M U T E

|| 8 ||

A month passes by, and I'm starting to become comfortable. Things are changing. My mom came back from the hospital a week ago and has made a full recovery. I knew she'd be okay. As for Bryce, little by little he has gotten me to speak. He told me once after I spoke that I had a beautiful voice, and he loved my way with words. What does that even mean? I didn't talk the whole day after he said that. I was too nervous.

I started remembering random things all over the place. I also started forgetting. I can't remember when I stopped talking so much..but I'm opening up a little. It feels sort of nice but scary at the same time. Today is Wednesday, and after an uneventful day at school, my mom has my brothers and me in the dining room at the table. I am scared that she's going to tell us something horrible. I hide my shaking hands underneath the table as she starts to speak.

"My good friend back in New York just got into a terrible accident. A drunk driver rammed into them. She and her husband were affected, and they are both in the hospital. Now, they have two kids, and since they're both too young to be on their own, we offered to look over them. Of course, they tried to contact closer family but were unable to find anyone who'd answer. Then they called us, and we immediately agreed. They have two girls. One of them is your age, Reyna. She's an old friend of yours. The other girl is 6, around the boys' age."

"No! Girls are taking over!" Vincent yells out. 

"We must not let them! We must defeat them!" Kole yells. 

They both stand up, putting up fists. They're weird. I roll my eyes. I don't see this as the best idea either. What if mom gets really sick again? There are now more people to take care of. How will dad keep up with extra children? How will we able to afford this? 

"I'll get a job," I say, "I want to help." 

"That's a good idea, Reyna," my mother says, giving me a warm smile, "I was worried about the money situation, but that would really help us. Thank you." 

She gives me a hug and I smile. The boys join the hug a moment later. 

"When are they coming to stay here?" Kole asks when the hug breaks.

"On Saturday. They need to pack, and then I'll be picking them from the airport in the morning. Reyna, you'll have to stay here to look over the boys," Mom replies. 

I nod. The boys go back to their rooms, and I go back to mine to get some homework done.

* * *

English class. The test, for our book that we have now finished, is on Friday. Today, we are supposed to be studying for it.

"So, Reyna, today you should come over to my house to study. Are you doing anything after school?" Bryce asks. 

I shake my head.

"Perfect, meet me when school is out then." 

I don't reply. I open my book and begin taking notes. She gave us a study guide, so that's what I am filling out. 

Who is this old friend of mine? Mom never said her name.. Plus, I didn't have many friends. At least, I don't think I had many friends. I can't remember.

The bell rings, interrupting my thoughts. Bryce walks me to lunch, as usual. 

"Want to sit with me and my friends today?" Bryce asks. 

My eyes widen, and I take a step back, almost crashing into someone. 

"No, no. Don't be scared. They're really nice. Plus, I'll be right here, okay?" 

I hesitantly follow him to his table. His friends seem a little surprised, but greet me anyway. 

"So, that's Misa," he points to a black-haired supermodel with stylish clothes and makeup perfectly done. "Roy," a boy with floppy blonde hair that covers his face just slightly, but his hair doesn't reach his neck. "Jenni," a girl with short blonde hair stopping right at her shoulders, but it's not a bob. It's kept straight, and she has a bow tied at the back. "And that's Trey," a boy with hair that is long-ish and mostly brown with the exception of one random blue highlight. One of his ears is pierced, and his eyes are such a bright blue that I noticed them without even looking at his eyes. 

That's when I realize I've never really looked at Bryce. I don't say a word to them, and sit down. I turn my face to Bryce, studying his features. 

Bryce is attractive. At least, that is what everyone says. He has short brown hair, and a few strands of hair sticking up at the front. His eyes are green and dull looking. His teeth are perfectly white, and he could be the definition of 'too perfect' at times.

I shift uncomfortably at the realization that I am sitting at this table of perfectness. I am out of place.

"I'll be right back," Bryce says, standing up, and walking over to the lunch line. 

My eyes widen, and I look back at the people I'm sitting with. You said you'd be right here!

"Are you two a thing?" Misa, a.k.a supermodel, asks. 

I look at her with a confused expression.

"Like dating," Jenni explains.

I shake my head quickly, which makes them laugh for some reason. 

"Awe. You're so cute. Do you like him?" Misa asks.

I shake my head again.

"I saw the way she was looking at him. I think she does," Jenni says to Misa. 

"Girls, you're making her all nervous. Come on," Trey says to them, but then turns to me, "so Reyna. Has he taken you up to his room?" 

What?! Roy smacks Trey's shoulder with that one. 

Roy sighs, looking at me now, "I sincerely apologize for my overly hormonal friends."

"Why- er uh, do you have b-b-blue..-" I hesitantly raise my hand up to point to Trey's hair, then turn my head down, nervous again.

They all laugh. I lift my head up. Trey is glaring at the two girls. 

"We have this war going on," he says, "but I'm going to get them. They'll wish they never messed with me." 

Bryce comes back then. He places an Oreo pack in front of me. I try to hold back the smile that comes to my face. My arms reacted by wrapping around him. I guess that's a hug. My arms and mouth have been reacting for me a lot now. 

"She loves Oreos," Bryce says with a chuckle to his friends. 

"I can tell," Jenni says, and they all laugh.

I open the Oreos up, eating one. I can't hold back the smile. These things are the only love of my life. Well, right under family. Family is #1. Oreos are #2. Wait, books! My family is #1. Books are #2. Oreos are #3. Bryce is.. Wait, no. Never mind. Bryce is, like, a friend? Right? Wait, no. We just are two people who share a class, and hang out sometimes. We're study partners. Nothing more..right? 

They all start chatting about some random drama going on in school. I look around the cafeteria. That's when I notice all the eyes on me. They're all wondering why the Mute is sitting by Bryce and the Perfects. Lunch ends. They all say goodbye and go on their way. 

"See you later, Reyna," Bryce says as he walks away with Trey. 

I'm all alone, and I turn to see that my path is blocked.

"Mute, don't think you're all high and mighty because you have Bryce. You don't have Bryce. Bryce sees you as a charity case. He feels bad for you because you're shy. He's my boyfriend or will be. We're getting back together, you see," Vienna stands right in front of me.

I nod and step to the side. She pushes me, and I fall into a table.

"It's funny. She can't even speak. She can't get Bryce. There is no way."

I can hear the whispers. Don't they realize I can hear? Maybe I don't talk, but I'm not deaf. I stand up, brush it off, and keep walking.