Words

Chapter 4

He was starting too.
We just sat there for the longest three seconds of my life.
"Hey" he said never breaking his gaze as I slowly continued chewing on my sandwich.
I gave a little wave 'I most likely look like a retard.
"Um...." He said his hands on the back of his neck. then he shook his head as if to clear something off his mind.finally breaking his gaze.
" Your new.... Right." I nodded feeling stupid.
"I'm August" he said with a beautiful smile that made butterflies take flight in my stomach.
" and you are....?" I dug into my backpack and showed hi my ID. "You're the girl who's mute.....".
I wanted to hide under the table now.
"I...um ...got to go" he got up and left as fast as he came.
'What's wrong with me' I thought both August and Able had left me when they found out I couldn't speak. How dose that make me any different from them.
'At least I still had Jaquan so I wasn't a total loner'I thought.

Just as I was about to exit the library I herd a familiar voice.
"Lina!" It was Jaquan. I turned around to see her grinning from ear to ear.
" I was thinking maybe you could get my number so you could text me"she said" so we could still communicate" I nodded in agreement.

We exchanged numbers and e-mail addresses.

I had made a friend.

The rest of the week went by fast. I sat with Jaquan at the library for lunch and we became really because I could talk...well text her. I only saw August once or twice in the hallway but other than that he ignored me. The pointing and whispering went on for a wile along with the constant reminders of me being a 'mute freak'.

For the first time in five stressful days I woke up gracefully without an alarm.

My mom had already left for work leaving a post-it note with a smile face drawn on it on my bedroom door.

After eating breakfast I got a text from Jaquan saying she was coming over. Fifteen minutes later she was at my door step.
We made our way to my room and sat on the floor.
*need anything to eat/drink* she shook her head after reading the text.
She stood up and walked around until she reached the door that said 'KEEP OUT'.
*you keep dead body's in here?* she texted me .
*maybe* I replied smiling. She laughed.
*is it okay if I go in?*. I thought about it for a second. then nodded.

"Wow, you spent a lot of time in here don't you" I nodded
She walked around stopping to look at each paining
" Is that August Hunter" I looked at the painting she had in her hands.
I shook my head my face turning red as I snatched the painting out of he reach.
Her eyes widened " you like him don't you!" It didn't sound like a question.
*i don't know. Is that a bad thing?* I asked/texted.
*no absolutely not!* she replied
*so when did you guys meet*
*at the library wile you were busy* she turned red
*oh...that* she smiled
*okay so he came to you*
*something like that* I replied

I explained to her exactly what happened and how. It felt good to let someone know about him crowding my thoughts lately.

Monday returned and so did the annoying alarm clock. I would never get used to it.
My schedule had been changed to fit in an Art class (mom's idea not mine). I would have art for first period.
I made my way to the art class through the crowded hallway.
The art classroom was a lot different from most of the classrooms I had been to.it had long tables and stools all sound it with art supplied all around the room.
I started to notice some kids I saw in the hallways and in some of my old classes. And there he was. He was chatting with a very pretty girl talking animatedly to him and laughing at something he said. What was so funny. She scooted closer to him and I suddenly had this burning feeling in my chest.
"Elian Gordon?" Asked a tall man in round glasses. I could only guess he was the art teacher.
I forced a smiled and nodded.
" I am aware that your schedule has been changed due to the addition of this class?" I nodded again.

" I am also aware you had a slight disability.... You cannot speak?" I nodded feeling a bit smaller.
" Okay then you may take a seat over there" he said pointing to the empty stool beside him.
Oh no! I thought not him. I felt him staring at me as I took the stool beside him.

" Hi" he said smiling.
I smiled at him wile trying to tame the wild butterflies that seemed to fill my stomach whenever he was near.

I later realized August was also in two of my classes and so was Jaquan.
Able joins us on the library floor at lunch wile I texted Jaquan about Art class and August. It was the first time he had talked to me besides the second day of school.