On Mute

Chapter 12: The Surprise

                 I stared at him, he stared at me. Thick tension flowed through the air like sticky molasses against my skin. Marc... couldn't hear well? He had a disability? How could this be, he spoke fine?! Aren't people who are unable to hear not able to talk? Aren't they supposed to be mute?

                 A-and yet... the laughs we shared, the conversations we had. This had to be some sort of a joke; that was the only logical explanation!

                 "Well, are you going to say something?" I flashed back to reality; Marc was standing up and was mere feet from my face. I could feel the anger and frustration roll off him in waves, in pulses as he breathed in and out. He looked upon me, his dark eyes filled with sadness, I cringed at their intensity. He released me of his gaze. "I guess you don't want to talk to a deaf person, what's the point? Unless I stare at you head on your words won't reach me." I couldn't face him any longer, the words he was saying cut through me like a knife.

                 This was too much, thinking that he liked me... knowing the person I thought I knew was actually entirely different, the fact he lied about his condition... Tears welled up in my eyes, the floor that I was staring at blurred into a mosaic of teal and grey.

                 "A-Abigail, are you crying?" I shook my head, rubbing my eyes against the back of my shirt.

                 "N-no." I suck at lying. I still couldn't look at him, I turned further away.

                 What was I doing? I was just standing in the doorway hunched over with my eyes holding back tears. Marc stood there, his fists clenching and unclenching as he observed me.

                 "Abigail..." Suddenly the sad feeling in my chest wore off and it was replaced by a pit of rage.

                 "Don't "Abigail" me nothing!" I felt my face contort, anger flowing through my veins in the form of hot rushing blood. My body was shaking, my shoulders quivering, I... I couldn't hold it back. "The fact is... you lied to me." His dark eyes widened as he repeated the word "lied" under his breath. His mouth opened and closed several times as he tried to find his words.

                 "I-I'm so sorry." His hands came up and embraced me, I was enveloped in his scent which soothed me greatly... but my body revolted, tearing away.

                 "How could you ever think I wouldn't like you? What does it matter you are deaf?" I swallowed hard, trying to hold down my sobs. "You are..." Marc was so wide eyed and so... surprised. "You are such an IDIOT!" My hand flew up and made contacts with the side of his face. He did not wince, he did not lower his eyes away; Marc just stood there emotionless as his cheek began to redden.

                 "Well, there you go, I "said something" I hope you are happy?" Then I shoved off, fuming.

~X~

                 That moron!

                 Etch! Scrape!

                 That idiot!

                 Scrape! Scrape!

                 I...I hate him!

                 Crack!

                 I eyes shot downward, the pencil lead had snapped leaving a hard dark line across my beautiful masterpiece. My flower was ruined, the stem snapped off with graphite trimmers. I... killed it before it could even come to life.