Mate, I’m listening

Fear

I’ve only had one crush before. He was a boy who lived next door. I was around 13 at the time. From what I can remember his hair was smooth and brown, a bit too messy for what I would of preferred but he was the only boy who wasn’t family I got to spend time with. We had been friends for quite some time, he even learnt a little sign language.

When I asked him out he seemed disgusted, as if the thought of being with me was that terrible. My memory involves me crying and pining for days, my brother spent most of the time out of the house whilst Mum tried to comfort me. Hormones and rejection didn’t go well; after all I had lost my only friend.

He moved out of town the week after, he didn’t even bother to say goodbye.

However now my feelings for him seemed so small as I look into the blazing blue eyes of the boy standing in front of me. There was a fire burning in his pupils, his lips formed into a slight smirk. I gaze at him, giddy with excitement. Why was my stomach doing flips just looking at him?

Then his mouth moves, he’s speaking. Though I’m too caught up in a daze to realise what he actually said. I feel my bones stiffen as he waits for a response. His muscles seem tense too.

Before he gets too bored I ruffle through my bag until I pull out the notepad. On it I simply write: ‘can you repeat that please? I am deaf but I can lip read’.

He stares at it for a second, that second drew out into a minute. The fire in his eyes turns darker as he scans the paper and then me continuously. Subconsciously I stare at the little piece of black hair that has fallen out of my bun and dangles near my face.

“I asked if you were okay?” His lips seem to say, that is always a common question people ask me.

With a smile on my face I give him a thumbs up but then I remember why I am stuck out here talking to him,’actually I’m a bit lost. I need to get to the main office to get my timetable. My brother was meant to take me but I lost him in the crowds’

With a slight nod he gestures for me to follow him. With my heart which had decided to jump into my neck, I walk after him- looking at his face to see if he tries to make any conversation.

Two minutes and fifteen seconds pass without him saying anything. Guess I’ll just have to take matters into my own hands,’ What’s your name?’ I write on the notepad and gently thrust it at him. He lightly chuckles before writing his name.

‘I am Blake,’ The words flowed effortlessly from the pen to paper as I read it over a few times. Blake, it really suited him,’ What is yours?’

Forgetting he had the notepad I signed it slowly, of course confusion just overcame his face. I turned away in embarrassment, had I really done it again? God I am such a mess.

A tap on my shoulder causes me to turn and face him again. There is a slightly curious look in his eyes as he points back to the notepad,’ can you teach me to sign my name?’

I eagerly nod and sign the B- he copies it slowly. My face lights up as we continue to sign the L, A, K and E. When we have finished all five his signs them as if he were an expert, causing me to giggle slightly. A smile overcomes his face as I continue laughing.

His eyes suddenly shoot up behind me, I go to turn but he pulls me close to him. His grip is tight around my shoulders, firm but not hard enough to hurt me. As I turn my head I see Max running towards us at full speed.

“Get off of her!” Max seems to shout, rage has overtaken all of his features as he breathes in and out deeply, Blake’s grip tightens,” She is my sister,”

As I feel Blake’s chest exhale he lets me go slowly. When my eyes meet his I see they have turned pure black. That’s impossible- no one’s eyes can change that dramatically within the space of a minute.

Quickly I gaze back at Max who seems to be talking with such excessive speed I cannot keep up. Blake is responding slower; I can see the words leave his lips calmly. However, as the two get closer and closer together I find it harder to concentrate in the small space.

Eyes bouncing off of the pair like they were tennis players and I was a mere ball, I found myself struggling to breathe. The close proximity matched with the tense and stressful situation was really getting to me. It was only my first day and I was already having a panic attack.

“Harper?” I focus on Max as he signs and speaks my name.

Looking around I realise Blake has gone from my side and was now planted against the locker. Had Max thrown him over there? As I look between the two he signs to me that he didn’t push him. Relief washes over me as I watch Blake stand upright and walk off.

Before he exits the end of the corridor he faces me, with a playful smile he waves goodbye and leaves. Max ushers me into some office quickly as if he was trying to get me away from Blake. Really though, what could be so bad about him?

The two of us sit down in some chairs opposite a desk. On top of the desk was a single name-card plaque that read ‘Mrs Rosavaine’. That must be the principal, I guess.

“Harper stay away from Blake,” Max pleads, there seems to be a desperate look in his eyes,” He isn’t good for you,”

Growling I bite my lip before signing,” He isn’t any good for me? Well he was extremely nice to me Max. He let me teach him how to sign his name and even bought me back here to you. So don’t be getting all protective over me,”

As I sign the last part I watch his face flutter with a mix of different emotions,” Harper you have only been here a day. I just don’t want you to get hurt,”

I turn away from him quickly but look back after he taps me on the shoulder,” I’ll go find out where this one has got to,” he points to the plaque.

He stands up and I watch him leave the room. As soon as the door closes the room seems a lot more eerie than I first thought. Massive bookcases towered over the walls, probably making the room seem considerably smaller than what it actually was.

Five minutes passes slowly, the clock ticks teasingly. My eyes land on a timetable pinned on the wall, first lesson should of started so no students would be in the hallways when I have my tour.

Nose crinkling, I smell a strange smoked scent rising around the room. Was there a catering room above on the second floor? My head turns around the room and lands on the door.

Flames are rising from the wood, it seems to be crackling and spitting at me. Heat engulfs the room as I look around desperately for a means of escape. Even though I may not be able to talk I can still scream at the top of my lungs. It causes my ears to vibrate horribly but I don’t care. I may not be able to hear them come to help me but I’ll hopefully get their attention.

Why couldn’t my first day just be a simple one?