mute

chapter 22

Chapter: A New Kind of Connection

The next day at dance, Billie felt a little more in control, though the weight of yesterday's exhaustion still lingered. Her body wasn’t as cooperative as she would have liked, with small tics still breaking through every few minutes—“Tsk! Eh!”—but it wasn’t as overwhelming as before. Odessa walked with her to the studio, offering silent support as always, their hands brushing against each other as they walked side by side. The closeness between them had grown naturally, but lately, there had been a different kind of energy between them, something Billie wasn’t sure how to navigate.

Dance class itself went smoothly. Billie found herself lost in the movements, letting the rhythm and choreography ground her in a way that only dance could. It was one of the few places where she felt free, where her body moved with purpose rather than being controlled by the relentless tics and stims that ruled her daily life. Odessa stayed close, her calming presence like an anchor in the storm, and Billie found herself grateful for the way Odessa always knew what she needed without having to ask.

After class, they lingered in the empty studio, stretching and cooling down. The soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room, the mirrors reflecting the two of them as they sat side by side on the floor. Billie tugged on her ear defenders, pulling them off for the first time in hours, finally feeling like she could breathe a little easier.

Odessa looked over at Billie, her gaze soft and thoughtful. “You did great today,” she signed, smiling gently.

Billie smiled back, though she still felt a bit worn out. “Thanks,” she signed, her movements slow. The day hadn’t been as bad as she feared, but her body was still tired from the constant undercurrent of tics that had followed her around.

For a few moments, they sat in silence, letting the quiet of the empty studio settle around them. Billie’s body twitched slightly—“Eh! Tsk!”—but Odessa didn’t flinch. She never did. Instead, she reached out, gently taking Billie’s hand, her touch warm and reassuring.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you,” Billie signed slowly, her eyes flicking up to meet Odessa’s.

Odessa’s expression softened even more, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. There was a tension between them now, but not the kind that came from stress or anxiety. This was something different, something Billie couldn’t quite put into words but could feel growing between them.

Without thinking too much about it, Billie leaned forward, her heart racing in her chest. She wasn’t sure what she was doing, only that she wanted to be closer to Odessa. Odessa didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned in as well, closing the distance between them. Their lips met softly, hesitantly at first, but then the kiss deepened, slow and tender. It was gentle but filled with emotion—a new kind of connection that felt right in a way Billie hadn’t expected.

Billie’s heart raced as the kiss ended, her face warm, and she could feel her body buzzing with excitement. She began to stim immediately, her hands flapping lightly as her body swayed from side to side. “Tsk! Eh! Hm-hm!” Her vocal tics broke through, but this time, they were happy, almost excited in their rhythm.

Odessa smiled, her cheeks flushed as well. She didn’t say anything, just watched as Billie stimming happily, her eyes full of warmth and understanding. Billie knew she didn’t have to explain what she was feeling—Odessa always just seemed to know.

As they gathered their things to leave the studio, Billie’s body still felt light, the sensation of the kiss lingering like a soft glow inside her. Odessa reached for her hand again, and this time, Billie didn’t hesitate to take it.

When they arrived back at Billie’s house, there was a quiet sense of something new between them, an unspoken understanding that their friendship had shifted into something deeper. Billie couldn’t stop smiling, her body filled with a nervous energy that made her want to stim more. As they stepped inside, Odessa gave her hand one last squeeze before letting go, leaving Billie feeling warm and cared for in a way she hadn’t experienced before.

Billie wasn’t sure what would happen next, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like something good was waiting just around the corner.
Chapter: Sharing the News

When Billie got home, her heart was still racing from the kiss with Odessa. She couldn’t stop smiling, her entire body buzzing with energy. Her hands flapped gently by her sides as she walked into the house, unable to contain the excited stims that kept bubbling up. “Tsk! Eh! Hm-hm!” Her vocal tics followed in a rhythm that felt lighter, almost joyful. She had never experienced anything like this before, and the newness of it was making her mind whirl in the best way possible.

Odessa stayed for a bit, chatting with Billie before heading home. When Billie was finally alone in her room, she realized she needed to tell her parents. They had always been supportive, but this was big—something Billie hadn’t expected to happen. After a few moments of pacing around, she decided to go for it.

She walked into the living room, where her parents, Maggie and Patrick, were sitting. They looked up, immediately noticing Billie’s beaming expression. Her hands were still flapping lightly, her feet bouncing on the floor in excitement. It was impossible to hide how she was feeling.

"Billie, what’s going on? You look so happy!" Maggie asked, her face lighting up with curiosity.

Billie took a deep breath, her hands still twitching from the excitement. Her tics were going strong, but she was determined to get the words out. She signed, “I kissed Odessa today.” The words felt heavy but freeing at the same time, and as soon as she signed them, her body immediately started stimming more intensely. Her hands flapped rapidly now, and her feet tapped excitedly against the floor.

Patrick’s eyes widened in surprise, and then a huge smile spread across his face. “That’s amazing, Billie!” he exclaimed.

Maggie stood up, rushing over to hug her daughter tightly. “We’re so happy for you! That’s wonderful, sweetie.”

Billie’s heart soared at their reaction. She had been nervous about telling them, but seeing their excitement made all of her worries vanish. Her body couldn’t stop moving—her arms flapped in joyful motions, her shoulders twitched, and her vocal tics followed in quick succession. “Eh! Tsk! Hm-hm!”

Maggie laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair out of Billie’s face. “Look at you, so happy. I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”

Patrick nodded, his grin still wide. “We knew something was going on when you came home looking like you were about to burst with excitement. You’ve got that glow, Billie.”

For the rest of the day, Billie couldn’t stop stimming. Her happiness was overflowing, and her body needed to express it. She flapped her hands, tapped her feet, and swayed side to side. Her vocal tics were more frequent than usual—“Tsk! Eh! Hm-hm!”—but today, they didn’t bother her. In fact, they felt like part of her celebration, an expression of the joy she was feeling deep inside.

Her parents were supportive as always, giving her space to stim freely while still engaging her in conversations about how she felt. Finneas popped by later in the day, and after hearing the news, he grinned and gave Billie a playful nudge.

“Odessa, huh?” he teased lightly, making Billie’s cheeks flush. “I’m happy for you, sis. You deserve it.”

Billie nodded, unable to keep still as the excitement continued to buzz through her. She felt free, like she was on top of the world, and no amount of tics or stimming could bring her down from this high. The rest of the evening was filled with that same happy energy, and even as the day drew to a close, Billie’s body was still moving, expressing every ounce of joy she had stored inside.

That night, as she lay in bed, she thought about Odessa and the kiss they’d shared. A smile tugged at her lips, and her hands fluttered once more under the blankets. This was something special, and Billie was ready to embrace whatever came next.