The Mute

Chapter seven

Tyler's P.O.V.

It was lunchtime. I heard my stomach growl.

I haven't eaten since breakfast and all I ate was a granola bar. I wished I ate more, but I was so nervous for my first day here.

The cafeteria was loud with different conversations echoing and the sound of kids chewing their food.

Gabe and Trisha let me sit with them at their table by the lunchroom doors.

There were three other people at the table. Two were Trisha's friends in cheer uniforms.

The girls stared at me with amazement and whispered to each other about me.

I heard one of them say, "He's hot." And then the other would nod and giggle.

The last person was Gabe's friend Eddie. Eddie was a football player with Gabe and seemed like a nice guy.

When I sat down at the table, he gave me a fist pound and said if I needed anything to go to him.

I was very grateful to them for inviting me to sit with them. They were all so welcoming to me and curious about my life.

Trisha and the girls asked this question, "Did you have any girlfriends back home?"

I responded, "Yeah. I had one. We dated for about a year and a half."

One of the girls asked shyly, "Why did you break up?"

I thought about my ex. She was pretty with her perfect teeth and glimmering blue eyes. She was a cheerleader, but she had a secret. A secret she hid from me the entire time.

"Let's just say, I found out who she really was a year and a half later," I explained.

The table got quiet as everyone thought to themselves.

I noticed Gabe was looking around. He was searching the room for someone or something.

He gazed at the door and at the lunch tables. I noticed his anxiousness and I decided to ask, "Whatcha looking for?"

He responded still gazing around the room, "I need to talk to my sister. Oh there she is. C'mon. I want you to meet her."

He signaled for me to get up.

I followed Gabe across the lunchroom at a table with two people at it.

Gabe sat beside his sister and I sat beside him.

The other person at the table was a scrawny geeky looking guy. He had glasses and was hunched over not making eye contact with me or Gabe.

Gabe's sister was a junior like me and Gabe. She's his twin. The resemblance didn't even strike me. They have the same hair color but she looked about two feet shorter than Gabe. She also was a girl, so it's a good thing she doesn't look like a guy or vice versa.

Gabe asked, "Hey sis... Can I borrow your car?"

She looked at her brother and raised an eyebrow.

Her smile faded to a grin, and she said firmly, "I already told you no."

"But I need it to go to a job interview," Gabe responded pleadingly.

I didn't quite believe Gabe's story. Neither did Beth.

She replied, "Don't you have practice after school?"

Gabe thought and we were in silence for a moment until his sister spoke up.

She looked at me smiling once again and said, "Forgive my idiot neither. I'm Beth by the way. Beth Turner."

I smiled at her and said, "Tyler."

Gabe looked to me and back to Beth and spoke up, "Is today Wednesday?"

Beth and I nodded.

"Oh crap. I do have practice," he groaned with a sigh.

Beth and I laughed along with the guy beside her.

Gabe looked at me jokingly, "Oh hey dude quit flirting with my sister."

I laughed and I put my hands up so he could see em'.

Beth giggled and said, "No offense but he's not my type. She turned to look at her friend sitting with her.

He smiled at her and took her hand on the table.

Gabe said ironically, "Guess who's still an asshole?"

Beth replied jokingly, "You? Right?"

I laughed at Gabe. Gabe was hurt by the comment.

He made a frown and said,"That hurt."

Gabe took a breath and said, "No I was talking about Mr. I'mSoPerfect. Mitchell. He's running back again this year."

Beth mocked, "Ugh that must suck for you." 

I laughed and Gabe looked at me with narrowed eyes and his eyebrow scrunched.

I stopped and said, "Sorry she's got you there man."

It was interesting to watch Gabe get flustered as Beth made fun of him.

I spoke up and asked, "What's his deal? Why is he like that?"

Beth said jokingly, "Who knows but I have my own reasons to want to hurt him."

The last part didn't sound like a joke. She seemed genuinely angry. Her face tensed and she clenched her fist.

Beth had a reason to want to hurt Mitchell.

I was about to ask why, but something stopped my words.

I saw Beth's and Gabe's eyes wander to the other side of the cafeteria.

Beth said, "Here she comes."

I looked over to that side of the cafeteria. A lot of kids were walking out of the lunch line. Some were walking to sit at a table and then one girl was making her way toward the table.

She was holding her lunch tray carefully and delicately as she kept her eyes on the ground. She walked fast with a quick and steady pace.

I looked upon her face and I saw it was her.

The girl I've been thinking about all day long.

I smiled at her as she sat down across from Beth.

She looked up and me with startled eyes. Her lower lip was a little forward and her mouth open.

She looked at my face and examined me.

I leaned forward on the table staring at those beautiful eyes. Time felt still for a moment but I was flicked back to reality when Gabe looked at me.

I noticed Gabe and Beth were staring at the way I looked at her.

Beth spoke up and said, "Gabe and friend, go away please."

She signaled us to leave.

As I turned to walk away, I kept my eyes on her. She still kept her gaze with mine. I could of sworn she smiled at me too.