AFTERMATH

Chapter 2

I woke up with the sunlight shining on my face through the hotel room window. Kameron looked comfortable sitting on the balcony with a glass of orange juice in his hand. He wore a white bathrobe and listened to music. Removing the comforter off me, I gleefully swung my feet off the bed and stepped onto the cool wood floor. I walked over to the balcony and opened the door; a graceful breeze moved my light pink gown. Kameron looked up at me while he removed his earbuds. “GOOD MORNING, PRINCESS,” he signed, getting up to hug me. He wrapped his arms around my waist; I hugged his neck; we gazed admiringly into each other's eyes. My height differed considerably from Kameron's. He stood at 6’2” while I stood at 5’3”.

Even though I stood on my tiptoes, I still wasn’t tall enough to reach his lips. Kameron smiled as we walked back to the bedroom. We collapsed on the mattress as his soft lips touched mine, and his tongue glided over mine as we closed our eyes. We must have made out for five minutes when someone knocked on the door. Kameron gently tapped my shoulder, and then he signed, “SOMEONE KNOCKED ON DOOR. PROBABLY YOUR FAMILY.”

I sighed, got up, and brushed my hair. I changed into a blue crop top, white shorts, and a pair of blue sandals. I found my headband with real seashells glued across the tortoiseshell-colored plastic and carefully slid it over my ears. Kameron and I left the room together with satisfied smiles on our rosy faces. “READY?” Mom signed and said. Both Kameron and I nodded now grinning. My brother looked at me with one eyebrow raised, “YOU BLUSHING.”

Mom and Dad stared at Kameron and me, my ears turned red as I swallowed. Dad motioned for Mom and Michael to continue going. I followed Mom and my brother because it really seemed like Dad wanted to talk to my boyfriend. “GOING WHERE WE,” I signed when Mom paid attention.

“GETTING BREAKFAST. K-A-M-E-R-O-N YOUR DAD WILL JOIN US.” Mom replied.

I looked down at my feet while thinking, I'm certain I know what Kam and Dad are talking about... we're eighteen. Why is Dad talking to him now? We're almost nineteen. It may be something else, but Dad started talking to him after Michael said we were blushing. Lost in thought, I bumped into my mother who had stopped walking. “L-E-X-I YOU OKAY?” Nodding, I glanced up at the restaurant's familiar-looking sign. I sighed, wishing we would've gone somewhere different, but I bit my tongue and followed my mom and brother into the building. Again, we told a waiter two more people would join us. My phone vibrated, so I fished it out of my pocket to check it.

Kameron: Your dad and I are walking over there now.

Lexi: What did you and Dad talk about?

Kameron: It's something I must tell you in the hotel room.

Lexi: Okay. Can't wait!

Eyeing the menu, I kept staring solemnly at it; every place had the same boring fare. I decided not to order anything but some orange juice. I would eat something when I got back to the hotel. Mom and Michael talked and didn’t pay attention to me, but because it happened a lot, I didn't mind. I flipped through the pictures on my phone. Most of them were of my family, friends, and selfies. Being young and having meningitis meant I was the only Deaf one out of all my friends and family. A slight breeze caught my attention, so I looked in that direction and saw a young black-haired boy running by. I sighed, upset it wasn't Kameron. I looked up and saw Michael and Mom staring.

“What? I'm not eating anything here; everything here is crap,” I said with my arms crossed. Mom glared at me. I sigh angrily, “Fine, get me pancakes with peaches on top.”

Mom smiled apologetically at the waiter and her lips read, “I'm sorry for my daughter's attitude.” Embarrassed, I slid down in my seat, practically disappearing underneath the table. Someone accidentally kicked me, so I finally sat up. Kameron and Dad talked to each other, so I faced them to read their lips easier. Mom was still upset by my earlier outburst. “Dean, your daughter badmouthed the restaurant in front of a waiter and called the food crap!”

Dad glanced at me, “Lexi, why would you do that? That was disrespectful! Apologize when he gets back.” I gritted my teeth, desperately trying to cool down or not explode from burning anger.

“I didn't know he was there, and I was telling the truth! I couldn't hear him and didn't even see him there until I said it! You also could’ve gotten my attention instead of staring at me!” I bolted out of my seat and ran to the family bathroom with Kameron following the second I left. Kameron got in front of me and gently grabbed my arms.

Since he held my arms, he couldn't sign making me read his lips. “It’s okay, right? Apologize to the waiter, and we can eat something at the hotel, deal?” I nodded with tears still rolling down my face. Kameron put a hand on my cheek and wiped away the remaining tears as he hugged me close to his chest. We stood in the hallway, hugging each other for several minutes before going back to the table.

Mom: “Kameron, thank you for talking to Lexi.”

Kameron: “No problem, Mrs. Hofden. She said she would apologize.”

Mom: “Remember, you can call me Andrea.”

Dad: “I wonder what got into her. Normally, she would be content and eat whatever she got.”

Kameron shrugged: “Maybe this place is tiring her out. I mean, you can make these meals at home, so why would you spend more money to get what you can make yourself? We can go here anytime back home.”

Dad: “That’s true.”

Michael obviously didn’t agree; he stuffed his face with a chocolate pancake. I jumped up, running over to my brother; I gently placed a hand on his back saying, “Slow down, you’ll choke!”

I didn't know what Michael said because his pancake filled his mouth. I turned to look at Mom, who looked like she was in the middle of having a panic attack. Kameron walked over to Michael and probably told him to spit out the food because Michael did. Kameron grabbed my hand and signed, “COME ON, WE SHOULD GO TO HOTEL.” Nodding, I got up, then we walked back to the hotel and proceeded to our room.

Kameron sat on the edge of the bed, so I did too. “YOUR DAD GAVE ME MONEY TO PURCHASE SOMETHING. YOU CAN ALREADY GUESS WHAT I BOUGHT; I CAN SEE ON YOUR FACE.”

“YOU COULD HAVE BOUGHT THOSE AT LOCAL DRUGSTORE YOURSELF, RIGHT? IF SO, WHY DID HE GIVE MONEY TO YOU?” We both shrugged as Kameron told me it was awkward when he got them. In response, I nuzzled his neck, and Kameron placed a hand on my head. We laid down, and I rested my head on his chest, feeling it moving up and down as he breathed rhythmically. I also felt his heart beating. Kameron's arms wrapped around my waist as we lay there. He played with my hair as I looked up into his hazel eyes, which were now green. Kameron worked at a salon when he attended college, so he always volunteered to do my hair.

“HEY R-A-P-U-N-Z-E-L”. Kameron signed, and I started giggling. Rapunzel was the nickname Kameron gave me because of my long golden hair. “YOU SEEM A LITTLE DOWN. I HAVE SOMETHING MAY CHEER YOU UP.” Kameron reached over to the other side of the bed and lifted the computer case. He turned on the computer and saw some pictures of raccoon dogs which I instantly started glancing at.

After a while, I lay next to Kameron; we turned toward each other. I noticed Kameron's gaze was on my lips as I smelt peppermint on his breath. Kameron began kissing my neck as he took me to the door, fastening it. He placed me back on the mattress as he made the comforter surround me. Then, he nibbled my ear, making me giggle. We lay there for a few pleasant hours before I fell asleep, but I woke up an hour later. Kameron was at the door talking to a ginger-haired man who looked like a pizza delivery guy. I recognized him as one of Kameron's old classmates from high school. The man waved at me, and then I realized it was Eddy James from high school. I slid out of bed, then walked over to Eddy. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you after all these years,” I said, hoping I didn't sound rude. “How are you?”

Eddy didn’t speak and had his mouth open in shock, then stuttered, “I'm doing okay. You're Alexis Hofden, right?”

“Lexi.” I instantly corrected him. “Why don't you join us?” I offered and Eddy gratefully accepted as he sat on the couch. Memories flooded my head as Eddy stood right in front of me. I was shocked because this boy who used to be the top of his class was now delivering pizzas for a living.

“You're the deaf girl who graduated at sixteen, right?” Eddy asked, and I nodded. I hated it when he said you're the deaf girl, but I stayed silent. Technically, I didn't graduate at sixteen. I took college classes then. “I'm a little surprised to see you in bed with Kameron.” Knowing those words came out of his mouth surprised me.

“It shouldn't be surprising because we’ve been dating since high school.” I blurted, feeling my face turn pink, “you're wearing one of his shirts.” Looking down, I saw I was wearing Kameron’s button-down shirt he wore to dinner two nights ago. I wondered where my shirt was and why I wore my boyfriend’s, not that it mattered.

Kameron looked at me, then at Eddy, “I don't think it's harmful if a girlfriend wears a boyfriend's shirt. I'm sure you'd do the same thing if you lost her shirt.” Eddy said nothing as he opened the pizza box which sat on the table in front of us. Ten slices of cheese lay there; I took two and ate them slowly. Kameron shot up and stomped his foot as he angrily flung money at Eddy, who snatched it off the floor and ran out the door. "SORRY," he signed once Eddy slammed the door shut, judging by the walls shaking and the gust of wind.

“OKAY. WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM, THOUGH?” I signed while hugging my partially covered legs to my chest.

“I INFORMED HIM TO STOP BEING MEAN TO YOU. IT DOES NOT MATTER. WE EIGHTEEN, SO ADULTS,” Kameron signed. He lay on the ground and crawled underneath the bed. He came out a few seconds later with my shirt. He tossed it to me; I changed into it and tossed Kameron’s shirt to him.

Kameron grabbed my hand as we walked out of the hotel room where Michael stood and signed, “YOU O-K? MOM DAD SAID YOU SPENT ALL DAY IN YOUR ROOM.”

I looked at Kameron and then back at Michael. “Yeah, we're fine.”

Michael stares at me, “YOU SURE YOU O-K? YOU NOT USING A-S-L AS MUCH.”

I nodded, “I can speak too!” Michael shrugged and told me he was making sure everything was okay, then stomped back into Mom and Dad's room, clearly annoyed I didn't appreciate him checking on me. Turning to Kameron, I signed, “NOT USING A-S-L MEANS I NOT OKAY?”

Kameron smiled at me and didn't answer my question, “Want me to fix you up?” I gave him a puzzled look and his smile turned into a grin, “Come on! It'll be fun, I promise!” He placed a hand under my chin. Moving my head up, I stood on my tiptoes as Kameron bent down and pecked my lips. “I'm guessing that means yes?” I nodded in reply.

We got in Kameron's silver car. First, he drove us to a nail salon where I got my nails painted lavender. Second, Kameron bought me new clothing and some jewelry: a silver necklace and matching earrings. Lastly, we drove to a fancy Chinese restaurant for dinner. Despite it being nearly midnight when we returned to the hotel and I told Kameron I had fun, he told me he wasn't finished with me.