As I sat down at the usual table I sit at for lunch I couldn't help but notice Tessa; the school bully flirting with two boys that looked like twins. From where I was sitting I could tell they were forcing smiles. I giggled to myself.
"At least they aren't smashed up against her face...yet" I thought.
I continued to stare at the boys. Especially the one with the freckle on his cheek. Something about him just caught my attention. He looked over at me and I quickly looked back down at my plate. When I looked back up he seemed concentrated in the conversation that was going on.
I got up from the table and made my way to the exit (which was over beside them)
I kept my head down cautiously watching my steps. Until I crashed into the wall. I fell flat on my behind. When I looked up it was him, the boy with the freckle on his cheek. I glanced at my surroundings and noticed what mess I made. He was covered in sauce and noodles and so was I.
I tried to say sorry but the only thing that came out was a crack in my voice, probably because I haven't spoke in so long.
"Great on the first day back and I embarrass myself"
I sighed and brushed myself and him off, afterwards I threw his plate in the trash and reached out in my wallet to buy him a new lunch. As I was passing him the money he shook his head.
"Don't worry about it" he softly smiled.
I passed the money back to him, but he brushed my hand away.
"It's fine, really."
I raised my eyebrow.
"Is he sure? I don't give away money on a daily basis"
"Yes I'm sure, don't worry about it. Things happen"
"See you around...."
I wanted to tell him my name, I really did, but at the same time I didn't because it just hurt too much. Every time I tried to speak I thought about the past, the past in which my father would beat me until I was bleeding, the past where if he had a bad day he would take all his anger out on me or either my mom, the pass where my dad stabbed my mom precisely 30 times before he hung himself.
I kept my head down low. Just wanting him to go away. But he wouldn't he was still standing right there trying to get my name.
I opened my mouth to try to say my name the best way I could but instead my speech instructor, Ms.Thron, called my name from behind. Thank god.
"Bailey, you're late to my class...again" she said tapping the glass of her watch.
I looked back up at him. And a smile planted on his face. "I'm Ethan. See you around Bailey" and with that he was gone in the crowd.
Ms.Thron pulled my arm leading me to her class.
"Ethan" I smiled.
Ethan Dolan ✺✺✺
I went back over to Grayson and Tessa. Tessa looked up at me and gave me a disgusted look.
"I can't believe" you actually tried to talk to her" she giggled
"Why, what's wrong with that?" I raised an eyebrow
"She's mute, ever since fucking 2nd grade she hasn't talked to anyone." She crossed her arms
I felt bad for her and I wanted to help her out, who knows this could be my big break, because when I get out of high school I wanna be a therapist. My mom said I'm too loud for that but my dad completely agrees with me, because I like to help people out.
"Well what made her become mute?" Grayson asked, taking the words straight from my mouth.
"Some shit her father did" she rolled her eyes. "Nobody really knows why..some people say she got raped and she never spoke again because the police wouldn't do anything, but I say she wants attention"
"What did her father do?" I questioned myself.
I thought about her again and again, I couldn't shake her off my mind. A smiled formed on my face just thinking about her shyly walking across the lunchroom to the exit, but instead of getting out swiftly and cautiously as she planned, she bumped into me.
"Yo Ethan come on, we're going to be late for class" Grayson said waving his hand in my face.
I looked around and mostly everyone was gone.
I followed him out of the lunchroom to our class.
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