The day passed by quicker than I thought and Adrian and I talked some more fourth period, since we also shared that class. He tried to keep it as casual as possible, without mentioning things that I'd have to 'see' to get. His company made me feel a bit better about my circumstances. The only uncomfortable thing during this was that I felt that everywhere I looked, people would be staring at me, or rather at us. Adrian probably noticed, but his manner didn't change.

He helped me over to the parking lot and managed to figure out how to shut off my watch.

"It must be annoying hearing a robotic voice all day," he commented, sounding more annoyed than I actually felt.

"Charlotte?" I heard a familiar Lizzy call me.

"Lizzy?" I called back, extending my hand forward, willing her to come to me so I could talk to her. I felt a familiar hand clasp around mine. "This is Adrian Cullen," I said, not bothering to gesture since all I knew was that he was close behind me. "He said he wants to give me a tour of Forks so..."

Lizzy hesitated and didn't say anything. "Er...well..." she sounded uncomfortable, as if debating what to say. "We really hoped that we'd catch you at home today," she said, but I sensed it was a lie. "Mary misses you too," she added.

Mary. I'd almost forgotten about her. She needed me to be with her right now, and leaving her alone with just Lizzy and Joseph would surely make her cry. She needed the support way more than I did.

I turned around, my only indication that Adrian was still there was the sound of his breathing. "I'm sorry but I think I should go," I said. "M-my sister will probably end up bawling if I don't get home."

He made some sort of movement and then paused. "Yes," he said at last. "So I'll see you tomorrow?"

I tried again at a smile. "Of course."

Lizzy walked me over to the car and helped me inside. I buckled my seat belt and then we drove off.

"Why did you lie?" I asked.

"I wasn't lying!" she answered rather hastily. "Mary really did miss you..."

"Not that," I said. "The first part about wanting me home today. You never had any plans like that. And Joseph's at work today, isn't he?"

Lizzy gulped, and then didn't say anything for a time. I was patient though.

"Charlotte, I don't think you should be seeing that boy," she said at last.

"Why not?"

"H-he's looks rather strong and not all that trustworthy, and certainly not a nice decent boy by all accounts," Lizzy said, genuine concern in her voice. "Of course I don't blame you for not seeing this, but mightn't you have sensed it?"

"He's quite nice from what I gathered," I mumbled. "I can hear him just fine!"

Lizzy sucked in a breath, unprepared for the sharp response I gave her.

"Charlotte, he looks like trouble. There's something about him that just...isn't natural."

"No wonder we'd be good friends then," I snapped, getting frustrated. I knew what she was getting at without her even saying it and for the first time in my life it bothered me that I was being degraded because of my disability.

What Lizzy was basically saying was that I could hang around Adrian, or maybe anyone for that matter because of what I was. I couldn't tell a serial killer even if he was directly in front of me with a knife just inches away from my eye. That was what Lizzy knew, but I never suspected her to look down on me for it.

It was kind of unavoidable though.

"Please," Lizzy said, half-pleading with me. "Promise me you won't go anywhere with him without permission."

I wasn't promising anything. I didn't say a thing to her, too pissed off to care about her reaction.

"Charlotte!" I heard Mary's exclamation the moment I walked into the house.

She rammed against me, hugging my waist. I wasn't braced of course so I would have fallen over, but the wall behind me caught me just in time. I did hit my head though.

"Ow," I muttered.

"Sorry!" Mary apologized, sounding like she was about to cry.

I reached out for her, and she gave me her hand. I moved it up to her head and gave her an affectionate rub. "Don't worry about it. How's your day been?"

Mary drew circles across my palm. "Everyone was very nice. There weren't a lot of kids though..."

I'd kinda figured. Adrian had told me that there weren't a lot of people in Forks anymore.

"Did you make any friends?"

Mary put my finger to her lips, to let me know that she was smiling. I felt a slight pang at my heart, knowing that she was still capable of smiling. I think this was the first time I felt her smile since our parents...left.

"The girls were very nice, but the boys weren't..." I felt her frown.

"Tell me all about it..." I said.

"At the dinner table," Lizzy laughed, coming from behind me. "And Charlotte, I've set up a computer system in your room just in front of your bed."

I nodded and went over to my room, remembering my way through the house. This time I got my directions right, although I did crash into the wall a few times and almost tripped over one of Mary's dolls. I put my hands down on the keyboard, satisfied to feel the familiar Braille keys beneath my fingers. I also felt around and found headphones as well.

"Perfect," I murmured, sitting down and punching the keys I knew so well, although I figured that the computer wasn't even on. But it always relaxed me to write a bit, even if it was for homework, because it was at least a way for me to see and feel like I was not completely handicapped.

Later on I went and talked to Mary about her school day, and I was interested in every detail she relayed back to me. She described everything to me using colours, words like 'pretty' and even though I didn't know what it looked like, at least I could define it. I listened intently and then kissed her goodnight. I'm not sure if I slept long or not. It wouldn't make a difference either way.

I hope you liked that chapter and I promise that the next one will be better! Please tell me what you think! :3