Silence

Chapter 5 - New Here

I wake in the morning to a soft bed and light pink walls. The door opens and Lauren walks in holding a toothbrush in her hand.

"Run to your house and get dressed. Meet me back here in about ten minutes," she tells me. I check the time. She has to wake up early to accommodate her dressing habits but we usually don't leave this early.

I stand and stretch my arms not wanting to fight her because her tone sounds urgent. She puts her toothbrush back in her mouth and walks over to the bathroom. I rush over to my house and go upstairs. I throw on my navy blue long-sleeve shirt with light blue wording on it and another pair of jean shorts. I pull on my converse and run my brush through my hair until it's untangled and straight. I grab my gym bag, take out my clothes from yesterday and put in another pair of running shorts and my sports bra. It's Thursday today, and I wash my running clothes on Sundays. I don't have any clean razor-back shirts so I usually wear just the sports bra today and Friday. I just throw a big tee on top until I'm off of school campus since it's not allowed there. It'll be warm outside anyway since it's only September. I go back downstairs and notice my mother sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee.

"Did you stay at Lauren's house last night?" she questions without looking up from her mug.

"Mhm," I mumble because she can't see me nod.

"You could have texted me, Emma," she says, still staring at her coffee.

Lauren forgot. Great. Well I'd rather keep the conversation short so I just pretend like I really forgot.

"Sorry, fell asleep," I say I wait a couple seconds and she doesn't say anything so I walk out of the door to Lauren's house relieved.

I always feel like my mind goes blank when I'm around my mother. For some reason when I see her that's when the strongest feelings of not wanting to talk come. My own mother. And I can not remember a time that she was ever mean to me. I don't remember ever being close with her or talking to her but she was never cruel.

I see Lauren sitting in her car so I open the door and sit in the front seat as she adjusts her makeup in the mirror. I reach over and pull my backpack from the backseat and set it at my feet. "You should really put some mascara on. Maybe even a little eyeliner. Your ravishing blue-grey eyes would light up if you did," she tells me as she touches her hair with her hand, smoothing down frizz that isn't there.

I roll my eyes.

"Ready?" she chimes.

I nod my head.

"I know we're a bit early, but I can't wait to get to school," she says excitedly.

"What's the rush?" I ask her as we pull out of her driveway and head up the street. I decide that's as much as I'm talking today. I felt really uncomfortable speaking just now so I'm done. Lauren won't mind. She never does because she's Lauren.

"Are you kidding?" she asks. "Emma, you met a guy, not to mention while running which is practically your favorite thing to do. You told me yourself that you felt like melting when he said your name. To me, that defines a crush. I also think that he might have a thing for you too. I mean, who would go so much out of there way to talk to a girl when she won't answer you back. And he said you were cute. C'mon, how can I not rush to school? I want to meet this guy, or at least see what he looks like, and you need to see him again because he sounds like he wants to see you again. This is the first time anyone has ever given you the urge to speak. You passed out because you talked to me for so long. I want the best for you and it seems like he made you happy just by talking to you." She must have been keeping all of this inside her since I fell asleep last night.

I smile at her and shrug. Not knowing what else to do. She smiles back.

We drive up to school and Lauren beams. I open the car door and get out. I start walking with her at my side.

"So, do you see him?" she asks me. I roll my eyes but look around anyway. A few people are walking into the building but I don't see Carter. I would never forget what he looks like. I'm about to shake my head no when a beat up truck pulls up a few parking spaces away. I look in the drivers seat and see his golden-brown hair.

I grab Lauren's arm and nod my head when she looks at me.

Her hand flies to her mouth and she asks, "Oh my gosh, where?" She looks around frantically, and I give her arm a hard squeeze to make her stop. "Sorry, where is he?" she asks more calmly this time.

"Truck," I say and nod my head toward it. She looks at the truck that just pulled up. Carter steps out and looks around observing the school and students.

Lauren grabs my shoulders and turns me towards her, and my back to him. "He is a total hottie," she says and again I roll my eyes at her.  She looks past me for a second then pretends like she's picking lent from my shirt. This girl is crazy, "I hope you're up for conversation," she whispers with a smile.

"What? Why?" I whisper back.

"Because he's headed this way," she says, and my eyes widen. I was prepared to see him but I didn't think he would actually come over to me. I thought that he was just trying to be nice about hoping to see me today. I thought he only said that so he could leave without sounding mean. Seriously I didn't say a word to him he must think I'm crazy.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if maybe you could show me to the front office. I'm new here and I--" he gets cut off when I turn and look at him. "Emma, I didn't realize it was you," he says with a smile of recognition. I'm glad that he remembered my name because I would have been a little embarrassed if he didn't recognize me. I return his smile with my own.

"Who's this?" he asks, turning to face Lauren.

"I'm Lauren, Emma's best friend. Who are you?" she says as she raises one of her eyebrows.

"Oh, sorry, I'm Carter," he tells her.

"How do you know Emma?" she asks, acting as though she has no idea who he is. I glance at her, but she just looks at Carter waiting for his answer.

"We met yesterday at a water fountain. We were running and we just happened to be at the same water fountain at the same time," he says, looking back at me.

Lauren nods and tells him, "Well, we are more than happy to show you around school if you'd like."

What is she doing? We can't show him around. He'll know that no one here likes us.

"Just to let you know," Lauren adds, "we are the laughing stock of the school, and if you care about what others will say when they see you with us, you might as well walk away now."

He pauses for a moment before answering, "I guess that's settled then." I knew it was too good to be true. Of course he cares about what others think of him. He's new here and would probably like to make some friends. My thoughts are suddenly changed when he says, "Star Cove just got themselves another person to laugh at."