A ONCE IN A LIFETIME SILENT LOVE

Chapter 2: Not giving up

Friday (August 20th)

Marie's POV

I was at my locker after 7th period when I saw Shay lean against the locker beside mine. I tried to ignore him and kept putting books in my locker until I saw his hands moving. I slowly turned to face him to see he was trying to do sign language. I watched his hands then laughed because I wasn't sure what he was trying to say but I doubt it had anything to do with a dog.

I signed your sign language is terrible.

He caught onto the word terrible and he nodded his head.

"I was trying to ask you if the school week usually goes by this slow." He said smiling at me.

I signed it didn't feel like the week went by slow for me.

He watched my hands then looked up at my face when I was done.

"Ok I think you said it wasn't slow for you." He said with an unsure look on his face.

I nodded my head then he smiled really big.

"Dude, what did Tucker tell you?" Eric Lawrence (Tucker's best friend and kicker on our football team) asked as he stopped behind Shay then yanked him away from me.

Shay almost fell down when Eric yanked him away and pushed him aside so Eric could take over the spot Shay was in before.

"Stick to your own misfit friends unless you have a death wish." Eric said as I closed my locker.

"And if I do have a death wish?" Shay asked then I looked at him.

"You outcasts always think you are tough." Eric said shaking his head before walking towards Shay.

I quickly moved in between them then did the only thing I could think about to make Eric back down I kissed him. Eric was shocked at first because the last time we kissed was 2 years ago at my birthday party. After a little bit, he broke the kiss and smiled at me before glaring at Shay who was probably still in the same spot behind me.

"Stay away from her and stick to your own kind." Eric said before grabbing my right hand then we walked away.

I didn't look back and when we got outside, Eric stopped then turned to face me.

"So did you do that to just stop me from hitting that jerk?" Eric asked.

I nodded my head and he shook his head.

"One day." He said shaking his head then we started walking again.

I knew what he was talking about, he was still holding out hope that I might feel the same way about him as he feels about me.

Later on, I was at my shift at the library when I saw Ryder plus Shay walk inside. Since I was sitting behind the desk helping the librarian sort books that people have returned, I saw them as they stopped at the desk.

"I need to return these books." Shay said before sitting down a bag of books on the desk.

"Not a problem." Mrs. Johnson (the librarian) said before starting to take the books out of the bag since she would have to scan each one.

I looked to see all the books were on sign language and I shook my head.

"Hey Marie." Ryder said seeing me.

Shay quickly looked to see me then looked away.

I signed he giving up already?

Ryder laughed then Shay looked at him.

"She asked if you are giving up already." Ryder said then Shay looked at me.

"Yeah so your boyfriend should be happy." Shay said then Ryder gave Shay a look.

Mrs. Johnson shot me a look and I knew the look said you know these juveniles. I waited until she got finished scanning all the books and handed them to me before walking away before I started hitting the desk to get Ryder's and Shay's attention as they were about to walk away. They both looked at me.

I signed Eric is not my boyfriend; I just did that to save your butt.

Ryder smiled at me as Shay just looked at me confused.

"I caught boyfriend and butt." Shay said then Ryder laughed.

"She said Eric is not her boyfriend and she did what she did to save your butt." Ryder said then Shay just stared at me.

"I could have told you she was single dude." Ryder said hitting Shay's left shoulder than Shay shot Ryder a look.

"I didn't need you to save my butt." Shay said looking at me.

I signed yeah you did.

"Pretty sure you argued with me so I'll just say I can protect myself just fine Angel." He said.

I signed agree to disagree.

"She said agree to disagree." Ryder said as Shay just stared at me.

Shay nodded his head at me.

I turned towards the computer and scanned some of the sign language books he just returned. After I did that, I pushed the books towards him and he gave me a look.

I signed these are the best books for learning sign language.

"She said these are the best books for learning sing language." Ryder said.

Shay nodded his head before grabbing the books.

"I meant it when I said I do have a death wish." Shay said before turning around walking away and Ryder followed him.

Shay's POV

"I take it she kissed Eric to keep him from hurting you?" Ryder asked as we got in his truck.

I took the cigarette out of my pocket then my lighter before lighting the cigarette.

"Didn't need her help." I said before smoking the cigarette.

"Eric does like her that way but I've never seen her take an interest in a guy in that way." He said and I nodded my head as I kept smoking.

"I could have taken him." I said.

"And would have gotten suspended. If you want to disrupt the social hierocracy at our school take it slow and one day at a time Shay." He said.

"I don't do anything slow." I said and he shook his head at me.

"Ok." He said before backing out of the parking space.

Ryder dropped me off at home and I went straight to my room.