Speak Up // Lams

Chapter 1

• Alexanders POV •

I step off my plane and into the cold airport. My flight from my birthplace, Nevis, had just landed in Charleston, South Carolina. I was planning on staying for a while and getting some money, then flying up to New York to go to school.

Good luck with that. I told myself.

Shaking off my insecurities, I walked down to baggage claim to get my tiny suitcase. I knew my cousin, Usnavi, was waiting for me outside the airport somewhere so I sent him a quick text asking where he was.

Once I got his response I emerged into the hot air. It wasn't too bad though, since I was already used to hot temperatures. I waved to Usnavi as I climbed into the front seat, tossing my suitcase in the back.

"How've you been, Alexander?" Usnavi asked as we began to drive away.

Good. I'm excited to start a new life. I signed. Luckily we were at a stop light and Usnavi knows sign language.

Oh yeah, I'm mute by the way.

"Still not talking, I see." He said. He wasn't being rude though.

We drove for a little while to his small apartment. He waved at Vanessa, who I met a while back when I visited long ago.

"Hola, Usnavi! Alexander, is that you?" She called out, running over to us. She embraced me and smiled.

Vanessa never really liked this little piece of South Carolina much. She used to always talk about moving to New York. Maybe I'd go with her someday. Maybe.

Her and Usnavi began to speak to each other in Spanish. They knew I had learned Spanish before I stopped talking, so obviously what they had to say wasn't that important.

Before I stopped speaking, I became fluent in English, Spanish and French. I was best in French speaking, but best in English signing. Spanish I just learned because I wanted to connect more to my island and my mother. My mother.

I pushed all thoughts of her out of my mind and nodded and shook my head when Vanessa asked me questions. Eventually she left, but not before "subtly" kissing Usnavi's cheek, leaving him blushing and smiling, still standing at his apartment doorstep.

So, you're finally dating her, huh? I signed with a sly smile. He just playfully rolled his eyes and led me inside.

The barrio Usnavi lived in here in South Carolina was small. Smaller than those in New York, he told me. We had to share a room in his small apartment but I didn't mind. Hopefully I didn't cause him too much trouble.

"No necesitas preocuparte, Alexander. Sé las cosas por las que has luchado. Estoy aquí si me necesitas." He spoke to me soothingly in Spanish and I relaxed. Usnavi was so caring and kind in the way I've always remembered him. If I could speak, I would thank him a thousand times over.

I smiled and nodded, and he smiled back. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

AUTHORS NOTE: here's the start!! Hope you like it! I'm going to try to really differentiate from Fix Me. I want to include Spanish and French as well as English to add more. Google translate, two years of Spanish and 3 months of French might actually pay off. Hope you like this book!!