Mute

Chapter 2

*Phoenix's POV*

As I pulled into my parking spot, my mind was way too anxious to notice anything around me, including the beautiful car parked beside me that I was only able to subconsciously acknowledge. So, with shaky hands, I made my way into the school.

I walked through the crowded halls to my locker, number seventy. My first class of the day was one of my most difficult to sit through but most necessary to keep around: music.

People ask a lot how I can be in music when I don't talk as they normally equate music with choir. However, music class is actually basically one big band. We all practice songs together and then perform them at rallies or football games or our seasonal concerts. I've been in it for all of high school. 

I walked into class early and sat in my normal seat, snug in the back of the room. I had been sitting for about five minutes when this unfamiliar girl walked in. When you don't talk, you become very perceptive and very aware of the people around you so I would have known her if she had been here before. She obviously had to be new. I mean, we only had about 1,000 students in attendance here.

She walked up to the teacher's desk where they exchanged a few words and then walked towards me.

Oh, crap.

She sat down next to me and looked over, smiling at me with her blue eyes sparkling. I returned it with a small smile, not wanting to seem rude but also not wanting to engage in conversation as I doubted that she knew any sign language and normally people don't want to put in the effort that comes with writing back and forth. She turned back to her notebook that she placed on her desk and began writing in it. I assumed she was simply drawing a picture or jotting down some notes so she could read through them later.

Much to my surprise, she pushed the notebook towards me with a note.

'Hey, I'm Riley, what's your name?'

I gave her a confused look as I pulled out a pencil and answered.

'Phoenix. Are you new?' I knew she was but I still thought I'd ask. I didn't want to come off as creepy for knowing she was new already.

She smiled and then replied,

'Yup. Just moved here. What's it like at this school?'

It was confusing as to why she decided to converse with the school's mute on her first day but I appreciated the effort she put in. It was nice having someone to converse with.

'It's alright. It has its bad days, but what school doesn't?"

She laughed and then we 'talked' for the rest of the time until class started.

•after class•

Riley and I walked out of music together and I walked towards my locker. Surprisingly her locker is only a few lockers down from mine.

She walked up to me and asked for my schedule after she put away her books, so I gave it to her. She read it and her face lit up.

"We have 4 more classes together. Three in a row, then we have lunch, and then last period." She smiled.

I smile back. I started signing something to her in sign language, but abruptly stopped when I remembered I didn't know if she knew sign language. I felt stupid so I slowly lowered my hands and looked away for a moment. 

But, when I stopped, she told me to keep going. So I signed to her, 'Can you understand me?'

She laughed and replied, "Yup. I studied and learned sign language so I would have something to keep me occupied while my dad and I moved so many times."

'Oh. Cool.' She smiled again and we started walking to our next class.

When we got there, I went and sat down in my usual seat in the back and gestured for Riley to sit next to me. Normally, I'm very wary about welcoming new people into my life. I didn't want to drag anyone down into my crazy spiral of mental illness and lack of speaking ability. But with Riley, it already felt like I'd known her my entire life, even before everything happened.

"Okay, just let me introduce myself to the teacher real quick." I nodded and watched as she walked up to Mr. Cea.

She walked back over to me and sat down, just as people started coming through the door.

•After Class•

We walked down the hall to our next class and walked in. We did the same thing, where she would talk to the teacher and then sit next to me. I think she enjoyed having someone to talk to on her first day and I was happy to have someone who understands how I communicate. It was really refreshing.

In third period, five minutes before class started, Mrs. T got up and walked out the door. Five minutes later, a bunch of kids filed in and started messing around. One girl, in particular, walked through the door and towards me.

Oh, crap! I forget Reagan sits here!

Reagan is the 'Queen B' of the school. She is awful. She thinks she's better than everyone else and has been obsessed with making sure no one talks to me. Her and my sister were best friends once. I think she blames me for what happened.

"Um, excuse me, new girl. But that's my seat. So if you could just scoot right along to a different spot, that would be best." Reagan scoffed. She flipped her bleached hair behind her back, trying to come off as intimidating. But, Riley didn't seem phased.

"Well, I don't see your name on this desk so it doesn't belong to you. I'm sitting here and if you have a problem with it then too bad." Riley fired back.

"Oh, you wanna go new girl?"

"Is that really the best insult you could come up with? Oh my god, you're so basic it almost hurts."

"Oh it's on-" And that's when the teacher walked in. As much as Reagan owns the school, she still doesn't like confrontation with the teacher. So, she scoffed and walked to a different seat. I was impressed, most girls cower in fear at Reagan's wrath. 

The rest of the day dragged on until lunch. I didn't mind, though. Riley was there for most of it. But when lunch finally came, I was definitely relieved. 

I got in line and got my food. I then walked towards my normal table in the corner and sat down. I waited and waited for Riley to walk in, but I didn't see her. I was afraid she had maybe gotten lost on her way to the cafeteria, trying to push away the toxic thoughts that maybe she finally decided she didn't want to deal with the mute anymore.      

Instead of dwelling on those toxic thoughts, I got up and started walking around the school looking for her. I went down every hallway, looked in every classroom. But I found nothing.

Then, when I turned down the last hallway I hadn't searched, I saw her. She was curled up in a ball sobbing. What happened? I ran over to her and picked her up. I sat down and set her in my lap. She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

I looked down at her too. She had bruises on her skin and a cut and her lip. She also had a black eye and was bleeding in a few spots. I gave her a look that said it will be okay and then stood up and brought her to the nurse. I knew exactly who had done this to her and I knew she wasn't going to just sit down and let Riley's remarks pass. 

Her first day and she already got hurt. This school sucks. And I couldn't protect her from that.

*Edited Feb. 11, 2020*