The Sounds Around Me- Emblem3 Fanfic.

"Intro"

Klaire's POV:

I remember it as if it were yesterday.

It was my birthday. I turned ten. We were in the backseat of the car, me and my baby brother, Teddy. Goofing around, playing a silly game. My dad was driving and my mom was right next to him. They were arguing. I remember asking, "daddy, where are we going?" He looked back at me for a second and said, "some place where no one can find us and what I have."  My mom looked at us guiltily. Then she looked at dad.  "Richard, do you think the police know where we are this very second? I'm scared, the kids will get in trouble, and all of this because of your stupid, worthless collection. Why can't you stop already?!"  More arguing. I didn't know what they were talking about, I just kept on listening.  Teddy was just sitting there, chewing his hand, as usual. Then suddenly, the car moved faster and faster, my parents were now shouting with all their might.

My dad kept his eyes off the road and a car hit us from the side.

I held Teddy in my arms. He was hurt and something sharp hit my eyes and I screamed. Teddy started to cry. "It's going to be alright, Teddy," I reassured him. "Mom! Dad!" They didn't answer back. I couldn't see anything. I heard someone call 911. It was probably some random person around during the event. After a while, I heard ambulance sirens. Still carrying Teddy in my arms, I couldn't hold it much longer and dropped to the floor.

The next day, I woke up in a hospital, well at least that was what the nurse told me. She said that glass got into my eyes during the crash and that I would not be able to see anymore. I was devastated. Then, I asked about my family; where they were, if they were alright, that kind of stuff. It was suddenly silent and I wasn't sure if the nurse had left or not, but then she spoke again.

She said that me and my dad were the only survivors of the crash. My mom and Teddy died.

I couldn't speak. I was mute for a few days and didn’t eat for a while. The doctors kept me in the hospital for a total of two weeks filled with testing periods and lessons. That was the worst turning point of my life. I questioned why I was the one to live instead of Teddy and mom. Why was dad alive even though he did that to us? It didn’t make sense. "Who is going to take care of me?" I asked the nurse one day. She said that my grandparents will be responsible for me after I leave.

Finally, two weeks passed and my final test came. The doctor checked my eyes and everything. He said that he had some good news. "What is it sir?" I asked intrigued. I could feel him smile. "Well, you have a chance of seeing again! Even though it is very slim, it is possible. So don't plan on being blind forever okay sweetie?" Now I was the one smiling. I was excited. I wanted to see again, very soon. I hugged everyone at the hospital. I was gonna miss this place. Everyone was so nice. Well, I believed in the doctor. 'don't you worry, Klaire,' I told myself, 'you will see again.'

That was six years ago. I still haven't regained my sight; I'm still blind. Nothing has really changed since back then.

I dread not being able to see the sunrise or the flowers or the smiles on people's faces. At least, I'm alive; I can't say the same for mom and Teddy.

I was afraid of living with my dad. I couldn't live with him. I'm living with grandparents, Gladys and Dan. I love them with all of my heart; they take care of me and make sure I'm well. I wouldn't have asked for a better family.

I still visit my dad though. He is in jail for the using of cocaine, marijuana, weed, etc. that was the collection my mom was talking about during the drive; that collection that got her and poor Teddy hurt. All this pain and grieve for his idiotic and unnecessary addiction. The police found millions of dollars worth of drugs in our house and in the car that got hit. He will be there for many years to come.

I got bullied a lot at school because of not being able to see and my dad's addiction. I didn't know people in elementary knew about drugs. My friends didn’t talk to me anymore because their moms told them to stop being with me; they all thought I was a bad influence, of course.

I didn't go back to school after that. My grandparents wanted me to go, but they never pushed me to do something I didn’t want to do. Grandma taught me at home and in return, I never wanted to leave. Their house was my world and I barely left it. Because of that, I didn't have any friends and soon became distant and cold towards strangers. 

 It was getting darker outside. The room slowly got dimmer until I felt fully covered. "Grandpa, Grandma, I'm going to go for a walk. I'll be back in a few." I waited until I heard a reply. A minute later, I heard someone walking towards me and give me a hug. I hugged back. "Come back soon, dear," I heard my grandmother say. I shuffled around near the door, holding the wall reaching for my  cane. I felt the hard metal, got it, and shut the door behind me.

These walks were something I liked to do everyday. They kept me going, you know? I heard the wind howling, the trees dancing, the butterflies' wings fluttering. My hearing has improved after the incident and it makes me feel more in peace. It feels good at least to hear the birds chirp in the morning; better than not hearing or seeing anything at all. I felt a street lamp flicker beside me and I could feel a wooden bench just under it. I took a seat and just sat there, thinking. I was just listening to nature. I felt them talk to me. They were my friends.

Then I heard a twig break from behind me. "Who's there?" I asked without turning back. I knew this person was right behind me. I could hear their steady breathing. "I asked who's there?" I waited for a reply. The person finally spoke up.

"Hi. Sorry to bother you. I'm just gonna sit here." It was a boy. His voice seemed kind and thoughtful. After he sat down next to me, I could smell the ocean saltwater on him. He must have been swimming or surfing. We both sat there, not saying a word. Then he spoke again. "So, are you new here? Do you like Huntington?" I tried to answer back. "I'm from around here. I was born and raised here." I felt him look curiously at me. "Are you sure? You're so pale. All the people from around here are really tan." "You think I'm lying? Believe me, I wouldn't know."  He laughed. "Why is that? You said you're from here, aren't you? So you see these people everyday, why wouldn't you know how they looked like." I held out my walking stick/cane. "This is why." I mumbled. "Oh god. Did you hurt your back or something? Do you want me to walk you back home?"  Was he that dumb? " No idiot! I'm blind, hence the cane. I can't see anything!" 

He didn't talk for a while. I thought he felt, being embarrassed of being seen with a blind person. Then I felt a hand touch my head. He patted it slowly. "Sorry. I can be very slow." I crossed my eyes and mumbled,"very slow is an understatement." He laughed. "Very feisty, aren't you?"  I heard a loud thud near me. I jumped. "It's ok," the boy replied,"it's just my surfboard. I gotta go. Come back here tomorrow at whatever time and I'll take you somewhere you will love... probably." I was curious. "How about if I don't come? What if I don't trust you?" He sighed. "Anyway, it's your choice. And to your second question, aren't we friends?" A friend? He was? I hear his footsteps getting farther and farther. I stood up in place. "Wait!" I called after him,"what's your name?" I waited and then he replied.

"Keaton Stromberg." He then walked away again. 

After he left, I walked back home. "I'm home!" I shouted. "Over here!" I heard my grandparents call me to the kitchen. "Hello dear, how was your walk? Did anything new happen?" They always asked me the same question after my walks. I've always had the same answer: "Just the same old, same old." This time, I answered differently.

"I think I made a friend."