Speak

Chapter 10

"The human heart has hidden treasures, in secret kept, in silence sealed; the thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures; whose charms were broken if revealed."
~ Charlotte Bronte

"You sign?" I quickly ask Wes, completely baffled and confused. Wes lets out a soft chuckle, obviously understanding what I signed in haste.

"Yeah, Hannah is sort of teaching me," Wes replies sheepishly.

He's learning to sign?

For me?

"I hope you don't mind," he quickly adds, responding to the increasingly confused expression on my face.

It's not that I mind him learning, I just don't understand. Why would he go through all the trouble to learn, in a week, for someone he just met?

"It's fine," I reply. "But why?"

"I already told you I like you," Wes replies with a smile. "I want to learn how to communicate with you, so you don't have to write everything down."

Ermehgerrd!

Wesley Parker is actually learning sign language because of me, so he can understand what I want to say, so I don't have to write it down all the time.

I can't even process this.

Before I know how to react, Wes opens the flashes a bright smile.

"Shall we go?"

Deep breaths, Lizzy. Deep breaths.

"Ladies first," Wes says as he bows like one of those 1900s high aristocratic gentlemen.

What have I gotten myself into?

You know that feeling when your heart skips a few beats? Yeah, that is what Wesley Parker just did to me.

I'm so screwed!

*****

Like a gentleman, Wes opens all the doors for me between my room and his car... including his car. I settle into the passenger seat and wait for him to get in. It feels different without Hannah chattering away in the back seat.

Quiet.

I like the quiet.

Wes slides into the driver seat and takes a deep breath. He looks over at me with a sheepish smile, which only makes my heart thump faster and louder. I glance away, as if not maintaining eye contact will prevent him from hearing the racing war drums that my heart has become.

Baby steps, Lizzy. Baby steps.

"Are you ready," Wes finally asks.

Yes.

No.

Maybe.

I nod my head in reply without looking at him. I fear if I do, I will not be able to hide the fact that right now, I am completely petrified.

Not of Wes.

I am petrified of myself and my inability to make the right choices. I have proven that I am a horrible judge of character, and right now, I feel inexplicably drawn to Wes.

Wes starts his car, and immediately, a Disturbed song blares through the speakers. Wes quickly turns down the volume and looks at me apologetically.

Inside, I'm smiling, ever so slightly. Mister glasses, dress slacks, and tie acting all prim and proper, had a little bit of a wild side. Not much, but the volume in which his stereo was could get him pulled over in some towns. Gumby would sure pull him over.