Silence

Chapter 3: Guess Who's Back

With that, Adam was left with horrible news.

From then on, Adam was the one getting targeted. He tried to defend himself, but the teachers never believed him.

Eventually, he gave up, and he didn't care anymore. 

There was no point in trying. But even though he kept getting bullied and notes telling him that he didn't belong and should end himself, he kept smiling, pretending that it wasn't happening, and having a typical day. 

This continued until he was 16. Now, here we are.

Adam attends Redwood High School while still pretending he's happy, even though he isn't. 

Adam is walking with the only person who ended up not stabbing him in the back.

"So, how have you been? I haven't seen you since middle school." Adam says in sign. 

Connie smiles, "I've been good; I've been having to move to many different schools lately." Connie says in sign and laughs.

Because people have been bullying you.Damn it. If only I were there to protect you. 

"Oh really? In any case, I'm glad you and I go to the same school." Adam says in a sign; he smiles.

Connie looks at him and smiles. "Yep! I'm happy, too." Connie says in sign. 

Connie and Adam continued walking towards the school; a light breeze was in the air.

"Ah...I love the wind in my face." Adam says. 

Connie taps on Adam's shoulder, "Huh? What's up?" Adam says in sign.

"I. I haven't thanked you probably yet," Connie says in a sign. "What do you mean?" Adam asks in a sign. 

"Well, for what you did for me back in middle school," Connie says in a sign. "It's okay," Adam says in the sign.

Connie looks at Adam. It seems like she's about to cry.

"Don't cry, Connie. You don't need to thank me. I was just protecting you because I care about you, that's all," Adam says in a sign. 

Connie tilts her head, "You care? Why?" Connie asked in sign.

Adam's face turned into a tomato when she said that.

"W-why? Because I-I do okay?" Adam says in sign. 

Connie laughs, "That isn't a good reason, Adam." Connie says in a sign, smiling.

"I just... do," Adam says in a sign. Connie stares at Adam. "Uhhh...Connie?" Adam says in a sign.

 Suddenly Adam feels something holding him, he looks down and sees Connie hugging him.

Adam turns beet red; He embraces her as well. It feels..warm... 

"Oi lovebirds! Will you sit there hugging each other until one of you gives up, or will you walk to school?" A voice calls out. "Huh?" Adam says. 

He didn't realize it, but Adam and Connie hugged each other for quite a while.

"G-gah! Sorry, Connie!" Adam says in sign. Connie laughs and shakes her head. 

"No, it's alright, " she says in a sign. Are you two dating or something? You two just stood there for five minutes hugging each other, " the voice said. 

"Of course not! We're just friends! Anyway, who are you?" Adam asks. "Ah, sorry, forgot to introduce myself. The name's Luke." He says. 

"Nice to meet you, Luke; I'm Adam, and this is Connie." Adam says, "Connie, this is Luke." Adam says in sign—Connie waves at Luke. Luke looks at Connie in confusion, then at Adam.

"Is she alright? Can't she talk?" Luke asked.

Adam shakes his head. "She can't hear; she's deaf, sadly, " he says.

"Oh...I'm so sorry. Could you possibly teach me sign language? It seems you know how to, so I figured you could," Luke said. 

"Yeah, sure, man!" Adam said. "Awesome! Wanna walk to school together?" Luke asked.

Adam nodded and turned to Connie, "Could he walk with us?" Adam asks in sign. 

Connie nodded and smiled. "She agrees as well," Adam said.

"Awesome. Wait..what time does school start?" Luke asks. Adam checks his phone to see what time it is. 

It was 7:55 a.m. "5 minutes." Adam said.

"Oh, okay. Five minutes?! WE NEED TO BOOK IT!" Luke yelled as he started running towards the school. 

"Crap he's right, Come on Connie, otherwise we're gonna be late!" Adam says in sign. "Alright! Let's hurry." Connie says in sign. 

Suddenly, Connie grabbed Adam's hand and ran to the school as fast as she could. YOU'RE SO DAMN FAST!" Adam said. 

Connie turns around to see Adam struggling to keep up with her; she laughs.

-5 MINUTES LATER-

Adam and Connie caught up with Luke, "Took ya long enough, heh." Luke said. 

Luke looks at Adam, who is lying on the ground in front of the school doors. "Dude, are you alright?" Luke laughs. 

"To... fast..." Adam is barely able to speak. Connie giggles and helps Adam back up. "Thanks. You're too fast," Adam says in a sign. 

"I used to run a lot with my younger sister," Connie says in sign. "What are you?! No human should run that fast!" Adam said in sign. 

Connie giggled, "Guess I'm just faster than you. Must be tough to accept that." Connie said in sign. 

-RING-

"CRAP! Class is starting; I'll see you guys at lunch!" Luke yelled, running inside. "Ah shit, Hey Connie, what class are you in?" Adam asks in sign. 

"I think B2. What about you, Adam?" Connie asked in sign, "No way...I'm in B5! We're right across from each other!" Adam said in sign. 

Connie glows in excitement, "Yay, yay, yay!" Connie said in sign. Adam laughs, "Well, someone's happy." Adam says in sign. 

Connie blushes and covers her face. "S-shut up, " she says in a sign. Let's get to class; I don't want to be late," Adam says in a sign. 

Connie nodded and started walking inside. When they got to their classes, they waved at each other and entered their classrooms. 

Adam sits in his assigned seat. His seat is in the middle of the class, towards the right, close to the door. "Good morning, class, " the teacher says. 

"Good morning, " the students said. Now, I know we just started a new semester, and you all just got out of summer break. I hope you all had fun, by the way. So for this semester, let's all do our best, " the teacher said. 

A couple of kids whispered, "What a pain." "Hooray, new semester." They didn't seem very happy. 

I mean, I know I'm not. "Oh, I almost forgot. We have a new student joining us for the semester, " the teacher said. A new student? 

It seems a bit late, don't you think? "The student is transferring here late because of family reasons. Alright, come on in, " the teacher said. 

The door opens, and everyone sees someone walking in. "Whoa, she's hot, " a student whispers. "She has the popular girl vibe going on, " another kid whispers. 

"Everyone. Meet Brittany Jackson." The teacher said. "It's nice to meet you all." Brittany smiled. BRITTANY?!?! As in the Brittany who bullied Connie and Me?! SON OF A BITCH!! 

"Your seat will be right over there, " the teacher pointed. She walked towards where Adam was sitting and took a seat behind him. 

You've got to be kidding me...WHY ME OF ALL PEOPLE?! "Guess who's back." Brittany smiled.