Wave of Hope

Chapter 5 - Eating

Malia's POV

We sit in a Booth next to a window with an incredible view. I stare out at the beautiful flowers and white puffy clouds. The care free birds swooping through the blue sky. I watch as couples and family's laugh and tease each other without a fear in the world. I see an adorable little eight year girl with pigtails run through the flowers giggling and chasing a butterfly. The older brother watching to the side laughing as she misses a grab for the butterfly. The parents holding each other lovingly and smiling up at the sky taking in the fresh air maybe for the first time in days because of work or college.

I look back to Elijah and he's watching me with a happy little smile and I smile back at him. His smile gets wider and I lift my camera and snap a picture of him and make sure to get a part of the scenery through the window on the side of him.

"You did not just take a picture of me?" He says and reaches for the camera. I shake my head and pull the camera to my chest protectivly.

He groans and I giggle softly at his slightly pink cheeks.

A guy comes up to our table and sets menus in front of us along with glasses of water.

"Hello I will be your waitor today. My name is Hank and if you need anything just call for me and I will get to you as soon as possible. What can I get for you to drink today?" He says looking at the both of us.

"Coke for me please and what would you like Malia?" Elijah ask looking over to me.
I shake my head and point to my water.

"You sure?" Hank asks and I nod my head. He gives me a kind smile and nods before walking away.

"So about that sign language?" Elijah asks.

I smile and open up my journal

-What would you like to learn first?

He thinks about it for a moment then shrugs
"Just the basics for now I guess."

I nod and write down Hi and bye and do the sign for that.

He repeats them and nods

-How are you? I write then sign

He repeats it slowly and then does it again and says the words out loud as he does it again.

-I'm fine. I write and sign and he repeats.

-I'm not so good.

-I'm great.

-I'm terrible.

He repeats them and says them out loud and concentrates fiercely.

We go on for awhile then Hank brings him his coke and we stop momentarily.

"Learning sign language?" Hank asks with an amused smile.

"Yup" Elijah says and takes a sip of his drink.

"I learned sign language as a kid because my sister was born deaf." He says with a loving smile at the mention of his sister.

-How'd she handle it? I ask through sign language.

-She was used to it and learned it was apart of who she was and accepted it. Sure she went through that stage where she hated herself but she got over it pretty quick with our support. She is a sophomore now and is a quirky dorky love ball. He signs back.

I cover my mouth and snort slightly at his description.

He chuckles but stops and clears his throat when he sees Elijah glaring at him.

I kick Elijah under the table and he winces and forces a smile.
"Sorry "

Hank unsuccessfully trys to hid his smile and nods in understanding.
"Ill give you guys a few more minutes to decide what you want."

We nod and he walks off to get back to work.

"Soooo... what would you like to eat? I'm starving." Elijah says

I shake my head at him and write down I'm not hungry.

"Yes you are. Now choose something or I'll choose something for you." He says not moving his eyes from the menu.

I scowl and glare at him.
- I'm not going to eat.

He reads it and looks me dead in the eye with a smile.

"I can practically feel the vibrations of your stomach growling from over here. I will force feed you if I have to. I won't have you starving while you're with me."

I start to panic and shake my head forcefully. I don't want to eat in a restaurant. I haven't in months and I really don't want to in front of him. He'll think I'm weird and not want to be my friend or worse not want to be my friend only in public.

He sets his hand over mine in worry. "Hey what's wrong? Why don't you want to eat?"

I sigh and slowly write each letter in my journal.

-I don't eat in public.

He raises an eyebrow and looks up at me.

"Why?"

I consider just lying to him but I hate lying and I'm not very good at it. I guess it's the consequence of knowing when others lie.

But would he leave me? I haven't known him for long but imagining him leaving me forever breaks my heart into two black pieces.
Would he be able to handle it? Dealing with this can be a lot and I don't know if he would up and leave because of all the work it takes.

I want to tell him. I feel like I can trust him and I've never been wrong about something like that. The last time I ignored that feeling I ended up where I am now.

But how to tell him.
Should I write it down or just show him?

I look up at his expectent eyes and sigh.
I grab his hand and pull him to the hall that leads to the bathrooms.

Its has light and nobody was there so I stopped at the end of the hall and turn to face him.

He looks at me questioningly.
I try to open my mouth but I just can't seem to to make myself do it. I grunt in frustration and try again.

"Malia what are you doing? Are you trying to talk?" He asks hopefully.

Tears well up as I stare into his hopeful gaze. I shake head and I let out a little sob as I try again and manage to open my mouth a little wider.

He holds the back of my head and burries his fingers into my hair and tilts my head back so I can see him.

"Malia it's okay you don't have to..." he trails of as I manage to open my mouth wide enough for him to see inside.

Tears flow down my cheeks uncontrollably and I watch his eyes as he takes it all in.

He finally looks back into my red and watery eyes with his own teary ones.

"Malia." He whispers and I break down and fall to the ground.

He falls with me and softens the landing. I sob into his chest and he squeezes me closer. I feel something wet land on my head but ignore it until I feel more thud into my hair. I look up and raise my hand to wipe Elijah's cheeks. He leans into my touch and I snuggle my face into his neck. He does the same and we sit there on the floor comfortably in each others arms.