Silenced

Chapter 19

I wasn't sure exactly how I had let Cassy talk me into this. I was regretting it already. Standing here waiting was nerve-racking. I had been in plenty of fights and faced a whole lot of dangerous situations but I had never been on a date. I looked down at my outfit again. Cassy had insisted I wear something flattering but I had put my foot down. I wanted to wear jeans. It was all I would be comfortable in. We had compromised on these. Skinny jeans. They were a tight fit but Cassy had sworn that's how they're supposed to be. I'd let her pick the shirt but promptly placed a sweater over it. It was cold anyway. I raised my eyes to Cassy's at the sound of a truck pulling down the drive way. She smiled and jumped up from where she had been sitting on the porch. My stomach felt funny.

I followed Cassy down the steps as Thomas climbed out of his truck. He glanced at Cassy but his gaze settled on me. This seemed to make my stomach twist around even more. I offered him a lite smile in hopes that he wouldn't be able to see how nervous I was. He smiled back. His smile was bright and full. He knew how good looking he was and he apparently had every intention of using it to his advantage. I shook off the concept of our date being a competition and scolded myself for the childish antic.

"You look pretty." He said. We stopped to stand just a few feet away. I smiled again. This time it was genuine. I wasn't used to receiving compliments.

"Did you have anywhere specific in mind for tonight?" He asked. I shrugged and looked at Cassy.

"We were thinking bowling." Cassy said.

"We?" Thomas asked. I didn't miss the flash of something deeper than annoyance before he masked it. My brow furrowed. Cassy must not have told him this was a double date.

"Uh yes we." Cassy said. "Rylan's never been on a date and you can't read ASL. I'm not sending her off alone with you."

This time he didn't hide his irritation. He flat out rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"So what? You're third wheeling us?" He asked.

"Of course not. Jason is meeting us there. It's a double date." Cassy said. He nodded but I could tell he still wasn't happy with this plan. Maybe he didn't like bowling.

It took almost twenty minutes to get to this bowling alley. I had never been bowling but I knew the concept well enough. I'd only tried a few rounds when my body started to ache. I was over compensating for my leg and I couldn't roll the ball hard enough to keep it strait. I sat down next to Cassy with a plop.

"Don't worry you'll get better." She said.

"Actually, she should sit out a few rounds." Thomas said sitting down on my other side. He had just made another strike. Cassy and I both turned to look at him.

"Last I checked you were still on light duty. Repeatedly throwing a giant round stone is not light duty." He said. Cassy eyes widened.

"Oh crap. I'm sorry Ry. I completely forgot." Cassy said.

I shrugged. I also wasn't supposed to be working out in their gym but I was doing that. Still the thought of not having to participate in this stupid game anymore sounded great.

"I'll sit out." I wrote on my white board. I was being careful not to sign because I didn't want to make Thomas and Jason feel left out.

"I'll sit with you." He said with a smile.

Cassy and I exchanged a glance. Her face said that his gesture was sweet but I'm sure mine just showed confusion. There was no reason for him to sit out too. He seemed to like the game. Cassy got up suddenly without a word and went over to Jason. He had finished his turn but stood off to the side. He hadn't talked to us much all night.