Speaking With Silence

Chapter 1

Friendship Beyond Words

                                                          (First Person P.O.V.)

“Talking"

“Thoughts”

“Sign Language"

“Telepathy speech”

* * * *

I was sitting at my desk in History class in Tranquility, Nevada. We are presenting our genealogy reports in class, and I could not participate in this, so I was excused.

My family... I am not human. I am of the race of Shapeshifters, an ancient race of human-and-metal-like beings. My race lives thousands of years longer than the humans, and we discovered the child race some few hundred years ago. I had to change my form to blend in because my parents and I were chased off my home planet, Vunov, of the Gamma Centauri Cluster.

Anyways, Mr. Hosney called, “Okay, mister Witwicky, you're up.”

Sam stood up, walked to the font of class, and dumped everything in his backpack out onto the podium. Out of the corner of my eye, I heard Trent, aka “Bone Head”, say quietly to his girlfriend, Mikaela Banes, “Watch this.” he pulled back a rubber band slightly and shot it.

It hit Sam, and the class laughed, except me. I just scowled, and watched as Mr. Hosney stood up. “Who did- who did that? People! Responsibility.”

“Okay. Um. So, for my genealogy report...” Sam was talking, but I tuned him out as I had heard his speech many times before. He had practiced it in front of me a lot, so I practically knew it by heart. I only hope he isn't gonna try to sell any of his items to the class...

I came out of my daydreaming as Mr. Hosney said, “Are you going to sell me his liver? Mr. Witwicky, this isn't show and sell. It's the eleventh grade. I don't think your grandfather would be particularly proud of what you're doing.”

“Oh, he did. Why did he think it was a good idea to do that?” I asked myself as I shook my head slightly in exasperation.

“I know. I'm sorry. I just, you know, this is all going towards my car fund. You can tell your folks. It's on eBay. I take Paypal. Cold hard cash works, too. And the compass makes a- a great gift for Columbus Day.” Sam said, starting to ramble a bit.

“Sam!” I exclaimed telepathically at the same time Mr. Hosney did out loud.

Yes. I can't talk. I have to use my powers to talk telepathically. But only to my very close friend, which I have in Sam. Otherwise, I use sign language for everyone else.

Sam shot me a look before continuing. “Sorry. Um, unfortunately, my great-great-grandfather, the genius he was, wound up going blind and crazy in a psycho ward, drawing these strange symbols and babbling on about some, uh, giant ice man that he thought he'd discovered-” the bell rang, interrupting Sam.

The class stood up, and I gathered my things as my teacher called out to us, “Okay. Might be a pop quiz tomorrow. Might not. Sleep in fear tonight.”

I walked over to Sam as he tried to sell his glasses to the other students. “Here, you want? Here, fifty. Forty? Thirty?”

“Sam?” I signed, coming up beside him. “I'm going to wait outside with your dad, alright?”

He nodded to me, and I went to my locker. I grabbed my books and bag and headed out to Sam's dad's car. I leaned over the passenger window, and signed, “Sam will be out in a minute. Can't wait to see what car he gets. The prank still up?”

Sam's dad, Ron, smiled, and replied. “Sure is, Nova. That is, if he gets the A, that is.” I nodded and walked over to my motorcycle. I slid onto my blue and gold Ducati, putting on my matching helmet. Sam came running out a few minutes later, screaming like a little girl. I shook my head and turned on the ignition, my motorcycle roaring to life underneath me. I pulled out of the parking lot and Ron followed until I turned down the road to my house.

I roared up into the driveway, and pulled into the garage. I exited through the garage door and into the hallway that contained a bathroom and laundry room. I then entered the living room which contained to couches and a small T.V., and I went up the stairs to my bedroom. I slung my backpack onto my bed and pulled out my homework.

Time Skip

I had finished up my math homework when I heard a knock on the door. My ears perked up and I finished packing my books away before I went down to see who it was. I opened the door to see Sam standing there with a smile on his face. “Come on! You have got to see my car!” he exclaimed excitedly. He practically dragged me over to his house, and when I saw his car, I raised an eyebrow. It was an old black and yellow Camaro that was really dirty. I put my hands on my hips and finally sighed. “Sam, we really need to take a bucket of soap and water and a few rags to this thing. It needs to be cleaned.” I signed to him, and he rolled his eyes and gave a breathy laugh.

“Oh, all right. We will do it your way. But then you are coming to the party with me, got it?” he asked. I rolled my eyes but nodded in affirmation. We broke out the items we needed, and got to work.