Two more days. Just two more days and I would be free. No more pretending. Pretending to be okay. Pretending to have parents that gave any sort of shit that I existed. Pretending to not be bothered that I live alone at 15 because said parents decided the day I turned 13 years old was the day I was old enough to take care of myself. Every few months they would call in to make sure their house was still being taken care of and that I remembered how much of a stain on their life I was. I could never forget.
But not for much longer. In two days it would be over. I've been contemplating my exit for a year but the planning only started about a month ago. Some of the seniors at dreary Forks High thought it would be a fun laugh to invite "the freak" sophomore to their end of year party and–
Why was one of the new kids staring at me like he could drill a hole in my head with his gaze? He seemed to come to himself finally and turned back to his siblings who looked at him with concern. But why had he looked at me like that? It feels like he was listening in on my thoughts. I knew for a fact I was right when the tingly feeling I've had since I was 7 and almost died washed over me. Which means he knew what I was planning. Fuck. And now he was frowning at the table while his siblings looked concerned. Well all except the tiny sister. She was looking straight at me with a frown. What the actual… I could tell there was something different about the Cullen kids when they started here a few weeks ago but didn't think anything of it. Everyone thought they were a little odd. Even though gossip isn't shared directly with me, I have ears. But this was something else. I feel very exposed under their piercing stares.
I had to get out of here.
I grabbed my bag, left my lunch tray on the table and fled the cafeteria as fast as possible. I was debating the merits of stopping at my locker for my rain coat before walking home when the tiny Cullen fell into step with me.
"Hi there," she chirped. Her voice was like bells. It was unnervingly beautiful but I still had to get out of here. Best to leave the coat. "I know you know that we know what you're planning in that head of yours. How you know is still a mystery, though."
How any of us know anything doesn't even matter. To have it laid bare made me come to a halt and turn towards her.
"And why do you care? You don't even know me," I seethed, crossing my arms. Best to be mean, she'll leave me alone easier.
"Why don't you come over to our house after school to study? We have a few classes together, it'll be fun," she suggested. The subject changed threw me for a moment. She knows what I'm planning yet still wants me to come to her home?
When I stayed quiet too long she added, "what do you have to lose, Penny?"
Letting out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding, I nodded. The smile she awarded me was nothing short of magnificent.