Deaf Love

Chapter 10

Three hours in and we were still on our first game of monopoly. For the first time in my life I was loaded. I had four mansions in the most expensive lots on the board and still had money pouring out of my ears. Ivy and Daniel only had scrapings left and their faces looked gloriously confused at my position of power. I smirked to myself knowing they were going down. Daniel noticed a breath that I let escape, a little too loudly and it turned into a laugh, and rolled his eyes at my smile.

"Sorry I can't help myself. I just love this game. I haven't played it in a long time," I apologised, meaning every word.

"Haha yeah right. Whatever you say Hannah. Hey you really know how to handle your money don't you?" Replied Daniel still befuddled over my close glory.

"Surprisingly," I replied before realising what I was saying.

"What do you mean by that?" Asked Daniel, to my under breath statement. I was trying to formulate an answer just as the doorbell rang. Perfect timing.

"I'll get it," I said quickly jumping to my feet, but then I hesitated. "Don't let Ivy take my money."

"Hell..oh? Can I umm help you...I'll just get...who are you?" And where have you been all my life. Two feet in front of me was a girl, normal enough looking, tall with brown hair, but there was something more to her.

"Stella. Hi. You are?" She replied, looking sort of at me but not really.

"Hannah. You gonna come in? I mean the weather is lovely but it is warmer in here. And we have monopoly." Smooth Hannah, really smooth. "Wait, you are Daniels dads little goon right? I'm not just inviting a stranger in off the street?"

"No. Wait no I mean yes. No you're not yes I am. I work for his dad yeah. Monopoly sounds great, no ones ever beat me so let's see what you've got." Stella walked through the door taking off her coat revealing a Coldplay shirt which made me smile. At least I think it's what was on the shirt that made me smile. "So who are you to Dan?"

"Oh um school friend. I'm a friend. Ivy's friend. Go through to the lounge room I'm gonna get a drink would you like a coffee or tea or coffee maybe? Good choice okay," I said stumbling through to the kitchen and bumping into every possible thing along the way. "Yeah real smooth, Hannah," I said to myself while catching my breath. What had I just felt? This is all so new to me.

I didn't have many people in my life growing up. I occasionally made a friend but when their parents found out about my past then they would be taken away from me. I'm not a bad person, I've just never been given a chance. Ivy and her parents are my family now. They love me like no one else. But what I just felt in front of this stranger, what was that?