhatIwouldsay.ButIknewmyselftoowelltothinkIwouldreallyhavethegutstodoit.ImadetheCowardlyLionlookliketheterminator.

           ButwhenIwalkedintothecafeteriawithJessica-tryingtokeepmyeyesfromsweepingtheplaceforhim,andfailingentirely-Isawthathisfoursiblingsofsortsweresittingtogetheratthesametable,andhewasnotwiththem.