Signing To The New Boy

Chapter 1: The Life No One Expected

A/N So just a heads up so it doesn't get confusing, the italics will be when someone is signing, and the actual quotations will be someone verbally speaking.

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Sometimes life decides to throw curve balls at you. Sometimes life decides to take away the good things. Sometimes life decides that it just royally hates you.

My life decided all three.

And it gave me the life no one expected.

I try to be ok with it.

But it still sucks sometimes.

Especially being alone. Well, I'm not completely alone, I still have my parents who have become my rock this past year. But it wouldn't hurt to have some friends too, ya know?

I turned to face my previous high school, Ridgeway High, to say I was nervous would be a major understatement. I was petrified. It would be my first time returning after everything that had happened, and I had no idea what to prepare for. My so-called friends completely ignored me the entire year I was gone. I texted and called and emailed, but I got nothing in return. I told myself it was because they were busy with school and sports or something, but I knew I was just lying to myself.

They left because I changed. Because I'm different now. Because I can't hear.

If that wasn't a surefire way to destroy someone's self confidence, then I have no idea what would be. My friends used to be great. We would always be joking around, laughing and teasing each other. We'd be hanging out almost every day after school, constantly spilling the latest tea, and finding comfort in each other if things ever went awry. I guess our friendship didn't mean as much to them as it did to me.

I was ok with that.

Or, at least I tried to be.

I can understand why, if I think about it hard enough. Communicating with me would be hard, and they would have to learn a whole other language or they would have to be patient with me as I tried to follow along with the conversation. I mean, that's a lot of work, and they already have so much on their plate, so of course they wouldn't want to put extra effort into a friendship.

At least they visited me in the hospital a few times. They cared enough to visit me in such a dreary place, that's something right?

A light touch to my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts. I turned to my parents, who both decided to drop me off for my first day of junior year.

Honey, are you ok? We can always go back to home schooling, or even a cyber school. My mom suggested. I gently shook my head no.

I have to do this, I want to get back to a semi-normal life. My parents nodded in sympathy at my statement. I knew they didn't want me to go back, they were scared of the kind of interactions I would be faced with. But they also knew it was my choice, and they respected my decision, no matter how much they hated it. Which I greatly appreciated. I turned to look at the intimidating front doors of my high school. I took a deep breath and got out of the car, shrugging my back pack on my shoulder as I walked towards the entrance.

I could feel the stares, the whispers, but I didn't bother trying to read their lips and figure out what they were saying. I simply didn't want to know. I went straight towards the principle's office, wanting to get my schedule and to figure out how my classes would work since I wouldn't be able to hear the lectures.

I knocked on the door and patiently waited for someone to answer. After a few minutes, the door abruptly opened and the principle smiled widely upon seeing me. He made sure to face me as he began speaking.