My Deaf World

Ch 11 Me and Myself.

Thanks for all the comments and messages from you readers.  Work got hectic and I had put this aside but all of you telling me how great this is and how you want more, well I made sure to make time for writing!  Sorry for the long wait so enjoy!

Today was a me, myself and I kind of day.  What I did all day before I went outside of my house.  I knew I had changed, change happens to everyone but the past few days I had been missing the old me.  The old me didn't have much to worry about.  I didn't even learn something new last month.  I had just spent time with Fritz and everyone else.  And after spending time with Cody, just talking and riding around town on his bike I had come to the conclusion that I missed the old me.  So I ignored my phone and spent time in my room.

After an hour I still hadn't come up with anything new to learn.  This was a first, usually it takes me a few minutes before getting an idea.  Maybe it was my mind cluttered with thoughts about Fritz.   Which is who I was trying to avoid thinking about today.  So I was grateful when there was a knock at my door.

"Come in!" I half yelled not wanting to get up.

"Hey," Mom said poking her head in, "Chace is here."

She pushed the door open some more and Chace stepped around her and came in.  My mom sent me a look before leaving.   I know her and dad knew something was up but I appreciated that they left me alone today.

"Hey. Sorry if I intruded on anything." Chace said as he walked farther in my room.

I gestured for him to sit on my bed, "It was just a 'me' day but I can make room for you."

He smiled at that, "Thanks. Now what do we do on a just us day?"

Whatever we did was going to be tough on me.  Chace signed everything he said even when Fritz wasn't with him.  Every time he signed it only made me think of Fritz.

"I'm trying to decide what to learn this month. I forgot to do anything last month." I told him.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Last month was busy. You starting high school the month before, marching at every game and of course having fun on Halloween."

I smiled at all the memories his words brought back.  I had changed but mostly for the better.  Thinking back reminded me of something.

"When we first met you asked the coach to let you sit out of the game that night. Why?"

On that night I remember the look of sadness wash over his face, he had tried so hard to change the subject and I had let him.  I didn't want to see him sad and eventually I had forgotten about it.  The same thing happened.  He looked nervous and started fidgeting around, trying not to look me in the eyes.

"Val I-"

Whatever he was going to say  was interrupted by my dad opening the door with Fritz behind him.  When he saw me he immediately tried to reach for me.  he stopped when he saw Chace and my dad took this time to disappear.

"I should leave. You two need time alone." Chace told us and ignored my protest, leaving me alone with Fritz.

So much for having a me day.  But I was happy to see him.  He wasn't smiling, his hair was disheveled,  and his eyes showed guilt.  I also couldn't help but notice that his hands kept twitching.  It could be he just didn't know what to say or maybe he was waiting for me to react but I didn't.  So we stood there for a second just taking each other in.

"Fritz I know we have a lot to talk about but-"

"Chace." Fritz cut me off, "I've never seen him like that."