Smoke

2. Partners

When Carson stepped into the class the teacher eyed him "Carson Reynolds, correct?" The boy nodded but the teacher had looked away "Are you going to speak?" The teacher yelled making Carson jump. He looked down and someone spoke up, he slightly recognized the voice "He's mute. Meaning he doesn't speak" Carson looked out the corner of his eye. It was the boy from this morning. He sighed with relief when the teacher sighed "Thank you. Sorry kid. Go sit by Arryn" I nodded and quickly walked to the back sitting next to the boy from this morning. I hugged my knees willing my tail not to move around my leg from fear.

I made it through the first class with no problem. I 'asked' Arryn for help at one point and was shaking so bad he actually felt the need to ask if I was okay. I pulled out my schedule and leaned against a wall thinking about where I have to go. It wasn't easy trying to find places when you're new and have no way of asking for help. I wined when the halls all cleared and I was still lost. There wasn't any sound that left my throat though, it seemed physically impossible after so long without making even a squeak. He leaned against the wall and slid down hugging his knees and covering his face. Soon he heard footsteps and that familiar voice "Carson? Why aren't you in class?" I looked up and sighed giving him a frustrated look "Do you know the sign alphabet?" I nodded "Tell me that way" I nodded again and stood up 'L-O-S-T' . He smirked a little "it's a big school, don't feel bad about it. What class?" Handing him my paper he laughed "Your class is right down the hall" I sighed. Of course it was. "Come on, my class is that way. I'll help you out" I guessed because he knew basic sign he would know 'Thank you're so I made the sign and he nodded "No problem".

Getting to my class Arryn and I entered getting glared at by the teacher. I flinched at the 30 something gazes on us and his behind the large boy making him chuckle "My little friend Carson got a bit lost, it's his first day," he stepped closer to the teacher talking lower "you should probably know that he's also mute" the woman nodded to me and motioned to the back "go take your seat, I'll be back to talk to you in a moment" I motioned a thanks to Arryn and sat down in the seat. Because the teacher said she would be back Carson grabbed a stack of sticky notes (idk if everyone calls them that. They're also called post-it notes) and a sharpie setting them aside so he could communicate easier. She finished saying what she was when I entered and came to me in the back. "So, what we are doing right now is researching something, anything, and writing a paper. I also have questions on this paper and you have to create a presentation on it" my eyes widened at her when she mentioned a presentation "Don't worry. I don't expect you to speak. Just put it on the board and I will read it for you" I nodded. She put a Chromebook in front of me with the question paper. She left and I sighed.

Next I had lunch. Boy, just the best part of the day. Once Carson entered the cafeteria he went to an empty table in the corner of the room and sat down crossing his arm on the table and using them as a pillow. He sighed closing his eyes. Only moments later something slammed down on the table making Carson jump. He looked at the group of boys "Awe, did we scare the little freak?" Carson's eyes widened and he shrunk under their sadistic gaze. He recognized them. They were Arryn's friends from this morning. "So, freak, little birdie told us you don't make any sound" Carson nodded slowly and the leader grabbed him, slamming him against the wall. I squeazed my eyes shut and bit my tongue. I knew what they where doing. They were trying to get him to make a noise. Not gonna happen. I didn't spend 5 years not talking just to gives these kids pleasure knowing they got me to break my silence. I opened my eyes and saw him smirking at me. I knew my hat was probably going to end up removed so I shook my ears hiding them the best I could under my hair. The boy shifted his free had to my neck and grabbed it tightly holding me to the wall like that. I shut my eyes grabbing at his hands. Suddenly the pressure was gone and I was on the floor coughing. There, they got a sound. "What the fuck are you doing?!" I heard Arryn yell. "Teaching this little freak a lesson". I didn't dare open my eyes. I was on all fours trying to steady my breathing. I felt someone touch me and I bit my tongue and tensed pushing myself towards the close corner. I still didn't open my eyes but wrapped me arms around my knees and hiding my face "Carson, calm" I opened my eyes looking up a little to see Arryn crouched in front of me. The others were gone. He smiled at me "Are you okay?" No. My fucking neck hurts like a bitch. I nodded moving my arms down so they were actually around my legs. He frowned and reached forward slowly. I flinched but didn't stop him as he lifted my chin "I don't believe you. Chris is strong, and he definitely wasn't being gentle" I bit my tongue suppressing the whimper as he touched my neck. It hurt. Arryn must have seen this and stopped pulling away. "Come on, I'll bring you to your next class" I nodded and got up slowly getting a bit of a head rush. Shaking it off I gave Arryn my schedule and he started leading me to the music room.
When we got there he sat down and I tilted my head in confusion "This is my class to" I gave him a thumbs up and sat down next to him. My eyes kept drifting to my precious guitar. I had dropped it off yesterday so I didn't have to carry out all day. I got up and walked over grabbing it. If we were going to be sitting there for 15 minutes before class started god dammit I needed something to do. Arryn watched me as I took it out if the case "Wow, is it yours?" I nodded "Can you play it?" Again I nodded. "What else can you play?" I took out a sticky note and wrote down 'Clarinet' putting it on his forehead "Hey" he laughed taking it off and reading it. "I don't play anything yet. Joined this class to learn guitar" I nodded to him and stone something down sticking it to his forehead again 'what you learn so far?' "Nothing yet. The two days you missed we went over class rules, got permission slips from our parents, and got familiar with the guitars we chose. Today I think we're just going over basics" I looked at him and motioned to the back of the class were guitars stood it their case with the names of students. "You want me to get mine?" I nodded. As he got his I looked back down strumming the familiar notes to my favorite song Carolyn by Back Veil Brides. I didn't even notice Arryn sit down quietly watching me.

When I stopped playing he clapped bringing me I to the present. I jumped almost falling off the desk. "How long have you been playing?" I put up six "six years?" I nodded. "Damn" I saw he had his guitar out and put mine in its case holding my hands out for his. He put it in my hands and I started tuning it out of habit. When I was half done I heard the door open and jumped falling off the desk. I heard someone laugh and looked towards the door as I stood. It was the teacher, I had met him yesterday "Hi Carson" he laughed. I waved and sat back on the desk "I would ask why your tuning Arryn's guitar, but knowing you.." I threw a pencil at his head and he laughed "It's not my fault your a guitar nerd!" I shook my head looking back down at the guitar "So, why aren't you in a higher class if you already know how to play?" Arryn asked. Carson let the teacher, Mr. West, answer "Other than the fact you have to take this class to enter a higher one, I asked him to help me teach this class" I could sense Arryn's confusion (I may change little things throughout the story) "I'm his uncle" I sighed and handed Arryn his guitar and picked up my own "Class is about to start. Carson, come sit over here" Mr. West grabbed my guitar case and moves it to a table sat right in front of the teachers desk. It faced the wall so I put my case on the floor and sat on the top facing the front of the room with my guitar on my lap.

I could feel my anxiety rise as the class filled.