Chapter 3 - Introductions and Invitations

Charlotte's P.O.V.

From the way Janice described them earlier, I expected the Cullens to be like some elusive, exclusive kind of cult, the kind wherein if you're not part of their adoptive family, you pretty much don't make the cut and they'll all-out ignore you.

Um...that's almost entirely wrong, at least as far as Adrian was concerned.

To be honest, bio is a so-so subject with me, in that I do get it, but I still have to be careful and pay attention if I want to do well. So what I could really use is some peace and quiet, but apparently Adrian Cullen's idea of "accommodating" me involves talking up a storm and ignoring Mr. Nolan as he goes into the details of mitosis and meiosis.

"Hey, I'm Adrian. And you are—?"

"Charlotte," I reply, taking out my notebook.

"Hope you don't mind being lab partners."

"No, it's nice to meet new people."

"Yeah, first day at a new school. Are you local or new to Forks?"

"New."

"Same here. Well, I mean, new since last summer, really. Originally, I'm from Alaska. You?"

"Colorado."

"Down south, okay. What's the weather like down there? I mean, here it's still freezing even though it's April and all, but I'm used to that where I'm from. Would you say it's warmer or colder than here?"

"Warmer."

Somehow, even though nothing that I'm saying should be inviting more conversation, he still finds something to comment on. And, if I'm being honest, bio and education and whatnot aside, I like listening to his voice. Not that I've ever been a chatterbox, but at least I've had my say; now, I feel like I can just listen on and on to Adrian talking and not really have a problem with it. If anything, I think he should be getting some accompaniment, maybe a flute or some kind of relaxation music.

"Sorry, did you hear me?"

"Hmm, what? Sorry, I didn't." Zoning out does that.

"I asked why you moved here in the middle of the semester. Doesn't that mess up a lot especially with electives?"

He's making an effort and showing an interest(?), and I know that these are both positive steps to making a friend, but I'm not sure if I want to divulge my entire life story here and now. It then occurs to me that I'm still wearing the slicker and so I shrug it off and put it on the back of my chair. I knock my stick off the desk, but reach down and grope around for it before anyone else can think to pick it up for me. Fortunately, it bumped against my foot so I know exactly where it is.

"And it definitely messes up the kind of weather you're used to, right? I mean, going from super cold to just kind of cold is one thing, but from hot to cold, it's...different."

"It's more the small town setting that's throwing me off, but yeah, I guess so," I reply. "Since you're from Alaska, is it much of a difference for you?" Keep him talking, less for me to do—good plan.

"Not really." Pause. "I've never been to Colorado before and I'd love to hear more about it. Think you could fill me in over lunch?"

I have no idea whether Janice's "tour" for me is meant to extend over lunchtime as well. In this class, thanks to Adrian, at least I won't have to worry about talking to her—because, honestly, I'm trying to like her, but it's really borderline given that her chatter's given me a headache; and though I suppose I could tell her to just be quiet and not talk as much, I don't know her enough to guess at whether she'd take offense or not—but for other classes, I have no safety net. If even lunchtime extends to that, then...

Selfishness wins out over courtesy and I agree, much preferring to listen to Adrian's voice period rather than anyone else's.

At the end of the second period, during which time I learn absolutely nothing since I'm more aware of Adrian than I am of everything else, it's Adrian who grabs hold of my arm and leads me out of the room, much to the shocked whispers of nearly everyone around us. The only thing that slightly shocks me is how cold his hand is; the bio lab didn't seem cold to me, but maybe Adrian's more sensitive sitting next to the window and all. Maybe I'll ask him to switch tomorrow if it bothers him.

"What luck that lunch is right after second period, right?" he jokes. His chuckle is like a ripple of water running through me and for a second makes me forget that I still need my stick in front of me even if I'm being led places. It's just an extra feel of security that I need.

The way Adrian's guiding me and gliding from place to place though, I get the feeling that the stick is getting in the way more than helping, since he steers us around obstacles to the point that they don't seem to be there. No walls, no doors, no turns and no other people. Why do I get the feeling that they're almost clearing a path for him or something?

And why do I get the even stronger feeling that we're being followed?

I brought a homemade lunch in my backpack, but apparently I didn't need to bother since the caf food is included in tuition. Adrian sits me down at a table and then heads off to get his. I hear someone else sit down at the table and then feel that uncomfortable prickle of stares again. It feels different this time, more intense if that makes sense, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to question it so much as ignore it, so I go with the latter. Taking out my sandwich, I start eating and act...casual. Maybe only one or two minutes pass in actual time, but it feels longer.

"Hope you don't mind, but we're sitting with my family. You guys introduce yourselves yet?" Adrian says, all of a sudden sitting down next to me. I had no idea that I was tense, but my body instantly relaxes once I hear his voice.

"We were waiting for you to do that," someone chimes in from my left. Again, that tinkling-bell voice. A different voice overall, of course, but...similar to Adrian's in a away that I'm not sure I can pinpoint.

"Right, right, real mature of you guys," Adrian snorts. "Okay everyone, this is Charlotte, a new student and my new lab partner. Just...okay, here's how we'll do this: sound off when I call your names, kay? Charlotte, this is my family—Edward's there to your left..."

"Pleasure."

"Bella's next to him..."

"Hi."

And so on and so forth until we went through Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice. They've all got the tinkling-bell thing going for them, and altogether would make a rather good choir, I'd imagine. Although, it might just be my imagination, but they're all fairly quiet and...non-committal. I guess Adrian's the only welcoming one among them and maybe Janice was right about their exclusivity?

At the best of times, I'll admit that I feel like an outsider because I'm different; now though, it's like I'm an absolute parasite that one of them might want to squash.

"So, must be a big change for you, moving from Colorado to Washington like this," one of them—Edward, I think—suddenly says.

"How did you know that?" I ask. I'm pretty sure I haven't mentioned it.

"We sit right behind you in bio," Bella, I think, points out. "It's hard to ignore Adrian when he gets going, trust me."

"Hey, I bring the fun into your lives!" Adrian exclaims.

"Pfft. Yeah, that's it," Emmett laughs. "Hey Charlotte, this guy wouldn't know fun if it hit him in the face. Can you believe that he's never played baseball before we taught him how?"

"Hey, I lived in Alaska, Em! Not exactly our national sport!"

"Alaska's part of America and therefore should know baseball, okay? Anyway, he's our weakest player and any team that gets him automatically has a liability."

"Yeah, that's why he's usually on the opposite team from you. No use having two liabilities on the same team, right?"

This comment, made by Jasper I think, brings chuckles from all around the table—makes me feel like I'm being serenaded.

"Guys, don't hog the discussion!" Alice, I think, chides. "Charlotte, why don't we hear more about you?"

"Not much to tell, really," I say. "Actually, I'd much rather hear about you all, you seem so interesting." I pause, considering. "I guess I should probably give you a chance to eat though, so I can talk for a while, if you want." I think my sandwich is about three-quarters done, anyway.

"What do you mean?" Rosalie asks.

"Well, none of you have started eating yet, right? I mean—" I didn't hear them chew or even pick up utensils or anything, so I can only assume they haven't started eating. It's a detail that Mary's pointed out to me that not a lot of people would notice with so much visual stimuli distracting them, but for me it's pretty much right on my radar for things that I notice. There's just so much to take in with sounds that it becomes very easy to determine when a silence is comfortable or uncomfortable, when something is too quiet, and then determine just what's missing. In a lunchroom, obviously I can hear chatter and people eating around us, but focusing just on this one table, it's almost uncannily quiet.

"Good idea, Charlotte." Edward starts eating and the others soon follow, except for Adrian who're firing off one question after another at me. I feel like he's circling around a subject, until finally I've told them more or less my boring life story, all except one detail.

Strangely enough, it's Edward that finally addresses the elephant in the room.

"So, Charlotte, if you'll pardon me and it's not too insensitive to ask, what happened with...your eyes?"

I don't know why, but I smile. "Yeah, it's not as much of a tragedy as you'd think. I was actually just born this way—nevermind the medical terms—and so I have no idea what seeing actually is. I assume it's something people...enjoy, though? I mean, not bumping into things and knowing where things are from a distance definitely expands your environment, right?"

"Do you want to see?" Adrian asks. This brings up tension almost immediately around the table, and yet for some reason...I get the feeling that it's not directed towards me. It's strange, but I'm positive that the focus has shifted in some way.

"I—"

Just then the warning bell rings though, signalling the end of lunchtime.

"Well, duty calls!" Alice chirps. "What's your next class, Charlotte?"

"English, I think."

"What luck, so's mine! Want to walk over with me?"

I was supposed to go with Janice and all, but she's not around and I get the feeling that she won't just casually approach the Cullen table, so...

"Yeah, thanks." I shuffle everything into my lunch bag and stretch out my cane. Alice is next to me in a second, hand lightly on my arm.

She's trying to keep form touching me, but I still get the feeling of a chill, and it's coming directly from her hand. Cold, like Adrian's.

"Your family moved down from Alaska, right?" I ask her once we're alone and headed to English class.

"Uh-huh, why?" she asks, seeming distracted.

"Was it uncomfortable for you there? I mean, was it cold?"

"It's Alaska, Charlotte—of course it's cold!" she laughs. It sounds natural and yet forced.

I maybe didn't ask the right question, but it feels invasive to pry into her family this early on in knowing the Cullens. Maybe if I get around to knowing them better—and, let's face it, I want to—then I can ask...

And that's when it hits me: the Cullens may be a family, but they're not actually related to one another. So then why do all their voices have that same elusive quality that I haven't heard anywhere else?

A/N: So, part of what I'm going for with Charlotte is having her realize certain things about the Cullens that other people might not notice when they're distracted about how good-looking they all are. It's just small ticks and things, but I thought it'd be effective in showing how perceptive someone can be even if they are handicapped in some way. It's definitely interesting writing from the point of view of a character who has to describe things through sound and feel rather than sight, anyway.

Next chapter we'll get some more insights on the Cullens as a family and their reactions to Charlotte, so look forward to that. Please review, follow, and favourite if you like the story!