Silence is Golden

Chapter 13: November 2010

Minks had to leave the dance early. She had a parents note and everything. Apparently, she insists that she must be in bed by 10 each night. That left me without anybody to mingle with. I would have left, but my mother was in no condition or mood to write me a stupid note to get me out early.

I later found myself in a cozy bench on the football field, a place where no one was at the very moment. It was very nice, the empty stands towering behind me. The muffled music played behind me. All of a sudden, the music stopped.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," our principal's voice traveled to the football field. "It is now to announce your Senior homecoming King and Queen! Please, may the homecoming court make your way to the stage."

After a moment of silence, the principal spoke again.

"Your 2010 homecoming King is, Ian Adams!"

Loud applause and cheering echoed throughout the whole school, probably waking up everybody who insist that bedtime is at ten.

"And for the moment you've been all waiting for."

Our principal is a man who loves suspense. Deal with it.

"Rain Harper!"

Of course, she would win. She has a spirit of an antelope, kind yet wild. Everybody loves her. Especially that Ian person.

"Rain?"

I turned toward the gym, wondering what was happening. Talking has arose from the crowd of students. So Rain didn't come to her own homecoming.

"I am sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but it seems that Rain is not present here tonight to receive her tiara. We will have to give it to our runner up," he announced, sounding much more depressed than he was a moment ago.

"What are you looking at?" A voice said from behind me.

I turned around to see Rain Harper, the woman of the hour, standing on the edge of the football field in a pretty little dress, barefooted. Highly confused, I pointed towards the gym.

"They've announced the king and queen?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Good," she said with a sigh of relief, making her way towards my bench. She sat down close to me. "I hate awards, can't stand them. I planned to come late, just so I can miss that. Anyways, glad you made it. Where's your friend?"

Home. She seemed to understand.

The music started once more, probably for the king and queen dance, it was a waltz, slow and peaceful.

"Oh, I learned some things in ASL. Can I try it on you?"

I looked at her, noticing for the first time how much her eyes lit up even in the dark. Slowly, as if she was afraid to mess up, she began to move her hands.

May I have this dance?

I was shocked at first, staring at her with wide eyes. I was seriously thinking she had been going out with that football jerk. Most of all, I was surprised how not repulsed she was about my... Disability.

The covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes now filled with worry. "Oh god, did I say something stupid?"

I shook my head, smiling, standing up to face her. May I have this dance? I offered my hand towards her, like the perfect gentlemen you see in movies.

"So I was right." She said with a smile, taking my hand.

I lead her to the middle of the football field before we began to dance. She was a very good dancer, full of energy and rhythm. We pranced around the field, the wind softly blowing through her hair. Most of all, she made very good company in a world of hate and discrimination.

I taught her a lot of new words in ASL; she was quite a fast learner. In return, she told me stories of happenings of her past, such as the time she hijacked her father's motorcycle because he wouldn't get her one even after he promised her one when she got her licence. She ended up playing the afternoon away at Chuck e cheese before returning home to a very furious dad.

"You want a ride?" she asked as we snuck our way through the fence that surrounded the field, avoiding the rush of students exiting the gym.

I was planning to walk home so to save myself from a long night of walking, I nodded. She pulled me along, down the street to a neighborhood where she parked her Nissan Leaf. I had to say, after a long night of storytelling, seeing her driving a leaf as not the vision I thought I would ever see. She pulled up to my empty driveway.

Thank you. I taught her that today.

"Wait," she grabbed me by the wrist before I could exit the car. She quickly lean forward and gave me a quick peck on my cheek. Goodnight. She signed to me.

I left the car, my cheek burning from the spot she made contact with. Walking in the house, it seemed unusually quiet. I passed out on my bed before I could take off any of my clothes.