Read My Lips

Chapter Four

Dean's heart sank down into his stomach. "Deaf?" he questioned, lowering his voice. Annabelle nodded, folding her arms across her chest. So this whole time I thought she was ignoring she was really deaf, he thought. Dean hung his head in guilt. "You. Are. A. Sick. And. Twisted. Bastard," Annabelle said, shaking her head. She spun around, her hair whipping in Dean's face, and grabbed Christina by the hand, leading her to the elevators.

As Christina and Annabelle were being taken down to the lobby floor, Annabelle kept glancing at her friend nervously. She wasn't supposed to tell anyone about Christina's condition, but she did and to a guy who disrespected Christina. Annabelle was filled with anger as she thought about having to tell her best friend's secret in order for Dean to stop being such an asshole. Once they made it to the lobby, Annabelle dragged her friend out of the apartment building and pushed her into the car. As Annabelle was driving Christina looked at her in confusion as if asking, What's wrong? Annabelle just shook her head and kept her eyes on the road. Their first stop was at a restaurant for lunch. After working out for like 3 hours Christina was hungry. "I knew you'd be," Annabelle stated, reading the expression on Christina's face. She smiled before getting out of the car with Annabelle right on her heels.

As they were eating, Annabelle kept looking at Christina, the guilt getting to her head. How is Dean gonna treat Christina now that he knew her condition. Would he stay the same? Would he be nicer? He better be. Annabelle just revealed something very important to him so he could at least have the decency to be nice from now on. Annabelle couldn't take it anymore and tapped Christina's shoulder. "I have to tell you something," Annabelle said with urgency in her tone. Urgency to get this off her chest even though it had only been a couple of minutes. Christina nodded and placed her fork down. "You're probably gonna hate me for this," Annabelle began, biting her bottom lip, "but I told your neighbor Dean that you were deaf." Annabelle cringed, waiting for Christina's response. When Annabelle finally had the courage to look up, Christina head was hung and Annabelle felt even more guilty than before if that was even possible. Annabelle placed her hand over her friend's making Christina look up. "I'm so sorry Chrissy." Christina took a deep breath and shrugged as if saying, he was gonna find out sooner or later. "You probably hate me now, right?" Annabelle asked but Christina shook her head. "You forgive me?" Annabelle asked in disbelief and when Christina nodded, Annabelle gave her a huge hug. "Thank you so much," Annabelle whispered against her friend's shoulder even though she couldn't hear her. They pulled away. "I swear that I won't tell anyone else," Annabelle promised before they went back to eating.

After they finished lunch, they went to the mall for shopping. They got a few shirts and jeans from places like Forever 21, JCPenny's, Cotton On, and Macy's, but they spent most of their time in Victoria's Secret buying lacing bras and underwear. Even though they didn't have any boyfriends to impress them with, they still wanted to get them.

After spending almost 3 hours at the mall, they went to see a movie. "Im really happy you were exempt from testing today," Annabelle said once they found their seat in the theater. Christina smiled and nodded, "Today's been fun." Christina nodded again in agreement just as the lights darkened for the start of the movie.

Meanwhile at the apartment building, Dean was lying in bed thinking about what that redhead told him. Christina's deaf, he thought. He felt like a complete asshole for treating her the way he did. That explained everything that she had done. She wasn't ignoring him, she couldn't hear him and couldn't respond to anything he said. But she could understand things which made him confused. Could she read lips or something, he mentally asked himself. He wanted to bang his head against the wall, he felt so bad. He just knew that he couldn't show his face to Christina ever again. While she was gone, he went outside for the smoke that he put off after he found out about the news. He quickly pulled out his pack and took out a cigarette once he was outside.

After the movie ended, Annabelle took Christina to the grocery store so she could get something for the apartment. That only took about half an hour and after that she took Christina home.

They pulled up to the entrance about ten minutes later and Christina got out, getting her bags out of the trunk. Once she had her bags she went to the passenger side and leaned in through the window. "Thanks for coming to hang out with me today," Annabelle said. Christina smiled at her friend before shrugging as if it was no problem, "I had fun." Christina nodded in agreement before taking her head out the window and trying to wave with five bags in her arms. Annabelle drove away and Christina struggled to get her bags up. When she saw her neighbor Dean he was leaning up against the wall like always with his head hung low. He finally looked up and dropped his cigarette, helping Christina with the bags. He took all the bags out of her hands in one swift motion, holding them easily. Christina pointed to the cigarette that was still lit on the ground and Dean quickly stepped on it before jerking his head to the entrance, gesturing for her to follow.

When they got to her apartment, Christina unlocked the door and held it open for Dean. He walked in and looked around, amazed. The room looked fancy and you'd think it was a house and not an apartment. She had a flat screen TV in her living room with a chocolate brown leather couch and a mahogany wood coffee table. A candy dish was set in the middle. He walked into the kitchen and set the bags down on a marble counter top with the cabinets mahogany wood as well. All her appliances were stainless steel and she had an electric stove. "You have a nice place," he stated. Christina smiled before rummaging through her bags and putting stuff where it needed to go. She moved around the kitchen fast and with certainty as if she knew the kitchen like the back of her hand. Before he knew it, the counter was completely cleaned off and the shopping bags were in the trash can. Christina looked tired as she turned to Dean. "I should be going," he said, backing up, but she stopped him. She didn't know if he could do this or not, but it was worth a try. "Do you think you can play your music?" she asked in sign language, "It helps me go to sleep." Dean looked at her hands in confusion, not knowing what she was doing. I guess he doesn't understand sign language, she thought. She tapped her chin in a thinking way before snapping her fingers for an idea. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him out the apartment. "I get it, I get it, you want me out," he said, putting his hands up in surrender. Christina shook her head and pointed at his door. He wasn't sure what she was getting at, but he fished his key out of the pockets of his basketball shorts and unlocked the door. Christina walked in and pointed at the stereo. "You want me to play my music?" he asked and she nodded, "But you can't hear it." She turned the music on to the volume he had it last night and placed his hand on the wall. He could feel it vibrate under his palm. He looked at Christina who was smiling. "This helps you go to sleep," he said and she nodded, "Sure, I'll keep the music on." She smiled and let go of his wrist before nodding a goodbye and walking out. Dean watched her go in wonder. He touched his wrist where her fingers were. They were so warm and soft. He walked over and closed the door before turning the music up a little but louder, going into his room.

Christina quickly changed into her Micky Mouse pajama pants and white tank top before climbing into bed. She placed her hand on the wall and fell asleep to the beat.