Speak Up // Lams

Chapter 4

• Alexanders POV •

I had two days to settle into my new home before starting high school.

This should be interesting.

How will they all react to me being mute? Will anyone even want to be friends with me? Will they bully me like the kids back on Nevis?

I shudder, remembering one kid from my old island who would torment me daily at school. James Reynolds.

Deciding not to dwell on the past, I pulled my clothes on and grabbed my backpack, which the people of Nevis had stocked up and sent me off with.

I left a note for Usnavi on the counter, even though he knew I was going to school. I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't cause any worry or problems more than I already do.

Walking out the front door, I fan myself for a moment in the already sweltering heat. At least I was used to the hot weather. I can't imagine moving somewhere where it's cold this time of year. September is too early for it to be sixty degrees and below in some places. Nevis hardly got below seventy. I've never seen snow or even been very cold before. That's a good thing I guess.

Eventually I arrive at the small high school. Apparently there's about two hundred students in each grade, so about eight hundred of us at the school. I drew in a quick breath and pushed the door open, where I was met when utter pandemonium.

I navigated my way to my locker as quickly as I could, trying to avoid the voices of high pitched freshmen, couples who needed to learn a little about PDA and when it was appropriate, and many other different student "cliques".

I found my locker, which a tall, loud Frenchman? was standing next to. Shuffling next to him, he jumped a bit as he noticed me.

"Ahh, bonjour! My name is Lafayette. You are?" My heart rate increased a bit. What if he didn't know sign language? Deciding to not take the risk, I held my finger up much to his confusion, and pulled it my phone.

I'm Alexander Hamilton. I'm mute by the way. Nice to meet you. I finished typing and held it up to him. He squinted a bit as he focused on the writing. Then he opened his mouth in an 'o' shape and a look of realization crossed his face.

"Well monsieur Hamilton, I have some friends who know, how you say? American Sign Language? I suppose you'll become friends with them very quickly!" He told me. I nodded and smiled at him, finishing up at my locker and shutting it.

We walked through the halls comparing our schedules. Turns out we had a study hall first period together. It was nice to have someone to, well, for lack of better words, talk to.

It's already better than Nevis here. My new start has gone well and I'm accepted by the few people I've met so far, and luckily all the teachers. I love my AP English class already, where I made a new friend, a curly haired, freckle faced boy who never actually told me his name. But despite that...

Maybe high school wouldn't be so bad after all.