[33] Gravel to Tempo

He walked in slowly, his shoulders hunched over - the posture I'd grown accustomed to find intimidating. I didn't now. I knew he'd come eventually after the picture and everything; It had only been a matter of time.

I know why you did it. He tried not to show it but there was a hint of recognition in his dark eyes, a small flinch that gave him away, don't pretend like you don't know what I'm saying.

"What do you want me to say?" His voice was quiet - not gentle - but it didn't have the same menace it always seemed to. It was over, and we both knew it "How do you know?"

Your brother. I didn't realistically have to say anything else - it was obvious from there. They had the same jaw I decided, the same sharp nose. I knew as soon as I'd seen Alex that he looked strangely familiar but it wasn't until Elliot said his last name that it has clicked into place.

"Wow you worked it out, so what? You're just going to tell me what I already know?" He said it all sarcastically, but not his usual way - it was almost like he'd given up on his act. "I know I'm fucked up ok? Happy now?"

But why? Why did you decide to hit me whenever you felt like it? I could only contain my anger - knowing it wouldn't completely dissipate before I finally had the answer.

"I thought you were supposed to be clever." His voice remained low and calm and had a sort of melancholy tone to it that I couldn't fully understand. "Mrs Porter - why else? She knew about me and thought about how amazing it would be to make us best friends since we can both sign."

So why didn't you do it?

"You must know better than anyone why - people only like other people that fit in. If we became friends I would have had to explain to everyone why I could sign. I couldn't risk the humiliation from everyone else if that happened."

So you punched me to keep me quiet?

"You could look at it that way." He shrugged. "I don't see why you care so much."

Maybe because you made my life a living hell for the past year?! My anger wasn't contained and the movements were sharp and emphasised.

"Do you know how hard it is for me? To watch everyone call you a freak knowing that they could turn on me at any moment if they found out? To know that every single person I call a friend would easily take the piss out of me if they knew that I had a deaf brother?" I watched him rant with unblinking eyes. "And I know that what I did was fucked up but you're not the only victim in this fucking school ok?"

Ok. It felt like the only viable response. Everything I had ever thought about Harrison had been completely wrong and yet it all seemed to make sense. I didn't know how to feel anymore. He would never be justified for what he did - I would never forgive him, and his excuse would never be valid - but at least I had some form of explanation now. Closure that allowed me to be able to do what I should have done right at the start.

"Well I guess this is goodbye." He said, looking me straight in the face before leaving swiftly. And then he was gone. I didn't guess at how he knew what I was going to do because it turned out that I didn't know anything about him in the end.

XXX

The bell went and I had a spike of adrenaline again as I thought about what I was going to do at lunch. Everything that was going to happen. It was scary whenever I thought about the monstrously massive task in front of me but at the same time I knew it had to be worth it, knew it had to count for something. I just hadn't quite figured out the logistics of it all just yet.

History dragged, especially with the spotlight on me again. It turned out that coming back to school after taking an entire week off is actually really interesting for the majority of my year and the familiar whispers surrounded me as always. The only person that didn't glance at me at the back of the class was Noah and that hurt the most.

"Ok class today we're doing some revision on the Elizabethan topic so I want you to be making notes and get this, LISTEN to what I'm saying!" Mr Harold gave his usual displeased smile. I wondered what he'd think of me after lunch, what he'd do, how he'd treat me. "Sydney, that includes you, please have your gossip session with Carrie after the bell's gone if you don't mind?"

I opened my book nervously and nearly dropped my pen after attempting to pick it up. History wasn't my main concern now at all and I hoped that Mr Harold couldn't see it.

"So the topic starts with Elizabeth's childhood..." He droned on and I had to restrain my eyes from looking at Noah. I was going to need him of course, but it wasn't exactly healthy to stare at him for an hour straight. He was still in the corner of my eye nonetheless and it was impossible not to notice him finally glance at me. Without thinking, I signed quickly, making sure the gestures were small enough not to be picked up by anyone else in the class.

I need to talk to you.

XXX

"What?" He asked me when class was over. Mr Harold had run out with everyone else and it was just us. Alone. I could see the hurt in his eyes and it was like someone had just impales my heart or something.

This is going to sound crazy but I need you to interpret for me. I took a small gulp, and he furrowed his eyebrows it's, it's complicated to explain right now but I, I just really need to do something.

I bit my lip, my heart sinking deeper and deeper with the obvious pain in his eyes. I wanted nothing more than to just kiss him right now, right there and then, but I couldn't. Not now with this looming over me. I patiently waited as he stared into my eyes a little more before finally looking away.

"Ok." His jaw was set but he'd agreed. I instinctively grabbed his hand and pulled him into the cafeteria with me, ignoring the various stares from everyone else. It was like everything had stopped as soon as I'd entered the room, the tables of people silent as they looked at me curiously. I pretended like I didn't notice.

The tension in the room was palpable as I clambered on top of an empty table right in the middle. Looking around, I noticed that even Mackenzie wasn't saying anything, instead looking as dazed as everyone else. I guessed that this was it. The moment I finally told everybody.

"Hi," Noah spoke for me and I gulped before resuming my signing "I guess I'm here because I need to finally put the theory that I don't have thoughts" I glanced at Mackenzie for a split second "to bed." I took another small gasp of air before continuing, knowing that it was now or never.

"I was a completely normal kid for most of my childhood. I did completely normal things including speaking and it was safe to say there wasn't anything abnormal about me. But a few days after my tenth birthday I... I found a lump on my neck. It was fairly small but big enough to be noticeable and after getting it checked out by the doctor, well, after a few tests, they found it was a tumour and I was diagnosed with cancer. It was scary of course, but the doctor assured me and my family that they had caught it early enough to just remove it easily but... it wasn't that simple, and eventually they came to the conclusion that the only real way to completely get rid of it would be to remove my voice box as well. That surgery happened five years ago and since then I've never made a sound. I know that this is pretty irrelevant and it's not that interesting but I just want you to finally consider thinking before making nasty comments behind my back or, well, to my face. I know that most of you will go back to normal as soon as I step off this table but I wanted to at least stop certain people from getting the wrong idea about me." I looked at Mackenzie again, her mouth hanging open and then continued. "I'm not a brainless weirdo and just because I can't conventionally tell you that you're wrong doesn't automatically make you right. I was just unfortunate as a kid and that's all there is to it."

I left it there, left them staring before stepping foot off the table. I had no idea what was going to happen now but at least I'd done it.

I made my way out of the room slowly, conscious of Noah following me and went slowly up to learning support 4. It was only when I turned around that I saw the tears in his eyes. He stepped lightly towards me, extending his arm to meet my chin.

"I don't think I can do this." He said gently, his voice nearly a whisper "I don't think I can do this beak up thing."

Me neither. I replied slowly and reached up to kiss him. It was both familiar and different, more intense. I wanted it to last forever and for once it did.

AAAAAAHHH. I cannot believe that I've actually finished this! I really really hope you enjoyed this (and the ending didn't disappoint) because I've really loved writing it. I just want to quickly thank everyone who's read, voted and commented on this story - it does mean a lot to me - and I especially want to thank scribbledpizza  for genuinely being here since the first part and definitely deserves the most supportive reader award!

I have got some ideas for an epilogue but I don't know when I'll get round to writing it so for now this is officially completed!

Mouseymouse144 x