Not As Different As They Thought

Chapter 4

Beck's POV

Right now it's the last class of the day, math, and I already finished the work so I decided to email Riley because I don't have his number.

*B- Want to come over again today to work on our project?

5 minutes later

*R- Sure, I'll go over at like 3.

*B- Okay see you then :)

"Riley, why don't you come up here and demonstrate the first question on the homework."

Uh oh.

I turned around just in time to see Riley shake his head, with a stern look. I looked back at Mr. Vear and he looked mad.

"Mr. King. Come up here and do the problem or you are going to detention."

I turned back around and he started signing 'Tell him that I'll happily go to detention.'

I sighed and started writing.

He read the notecard and walked over to Riley and said something and Riley signed 'jerk' at him and stood up and walked out.

And the rest of the class went by insanely slow. I tried emailing him but I knew he wouldn't answer.

I really understand why he doesn't like our math teacher. He constantly tries to force him to do a problem that he doesn't even know how to do, and then makes me correct him in front of everyone.

You'd think he'd get some sympathy because of what happened to make him mute. I mean obviously I don't know what it was specifically but he should at least have an idea and feel bad. Just saying.

***

As I was looking out of my bedroom window at around 4, I saw Riley's car so I went downstairs and had my hand on the door to feel when he knocked.

When I felt it, I opened the door and smiled at him 'Hey, come on in.'

He just nodded and walked in, took his shoes off, and followed me up to my room.

After I logged into my computer and got into our powerpoint, I turned around to him and signed 'I'm sorry for what happened in math today.'

'It's not your fault the teacher's a dick.'

'I know but still. Why does he seem to hate you so much?'

'My sister.'

'What'd she do?'

'Gave a kid a bj in class. She used to be in the class right before us, until she got kicked out of it because of that. Now he thinks I'm gonna do shit with a girl in class I guess so he tries to torture me. I don't even like people like that.'

He's queer?

'What do you mean?'

'You're gay right?'

'Yup. But sadly there aren't a lot of guys wanting a deaf boyfriend.' I laughed after saying that to show I was joking.

He smiled and shook his head, "Well I'm.. you know what? I'm gonna type it because it's too much to spell.'

'Okay.'

He took his phone out and typed something, and turned it around to show me.

*I'm very queer. Ready? I'm demiromantic and asexual. And genderqueer, cause why not be complicated and have lots of labels?*

I finished reading, 'Cool. You still use he and him pronouns?'

'Yeah'

'Well that's good to know. No need in misgendering you on accident.'

His shoulders shook a little, in a small chuckle, 'So should we start working now?'

I smiled 'Probably.'

***

'Hey, can I see your phone for a sec?'

I looked at Riley questionably, but still handed my phone over.

'Password?'

I laughed and grabbed my phone out of his hand, my fingers slightly brushing his, and I typed my password in. I handed it back. He searched for something for a little bit, then typed something and turned my phone off and gave it back to me.

He smiled, 'So you don't have to keep emailing me.'

I laughed a little, knowing now that he put his number in my contacts.

***

We worked on the project almost every weeknight for a few hours, for 3 weeks. In the end we got an A+ on the project and we became good friends. We don't hang out a lot because he doesn't like using asl so much in short periods of time, but we do text practically every day. I'm actually closer to him than I am with my other friends, which is weird but not fully surprising. We have a lot of things in common. Not just asl and our inability to communicate like "normal" people. We actually try not to talk about our being deaf and mute because usually it'll probably lead to talking and/or asking about how he became mute and he's not ready to talk about it. He says I'm the only one who doesn't know so I treat him normally, and he isn't ready to let that go. And I completely understand.

B- So you wanna hang out this weekend? Study for finals a little maybe

R- Sure. We should hang here at my house though, it helps me study better being in my room. Idk why

B- Ok, that works for me. Just tell me when to go over on... how about Saturday?

R- Okay. So I have a question.

B- Yeah?

R- Is there any way you could get Mr. Vear to not hate my guts? Or at least not call on me every 10 minutes?

B- I can try to talk to him, yeah

R- Thank you. He's really starting to get on my nerves, on top of my sister not leaving me the hell alone about something. Idk why she won't just give it a rest.

B- Just try to ignore her, eventually she has to leave you alone

R- A kid can dream

B- Other than that, how've you been?

R- We legit talked earlier Beck lol

B- K. Then how have you been since we last talked?

R- I've been okay. Bored, but okay. How have you been?

B- Well thank you for asking! I am just dandy

R- Lol you're such a nerd.

B- Why thank you. Again

R- Lol bye

B- Bye!