Even though I'd just covered myself with a towel, Cal's stare was making me feel all the more naked. And I hated it. I don't like feeling cornered on a good day, but give me someone who had just told me that he was descended from some type of monster, who should have known by then that the island took away all traces of abilities anyway, who talked about relationships with vampires like they weren't a big deal, and yet still have him getting all bug-eyed over my former ability to read minds? It had me going defensive, and I could feel myself tensing up as I tried to pull my towel even more tightly around myself. Even if it didn't actually work, it helped take my mind off that weird look I was getting from Cal.

Because I recognized it. It was like the look I got every time people in Bon Temps were reminded of how I was different, how they tried to deny to themselves the fact that I knew just a little too much for it to be coincidence, how they were always uneasy when I was around. Sometimes the reasons differed a little — occasionally, I even found someone who thought it was really cool. But they were always nervous.

"No," I muttered, and at the moment Cal's only saving grace was the fact that he'd been honest to me about his own background. If it weren't for that, I would probably have just up and left. "Not psychic. And I'm not telepathic anymore either, thanks to the island, so you can stop lookin' at me like I'm gonna just root in your head. I always try to keep out of other people's business."