M U T E

|| 4 ||

"Get up," Myra says, shaking me.

I do as she says, and open my eyes. I sit up as she throws an outfit at me. This one consists of a yellow top with long shorts. Yellow is not my color. I reject the top and pick out my own. I settle upon a black and grey plaid top with sleeves that went right above my elbow. I button it up. Myra unbuttons the top two. I don't bother redoing it, and I put the long shorts on. I brush my hair and do the usual mascara. I look at myself in the mirror to see that I resemble a seventh grade girl. Myra had unbuttoned the top two buttons, but there really is nothing to show. I let out a sigh, and we walk to where the bus picks us up, getting on as it arrives.

Myra has a completely different style than me. She is very into fashion, and always goes for something cool and different, but not too "out there." She's a blondie with dyed red streaks. Her makeup consists of pink lipgloss, very carefully put on, light silver eyeshadow, eyeliner with small wings (perfectly done) , and mascara. She does put foundation on, though her perfect skin doesn't need it. Myra doesn't touch blush because her cheeks are naturally rosy. She usually likes to style her hair in unique ways, but her usual habit is straightening it and braiding a small strand of hair in the front to clip back. Her clothes are what I call "normal" for a teenage girly girl. Myra adores skirts and dresses.

Today, she wears the usual hairstyle and a green top with sleeves that cover her shoulder like a T-shirt. The shirt stops right above her belly button, showing off her piercing. She has a white skirt that is high waisted. She wears a couple rings on her fingers, two shiny bracelets, and simple stud earrings. I don't ever wear earrings or any jewelry at all. I gave those bracelets to Myra as a birthday present at age 9. She always wears them.

She gave me an ankle bracelet for my 9th. I even sleep with it on. The anklet has beads on it that spell out "Forever."

She told me that is how long our friendship will last. She stayed by me even with my Mute. She's the only one.

"We're at school. Are you going to sit here all day or get off this bus?" Myra asks, snapping me out of my daze. I didn't realize a whole bus ride had passed. I was too deep in my thoughts to notice.

I follow Myra, but someone trips me as I walk into the school. Someone actually tripped me. My face hits cement. My phone slips out of my pocket as I fall.

"What the hell? Back off, Vienna. What's your problem? Don't think I didn't see that." Bryce again?

Now, this is getting weird. I sit up. Myra stands there, shocked and staring at Bryce. I don't look up. I don't pick myself up. I sit there on the ground.

"I swear every time I see you, you are running into walls or face planting to the ground," Bryce says to me, "you make me worry about leaving you to walk on your own. Maybe, I'll just always have to stand beside you at all time. Then, you'd have someone to catch you before you fall."

I still don't look up. My phone pops up in front of my face.

"I want to ask first before you go off on your way.. Can I have your number? I'm thinking, mayyybe, we could hang out this weekend. I'm sure there's some more discussion we can do on The Giver together. I know that you're farther in the book, so you'll have to catch me up."

I take my phone from him, get up, unlock it, press contacts, then hand it back. He smiles brightly as he puts a number in. He sends himself a text.

"And now I have your number. I'll see you later," and with that, he leaves.

"Did that just happen?" Myra asks, in disbelief.

I shrug. Yes, I just shrugged as if it was nothing, but I am freaking out inside!