The Road Trip

Chapter 3 - Convincing the Stubborn

Chapter 3

Convincing the Stubborn

My jaw must have dropped a mile. Luke Daniels just spoke to me. With his mouth. His voice. Without signing. Sure, it was rough and a little hard to understand, but he had spoken. I was in a state of disbelief. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined I would ever get to hear Luke's voice. It's just not something you think about when the person has used sign language their whole life. He had been too self-conscious to ever talk out loud.

"D-did you just...talk?" I stuttered, still staring at him with wide eyes. My mind just couldn't comprehend it. He nodded, looking me over carefully. "Wh-how?" It just didn't make sense! Someone who had been deaf their whole life just all of a sudden speaking? How did he know how?! I know that's a horrible thought, but come on, we were all thinking it. He had been deaf since the day he was born.

'I've been in speech therapy for a year now.' He said, switching back to signing. Speech therapy?! My eyes must of been the size of tennis balls because he quickly continued. 'Don't be mad because I didn't tell you! I didn't tell anyone. Except for my parents.' I blinked at him, running a tongue over my teeth. This was a lot to process.

'Why?' I said after a moment of silence. That was, in truth, my only question. His whole life he had never been discontent with just signing. Never had he possessed the urge to talk. And now I find out he's been in speech therapy for a year? I had thought we were close, and all of a sudden I was questioning our friendship.

Luke looked down as if embarrassed, '...My mom thought it would be a good idea...' He signed, his expression turning into a scowl. 'She forced me to take the class.' I gasped, not quite sure if I believed it. Paisley had always been understanding about her deaf child. Both of Luke's parents had been supportive. Sure, it wasn't what they wanted for their son, but it's not like they could change it.

'Luke?' I reached out and grabbed his hand, earning his gaze once more. 'I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me?! I could've talked her out of it.' He shook his head, forcing a small smile. But it didn't fool me. It wasn't a real Luke smile. It didn't reach his eyes, it was obvious he was still upset.

'Nothing would've changed her mind, Addie. It's better just to leave it because it's already done.' I nodded slowly, not wanting to upset him and yet not quite accepting it as the truth. Luke had a habit of forcing things out of his mind when something bad or something he didn't like happened. He didn't confront it, instead, he buried it. 'Besides, maybe I'll get a girlfriend out of it.'

I did a double take. Luke actually thought he didn't have a girlfriend because he was deaf?! That was a ton of crap! Every time we went out the teenage girls would stare at him, and they all knew about his disability. He was hot, even I, someone who was practically his sister, knew that. So why, then, was Luke under that impression?

'You know that has nothing to do with it, Luke!' I signed furiously, 'The only reason you don't have a girlfriend is because you've never tried to get one!' It was true. Whenever girls tried, he ignored their lame attempts at flirting. He was the only one to blame for his lack of romantic experience.

'You think so?' He looked up at me from under his long eyelashes, looking a bit sheepish. He should be scared, too! He knows how angry I can get.

'I know so.' I sighed, throwing my hands in the air. After a few seconds, when I was calm enough, I continued. 'Any girl would be crazy not to date you.' He gave me a smile, the usual sparkle returning to his eyes.

'Any girl?' I nodded for reassurance. 'Thanks, Addie.' He wrapped me in a bone-crushing hug, which I returned. We were always giving each other bear hugs or wrestling on the ground. It was kind of our thing.