Dead Air

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Paige settled herself at the Becker's kitchen table as Mrs. Becker yelled up the stairs. Mrs. Becker stepped back to the counter. She held up a coffee pot and looked at Paige questioningly. Paige smiled and shook her head. Mrs. Becker dug around in a drawer and pulled out a tea bag, giving Paige the same look. Paige shook her head again.

Mrs. Becker pursed her lips for a moment before grabbing a pad of paper. She scribbled something on it and sat in a chair next to Paige. Paige read the message. It asked what the signs were for coffee and tea. She pointed first at coffee. She pulled both of her hands into fists, setting one on top of the other, and ran her top fist in a circle over the bottom one. Mrs. Becker nodded, interest clear in her eyes, and imitated what Paige had done. Paige grinned, nodded, and pointed to tea. She left the bottom fist in its spot. With her other hand, she touched her index and thumb together and acted as though she was stirring something in her fist. Mrs. Becker mimicked her again, he eyes flicking up behind Paige as she finished the movement.

Glancing back, Paige watched Rory as he turned away from her and his mother. He shuffled over to the coffee pot. She couldn't help but notice how he fumbled around. She couldn't help but notice the bags under his eyes and the way he wouldn't make eye contact with anybody. He poured himself a travel mug of coffee and gestured with his head that Paige should follow him. She quickly gathered her backpack from the floor next to the table. Rory stopped in the doorway, turning and saying something with a shake of his head. Then, he was on his way out the door again.

As soon as they got in the car, Paige could feel the bass of some loud song vibrating through the seats. This was a far cry from yesterday, when he wouldn't touch the radio. She watched him curiously as he drove. His whole body was tense. His fingers drummed on the steering wheel off beat with the bass. She didn't look away from him until he glared at her out of the corner of his eye.

As they pulled into the school parking lot, Paige pulled out her phone. She typed in a message and held it up to Rory as soon as he parked. He scanned the message quickly, rolled his eyes, and moved to open the door. Paige reached out and grabbed his wrist before he could touch the handle. His eyes flicked to her hand, then up to her eyes, meeting them for only a brief second. He shook her grip off and got out of the car, shaking his head.

Pursing her lips, Paige followed him. She took hold of his arm before he could get too far. He turned and looked at her. The sadness in his eyes was the only thing betraying the anger on the rest of his face. His lips moved as he said something, and she raised an eyebrow.

Rory's shoulders sagged. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and touched the screen a few times. When he held it out to Paige, it was on the new contact screen. Paige's eye flicked to his face for a moment before she took the phone from him and entered her number. Rory took the phone back, saving the information, and typing in a quick message. He held the phone out again. Paige read the screen. I'll text you during class. She looked up at him, studying his dejected face. He barely looked at her as she nodded. Then, Rory turned and began walking into the building. Paige followed a few steps behind him.

Chat with Rory Becker

<Remember how I was avoiding my gf yesterday?

>Yeah.

<I dumped her last night.

>Why?

<She cheated on me.

<Why didn't you come to the game?

>I'm not a fan of football. Or sports really.