Unlike what I had expected, Lizzy calmed down afterwards as me and Joseph explained everything to her. I had a vague feeling that we were being watched, or that someone was overhearing our conversation, but that was probably just my imagination. I couldn't look anywhere to check anyways, so it didn't matter.

"And that's why it's a good thing!" I concluded at last. I'd just finished telling both Joseph and Lizzy why I had gone over to see the Cullens that day.

Lizzy said nothing for a while and only stared into space. "Oh my god..." she breathed, putting her hands to her head. "And I was being so difficult about you hanging around that Cullen boy! Charlotte, you can hang around with him or any of the Cullens at any time, and what's more...please bring him over once for dinner. I..I need to apologize to him for how I acted..."

"I'm pretty sure he understands," I said, again getting curious at just how dangerous Adrian looked. I was actually curious on what dangerous in itself looked like. I knew by my instincts what was dangerous or not and when I was around Adrian, I didn't feel much danger. I felt perfectly fine, same as always. Well...maybe not 100% the same...

"I'm tired now," I said, knowing that they wanted to ask the specific details of the surgery and so forth. Carlisle hadn't discussed the details yet as a matter of fact.

Luckily they let me go to sleep.

The next day Lizzy woke me up earlier than usual. I told her to leave me alone, because I felt certain that it was just too early, but that's not what she woke me up about.

"It's that Cullen boy..." she said, sounding apologetic all of a sudden. "Adrian Cullen. He says he's come to pick you up for school."

I sat up in bed, shocked to hear that. "Adrian's here?!" I asked. I couldn't believe it. What would he be doing here this early in the morning?

Lizzy helped me to get dressed and then she ushered me outside, where apparently Adrian was waiting directly on the porch.

"Hey," he greeted, taking my hand and sitting me down on a chair.

"Good morning," I replied. "Early morning that is!"

Adrian sighed. "I know, I know it's early, only I wouldn't have come if it wasn't important. I've got news for you from Carlisle."

My ears perked up. "What is it?"

"Your operation...it's a go for next week."

I'm fairly certain that I smiled and then Adrian laughed. "I knew you'd be happy to hear that!" he exclaimed.

"How can I not be?" I asked. "But how come so soon?"

"Carlisle got in touch with one of his friends from Seattle and the friend's agreed to do your operation next weekend. But you should know that he's never done eye surgery with someone who was born blind, so this'll be a first for him."

I shook my head, confused at how I wasn't getting discouraged. Had my hopes really risen that high?

"That's great!" I exclaimed. "And it won't matter. This is the closest I've ever come to having anything done on my eyes so...wait, will it hurt me?"

Adrian laughed. "Eye surgery doesn't hurt. And there's no way it could affect you because...well your eyes are as bad off as they'll ever be."

I guess you're right," I said, as he helped me into his car.

We drove to school and for some reason I could feel everyone staring. I was afraid to ask about it because I didn't want to know if it was true. I still felt how uncomfortable it was being stared at though. If Adrian minded it, he didn't say anything.

A few more days passed and then that weekend, I went over to his house again. Lizzy let me go much more willingly now. Adrian didn't say much about her rude behavior when they'd first met so I assumed that everyone was forgiven. It was at least a problem to put behind me. During that first dinner we shared, for some reason Mary left early and didn't even finish eating, which was odd. I got the feeling that maybe she didn't like Adrian but I didn't ask her why. Mary wasn't doing good with strangers ever since our parents' deaths and I explained that as well to Adrian to make up for her behavior. Adrian didn't mind that either.

As soon as I felt myself re-enter Adrian's house, I felt a wave of calmness come over me again. Again Carlisle was the first to greet us and then I also heard Seth who was there for some reason. I was happy to hear both of them though. Hearing Seth's voice made me feel happy and hearing Carlisle's voice was soothing. At first we talked a bit about the operation and I could feel that everyone around me was paying a lot of attention to this. Then Edward came into the room and asked to talk to Adrian. I was a bit sad to hear him leave. Then Carlisle also excused himself so I was left alone with Seth.

"So, think the operation will work?" he asked, but his voice was optimistic. It lifted my spirits to know that someone believed in the operation as much as I did...or at least as much as I wanted to.

"I hope so," I said. "And...even if it doesn't then I'm still not worse off."

Seth laughed a bit. "Charlotte you've...you've gotta think about this differently. I mean, you sound like you want to believe that it'll work, yet at the same time you're doubting yourself."

I smiled a bit weakly, surprised more than anything. Was I that easy to read or was it just Seth?

"I guess," I replied. "But it's just that..." I paused, not sure how much more I wanted to say. Seth seemed like someone I could tell things to but it hurt to say them just the same. "It's just that life's disappointed me so many times."

"What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "Well first off with my sight. I don't know what anything looks like. I don't even know what I look like or what colours are or anything. I never even knew what my parents looked like...and now I never will. Doesn't that give me a-a bit of a right to be pessimistic and selfish?"

I could hardly believe what I was saying. It wasn't something I'd usually say and especially not so directly but Seth seemed to understand. Maybe not exactly but he'd also lost a parent. He could empathize with me. And even though he'd lost a parent he was taking it way better than I was. He was just...stronger that way...

"I-I'm sorry," I choked out. I felt as if I was on the verge of tears but I always refused to cry in front of someone else.

Seth reached over and put his hand over mine. "There's always the future," he said softly.

I managed a smile and squeezed his hand as a form of thanks. He made me feel better. Maybe that was why I could share these things with him so easily even though I barely knew him.

"You don't live in Forks, right?" I asked.

"No. I live on the La Push reserve."

"Can I come and visit you sometimes?"

It seemed like he cracked a smile. "Sure. I'll come pick you up myself if you want."

Suddenly his hand was off mine immediately and then I heard Adrian's voice, sounding a bit annoyed.

"Edward says everything's all set. We'll fly out tonight for the operation," he said.