The golden lights overhead cast small spotlights on the stage of the school auditorium. They illuminate Crybaby, Angelita, and Ben, who had all snuck in after curfew to give Ben his first ASL lesson.
"Now, doing a "z" is very easy," Angelita starts. "Stick out your pinky, then move it in the air like this." Holding up her pinkie finger, Angelita moves it through the air, drawing a "z".
Ben smiles. "Oh, you just draw the letter for this one?" He holds up his pinkie and copies Angelita's movements. "This one is easy."
"And now you know the alphabet!" Angelita cheers.
Crybaby claps, before picking up the pen she has been using all night to write in a small pink notebook. "You're at pre schooler level now!" She writes.
Ben looks at the paper, then up at Crybaby, and smiles. "I know more than a pre schooler, don't I?" He asks.
"Well," Angelita starts. "You know the alphabet and how to introduce yourself, so I'd say you're still very beginner." Angelita grins, before adding, "Beginner and pre schooler are basically the same thing."
Crybaby picks up her pen again, scribbling down quickly. "He can also say please and thank you! He's a pre schooler with manners." She holds up the notebook to Angelita, smiling.
"Ah, true!" Angelita smiles back, then looks to Ben, "You're a well behaved pre schooler."
"This better not become a nickname." Ben says, half jokingly.
Crybaby writes on her notepad again, holding it out to Ben quickly. "Why would you give her that idea?"
Ben reads the paper, then looks to Crybaby, who was looking at him in a way that says "you're an idiot".
Angelita cheers, "It's definitely a nickname now!"
"What's the nickname? "Well behaved pre schooler"?" He questions, making air quotes with his fingers.
"No," Angelita scoffs, "That's stupidly long. It's just be "pre schooler"." She says, mimicking Ben's air quotes.
Crybaby writes. "We've gotten very off track from the lesson."
"Yeah, we have." Ben agrees, "But just talking to both of you is nice." He looks at Crybaby, then turns to Angelita, smiling at them both.
"Ew, don't get all sentimental!" Angelita says jokingly.
"What? You don't like sentimental?" Ben questions.
"Not from you." She teases, smiling.
"And who do you like sentimental from? Kelly?" He teases back, raising an eyebrow to Angelita.
"Shut up!" She leans over, punching him lightly on the arm.
"You have a thing for Kelly?" Crybaby writes. A curious look on her face.
"Maybe." Angelita says, looking flustered.
"You weren't so unsure when you were telling me about her." Ben adds.
"I said shush!" Angelita yells, still smiling. "Don't make me remind you where the nickname "Knives" came from." She threatens jokingly.
Crybaby writes. "We're did that come from?"
"She stabbed me once." Ben says with a shrug. Angelita smiles proudly.
Crybaby looks surprised, which she was, but not at the fact Angelita stabbed someone. She scribbles in her notepad again. "Why are you so nonchalant about that?"
"It happened a while ago," Ben starts. "I honestly just find it funny now."
"Where did you stab him?" Crybaby signs to Angelita.
"The ribcage." Angelita says.
"What?" Crybaby signs, turning to Ben.
"Do you want to see the scar?" He asks, looking at Crybaby excitedly. She shakes her head aggressively, which causes Angelita to laugh.
"Do I seem like the type of person to stab somebody?" Angelita asks suddenly.
"You are the type of person to stab somebody." Ben reminds her, gesturing to his ribs.
"I know that!" She laughs. "But, do I seem like I would?" She adds, "like, if you didn't know me, would you expect me to stab you?"
Crybaby thinks for a second, then writes. "100%"
"Good." Angelita says contently.
Crybaby writes. "We're even more off track from the lesson now."
"Then I guess we'll just have to plan another lesson." Ben smiles, looking at Crybaby.
His eyes on her cause Crybaby to blush. She quickly stands up and begins gathering her things. "We should go now. It's very late." She signs to Angelita.
Angelita raises an eyebrow to Crybaby, then turns to Ben. "Alright, we're gonna go."
"Oh, okay." Ben says. He turns to Crybaby. "Thank you." He signs. A big grin covers his face.
Crybaby smiles back, avoiding eye contact.
"You better practice, pre schooler!" Angelita says, pointing to Ben.
"I will." Ben says, turning to Angelita, "I promise."
YOU ARE READING
Night Mime | K-12 AU
FanfictionCrybaby has Situational Mutism and cannot speak at her boarding school, K-12 Sleep Away. Throughout this story, Crybaby gets into her first romantic relationship, has several conflicts with some of her friends, and sneaks out with everyone else to h...
