If only I could speak

They said I should sit with them at lunch. I hesitated for a second, but then I nodded. We were still talking when a group of girls walked up.

One of them, I knew, it was Lillian. She was popular, and by far the prettiest girl in school. I think she dated one of the guys here, or maybe several of them.

"Hey, you must be Ebony? Ebony Banks right?" He voice was laced in sweetness.

But I could tell from watching her eyes, that it was all fake.

I nodded.

"How are you?" She smirk.

Now I knew she was just taunting me, she obviously knew I couldn't speak, every flipping person in this school knew, now she was making the situation awkward. Not only for me, but for everyone else.

Instead I had another plan.

Raised up my hands and in sign language I spelt out something, that I won't, and I can't ( literally) repeat.

Let's just say I signed, to her face, 'you are a female dog.' A part of sign language I actually, remembered.

She paused, her mouth hung open as though she was about to say something.

Now it was even more awkward, but then Gunther stepped in.

"That, if my translation is correct, was 'yeah I'm great, what about you?' I have been taking sign language classes for awhile," he smirked.

I couldn't stop from grinning.

"Oh," Lillian stuttered, "yeah I'm great too,"

Then she sauntered off.

I think I made out the words:

"That was embarrassing," coming from one of her friends.

"Shut up!" Lillian yelled.

As soon as they were out of sight, all of the guys burst out laughing, and I swear I had never grinned so much.

"Hi- five, girl," one of the guys held up his palm.

I reached up and slapped his hand.

"That was the funniest reaction I've seen from her in a long time," laughed another one of the guys.

Then the bell rang, and Gunther casually slung his arm around my shoulder. It felt a little strange at first, but I could get used to this.

"Hey," Gunther smiled.

I looked up at him.

"I'd walk you to your class but you'd have to lead me so it doesn't really count, but is it science, you've got next?"

I stared at him.

He must have seen the look I gave him.

"Was I right?" He asked.

I nodded.

Then I gestured, with my hand, how?

He laughed.

"I've been watching you," he paused, "I know, I know it sounds creepy, but you have to ask around before becoming a good friend, right?" He grinned.

I smirked back at him, I could feel my cheeks burning.

Science was a bit of a blur. I kept thinking about Gunther, I knew I shouldn't have been. I should have paid more attention to the class.

Then as I made my way to my cooking class, while dreamily thinking of other things, my thoughts were interrupted my Lillian.

"Hey Ebony," her cheesy smile, seemed to only darken her features.

It was honestly strange to see her on her own, with no other girls. I was kinda afraid.

I gave her a slight nod.

"Look, honey," she paused, and gave another sickly sugary smile, "we need to talk."

I scowled.

She ignored my frown and put her hand on my shoulder. No one else was around, I shivered.

"Look Ebony, I like to be straight forward when, talking, so this might sound a little harsh, okay?"

I raised my eyebrows.

"You, I mean look at you, you're so young," she smiled.

"And in the completely wrong crowd," she said this part with her face dead panned, and seemed to continue in the same tone.

"You'll never fit in with those guys that you were with this morning. I mean, I swear they were only in on a whole act, because they feel sorry for Gunther. You see he downgraded a lot, from me to you, pathetic isn't it,"

Gunther had dated her?

I could feel my face hardening. Sure I had winced at those words, but I wouldn't let her see that they had cut.
Sure they weren't straight forward, but just slight enough to hurt.

But she wasn't finished yet.

"I knew there was something strange about our break up, he was already into you, but I just don't get it. What does he see in a girl like you," she laughed.

I knew she was enjoying this way too much. I damned my stupid genes, right at that moment, if only I'd been born with a voice box that worked! I tried not to shake, I was so mad.

"I mean look at your hair, so dull, and hey do you know what makeup is?" She asked innocently.

I'd had enough, I turned to walk away, but she turned me back.

"Look at yourself, don't even have any social etiquette, Ebony listen, if you so much as talk, or communicate with Gunther again, your life will be hell, got it?" She spat.

I stared at her refusing to give in.

"You had better remember that!" She shot darts through her piercing eyes.

Then she sauntered off.

Then I kept walking towards my class, and just before I opened the door I brushed away a few tears and hoped that no one had seen them.