Freckles, I like you a lot!

Chapter 6

Alex," Aaron said as they ate breakfast "you have to at least say your name. I doubt anyone there knows sign language," Alex shook his head. He was almost ready to talk in front of his friends, but never in a group of people he hadn't met."

Alex please," Aaron pleaded "you just have to say your name. After that you don't have to speak at all."A

lex shook his head harder, Aaron needed to stop pressuring him. Alex felt his breath come in short, shallow turns, almost no breaks in between.

"Alexander," Aaron soothed "calm down, you're okay. Remember; deep breath. You don't have to do it. I'm sorry I put pressure on you."

Once he was better, Alex washed his dishes and headed upstairs to get ready for his first day of grade 10. He hoped that he would be with Laurens in at least 2 of his classes.

Martha drove Alex, Aaron and Hercules to school. Aaron was dropped off first at a middle school. Then Alex and Hercules met Laurens, Lafayette, Angelica and Eliza in the high school parking lot.

"So are you going to say anything?' Laurens asked. Alex shook his head, why did everyone think that he would say something to complete strangers?

"I looked at the schedule," Laurens informed "and we got all classes together except for PE and math."

Alex's heart did a little dance, he would be able to stay with Laurens for almost the whole day!

"Do we get to chose our seats?" Alex asked Hercules.

"It depends in some classes," Hercules explained "if you tell the teacher where you would be more comfortable sitting he or she may let you sit there. Just don't get your hopes up about that."

"I don't feel comfortable speaking to anyone else," Alexexplained.

"Then ask Laurens," Hercules compromised.

"Ask me what?' Laurens asked.

"If you aren't put beside Alex will you ask the teacher to be?' Hercules requested.

"Sure!" Laurens enthused. Alex felt a bit of weight lift off his chest.

"You're welcome." Hercules signed so only Alex could understand "I just put you with your crush, lover boy."

"Herc!" Alex protested. Hercules just laughed at him.

"Well we better be heading to class," Eliza mentioned. They all went their separate ways, Lafayette, Hercules and Angelica grouped up, while Eliza, Laurens and Alex went to their first class, which they had together.

They played a name game, where everyone said their name and said one thing about themselves. When it was Alex's turn either Eliza or Laurens would step in, explaining how he couldn't talk and also saying his name.

Alex was grateful for their interventions. But when math came around Alex found himself without an explanation as to why he wouldn't speak. The math teacher got fed up with waiting for Alex, so he was skipped.

At the end of math Alex immediately searched for Laurens. There were so many people swarming around, and Alex began to get claustrophobic. When he finally did find Laurens, Alex's hand shot out and latched onto the hem of Laurens' shirt.

"So how did it go?" Laurens asked as they traveled to science.

Laurens of course didn't expect an answer, but he was trying to put Alex at ease from the stress. Alex held onto Laurens' shirt tighter as people pushed past him.

Laurens pulled Alex to his side. "I hope you don't mind," he apologized "but there are so many people here and this is such a big school. I wouldn't want to get separated."

When home time finally came around Laurens helped Alex find Hercules and said goodbye.

"So," Hercules started while they were with Martha in her car "you guys kiss yet?"

"Why would we do that?" Alex signed.

"Because you love each other." Hercules prolonged 'love'.

"No we don't!"

"Alex and Laurens sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a tragic miscarriage. That's not all, that's not all, now they've overdosed on alcohol."

Alex sat there, dumbfounded. What kind of messed up song was that? "How in the world would there be a miscarriage is we are both guys?" Alex signed as they picked up Aaron.

"What about a miscarriage?" Aaron asked.

"Nothing," Hercules said.

When they arrived home, Alex emptied out his bag and collapsed onto his bed. It had been an exhausting day. There was a knock at his door, so ALex got up and answered the door. Hercules was waiting in the hall. "Laurens is coming over for dinner," he informed. "You may want to pretty yourself up."

Alex's face turned red, maybe he could score himself some alone time with Laurens. The doorbell rang "Speak of the Devil," Hercules remarked. They heard Aaron racing to the door. "Well, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"And just what wouldn't you do?" Alex signed.

"Touché," Hercules chuckled.

Laurens came up the came up the stairs "Hey guys." He waved.

Hercules elbowed Alex "I'll leave you to it."

Laurens entered Alex's room. "So," he stated "what do you want to do?" Alex shrugged, maybe it was the time to do it.

"F-Fre-Freckles," Alex's voice came out as a croaky whisper. He hadn't spoken in months, so that was understandable.

"Did you just..." Laurens trailed off, astonished. Of all people Alex's first word there was spoken to him! Alex covered his mouth, did he actually do that? "Will you say it again?" Laurens requested.

Alex nodded. "Freckles," he sounded a bit more sure of himself.

"Oh my God! Why me and not Aaron of Hercules?" Alex shrugged, he couldn't possibly tell Laurens why. "Are you gonna say anything else?"

"Freckles," Alex insisted.

"I guess not," Laurens concluded. "Can I tell the others?" Alex pulled his phone out from his pocket.

HamMan:No.

HamMan:Never. Breathe.A.Word.About.This.To.Anyone

Freckles:point taken

Laurens looked up from his own phone. He pretended to zip his lips, lock them, then throw away the key. Alex nodded in understandment, he made the right choice.

"You wanna watch T.V. then?" Laurens suggested. Alex gave a thumbs up, then led Laurens to the entertainment room.

They watched a couple minutes of Men in Black. Out of the blue, Alex spoke, "Freckles." He could get used to saying that.