Chapter 3

           WhenIopenedmyeyesinthemorning,somethingwasdifferent.

           Itwasthelight.Itwasstillthegray-greenlightofacloudydayintheforest,butitwasclearersomehow.Irealizedtherewasnofogveilingmywindow.

           Ijumpeduptolookoutside,andthengroanedinhorror.

           Afinelayerofsnowcoveredtheyard,dustedthetopofmytruck,andwhitenedtheroad.Butthatwasn’ttheworstpart.Alltherainfromyesterdayhadfrozensolid-coatingtheneedlesonthetreesinfantastic,gorgeouspatterns,andmakingthedrivewayadeadlyiceslick.Ihadenoughtroublenotfallingdownwhenthegroundwasdry;itmightbesaferformetogobacktobednow.

           CharliehadleftforworkbeforeIgotdownstairs.Inalotofways,livingwithCharliewaslikehavingmyownplace,andIfoundmyselfrevelinginthealonenessinsteadofbeinglonely.

           Ithrewdownaquickbowlofcerealandsomeorangejuicefromthecarton.Ifeltexcitedtogotoschool,andthatscaredme.Iknewitwasn’tthestimulatinglearningenvironmentIwasanticipating,orseeingmynewsetoffriends.IfIwasbeinghonestwithmyself,IknewIwaseagertogettoschoolbecauseIwouldseeEdwardCullen.Andthatwasvery,verystupid.

           Ishouldbeavoidinghimentirelyaftermybrainlessandembarrassingbabblingyesterday.AndIwassuspiciousofhim;whyshouldhelieabouthiseyes?IwasstillfrightenedofthehostilityIsometimesfeltemanatingfromhim,andIwasstilltongue-tiedwheneverIpicturedhisperfectface.