mute

chapter 24

Chapter: The First Date

The next day, Billie woke up with a nervous excitement buzzing through her body. Today was the day—her first date with Odessa. After dance, they had planned to go out together at 6 PM, and while the thought made Billie happy, it also made her incredibly anxious. Her hands were already twitching, her fingers tapping against the bed sheets as she sat up. “Tsk! Eh!” A few vocal tics slipped out, sharper than usual, betraying her nerves.

Throughout the day, Billie could feel the anxiety building. She tried to focus during dance, but her mind kept drifting to what would happen later. Odessa had suggested a quiet café near the studio, a place they could relax and talk without too much noise or distraction. Billie liked the idea, but she was still worried—about how she’d communicate, whether her tics would act up, and if her anxiety would take over.

By the time Billie got home from dance, her nerves were so heightened that her tics had started flaring up. As she stood in front of the mirror, trying to get ready for the date, her body began to twitch uncontrollably. Her arms jerked out to the side, her fingers flapping and clenching into fists. “Tsk! Eh! Hmm!” Her vocal tics were constant, a relentless stream of noises that she couldn’t stop.

As the minutes passed, Billie’s tics grew more intense. Her head snapped to the side, her shoulders jerked, and her legs kicked involuntarily. It felt like every muscle in her body was fighting for control, but she couldn’t stop it. She grabbed onto the edge of her dresser, her knuckles turning white as her body continued to thrash with uncontrollable movements.

“Tsk! Eh! Ha-hmm!” Her head jerked back, and she accidentally knocked a few things off her dresser. The noise startled her, making her tics even worse. Her arms flailed, hitting the dresser with a loud thud, and her legs kicked out again, causing her to stumble backward.

Billie’s breathing became shallow, her heart racing as the tic attack continued to overwhelm her. It felt like her body was out of her control, and the frustration of it all made her feel even more anxious. She couldn’t focus on getting ready, couldn’t even think straight as her body rebelled against her.

The tic attack lasted for what felt like an eternity, but in reality, it was just under an hour. Eventually, after a lot of deep breathing and grounding techniques, Billie felt her body start to calm down. The movements became less intense, her vocal tics softer and more spaced out. She was exhausted, but relieved that the worst had passed.

After taking a few more minutes to fully collect herself, Billie went back to getting ready. She picked out a simple outfit—nothing too fancy, just something comfortable that she knew Odessa would like. She tied her hair back loosely and grabbed her ear defenders, just in case the café was louder than expected. Looking at herself in the mirror, she took a deep breath, trying to remind herself that everything would be okay. “Tsk! Eh!” A few more tics slipped out, but they were manageable now.

At 6 PM, Billie met Odessa outside the dance studio. Odessa looked beautiful, her smile warm and inviting as she waved at Billie. Billie’s nerves returned, but the sight of Odessa made her feel a little calmer.

“Ready?” Odessa asked, her eyes full of excitement.

Billie nodded, her hands flapping slightly at her sides. “Tsk! Eh!” She signed a quick “yes,” her fingers trembling with nervous energy.

They walked to the café together, and as soon as they arrived, Billie was relieved to see that it wasn’t too crowded. There were only a few people inside, and the atmosphere was calm and quiet. Odessa picked a table near the window, where they could sit away from most of the other customers.

As they sat down, Billie could feel her nerves returning. Her hands twitched, and her legs bounced under the table. “Tsk! Hmm!” Her vocal tics started to pick up again, but Odessa didn’t seem to mind. She just smiled at Billie, her eyes full of understanding.

“Don’t worry,” Odessa said softly. “It’s just us. You’re safe here.”

Billie smiled weakly, her hands flapping slightly as she tried to relax. She was still nervous, but Odessa’s calm presence made it easier to breathe. They ordered their drinks, and Odessa started talking about their dance class that day, keeping the conversation light and easy.

As the evening went on, Billie found herself relaxing more. Odessa was so easy to be around—she never made Billie feel self-conscious, and she didn’t react to Billie’s tics in a way that made her feel uncomfortable. In fact, Odessa seemed to know exactly when to give Billie space and when to pull her back into the conversation.

At one point, when Billie’s vocal tics became more frequent, Odessa reached across the table and gently placed her hand over Billie’s. It was a simple gesture, but it helped ground Billie, reminding her that she wasn’t alone. “Tsk! Eh!” The tics continued, but they didn’t feel as overwhelming with Odessa there.

After they finished their drinks, Odessa suggested they take a short walk around the block before heading home. Billie agreed, and as they walked together under the evening sky, she felt a sense of peace settle over her. Odessa talked about her plans for the future, about how much she loved dance and how she hoped they could continue doing it together. Billie listened, her heart feeling lighter with each step.

When they finally parted ways for the night, Billie couldn’t stop smiling. As she watched Odessa walk away, her hands flapped uncontrollably at her sides, her feet bouncing with excitement. “Tsk! Eh! Hmm!” Her vocal tics returned in full force, but this time they felt different. They were tied to the happiness bubbling inside her, a release of all the emotions she’d kept pent up during the date.

When Billie got home, her family was waiting for her in the living room. Maggie, Patrick, and Finneas all looked up as she walked in, and immediately they could tell something was different.

“How was it?” Finneas asked with a grin, clearly already knowing the answer.

Billie signed, “It was perfect!” Her hands were flapping so much she could barely get the signs out, but her family understood.

Her parents shared a knowing look, both of them smiling proudly. “We’re so happy for you, Billie,” Maggie said, pulling her into a warm hug.

For the rest of the evening, Billie couldn’t stop stimming. Her hands flapped constantly, her body swaying back and forth as she moved through the house. Her vocal tics continued—“Tsk! Eh! Hm-hm!”—but they didn’t bother her. They felt like a part of her happiness, an expression of all the emotions she couldn’t put into words.

As the night wound down, Billie went to her room to relax. She wrapped herself in her weighted blanket and sat on her bed, still rocking gently as she replayed the date in her mind. Odessa had been so kind, so understanding, and it made Billie feel like she had found something truly special.

Before going to bed, Billie spent some time drawing in her notebook, her hands moving fluidly across the page as she sketched the memories of the evening. Her tics were still present, but they were softer now, more manageable. Eventually, when she felt calm enough, Billie set her notebook aside and climbed into bed, pulling the weighted blanket up to her chin.

As she lay there, her hands flapping lightly under the covers, she thought about Odessa, about their first date, and about the future they could have together. “Tsk! Eh!” Her vocal tics slipped out as she smiled to herself. It had been a perfect day.

With that thought, Billie closed her eyes, her body still swaying slightly as she drifted off to sleep, her heart full of happiness and hope for what was to come.