After another night of little to no sleep, I find myself staring at the ceiling once more.

It's just after five in the morning. Charlie is still sleeping. I didn't need my talent to hear him snoring from down the hall.

Angela might be awake. She usually goes on runs in the mornings. She asked me if I'd like to try it, but I'm always worried Charlie will find out and give himself a heart attack.

I grab my phone from the night stand and squint as the brightness assaults my eyes. It's the only light in the room since the sun has yet to rise.

Hey u awake?

Placing my phone back down, I settle back into bed and wait for her to respond. I try to close my eyes and relax my body, but sleep continues to evade me. I know it's just a side effect of the medication, but sooner or later it's going to catch up with me. Maybe tonight I'll take a shot of cold medicine.

Ping

I grab my phone to see Angela has texted.

going on my run...u need something?

Silently praising myself, I gratefully respond, coffee?

got it see u in a bit

I must have finally dozed off for a few minutes. When I open my eyes again, the sky is a dark blue instead of black. It must be close to six. I can hear Charlie in his room. He's awake and wondering if she should attempt to make lunch for me. I almost laugh as I picture a sloppy PB&J and a can of spaghettios in a brown paper bag.

On that note, I get up. Charlie should just stick to what he knows, which is fishing and baseball, and leave the cooking to me. It looks like he's getting more and more confident about this whole lunch idea and I better nip it in the bud before he burns the house down.

I purposefully clang around some pots and pans, even though I haven't decided what I want yet, knowing Charlie will hear and change his mind.

Aw, damnit she's already cooking. That's okay, maybe for the best. Wonder if she'll make enough for two. You know, Charlie you should really start learning how to…

I stop listening then, satisfied that I've succeeded in keeping Charlie out of the kitchen and focus on what I can make that travels well but will also keep him fed throughout the day. He doesn't need to waste anymore money at that lousy diner.

I decide there's enough French toast from yesterday for breakfast and start making egg salad. I'm just finishing up when Charlie makes his way into the kitchen.

"What's for breakfast?" he asks.

I pull the leftovers out the fridge. "I figure we can finish this off. There's plenty left."

"Again, Bells?" I roll my eyes already knowing where he's going with this. "It was a nice treat yesterday, but why don't we try something different? How about…" he begins surfing around the cabinets. He cooks so rarely, he doesn't even remember which ones contain plates and which ones hold food. "Aha! Granola? And maybe some grapefruit?" He rattles the bag of oats around as if it makes them look more appealing that way.

But I put on my plastic smile and say, "Sure, Dad. You're right."

After scarfing down my rabbit food, I finish packing my egg salad and show Charlie where to find the rest in the fridge before booking it up the steps to get dressed. I took two stairs at a time— a mistake I realize as Charlie calls to me.

"No running!"

"Sorry, I'm late!" I close the door behind me just in time to catch my phone ringing. It's Angela. "Hey, what's up?"

"I'm about fifteen minutes away. Are you ready?"

"Almost," I rip my tiny dresser open and look for a shirt that will help me blend in. "I just gotta find something to wear."

"Wear that cream sweater your mom got you last year. It's cute."

I found said sweater and cringed. "It's a little fancy, don't you think?"

"There's no such thing as a fancy sweater, get over yourself!" Her lighthearted laughter is contagious even over the phone and I find myself smiling. "It's a turtleneck right?"

I hold the sweater under my chin and peek in the mirror. "Yeah, I can't believe you remember that."

"It's a talent."

I toss the sweater on the bed. "Fine, you win. I'll see you soon." Ending the call, I quickly grab my sweater and a pair of jeans and rush into the bathroom.

By the time I hear Angela honking her horn out front, I'm showered, dressed and spitting the mouthful of Listerine into the sink.

On the way out of the bathroom, I take the towel off of my head and toss it in the general direction of my room.

"See you later, Dad!"

Charlie clambers up from the table, nearly knocking the chair over. "Hang on, honey, don't forget your lunch!"

Doubling back, I give him a grateful look. "Thanks."

"Be careful today." I'm aware of his hand on my elbow. His mind shows me an image of myself on the floor at the bottom of the staircase. He's remembering my first day of school last year. I'd had an atonic episode while coming down the steps. It wasn't one of my worst, but seeing it through my father's eyes hurts. He was trying to talk to me but I was gone. It looked as if I were staring right through him.

"Dad." My voice brings him back to the present and thankfully that image of me clears as fast as it comes. "I'm alright."

Charlie removes his hand then, the lines in his forehead relaxing. "Okay. I'll see you after school."

Finally, the moment I'm waiting for. I'm supposed to be excited. I get my freedom back. At least for a few hours. Instead, I'm left feeling like the worst daughter on the planet. Keeping up with this ruse is supposed to keep Charlie safe. So, why do I feel like I'm only hurting him more?

"Good morning!" Angela lifts my spirits when she shoves a warm styrofoam cup in my hands. "I have another surprise for you too."

I can't help the chuckle that escapes me. "Good morning to you too, sunshine. What is it?"

She pulls a McDonald's bag out from the backseat. "I thought you might be craving some carbs."

"Shut up." I rip the bag open and my jaw drops when I find the breakfast sandwich sitting inside. "Ang, you are a godsend. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I lean across the console and land a sloppy kiss on her cheek, not caring about the flashes of her morning routine I get when our skin meets. "How can I ever repay you?"

Angela laughs as she pulls out onto the road and wipes her cheek with her shoulder. "How about just keeping your cooties to yourself. Ben might get jealous."

I take the biggest bite out of my sandwich and work hard to finish chewing before I speak. "How are you two doing anyway?"

"Really well, actually." She glances at my damp, towel dried hair and gives me a pointed look, but says nothing. "We went to the beach a bunch. I almost got a tan, see?" She lowers her shirt down her shoulder so I can inspect the almost invisible line from her bikini strap.

I hum in agreement, too busy inhaling my sandwich.

"Okay, but seriously," she looks at me again. "What are we doing with that hair?"

I look down at my wavy brown locks and play with the ends. "I was running behind. It can air dry."

Angela shakes her head. "You have such beautiful hair. I can't wait to see what it looks like when you actually take care of it."

"Excuse you." I inspect her own dark strands she currently has tied at the nape of her neck. "What about you?"

"Ben likes it like this." She plays with short hairs that hang at her cheekbones. "He says it frames my face."

I pull the small clip she was using to restrict her hair and watch as it falls around her shoulders. She has naturally smooth and straight hair. "Yeah, but this is sexy."

Soon enough, she pulls into the school parking lot just off the main road. I can already hear everyone in my head and resign myself to the headache I know I'll have for the rest of the day.

"Here." Angela hands me my forgotten coffee. "Drink this, it'll help. Want some aspirin?"

Declining, I step out of the car and sling my messenger bag over my shoulder. Angela is right behind me and offers her pinky. I wrap mine around hers and take a breath when the voices quiet.

This is something we've been doing since I opened up to her about my abilities just a few months ago. She knows that touch is overwhelming for me. But this is just enough that it quiets everyone around me without flooding me with her own thoughts. It's more like a steady stream. Slow and subtle. Of course, everyone stares, but we've learned to live with it. And I can only barely hear the ridiculous assumptions they're inventing in their heads, so it doesn't bother me.

Ben meets up with us halfway through the lot and makes polite chatter with me even though we both know he's only here to see Angela. But that's the thing about Ben. He keeps his opinions to himself and he's always tried to include me. It's not his fault I know he thinks I'm weird.

The two of them stick with me until I reach my locker. My connection with Angela shows me she wants to have time alone with Ben, but she won't say so. The moment she thinks that, a rosy pink color blooms in her cheeks. She knows I heard her, but before she can feel guilty about it, I let go of her hand after bracing myself for voices that come back full force.

"You know, I've gotta use the bathroom," I say as I pull out my earbuds that have fallen to the very bottom of my bag. "Girl business. But I'll see you guys later, yeah?"

Ben smiles a big toothy grin at me and I try not to laugh. "Of course. Ready, Ang?"

Angela mouths a thank you to me, before turning into Ben's side and allowing him to lead her away.

Ping

I pick my phone out from my back pocket.

Smile!

While the hallway is mostly empty, I pull out the bottle of pills and swallow one before anyone can see and ask questions.

Angela and I have Calculus and Spanish together back to back during the first and second period. She lets me latch myself onto her pinky for both lessons, no complaints. However, I wish she'd quit imagining Ben shoving his tongue down her throat behind the staircase this morning. I could live without that. Ugh. Ignoring that, Angela is really the most well-rounded person I know which is why it's so easy connecting with her. There's no baggage.

After Spanish, I begrudgingly let her go and continue the rest of my morning classes with music yelling in my ears. Of course, it's not enough to drown everyone out. I keep catching glimpses.

I am so fucked this year...what was I thinking?

Gotta keep this a secret. Nobody can ever find out.

Those new kids are freaking gorgeous! I wonder if one of them will ask me to prom.

New kids? That's interesting for Forks. I feel bad for whoever they are. In this town, everyone knows everyone and nothing ever happens. Poor kids. They'll probably get eaten alive today.

Finally, morning classes end and I make my way toward the cafeteria. Angela is waiting at our normal table. I snag the seat next to her and pull out my egg salad.

"How was your morning?" I ask as she bites into an apple.

"S'fie." I'm glad I can hear what she's actually trying to say otherwise I'd poke fun at her for talking with her mouth full. Once she swallows, she tries again. "But did you meet any of those new kids? One's in my AP history class with Ben. Think his name's Jasper?" A boy's face flickers behind my eyes when she says his name.

I nod. "Yeah everyone's talking about them. I haven't seen them though. I kind of feel bad, you know? Everyone's making a big deal about it."

"Wait 'til you see them." She wipes a stray hair out of her face. "They're hot."

I roll my eyes. "I promise not to tell Ben you said that."

"Listen, Ben already knows he's stuck with me for a lifetime. I'm allowed to look."

"Uh-huh." I'm about to take a bite out of my sandwich when Ang starts punching my arm repeatedly. "Ouch. What's wrong?"

"Look, there they are."

I follow her gaze behind me and watch as a group of five kids walk into the cafeteria. I'm almost annoyed that Angela was right. They are hot.

There's a tall and slender boy up front with dark blond hair and a girl about half his size just behind him. I recognize him as the boy Angela called Jasper in her head. He walks gracefully but also a bit stiff. I wonder if he was raised by military parents or if he recently suffered a back injury. His face looks pinched. I'll say back injury.

The girl is very obviously his significant other. There was no mistaking that spark in her eyes. I see it in Angela when she looks at Ben. She bounces after him on her ballet flats. She reminds me of a child with her short and spiky hair, but much more beautiful.

Another girl walks behind the two and sits next to them at the table just across the way. She has long flowing blonde hair and golden eyes to match. She's wearing a deep red lip color that makes her fair skin pop. Even as she crosses her jean-clad legs, I can tell they are long and elegant.

A giant of a man sits next to the blonde. He's very obviously the more easy going of the group. His baseball cap is worn backwards and he straddles his chair in front of him instead of sitting properly. His hand reaches for the blonde's under the table. It surprises me. The two seem to be complete opposites. He is relaxed and unworried as he plays with his curly, messy hair. She sits perfectly still, poised and refined. Every movement she makes with purpose.

The last one sits opposite of all four of them as if to deliberately block my view of them. He has skin like porcelain and a mop of dark coppery hair on top, completely disheveled. Almost like he'd spent quite a bit of time on it, only to run his hands through it a million times. I know the feeling. It's partly the reason I didn't really try anymore with my own hair. I accepted that it will always do what it wants when it wants.

Pretty boy turns around as if he can feel me staring and I feel my face flare up a deep red all the way up to my ears.

I look away and silently scold myself.

Angela is laughing next to me. Told you so.

"Yeah, yeah, okay. No need to gloat."

We finish our lunch in our usual playful banter and Angela promises to meet me at my locker at the end of the day to take me home.

It's not until I leave the cafeteria that I realize I couldn't hear any of them.

At all.