Muted

Chapter 23

Spring was right around the corner and so was the spring formal. Dillon and I decided on doing our own little spring formal thing together and completely avoiding going to the schools by all means.

I was currently sitting in Mr. Callaghan's class next to Rebel–both of us googling outfits for the formal with the money that we don't have.

Yes, Rebel and I are finally talking again. Along with my other friends. It basically just took me explaining how I've been feeling abandoned by them, and they felt horrible.

I've learned a few things I've missed out on while we weren't hanging out. Turns out Sam is actually not straight, and has been pretending to be straight for most of her life. Her hook up with Tommy? Apparently she was trying to convince herself that she was straight for the fear that her parents, and even her brothers might be homophobic.

She didn't want to tell anyone because she was afraid of people hurting her, disowning her, claiming she was sinning, etc.. but much to everyone's surprise, her extremely religious parents were actually very supportive and wanted to know more about her life so they would never offend her and such.

And on top of all of that, she's dating a girl in her grade named Bethany Monteiro. She's a real lovely girl, very shy. I'm just proud that my little Sammy felt she trusted me enough to tell me. She told me how she wished everyone in the LGBT+ community could experience the same love and support she had gotten.

As for Aiden and Emily–surprise surprise–they got together. Apparently, sometime during Aiden's Halloween party they had hooked up. And again after that and-so-forth. Eventually hooking up had bothered them both so much they called it off, and had a bad habit of trying to make the other jealous. It worked on both of them, and they hooked up again... that was until Aiden basically blurted all of his feelings towards Emily out. And now their together. Four months to be exact. It's crazy to think that they managed to hide this from us as long as they did.

And as for my best friend, Rebel told me all about his new girlfriend, and I honestly couldn't wait to meet her. She seemed like she treated him good, and that's all I cared about. Her name was Chantelle, and ironically enough she was deaf like me. According to Aiden, she actually approached him during art and they've been talking since. They started going out roughly about a month ago. Aiden says that in the weirdest sense, she reminds him so much of me.

Well anyways, Rebel and I continued our google searches before I saw a message pop up in his screen from Sam. She had texted him a photo of his girlfriend claimed-to-be dress, which made it rather easy for him to narrow down his google searches.

"What about this one," Rebel signed to me, getting my attention. I looked over and the suit was blue, but a lot paler than his girlfriends dress.

I shook my head and signed back, "It doesn't match."

Rebel rose his brow and gave me a funny look before signing, "What do you mean it doesn't match?"

Now it was my turn to look at him funny, "The tux is a baby blue, her dress is navy blue. I'm deaf, not blind! And certainly not color blind for that matter."

Rebel just did his signature squinty eye smile in return. It continued this way for the rest of the class, even the whole school day, and to my house. I made sure Dillon knew not to come over because Rebel was helping me with the dress, and I wanted it to be a surprise. He was a bit queasy about it, but he understood that Rebel is my best friend after all.

We laid on my bed, with our heads hanging off the side, glued to our phones.

"What about this one," I signed, showing Rebel the long black dress.

Rebel grimaced at the dress and said, "No offense or anything, you're a bit pastie for something that dark and gothic looking. We don't want to scare your date away."

My mouth dropped at his comment and he just laughed. I playfully hit his arm before going back to google. We kept searching for our perfect spring formal outfit for three more hours before we just gave up and started talking to each other.

The conversation was mainly about how things have been since we last talked, but Rebel threw a curve ball at me and hit me with a question that I really didn't know how to answer, "What do you see in Dillon?"

I just sat there shocked, looking at my best friend in bewilderment. I made a hand gesture, asking him to further explain.

"Well, you're very first interaction with him he scared the living daylights out of you because you scratched his car with your bike. You're second time meeting him was at a graveyard. Later that day, in jail... where he yelled at you and grabbed you from behind the bars. Third time, he went around the entire school looking for you. Fourth time meeting you at a grocery store, where he grabbed you, screamed in your face, and made you cry. Fifth time, in jail... again... where he admitted to his violence, and later bought you a puppy as an apology. Sixth time, once again, he grabs you. He screams in your face, and makes you cry," Dillon poured all of his words out, looking for a sign of understanding on my face. And I knew what he meant, but I was fighting myself to not believe a word that leaves his body. "Riley, he hurt you... a lot. You weren't even dating, and he still hurt you. Who's to say that one day he's finally hit a snapping point and decides to take it out on you?"

I refused that question by signing a question of my own, "I thought you two were friends?"

Rebel shook his head then told me, "Aiden is his friend. You're his girlfriend. Not me. I am nothing to him, he is nothing to me. Just because you two like him and think he's a great guy, doesn't mean I have to. I'm allowed to be worried about you. I really hope you'd understand that."

We just sat in silence. I felt really judged by Rebel in that moment, and I had every right to be. He was judging after all.

Rebel just let out a sigh and sat up clearly pissed off. He grabbed his bag, ready to go.

"Can we at least talk about this," I asked.

Rebel looked at me with slight annoyance, knowing very well I didn't want to sway my opinions on Dillon, nor would I, "We just did. And you didn't listen to the one thing I really needed you to."

I could see the frustration in his face. He wanted to say more than he was telling me, but he wouldn't.

"I'm not saying to change how you feel about him, I'm just asking you to pay attention to signs that seem out of place. Think about it. Okay," he finished.

I nodded. and with my response, he left. And after he left, I let silent tears that I desperately held back, finally fall.

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{mini authors note}

Writing a new story while also continuing this one (DON'T WORRY, it's not done yet!!!) I will be promoting the other story soon at the end of every chapter!! And also thanks to anyone who has given me feedback on my last note, it truly helps a lot for my next several chapters!!!
                    ~All love ❤️