Musically in Love

Chapter 22

McKinley's POV

I couldn't sleep. For a while I was just watching Tyler sleep, but I knew that was creepy and I needed to not do that. But my mind was going too much for me to calm down and fall asleep.

Eventually, around one, I carefully got out of bed. I grabbed my phone and sat on the floor with my back up against the foot of Tyler's bed so that the light didn't bother him. Then I opened the YouTube app and typed in 'learning sign language'. I figured that was probably the best place to start.

I watched video after video, watching these people sign different words over and over again. I tried mimicking them, but I couldn't seem to keep any of them in my head long enough to retain any of it.

I lost track of how many videos I had watched - although my phone told me it was getting close to two thirty - when I heard Tyler start moving around behind me. I paused the current video I was watching in the middle of some lady signing the word 'day' just in time to hear Tyler mumble my name.

I sat up on my knees to look at him. He had his arm stretched out over where I had been earlier. But then, it must have been the light of my phone that caught his attention, because he looked over at me.

"Come here." He had whispered it, barely any sound coming out of his mouth, but in the silence of the middle of the night, it was all I could hear.

I went, crawling up the bed until I was laying back down next to him.

"What are you doing?" he asked, continuing his soft whispering.

I showed him my phone screen, realizing it was probably a bad idea when I saw him squint at the sudden brightness. But when he could focus on the words on my screen, he smiled. Then he took my phone out of my hand, locked the screen, and put it on the little table by his bed.

Tyler pulled me close to him, making sure the covers were pulled over my body too. Then he kissed me gently.

The kiss only last a couple seconds before he pulled away and I could tell he was practically falling back to sleep. His arms tightened around me and I gave in, letting myself lean against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as it lolled me to sleep.

***

When I woke up, I was still wrapped in Tyler's arms. The sun had come up at least an hour ago, bathing the room in light, and I felt like I had gotten a solid amount of sleep last night. It was great. I rolled over, wanting to see if Tyler was awake yet, only to realize that he had been watching me sleep.

Hi, he mouthed, not saying the word out loud.

I wanted to reply in sign language, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what the sign was. So instead, I kissed him.

He smiled into the kiss, which quickly turned into more than just a simple kiss. His body was on mine, making my skin burn with desire in every place our bodies connected. I wanted him with my entire being. I needed him.

Suddenly the door banged open and I jumped, pushing Tyler off me. I sat up, glaring at Casey, who was standing there wide-eyed.

"Don't you know how to knock, woman!" I demanded, rather upset for being interrupted.

"Sorry," she said, while simultaneously signing. "Honestly, I forgot you were here."

I shook my head while Tyler just chuckled from next to me. I'm glad someone was finding this humorous, because I certainly was not.

"Do you guys want breakfast?" she asked, trying to get past the awkwardness she had caused.

I didn't get a chance to even consider it when Tyler's hand came up in a fist before he shook it up and down a couple times. That's one of the signs I saw in the videos last night. What did it mean? I feel like I should know that one.

It finally clicked in my head. "Yes!" I cheered, pointing at his hand.

Casey burst out laughing. "Yeah. Someone's been learning." She then signed something to Tyler and he responded without hesitating, although much too fast for me to even try to interpret.

"You were watching YouTube all night?" Casey asked, still sort of laughing. "Damn."

I shot a glare at Tyler. "No. Just an hour or so. I couldn't sleep, so I figured I might as well start looking some stuff up."

She smiled at me. "You'll get it. I can help you too."

I was glad she was willing to help me out. I've gotten to know her a lot better over the last month and I have to say, she's a pretty great person. I could definitely see us becoming better friends if Tyler and I continue to work out.

Once Casey left, Tyler pulled me close to him, his arms wrapping around me. I laid against him, my back against his chest. It was a simple moment, not heated like it was between us a few minutes ago, but this honestly was just as nice.

Maybe there didn't always have to be a conversation going on between partners. I think that was my biggest problem before - I couldn't talk to Tyler, so I freaked. But these silent moments were just as important to a relationship as the conversations. I literally haven't spoken a single word to him since before I got here last night, but that was okay. Sometimes communicating didn't always happen with words.

My thoughts started going back over the last couple of days, before I realized all that; before I came here. It made me realize that I owed Tyler an apology - a real one - for running.

I sat up, reaching for my phone which was still on his nightstand. Then I settled back down into his arms while I pulled open the notes app. I stared at the blank screen for a while before finally typing out: I'm sorry about how I reacted this week. I was scared and that wasn't fair to you. I know this is hard for you. I shouldn't have ignored you.

I knew he was reading it over my head, so I was expecting him to say something once I was done typing. Instead, he took the phone out of my hands to type out his response: I'm just glad you're here now. Thank you. And you wanting to learn sign language for me really means a lot.

I snatched the phone away from him. You don't have to type just because I am you know, I wrote.

I felt Tyler kiss the top of my head lightly as he grabbed my phone again. I don't like to speak if I can't hear. This is better for me if I can't sign.

I guess that made sense. I wouldn't know how I'd react if it was me who was deaf. And talking without being able to hear your own voice would definitely be a weird experience. I felt bad now for all the times he's done it for me. I never realized he didn't like it.

I heard Casey yell my name from downstairs, so I assumed breakfast was ready. Quickly typing that out for Tyler to see, I stood up. Then I held out my hand. He grabbed hold and we walked hand-in-hand out of his room and to the kitchen. I felt so much better about our relationship now than I did even twelve hours ago.