silence//phan

1

I've never been one to talk much. Ever since I was born basically I've been very shy, and I would hardly talk at all. But at least I would talk back then. Now it's been almost 3 years since I stopped talking. Since I almost died. Since I was put into a foster home.

That home didn't last long though, they never do. All the families think they're gonna get a normal kid who will be fun and stuff, but no. They get a mute freak who is bullied wherever he goes.

I think I'm in my 23rd foster home now? The last ones were sort of strange themselves so I requested a change. Now I'm in a new city with new people.

Currently I'm waiting in my new school's office to get my schedule.
"Daniel Howell? Here's your schedule. Have a nice day sweety." The office lady tells me. I smile at her.

I drag my steps along to my locker, where all my textbooks are already placed neatly on the bottom, my OCD making the slightest mistake in them very visible. With shaky and nervous hands, I pull out the correct book and my notebook.

Someone grabs my locker door and slams it against the wall. I jump. When I look up, there are three boys glaring down at me.
"Hey, you're the new kid, aren't you." The tallest of the boys says. I nod.

"Well I'm Zach, and this is Bryan and Ian. We just wanted to tell you how things work around here. What's your name?" He asks. I can feel my face get pale. They don't seem like nice people. If I sign to them maybe they will hopefully take pity on me and just leave me alone?

Hi, I'm Dan. I sign. They look amongst themselves, confused.
"What did you just do, freak? Are you deaf or something? Why don't you talk you weirdo?" Zach says with a sneer on his face.

I just sign an apology and close my locker, walking away. Someone grabs my shirt collar and pulls me back.
"Wow, freak. I think you need to introduce yourself to us properly. Like while using words." One of the other boys spit at me.

"Hey, get away from him! He's not fresh meat you assholes!" Someone else yells. That person grabs my arm and pulls me away from the bullies.
"Shut up for once in your life, Lester!" One of them calls. "Yeah, did you remember your meds this morning?" They tease. I turn around to look at the boy who pulled me away and am basically stunned.

He has the prettiest eyes I've ever seen. They are like a hurricane of blues with specks of yellow. His black hair is cut into a fringe similar to mine, that contrasts his pale skin.

He gives me a smile.
"Hey, I'm Phil. You're new right?" He asks. I nod. He seems a lot more friendly then the last group.
"What's your first class? Maybe we'll be together." He says. I pull my timetable out of my pocket and hand it to him.

"Oh, cool! We have first, third and fourth and then we could go to lunch together! Then we have seventh and study together. Awesome!" He says enthusiastically.
"Oh um. I mean it's pretty cool, and we don't have to go to lunch together if you don't want to. Sorry, I just get overexited sometimes." He says in a quieter tone.

"So, um, what's your name?" He asks. The panic starts to rise within me again. I guess I'm quiet for too long, because he speaks again.

"Sorry, I must be overwhelming you. You don't have to talk if you don't want to, I know some people are shy and stuff." He apologizes again. I guess I'll sign to him.

Sorry. I'm mute and you probably won't understand this but my name is Dan. You're not overwhelming me, I just didn't know if you would know how to sign.

He smiles.
"Well hi Dan. I do know sign language  because my sister was deaf. I'm glad you did sign though, I was starting to think you just didn't want to talk to me, which also would have been fine. Sorry I'm rambling again." He says.