13 Reasons Why Imagines

Zach (Requested Imagine)

Requested by: anonymous

My hearing started to leave me when I was about six.

From what I can remember my hearing was always bad before I lost it.

My mom took me to countless appointments at the children's hearing centre, and my dad, who was a music fanatic, took me to many music festivals and concerts just to let me have the experience before I lost my hearing entirely.

It was almost two months after my sixth birthday when I realized I could barely hear anymore.

Voices sounded very distant even if they came from someone standing directly in front of me

My mom and dad took me to the doctor once again, and that's where my life took a complete turn.

I remember the movement of my doctors lips as he told my parents I had a 95% chance of going completely deaf.

As of now, I'm seventeen. I can't really hear at all anymore. My doctor says my hearing is about 98% gone. Even if someone used a megaphone to talk to me it's sounds almost inaudible.

I'm able to read lips slightly, not long paragraphs worth of conversation, but a few sentences at a time is okay for me.

After that doctors visit, my parents found a place that teaches sign language.

From the first day I stepped into that building, my parents and my two older brothers and I, began learning to communicate using sign language.

It was hard at first but now that's basically all that goes on at my house.

I think the toughest part for me in my daily life is just going out and having a hard time with people who can't communicate back to me.

Its especially hard during the holidays when extended family comes over or I can see people in my house dancing to music that I can't hear it, especially Christmas music.

I remember my favourite song though. My dad used to play it all the time with me.

It was Life Is a Highway by Rascal Flatts.

I don't really know why it was my favourite song, maybe it was because it had a lot of background music in it that I could actually hear. Lots of drums, lots of electric guitar, it was nice.

I pull it up on YouTube every now and again with the lyrics and try to hum the tune.

My brother Jonah usually tells me I'm off tune by a long shot but my dad says I've got it down pat.

I usually believe Jonah.

It's funny getting into arguments with my parents. They always start off by yelling at me, forgetting I can barely hear their voice so I sigh back that I can't hear them and they sigh and just sign back with a sorry and tell me with sign what they were saying.

The worst part is school.

And now that my mom got a job offer, I'll be a new student at Liberty High. Definitely not thrilled at all.

I had been going to the same school with the same friends all the way up until now.

It's going to be a mess.

My mom walks into my room, probably knocking first even thought I couldn't hear it.

"Time to get up and ready for school," she signs smiling at me.

I let out a tired groan, answering with a smile nod before getting up and getting changed.

I packed my bag, ate breakfast, and got in the car with Jonah who was driving me to school.

Once we got there, I leaned over to give him a hug before stepping out of the car.

I made it to the principals office without someone stopping in the halls to talk to me.

I stepped into the principals office, seeing him and a lady who looked to be in her early to mid thirties standing next to him.

He greeted me, having the lady translate to sign what he was saying, "it's great to have you be apart of Liberty High. I have your class schedule and locker number here for you." He handed me the two sheets of paper. "If you need anything don't be afraid to stop by. This is Allyson, she'll be with you during your classes to help you out when needed."

I smiled at Allyson and we both walked out of the office.

The halls were filled with people staring at me as Allyson followed along behind me and to my first class which was English.

The class was already filled up when we got there, the teacher, Miss. Hadley, was sitting at her desk typing away at her laptop.

She looked up at me and Allyson. Her face lit up in excitement as I read her lips as she said "oh hi!"

She then introduced me to the class, they all seem intrigued. I watched Allyson sign to me what a guy at the back of the class was asking, "so she can't hear anything? Can she talk at all?"

Allyson looked to me waiting for my response.

I've been told by my family that my ability to speak is okay. It's slurred but it's not too bad.

I decided to try and speak just to answer his question, "I have ninety eight percent hearing loss. I use sign mostly."

Allyson smiled at me, signing, "that was good."

I took a seat at the back of the class, opening my laptop to the slide show of the lesson Miss. Hadley would be teaching today.

My day went on okay. A few people came up to me and started conversations with me, I tried talking a bit but most of the time I had Allyson say what I was signing because it was a little overwhelming for my first day.

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A month had gone by and I became friends with a few people. Clay, Jessica, Jeff, and Zach.

They were all really nice and easy to communicate with for the most part.

I used Allyson less frequently as I tried to talk to the best of my abilities, but she was still around when I needed her.

It was Wednesday and Jonah dropped me off at school as per usual.

I walked into school and to my locker, stuffing my backpack inside and grabbing my English books.

I ventured down the hall and to Miss. Hadley's class, seeing no one in there except Zach.

We smiled at each other as I placed my books on my desk, rummaging through my pencil case for my phone.

I sat in my chair and scrolled through Instagram waiting for class to start, when I felt Zach tap on my shoulder as he stood behind me.

I turned around to look at him, seeing him look oddly excited about something.

Then to my surprise, he did something I wasn't expecting.

"You look pretty today," he sighed to me.

My eyes went wide and my face broke out into a huge grin.

I jumped up from my chair, throwing myself onto him. I felt his chest vibrate as he laughed, wrapping his arms around me.

"Thank you," I told him after I pulled away.

I leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

When I pulled back we were both smiling softly at each other.

This was the start of something new and great between Zach and I. I could feel it.

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I need to get my nails done soooon