Truthful Silence

CHAPTER 1 Hazel watched as the limo pulled up to the front of the school in Snow Hill, Maryland. She noticed that the vehicle, complete with tinted windows and shiny chrome, was quite large to be carrying one student. Hazel had seen limos come before to drop children off as her grandmother often hired them to transport the newly enrolled children to the boarding school that would be their home. Hazel’s grandmother had always said that changes can be scary and that she would offer any comfort to the children that she could right in the beginning. Hazel didn’t understand how a shiny, large vehicle offered comfort when the reality was most children were leaving a home and family, and many would not return other than to visit. Hazel had lived with her grandmother in the boarding house since she was a toddler and her parents discovered she could not speak. She did not find comfort in limo rides. As she walked down the steps with the rest of the students (as was mandatory), the limo driver got out and opened the passenger door. A deep voice stated, “I could have done that, but thank you, please tell my uncle I’ve arrived.” The first thing that Hazel noticed was the extraordinarily long leg that stepped out of the limo. The owner of the voice was easily six feet tall, with long, thick black hair, black jeans and a black T-shirt. He carried a giant duffle bag and no other luggage as he closed the limo door and patted the roof to let the driver know he was done. As the limo drove off, Hazel had to shield her eyes from the sun in order to look at the new student’s face. His eyes were black, much like his hair, and his complexion, which seemed pale in contrast to his clothes, was smooth and the color of porcelain. The students in place for greeting leaned against the railings of the stairs. They ignored Hazel for the most part, which was fine by her. The new student would likely do the same. Her grandmother, Catalina Angenetti made her appearance just then. As she came down the stairs, any students who were leaning previously stood up straight. Catalina inspired formality, not with fear, but with simple expectation. She marched down the stairs in a gray business suit and her ever-present matching pumps. Her long silver hair was loose to her waist, and she wore the barest of makeup. Hazel often admired her grandmother’s ability to look almost regal with no real effort. “You must be Eric!” She gushed and offered a hand to shake. The young man shook her hand and stated, “I am, Ma’am.” Catalina motioned toward the awaiting students and stated, “Welcome to Serendipity! These are your new schoolmates and hopefully friends.” The last was made as both statement of truth and warning to the students that they needed to be friendly. Hazel groaned inwardly and made an attempt at a smile. She always had difficulty in the greeting of new students, as it was a constant reminder that she also had no home to belong to, no family to claim other than her grandmother. Catalina motioned Eric up the steps, and each student shook his hand. When he shook Hazel’s hand, he made eye contact and smiled. For some reason this made Hazel feel tears form in her eyes. In her sixteen years, she had fought the urge to cry often, but this time was unexpected. She blinked quickly and nodded to him before letting his hand go. She couldn’t explain it, but this new student was having an unexpected effect on her. Catalina then explained by way of introduction, as was most often necessary, “This student is also my granddaughter, Hazel. She cannot speak, but she does hear.” She smiled kindly and gave Hazel a hug with a sympathetic smile as though she knew Hazel’s sudden sadness. Eric blinked as though having no reaction to that information and just smiled and stated, “Nice to meet you Hazel.” After this he was rushed off by her grandmother to be introduced to the rest of the students and then brought inside for his formal tour. Hazel was never so happy to retreat to her room than after meeting Eric. Something about his gaze had unsettled her, or she was being overly sentimental. Sighing silently, she sat at her large desk and began working on the night's homework. Hazel forced herself to focus, but as she began to organize her thoughts on paper, there was a knock on her door. Unable to ask who it was, she got up and opened the door. Eric stood outside the door and looked sheepish. "I am in the next room to the left and wanted to greet my neighbor. I hope I’m not interrupting.” Hazel shrugged and went back inside to grab a notepad. Coming back into the hall she wrote on the notepad. You aren't interrupting, just working on homework. Do you need something? Eric shrugged, "I wasn't sure when classes started in the morning or what the schedule is." While he was finishing his sentence, Hazel began writing a rough schedule of classes and drawing a map from his room to the classes. Eric grinned and looked at the papers when she handed them to him. "You're really good at that. Thank you. If you ever need help with anything, I owe you one." Hazel shrugged and offered a short wave before going back into her room and closing the door. If she wasn't mistaken, she heard laughing before Eric's door closed as well. The weeks that followed were mostly uneventful for Hazel. She tried to ignore Eric and his almost constant presence. She didn’t like the way his being near made her feel. She constantly had to be on guard and not allow herself to begin thinking about him. For the first time in a very long while, she found herself envying typical students who could laugh, talk, and socialize without issues. She didn’t want to believe he actually wanted to be her friend because when the letdown happened, she’d be disappointed. He was in all of her classes and sat next to her at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He didn’t seem to notice that she sat by herself most days and did not interact with anyone other than when she had to. Eric didn’t attempt small talk or to engage her in conversation when he sat next to her, and he seemed content to share her antisocial way of life. Today, however, Hazel had her solitary strategy planned. She grabbed her bagged lunch and snuck out the door toward the garden. Today was the first day of spring, and she had no intention of sitting inside. She went right for her swing under the tallest tree in the garden. She had begun reading and eating her lunch in self-imposed isolation when she heard the garden gate swing open. Hazel looked up, half-expecting her grandmother to be joining her and couldn’t believe her luck when she spotted Eric bringing his lunch with him as well. He laughed when he saw her expression and shrugged. “Your grandmother packed my lunch, and assumed I was going to eat with you. Is it okay?” She put her apple down and picked up her pad, writing. I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be rude. I just tend to stick to myself. Eric nodded and sat down on the grass in front of the swing. “I understand. Is it because it’s difficult to talk to people, or do you dislike people in general?” He was serious as he spoke and unwrapped his sandwich. Hazel shrugged and wrote before showing him the pad. I don’t dislike anyone. I’m just not good at this. People don’t read sign language, I have to write everything out, and people forget I’m not deaf and say things they likely wouldn’t if they remembered. Hazel shrugged and stopped writing. Eric raised an eyebrow while reading and eating at the same time. After finishing a half sandwich in silence, he looked at her. “Would you be willing to teach me to understand Sign? I would like to be your friend if you’d let me.” Hazel shrugged and wrote one word. Why? Hazel found herself once again tearing up and rubbed her face on her arm. She didn’t know what it was about being around Eric, but she hadn’t been this prone to crying since she was much younger. She didn’t realize he had gotten up until he was sitting next to her and pulling her into a hug. She stiffened for a minute and he murmured softly, “I’m just going to hold you if that’s okay. I don’t like seeing you so sad, and I’m sorry if I upset you.” She blinked rapidly to try and stem the tears and ended up resting her forehead on Eric’s shoulder. She then twisted so she could write on the pad and sniffled slightly with a silent laugh. At sixteen, she had never really made a close friend, let alone had someone truly initiate friendship with her. I don’t know why I’m even sad. I think I’d like a friend. I’ll teach you to sign but you have to teach me how to be a friend because I have never had one. Eric looked at her and smiled. “I can do that, though I haven’t had too many either.” He sat back and grabbed his apple and began eating it while she went over some basic signs and wrote them down before showing him the example. He would take her hand and have her sign it in his palm as well as show him. When she raised an eyebrow in question at this, he stated, “In case I’m not looking at you and you want to tell me something, you can just sign into my hand. Like in class or something.” Hazel nodded and smiled, as she hadn’t thought of that. Eric talked to her about his hobbies and his love of music. He admitted to liking rock mostly but having some strange obsession with female pop singers. He even did some impressions that left Hazel laughing silently. The fact that he was skilled in singing made the impressions more like really talented covers rather than parodies. After they finished lunch, they went back to classes and didn’t speak again until dinnertime. Hazel and Eric ate in the large dining room at the end of a long table that the other students also sat at. She wrote on a small notepad to him. Why did you have to come here? My parents sent me when I was younger because I can’t talk. Eric smiled sadly and spoke softly to avoid others overhearing his part of the conversation. “My parents and uncle were in a car accident. Their brakes went, and the airbags didn’t go off. My parents died, and my uncle was injured. He is not someone I would choose to live with, and my parents had this place in their will for me to go should something happen to them.” He shrugged and smiled. “It’s their loss and our gain you know, your parents that is. If they don’t realize what they gave up, that’s on them. Your grandmother seems to love you very much.” Hazel smiled and nodded. She picked through her dinner and listened to Eric talk about Boston and growing up there. She smiled and wrote questions as they came up or comments if she had any. At one point, her grandmother came in and smiled almost sadly at Hazel. “Dear, we have a new student arriving shortly. I won’t be having everyone greet this one, but I would appreciate it if you would.” Her grandmother had never made such a request before. Hazel nodded and signed to her grandmother that she would do so. After Catalina had left the room, she turned to Eric and shrugged before writing. Do you want to go with me? I haven’t ever greeted someone by myself before. It’s odd, but I’m sure she has a reason. Eric smiled and nodded, flipping his hair behind his ears. “Of course. See? You’ve got this friend thing down already!” He winked, and she laughed, and a squeaking sound emerged. Eric grinned wide, and Hazel covered her mouth, writing. I can’t talk, but some sounds do come out. I don’t always mean to. Please don’t tease me about it. Eric shook his head and smiled. “I liked it, honestly.” He shrugged and stood up, grabbing their trays and disposing of them. “Let’s go meet the new kid shall we?” She nodded and headed out to the front to wait. They sat on the large marble stairs outside, waiting for the new student and talking in their fashion about the lack of snow in a place called Snow Hill. Another limo arrived, and when the door opened, and the combat boots stepped out, Hazel couldn’t restrain the shriek of surprise that escaped her mouth. Those boots immediately were at a run, and the tall, thin young man had her in a hug and was spinning her in circles. Hazel began crying and wrapping her arms around the young man. Eric cleared his throat to remind them he was present and introduced himself. The young man finally put Hazel back down and smiled, wiping his own face and offering a hand to shake Eric’s. “I’m Anthony Angenetti, Hazel’s twin brother.” She sobbed and sat down, writing on her pad. Anthony did look very similar to Hazel in facial features but had blue eyes in contrast to her darker colored eyes. He also was taller than her but slender. He wore all black and as much eyeliner and mascara as he could get on. He was still strangely masculine and handsome including his makeup choices. If he is here, it means my parents disowned him. It means he got thrown away like I did. Eric read this out loud, and Anthony smiled and shook his head. “Nothing as traumatic. I pretty much forced them to send me here and disown me. I stole their car and crashed it on purpose, without me inside it.” He shrugged. Hazel shook her head in disbelief and squeezed his hand. They helped gather his belongings from the limo and then walked up the stairs. Anthony’s room was across the hall from hers. Eric laughed. “We’re all neighbors, apparently.” Anthony shrugged and smiled. “Works for me, makes sneaking out easier.” Hazel shook her head and pointed at him. Anthony laughed and put both hands up. “I was kidding, Sis.” After this Eric walked Hazel across the hall to her room. He smiled. “I’m glad we’re going to be friends.” Hazel blushed and shrugged as though it were of little consequence. Eric touched her arm and made a face like he was pained. “Don’t do that...if you’re dishonest, I can actually tell. I feel it and it hurts.” Hazel blinked and raised an eyebrow. Eric sighed. “Think of it as my own disability.” Hazel wrote on the pad she carried. My favorite color is green. Eric rubbed his head and laughed. “You’re lying now. Stop testing me, it gets really painful after a while.” Hazel looked at him wide eyed as he passed her small test. She shrugged after a bit and smiled, writing. I will try not to lie to you. Eric nodded before opening her door and nudging her inside before closing it behind her and going to his own room. Once again, Hazel could hear him singing to himself as he got ready for bed. She closed her eyes and listened to that as she started drifting off to sleep. His voice was beautiful to her. When she finally went to sleep that night, Hazel was filled with a new sense of wholeness she had not felt before. She went from being alone besides her grandmother to having a friend and her twin brother in one day.