You Understand Me?

A New Start but to Where?

  --/Riley POV/--
    I pushed his baseball cap down over his eyes and placed a light kiss on the side of his face then jumped down to go on my merry way out the room.

What did I just do?! I didn't even finish addressing his injuries and went and did that! I'll just go hide in the corner over there for maybe... ever.
I ran out of the infirmary going towards my next class.
"Wait! Hold up! I-I...," he yelled down the hall trying to run to me. I stopped and let him catch up.
"Man you can run. I-," he said while trying to catch his breath," I don't even know your name."
"Riley," reaching my hand out to great him officially.
"James. So, Riley,what is your next class?" He said returning the gesture and continued to walk beside me.
"Well I was supposed to be in art class first hour but was pulled away for some unknown reason. A fight perhaps?" I knew the exact reason when I said this, but he didn't need to know that.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I swear I didn't start or even finish it. That dude just attacked me for just trying to say hi. Big mistake on my part," he said pleading for forgiveness even though it wasn't his fault.
"Don't worry about it. Josh always has a reason to fight. He has some problems at home so don't take it so hard."
I have been in Josh's thoughts before- not a pretty place. He really is good at heart but not in the right environment. I even know the reason as to why he comes to school beaten and they're not because of his stupid little fights. He's protecting his little sister from his mother. His mom has been in a fragile state of mind ever since the fire that took their previous house and father with it.
We both silenced to our own thoughts and walked to my class.
"Anyway, what is your class now? Give me your schedule." I said remembering why we were walking. He pulled a crumbled piece of paper with  a little dried blood on it.
"Cool all same classes except gym and well history which means you aren't going to this class. The gym is down the hall to the right," I then returned the stained paper to him.

"Did someone come to tend to the rest of your injuries? I'm sorry I left without finishing." I felt bad and put my head down not meaning to pout.
He tried to suppress a chuckle but clearly failed.
"Really? You feel bad. That was the best exit ever. You know how to leave the room in style- not that I ever want you to leave any room I'm in."
I thought he was the quiet type. I guess this was under that shell of shyness from before.
Well I got to go, bye.
I thought this and started walking away but didn't say anything out loud, so it seemed  as if I just walked off.
"What happened to your shyness?" After realizing I said the wrong thought, I stopped and looked at him then 
rushed into my class to save myself from further embarrassment.

--/James POV/--
I don't think that's what she actually wanted to say. So Riley. That's her name and we talk like nothing else matters. I wonder if-

"Watch out, ya freak,"  a guy that probably never had a thought in his life signed as he shoved me hard on the shoulder interrupting my thoughts.
"At least I use my brain instead of just weighing down my shoulders," I more mumbled to myself than actually voicing out loud.
They of course could not understand this but understood  the context of my hushed tone.
"What was that? You trying to talk?" He signed while he snickered with his friends surrounding me all around.
  I pushed through them and went towards the gym.
I could have taken them all but that wouldn't have ended well for me in the end. And how come she can understand me, but they can't? The paired mind thing is just some made up story, right?
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I made it to the gym somehow, but my mind was still somewhere else.
    My grandma used to tell me the great stories of everyone having one language that they speak to one another and everyone could understand each other without the use of sign language.
     I could tell she told me these stories because she knew I was different and wouldn't or couldn't use sign language as easily as everyone else. Apparently, I have a stutter in my individual language and this somehow related to why I can't communicate  as well as everyone else.
      I can hear and understand but not be understood myself. When I was little, I was always teased because I tried talking with words to others. Along the way I just decided, I'd be best not to talk or sign to anyone .
     This was before Riley. She had no problem talking with me. I know I just met her but actually speaking with words and sounds is nice. I would love to have all the time in the world just so I could talk with her more.
     My thoughts were interpreted  when a shot of pain went through the back of my head then all I could see was black.
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I woke to some one carrying me to the infirmary and me getting lightheaded.
"Woah, hold on. Almost there," I faintly heard him say as he put my arm around his shoulder after it slipped off.
I dropped to the floor suddenly feeling heavy and weak. When I fell, I hit my face on one of the lockers.
"I-I'm fine. S-sorry for the trouble," I tried to shakily sign and speak in apology.
"Don't say that. I volunteered to bring you so no sorrys about it. Ok let's try this again," he signs then tries to lift me to me feet again but notices Josh just standing there.
"Why do you even try to sign? You barely make any phrases that are understandable. Just give up. No one needs to know what you think anyway," Josh snarled as he walked by and bumped the person helping me, so he'd drop my arm.
He was just about to go off on Josh when Riley came into view probably freaking out at our situation.