Just trying to be normal

Chapter 2

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Dinner was over but my parents told us we were gonna stay a little while longer. I'm currently with Rainlee in her room. Kenson is with Rexon. Kannon is with Sutton. Kailor is with Laken.

"So...what do you *tick* do for fun in this town? Like is there any arcades or Movie theaters near here?" She was so focused on me. I couldn't quite read it. I could feel myself about to tick what I just thought so I plucked myself with the rubber band.

Dont tick
Dont tick
Please don't do it

I thought to myself until I could feel it passing

"We're you about to tick" she asked curiously. Which I don't mind. I just don't like when people try to push me to tell them something. "Yeah" I replied with. "Do you mind if I ask why you didn't want to tick that time." She asked

"Umm *tick* it felt like it was going to be a physical tick and I didn't want to hurt myself."

You're lying
Stop lying
Stop lying to her
You're a liar

'I'm a liar' I ticked out 'I can't read you' *tick*

Please stop don't do it
Why are you doing this?

"'I don't like it'.....sorry I didn't mean to say that."

" I mean it's ok. I like that you're straight forward. I know it's your ticks and you can't control it. Don't beat yourself up about it." She never answered my tick. I can't read her. 'I'm gay' *tick* I'm making a fool out of myself. She giggled and blushed. "I'm bisexual" Rainlee said

How is she already so comfortable with me knowing that? I like that she just talks to me like I'm normal. She looks at me like I'm normal for once. She doesn't try to make me feel like my ticks are such a bad thing. "Thank you"*tick* I said staring into her eyes "Why are you thanking me?" She questioned confused "For not treating me *tick* like I'm not some freak. You just see me like a normal teenage. Which is what I'm trying to be normal. 'you're not normal' *tick*

"I treat you normal because you are normal. There's absolute nothing wrong with you." She said. I can sense me and Rainlee will be good friends. I don't think she likes me like that, so I won't ask her out and make a fool outta myself.

'Go out with me' I fucking jinxed myself on that one "I'm sorry I-I didn't- that wasn't supposed to come out." I looked down at my shoes embarrassed about what I just did. "Ok! When are we going?" I looked up with a huge smile. *tick*

"Are you sure?" She nodded her head. "I like you like a lot actually. I know we just met but you're....different. And! I don't mean because of the Tourette's. I just like who you are. You're sweet."

'Kiss me already' I blurted out. I mean my tick wasn't wrong but it's always bad timing. She leaned forward and kissed me. It was short and sweet but that made my heart skip a beat 'pound pound' I ticked and beat my chest through my tick. I laughed and she tried not to laugh because she thinks that it's rude, but I told her it was ok to laugh if it was funny.

That night Rainlee and I learned so much about each other. We're going on a date Thursday after school.

—
I got ready this morning and packed my football stuff and made sure I had charged my headphones last night...which I did. I think I should be alright. I was downstairs eating breakfast when Rainlee texted me

Rainlee 🌧

Hey we're outside

I picked my stuff up and told Kenson to hurry up.

I got in the front seat and Kenson got in the back with Rexon. "Why did you sit in the back Rex?" Keni asked him

"I thought maybe Knoxy her would want it." Why would he think I wanted it? I then looked to my side. Oh yeah that's right. 'Hello beautiful' *tick*I then turned a bright color of red. "Hello to you too cutie"

"Ok gross can you drive Rainy" Rex said from the back

—

Once we got to school I sat in the car staring off into space

Breathe
You'll be fine
They don't have to know
Rubber band
Rubber band. Use it
*tick*
*tick*

I started to pluck the rubber hectically so it would stop. My brother leaned up from the backseat and grabbed my headphones from around my neck and put them on. Pressing play on my phone.

It's ok
He wrote on my hand. Calming me down
*tick*

I then felt Rainlee put her hand on my hand and looked at me. I took one of the headphones off my ear so I could hear her

"It's going to be ok. We have almost every class together. Just breathe and use me if you need me. Ok?" I nodded and took a deep breath

I barely have my brother in my classes. Which is going to be a real struggle, but I have Rainlee now too. I should be ok

When we walked into the school I had the strong urge to tick. I grabbed Kensons belt loop quickly.

You can't
Just stay calm and focus on Kenson
Focus on his loop

I focused and I felt it go away. We walked to our lockers. They were all relatively close because of our last names.

"You ready? First class math." She took my pinky into hers 'I like this' *tick* 'it's calming' I said quietly ticking. "Then I'll keep doing it. Cmon. Bye boys!" With that we left the boys and headed to math class

"So for our date on Thursday I was thinking we have a picnic. What do you say?" I could hear her but I had to focus on my breathing so I couldn't give her the response I want. I nodded my head, but she understood.

—
Math class, English class, and Computer science went by quickly. I don't have computer science with Lee, but she gave me her bracelet to fidget with. She told me not to break it or I'm dead. I might weigh about two of her, but she's still scary as fuck

It's now lunch time. I have that with Lee, Keni, Rex, and a few of our teammates. I need to tick really bad. Lee told me if I ever need to tick just to take her hand and do whatever I need to. I just can't hurt her. I don't want to hurt her. I guess I could tap it. Would that work?

My group of now friends and I are in our own heated conversation about wearing socks to bed when I see out the corner of my eye a girl in a white tank top and jeans comes up to us with her friends

"Hi there! You must be the Davies. You guys are cute! I'm Gabi captain of the cheerleading and volleyball team."

I don't like her
She's making me uncomfortable

I take Lee's hand and start tapping it. Lee intertwines our fingers and placed them on her lap.

"Wow Rainy first day of school and you already bagged hot twin number 1."

Hot twin number 1?
She thinks I'm hot?
Lee's a twin. She's hot.
Oh no don't do it

'Lee's a hot twin!' oh no I ticked. I looked at Lee with a scared expression. "Lee? Rainlee?....That was out of nowhere. Is something wrong with you?" that hurt

Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it

'I have T-T-Tourette's' *tick* Fuck! I didn't mean too. I looked down scared to face the world now. Lee took her hand out of mine and wrapped it around me. "I know you didn't mean to do that, but I'm proud of you"

I looked at Gabi waiting for her response she looked weirded out

"You have what?! That's what freaks have! Is it contagious!" She's making a scene. Stop please stop. Kenson tried to make me listen to his voice but I couldn't. I started plucking my rubber band really hard. I but my headphones in. I couldn't control it. All of a sudden Rainlee stood up. "That's enough Gabi! I'm sick and tired of you downgrading people. Knoxley is an amazing person! Leave her alone!"

"What're you going to do about it....Lesbo"
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A/N: I got the belt loop thing from another book. I can't remember the name but just know it's not my idea.