While listening to the buzz of fluorescent overhead lights, Crybaby stares at the wall next to her bed. She has been here all day.
Footsteps approach from across the room. Fleur stands next to Crybaby's bed, silently.
A few seconds pass before she finally speaks. "Crybaby," Fleur says softly. "I just wanted to make sure you know that I don't mind if you can talk to me."
Crybaby's eyes remain fixed on the wall. She doesn't move.
"I talked to Magnolia earlier." Fleur confesses.
Crybaby's stomach drops.
"I saw her during second period." Fleur continues. "She didn't apologize, but I think she's just emotional." Fleur tries to reassure. "After a while, she'll probably see that what she said was hurtful, and she'll say sorry. Then, we can all be friends again!"
Crybaby sits up, turning to Fleur. "I don't want to be friends again." Crybaby signs, eyes on the floor. "I don't even want an apology."
"What do you want?" Fleur asks, sinking to the floor beside Crybaby's bed.
Crybaby meets her eyes. "I just want people to stop making my struggle about them." Crybaby signs. She inhales sharply at the feeling of tears in her eyes. "I want people to stop getting mad at me or taking it personally when I can't speak to them. I want people to understand that I can't choose who I can talk to." Her tears begin to fall as Crybaby continues to sign. "I want them to understand that, even if I'm able to talk to one person, it's still really hard for me."
Fleur remains still, not saying anything.
Crybaby turns away, laying back down to resume staring at the wall.
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As the day comes to an end, Crybaby hears a knock on the door. She doesn't move, listening as Fleur makes her way to open the door.
"She's here, right?" Angelita's voice asks from the doorway.
"She's been in bed all day." Fleur replies.
Crybaby listens as footsteps quickly approach. Suddenly, she feels hands grab her, before she's pulled out of bed, onto the floor.
"We're going out!" Angelita declares as Crybaby lifts her head off the ground, meeting her eyes.
"No." She signs, eyes narrowing.
"You don't get a choice, actually." Angelita says. She grabs Crybaby's hands and begins pulling her out the door of her room.
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"Why did you drag me here?" Crybaby signs, glaring at Angelita from the passenger seat.
"Literally." Angelita replies. Her grin quickly fades as she catches Crybaby's glare. "Sorry."
"I don't want to be here." Crybaby signs, eyes shifting to look at the park outside the car window.
"But, there's still a treehouse she's never been to." Angelita smirks. "With a surprise inside."
Crybaby looks back at Angelita, whose grin quick returns. Her curiosity overpowers her sadness, and Crybaby unbuckles her seatbelt, getting out of the car.
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...
