Mute Songbird (boyxboy) -Complete-

Hotel Rooms

On Sunday, Dan and I may have set a world record for the number of messages sent. We probably should have called Guinness beforehand so they could keep track. Seriously, it got to the point that we actually told each other when we had to pee so that no one would panic when a response didn't come right away. I didn't get to see him though, which would have been better. While mom and dad were at church I managed to get my room clean and unloaded the dishwasher too. So, all in all, not a bad day.

All during school on Monday I thought about my afternoon speech therapy session with Mr. Rodriguez. Mom was coming too and we were going to discuss the new therapy. I wanted all the facts before I signed on the dotted line and gave it a shot.

Choir was the first time that day that I actually managed to focus on something else. I had most of the songs memorized/whatever I did to make things work and was pretty happy with my progress. She'd moved my seat and I was pleased as punch to be up front although it meant being even further away from Dan. When she told us to close our binders 20 minutes before the end of class, I was curious.

"I know that most of you have been waiting for this since the semester started" Mrs. Clark said. "Time to discuss the State Championship. I have your permission slips here." She handed a stack to one of the sopranos to pass out, then continued. "Just like last year, we'll be spending the night in Houston after the competition and coming back on Sunday. Buses will leave from the gym parking lot at exactly 9:15 am so do NOT be late. I have the sign-ups for rooms, I will post it beside the door right now and give you all a few minutes to sign up before you leave. Anyone who doesn't sign up or gets smart and tries to room with someone of the opposite sex will be assigned a room by me. Understood?"

Everyone was whispering and talking, sending each other hand signals and pretty much smiling like crazy. Well, the upperclassmen. The freshmen were apparently in for a treat judging by how excited the rest of the class was. I stayed in my seat as people jumped up, wanting to be the first to sign up for rooms. Was there some sort of limit she hadn't mentioned and everyone else had to sleep on the bus? I didn't think so.

"So, do you already have a roommate or are you free?" Dan asked from behind my shoulder.

I tried not to move my shoulder up as his breath hit the back of my ear. I turned and smiled.

"Want to share?"

Yes.

He handed me a pencil and I waited in line to do the honors. We'd spent the night together a few times before but now that we couldn't anymore, it seemed huge. Or maybe it was the fact that we wouldn't be 15 feet from our parents that made it daunting. Either way, writing our names on that piece of paper felt big. It felt like a present, or Christmas even, maybe. I was excited and a little nervous. Waiting was going to be torture.

During history I thought that maybe the trip and hotel stay could be my reward for doing the new CIT therapy. Maybe even if it wasn't working by then I could give myself a break and write/sign with Dan on the trip. It would feel good to have an 'out' coming, something to look forward to.

On the way outside after the final bell I had a horrible thought; maybe Dan's parents wouldn't let us share a room. I mean, why would they? If they had a problem with it when they were right next door there was NO way they'd let us do it in Houston. I wrote Dan a quick message and sent it to him while I waited on my mom. I didn't expect him to answer until after play rehearsals but he opened it just as he came walking towards me.

Asher: Will your parents let you?

"I'm going to lie" he whispered. "I'll tell them I'm rooming with Chris or something. Don't worry about it."

Are you sure about that?

"Do you not want to?"

Of course I do !!!

"Well so do I and what they don't know won't hurt them. Okay? I want to kick ass at States' and then share a room with you. So I will" he answered, smiling. "I have to go. Good luck at therapy."

'Thank you'

"Fill me in tonight!" he called, his long legs carrying him towards the auditorium.

His confidence and optimism was cute. On some people it would have seemed cocky, but not on him. My mom pulled up and I climbed into the car, ready to get this talk with Mr. Rodriguez over with. It was time to find out just how bad it was going to be and what he thought my chances were of it actually working.