folks who have lived in this town for generations. And they stick together the way a family should—camping trips every other weekend... Just because they're newcomers, people have to talk."
It was the longest speech I'd ever heard Charlie make. He must've felt strongly about whatever he was saying.
I backpedaled. "They seemed nice enough to me. I just noticed they kept to themselves. They're all very attractive," I added, although I didn't know if Charlie was capable of finding anyone besides my mother attractive.
"You should see the doctor," Charlie said, laughing. "It's a good thing he's happily married. A lot of the nurses at the hospital have a hard time concentrating on their work with him around."
We lapsed back into silence as we finished eating. He cleared the table while I started on the dishes. He went back to the TV, and after I finished washing the dishes by hand—my mom had taken the dishwasher with her when she left, and Charlie had never bought a new one because he hoped she would come back and bring it with her—I went upstairs unwillingly to work on my math homework. I could feel a tradition in the making.
That night it was finally quiet. I fell asleep quickly, exhausted.
The rest of the week was uneventful. I got used to the routine of my classes. By Friday I was able to recognize, if not name, almost all the students at school. In Gym, the kids on my team learned not to pass me the ball and to step quickly in front of me if the other team tried to take advantage of my weakness. I happily stayed out of their way.
Fredward Cullen didn't come back to school.
Every day, I watched anxiously until the rest of the

38

Chapter 2

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