Moments of Clarity, Moments of Insanity
Disclaimer: Switched At Birth is owned by Lizzy Weiss and ABC Family. No
copyright infringement is meant. I am using the characters for entertainment
purposes only.
Disclaimer: There will be "M" rated themes in later chapters......
#-----------
Chapter 5-episode 7
For the next couple of days, I dedicated my free time to researching Angelo
on the net. So far, I had no leads. I also began studying ASL. I found some good
sites on the web to help in this endeavor. I also began studying Emmett more.
Watching him sign, I would mimic his signs. Once he realized what I was doing,
he seemed genuinely pleased. He even started teaching me simple signs for
everyday use. A few times, I did them wrong, and he laughed at me. Patiently, he
would repeat the signs until I got them right.
I was starting to really, really like Emmett. Just thinking about him would
make me smile. But, I still was not sure of his feelings. He seemed to enjoy
spending time with me, and he really did seem to like me, at least as a friend.
The other night, in his garage though, I really thought he was going to kiss me.
And I can't say I would have stopped him.
Maybe, he is just intrigued that a hearing girl doesn't treat him like he is
different. That had to be it. He couldn't have feelings for me. He liked Daphne,
didn't he?
I had also been thinking about what he told me about Toby. I still had the
bruises on my arm from Toby's fingers. I had been wearing longer sleeves to hide
them until they faded away. Absently, I rubbed my hand over the bruises. It was
still tender and sore.
I couldn't believe that Emmett had been sucked into Toby's issues. I had
warned Daphne about Toby's "mini golf" games. Why had she dragged her best
friend into it as well? Now, Emmett had seen the more unsavory side of my
family. Would that change what he thought of me?
So consumed by my thoughts, I didn't realize someone had entered my studio
until a hand came down on my arm, directly on top of the bruises. At first I
thought it was Toby. Turning around with a pained look on my face, I see Emmett
standing behind me. I release the breath I had been holding.
"I'm sorry. I thought you heard me come in," he mouthed and signed. I didn't
even realize I was rubbing my arm until Emmett mouthed, "Did I hurt you?" He had
a pained look on his face to match mine.
I was planning on lying to him, telling him I ran into a canvas. But, the lie
stuck in my throat. I couldn't lie to Emmett. I wanted to share this with him
because I trusted him. More than that, I realized I NEVER wanted to lie to
Emmett, not even to protect Toby. Emmett meant too much to me. It scares me just
how important he has come to mean to me in so short a time. But, would he think
less of me for letting it happen in the first place? Only one way to find out.
"He already knows about Toby's other problem. So, what's wrong with
sharing this?" I think to myself. Here goes nothing.
As Emmett watched me intently, I slowly pulled the sleeve of my shirt up. In
vivid contrast to the white of my skin, 4 bluish-green bruises stood out. Emmett
stared for a moment. Reaching out, he ever so gently matched his fingers to the
bruises marking my skin. Recognition dawned on his face. A second later, it was
replaced by rage.
"WHO DID THIS?" he signed and mouthed sharply.
"Toby," I said quietly, tears forming in my eyes. Emmett read my lips. His
eyes narrowed and his hand fisted. I felt an over whelming need to be in his
arms. Throwing caution to the wind, I threw my arms around Emmett and started to
sob into his shirt. He held me against him, allowing me my tears. I felt the
tenseness of his body. Slowly though, the longer I am in his arms, the more I
feel the tension in his body fade. Finally, he maneuvers me toward the couch I
have in my studio. Sitting us both on it, he continues to hold me as I cry.
It is amazing to me that this boy, who barely knows me, is this upset on my
behalf. Could his feelings run deeper than I realize? Or is he just being nice
to me, like the day I went to Ty's to tell him goodbye? That day felt like a
lifetime ago now. I know knew that Ty and I would never have lasted. It wasn't
meant to be. It still hurt, but I was finally getting over the pain.
Once my tears stopped flowing, I pulled back to look at Emmett. His face was
now calm, but he was still tense enough to make me believe he was still upset.
Emmett stared at me. Finally, with a rather serious look, he signed and mouthed,
"Do you want me to beat him up?"
My eyes widened. Was he serious? He sure looked like he was.
Patiently, he waited for me to answer.
Laughing slightly, I tell him, "No. Not right now. But, can I reserve that
for later?"
Finally, he cracked a smile. "Absolutely. Just say the word," he mouthed.
Rubbing my hand around my face, I muse out loud, "I must look frightening,
don't I?"
Ever so gently, he ran his fingers over my face. Pulling back one of his
hands, he signs something I don't know yet.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what you are telling me," I say to him.
Pointing to me, he then signs it again, mouthing the words this time. Tears
threaten again.
"You….are…beautiful!"
I sign the first sign he ever taught me.
"Thank you."
I could fall in love with this boy.
#------------------------
With a spring in my step, I approached Bay's studio garage. She has been
researching Angelo for the last couple of days. So far, she had no leads. To my
genuine pleasure, she had also started learning ASL. I knew this because I
caught her mimicking my signs yesterday. So, I decided to help her out. I spent
several hours teaching her basic, everyday signs. She caught on quickly, but a
few times she screwed up the signs badly. I couldn't help laughing at her.
Patiently, I did the signs again and again until she understood them.
I was starting to really, really like Bay. Thinking about her always made me
smile. I wasn't sure of her feelings, though. She seemed to enjoy spending time
with me, and she really did seem to like me, at least as a friend. The other
night in my garage, I really wanted to kiss her. In that moment, I couldn't
honestly say she would have stopped me.
Did she think I was using her to learn about hearing girls? That couldn't be
it. She couldn't have feelings for me? She was still hung up on Ty, wasn't she?
I had also been thinking about what Bay said about that girl, "Black hole"
Katie. That nickname still made me laugh. Only Bay had noticed that exchange.
Only Bay had cared enough to apologize for someone else's callousness. Only Bay
had cared!
Knocking on her garage door, I waited a moment for her to answer. Getting no
response, I decided to just walk in. Opening the door, I see Bay has her back to
me. She is rubbing her upper arm like she is cold. I've noticed in the last week
or so, she has taken to wearing longer sleeved shirts.
Coming up behind her, I placed my hand on her arm. She jumped slightly and
turned around. I caught a brief flash of pain on her face.
"I'm sorry. I thought you heard me come in," I mouthed and signed. She didn't
seem to realize she had started rubbing her arm again. What the…? I mouthed,
"Did I hurt you?" My face started to match hers. I didn't grab her that hard,
did I?
Bay stood there and stared at me for a few moments. What is going through her
head right now? She looks like she is waging a war inside herself. I am just
about to ask her again, when she seems to come out of the trance she has been
under.
As I watched her intently, Bay slowly pulled the sleeve of her shirt up. In
vivid contrast to the white of her skin, 4 bluish-green bruises stood out. I
stared for a moment. Looking closer, I see a pattern emerge. Same size, evenly
spaced. WAIT A MINUTE…..! Reaching out slowly, so as not to spook her, I gently
matched my fingers to the bruises marking her skin. Realization hit me. These
are the size of a man's fingers. A second later, I felt a consuming rage. Who
had dared to hurt Bay!
"WHO DID THIS?" I signed and mouthed forcefully. If it was Ty, I would find
him and kill him.
"Toby," she said, looking down slightly, tears forming in her eyes. I was
still able to read her lips though. Toby? HER OWN BROTHER! Why would he…..?
Realization hit me harder. Toby had tried to get money out of Bay for his
gambling debt, and she had obviously refused him. My eyes narrowed and my hand
fisted. I was going to find Toby and….. Before I could finish that thought, I
found my arms full of Bay. She started to sob into my shirt. I could feel her
sobs vibrate through my body. It is killing me not to be able to hear her right
now, or to be able to comfort her with words. So, I did the only thing I could
do for her at this moment. I held her against me, allowing her all the comfort
and support she needed me to give. I could feel the tension in my body fade the
longer I held her in my arms. Finally, I maneuvered her toward the couch.
Sitting us both on it, I continued to hold her as she cried.
It amazed me that this girl, who barely knows me, trusts me with something of
this nature. Could her feelings run deeper than I realize? Or does she just
think I'm being nice to her again, like the day she went to Ty's to tell him
goodbye? That day felt like a lifetime ago now.
Once her tears stopped flowing, she pulled back to look at me. Her mascara
had run down her face, and her eyes were all puffy from crying. She was still
beautiful to me though. I was now calmer, but I was still tense enough for her
to notice. All I could do was stare at her.
Finally, seeing she was back under control, I asked her, quite seriously, "Do
you want me to beat him up?"
Her eyes widened. Did she think I was kidding? I would like nothing better
right now than for my fist to land on Toby's face. Maybe I could crack a few
teeth, too. I watched her face. I think she knew I was serious.
Bay finally laughed a little. "No. Not right now. But, can I reserve that for
later?"
Fighting the urge to laugh too, I still managed to crack a smile.
"Absolutely. Just say the word," I mouthed.
Bay rubbed her hand over her face. "I must look frightening, don't I?" Not to
me. Never to me.
Gently, I ran my fingers over her face. Pulling back one of my hands, I sign,
"You are beautiful."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what you are telling me," she says to me with an
apologetic look.
That's okay. She'd learn it real quick!
Pointing to her, I then signed it again, mouthing the words this time. Tears
well in her eyes again.
"You….are…beautiful!"
"Thank you." she signed. The first sign I ever taught her.
I could fall in love with this girl.
#--------------------------------
The next morning, I was really looking forward to eating the last lemon
square that was in the fridge. However, as I neared the fridge, I saw Toby pull
out my lemon square! Oh, no you don't, Toby! Coming up to his side, I tell him,
"Toby, if you take the last lemon square, I will shave off your eyebrows in your
sleep!"
Trying to be cute I'm sure, Toby replies, "Halfsies?"
Deciding to be merciful, I retort with, "Then I'll just shave 1." I would
have my lemon square!
Toby apparently liked both his eyebrows where they were, because he handed me
the lemon square. Yay! I win! I smiled at him and walked away with my prize.
Mom is standing at the counter with a signing book in front of her. She waves
to get Daphne's attention.
"Daphne, look," she signs and speaks once Daphne looks at her. She then does
the sign for….making out? I stifle the laugh I had building in my chest. I don't
think that is what Mom was going for. Oh, well. Let Daphne handle it.
"Are you asking me to make coffee?" Daphne says, dubiously.
"Yes!" Mom is happy she got it right. If she only knew. Daphne gives her a
"well.." look. Mom figures out real quick she messed up. "No!"
"Close," Daphne tells her. Mom makes a cute "argh" growl.
Daphne shows her the correct sign. "This is "make coffee."
Mom does her sign again. Really, Mom! "What was I saying?" Here it comes
people. Ready….set…..GO!
"You're asking me to make out," Daphne informs her with a semi straight face.
Mom's hands stop mid sign. "OOOHHHH! Okay." You've got to love her. She never
gets the signs right at first. Of course, she doesn't have a truly awesome
person teaching her like I do, either.
Toby, feeling left out apparently, decided to crack a joke. "There's a couple
of girls at school I'd like to make some coffee with."
Not to be outdone, I retort with, "Just make sure you use a coffee filter!"
And then Dad walked in….
He started talking about an e-mail he got from Buckner about a Chemistry test
that got stolen off a teacher's desk. Apparently, whoever stole it, sold it to
other kids for lots of money. Suspicious, I look at Toby. Is it just me, or is
he sweating now?
Mom, having pulled up the e-mail on her phone, says the school wants the
parents to talk to their kids about cheating.
Hoping to get out of a long speech, I water down what I know she will say to
us. "Cheating bad. Studying good." All through this, I have been staring Toby
down. He responds with, "Good talk, Mom."
Dad tells us the principle is giving whoever stole the test 24 hours to come
forward and be suspended. Toby starts looking a little sickly. He didn't…?
"I'm going upstairs," Toby suddenly says and bails.
DING, DING, DING! After getting Daphne to come upstairs with me, under
the guise of teaching me dirty words in sign, I confront Toby. He denies it, of
course. I remind him of his accosting me for money and talking with Wilke
secretively.
"That's a pretty big leap to assume I stole the test." he tells me coolly.
Apparently, all Daphne caught was, "I stole the test," because she just about
shouted, "You stole the test!"
Toby jumped up to close his door and pretty much confessed that, yes, he was
the one to steal the test. He did it to pay his debt to Wilkie.
Of course, he also said he wasn't going to confess to it. He figured he was
in the clear. I decided that he could get himself out of his own mess.
This can only end badly…
#--------------------
"Hey! Where are you off to so early?" Mom says, stopping me on my way out the
door.
"Out for a drive, and then to see a friend." I was going to see Bay. She had
sent me a text, asking me to come over. She wouldn't say why, though.
"You've been doing that a lot lately. You're hardly ever home anymore. I miss
seeing you," Mom complains.
Truth was, I didn't actually like being home anymore than I had to be. With
Dad in his new place and Mom hardly ever home, the house felt like a tomb. It
was just too quiet.
That thought made me laugh to myself. Me, a deaf guy, saying something was
too quiet. I'd been hanging out with Bay too long. She was rubbing off on me.
Not that I minded.
"Sorry Mom. I've had a lot going on lately." Should I tell her the truth,
that I was hanging out with a hearing girl, who happened to be her best friends
real daughter?
"I've noticed. You leave for school in the morning, and stay out till just
before your curfew. What are you doing all day?"
Deciding that a partial truth is okay, I go with, "I've been helping a friend
do research on some stuff, that's all."
"Who?" God, Mom! Enough with the 20 questions.
"I have to go, Mom! My friend is waiting for me," I tell her impatiently.
I'm not finished, Emmett!" Mom all but shouts at me.
"Later, I promise!" I tell her and run out the door.
Bay is waiting for me…..
#---------------------
Come on Emmett! I had sent a text to him over an hour ago, asking him to come
over. I had finally gotten a hit on Angelo, and I was dying to share it with
him. To kill time, I started practicing my signs again. I also had another
surprise for Emmett. I hope he likes it.
Finally, I hear his motorcycle pull up. So excited I can barely sit still, I
run outside to greet him. Before he can sign anything, I hold up my hands.
"Wait!"
As Emmett watched me expectantly, I say and sign, "I think I found my dad!" I
was very proud of myself. Emmett must have been too, because he got a huge smile
on his face. "Was that right?" I asked him.
Emmett signed back, "You found him?" so I guess I got it right. Emmett
continued to grin at me.
"Yeah," I said, grabbing his hand. I pulled him into my studio, to the chair
I had just vacated. Sitting back down with Emmett sitting on the arm of the
chair, I show him what I found. A website for "Angelo Sorrento" was on the
screen. Also on the website was a picture.
Emmett studied the picture for a moment. He then signed and mouthed, "He's a
DJ?"
"Yeah. And, right age. He works at a club near East Riverside. It's GOT to be
him!" I tell him excitedly. "And.." Pulling the laptop toward me, I put my face
next to the picture on the screen. "We look alike, right?" I ask with a grin.
Emmett makes a big show of studying me, then studying the picture, and back
again. I'm guessing he likes what he sees, because he waves his hands like he is
happy or excited and smiles widely again.
"You're acting excited. YAY for excited. Me too!"
Emmett signs what looks like, "Is he working" … but what is that last sign
again? I repeat it while he watches me. "Oh, I know that sign." Oh, right!
"Tonight?" It finally clicks. Emmett nods.
"Yeah, yeah. He's working tonight. The club opens at 9:00," I tell him.
"So, we'll go?" he signs, looking hopeful.
Apprehension starts to fill me. "Uh, tonight?" I ask, repeating the sign
again. He signs the sign for "motorcycle." "Yeah."
Oh, I get it. He wants us to go on his motorcycle to the club tonight. I
don't know which is making me more nervous, the club or the motorcycle again.
Reading the apprehension on my face, he signs, "What's wrong?"
Where do I start? This man, this DJ, could quite possibly be my
father. My real father. Biologically related to me on so many levels. I wanted
to meet him, but I was also scared as hell! What if I met him and he didn't like
me? What if I met him and he didn't give a shit one way or the other?
I had always felt out of place in my own family. Even after meeting Regina, I
still feel inadequate compared to Daphne. Perfect Daphne, who everybody fell
over backwards to get to know. Pretty Daphne, who blended into the family so
effortlessly, you had to wonder how she made it look so easy? Regina still
treated me like an outsider, while my family enveloped Daphne with open arms.
I want to find my father so badly. I want him to want me as his daughter.
But, will I be enough for him? Will he like that I'm artistic? A bit moody at
times? No matter what I do or how I act, I have no hope of even matching Daphne.
Why am I not enough for the people in my life who are suppose to love me? And
just how do I translate all of that to Emmett? Emmett seemed to at least care
about what happens to me. Sometimes, I feel like he is the only one who does.
Seeing that he is waiting for my answer, I start to ramble nervously. "So, do
I just walk in and say "Hey, I'm your daughter, but not the deaf one you
abandoned all those years ago?"
Realizing Emmett caught none of what I said, I slow down and try again. "I
mean, What am I suppose to say?" Saying and signing the next part, I tell him
matter of factly, "He's gonna think I'm crazy!"
Emmett shakes his head. "He will love you," I see him mouth and sign.
"You think?" I ask him, hope dancing in me again. Realizing I can learn a new
sign from him, I repeat the sign I saw him do for "love" and ask, "Is that the
sign for love?" He repeats it and mouths, "yes"
"Oh, how cute!" I say, still holding the sign. He also continues to hold his
as well.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Daphne walk in. OK! AWKWARD! This
is SO not what she thinks this is! Nothing happening! Honest! I can tell by the
look on her face, she is less than thrilled to see me using this particular
sign, especially with Emmett. "JUST FRIENDS!" I want to shout at her.
Ignoring me for the moment, Daphne focuses on Emmett. "I didn't know you were
coming over?" she says and signs. She sounded confused, but also a little
irritated.
When Daphne came in, Emmett had swiveled around so fast, I thought for sure
he would fall off the arm of the chair. Sure! Daphne comes in and forget all
about me! What else is new?
Hoping to stop an argument, but thinking also I might make it worst, I tell
her, "I asked him."
She looks confused again. "Asked him for what?"
To come over! Duh! Isn't that what we are talking about? Deciding that is not
the wisest thing to say to her, I instead go with the truth.
"You remember that picture you gave me of Regina in front of a car? Well, you
could see the license plate, and Emmett was helping me track down the owner."
She gets an, "Oh really… and why would he help you do that?" look on her
face. What is the big freaking deal! Emmett can have more that just her
as a friend!
Emmett starts signing to Daphne, but I don't know what he is telling her. I
don't want her to get mad at Emmett, though!
"It was an accident. We met at Buckner. I saw him." I notice that Emmett has
stopped signing. Was he telling her the same thing? Weird! "This is totally my
fault. If you're going to get mad at anybody, get mad at me!"
Of course she can't answer me! She signs to Emmett like it's a huge secret or
something. He starts to gesture again.
Before a war breaks out, I decide to distract her. Signing and speaking, I
tell her, "I think I found my dad."
Seeing the look on her face, I add, "If that matters at all? If you're
curious?" I turn the laptop so she can see the picture. "Does he look familiar?
Is that him?" I ask her.
"I have no idea!" she huffs, turning around and going back out the door.
Not wanting her to leave mad, I grab Emmett's arm. "Go talk to her!"
He looks back and forth a couple of times before he finally goes after her.
While he is outside with her, I can't help but think she isn't all too thrilled
Emmett is helping me. I go back to looking at the website again.
Minutes passed, and then Emmett came back inside my studio. Honestly, I
didn't think he would come back. I thought Daphne would talk him out of helping
me, and I would hear his motorcycle driving away. So, I was pleasantly surprised
that he came back.
He plopped down on my couch, pulling off his jacket in the process. Was he
planning to stay? All day?
As if nothing had happened with Daphne, he signed, "So, 9:00?"
"What about Daphne?" I have to know.
He shrugs. "She'll come around later. Just give her some time to cool off,"
he signs and mouths.
"So, she's coming with us tonight, then?"
"Probably," is his vague response.
Gesturing to his jacket, I ask him, "So, are you staying here for a while?"
He stretched out on the couch and stacked his hands behind his head. Guess
that's a yes, then.
"Ok, then." I pulled out a canvas. This is gonna be a long day.
#-------------------------
Pulling into the Kennish driveway, I look around, but don't see Bay. Must be
in her studio. Pulling up next to it, I see Bay inside, on her laptop.
Seeing me, she comes running outside. "Wait," she tells me, holding up her
hands. Curious, I watch her closely. To my pleasant surprise, she speaks and
signs, "I think I found my dad!" I was very proud of her. She had been studying!
"Was that right?" she asked me, seemingly proud of herself as well.
"You found him?" I ask her instead, grinning.
"Yeah," she says and grabs my hand, pulling me toward her studio. I'm not
gonna lie. I love the feel of her small hand wrapped around mine.
She pulls me to her chair in front of her laptop. She sat back down in the
seat, so I sat on the arm of the chair. I look at the screen in front of me. I
see Angelo Sorrento….a DJ?
"He's a DJ?" I sign and mouth for Bay.
"Yeah! And, right age. He works at a club near East Riverside. It's got to be
him!" She tells me excitedly.
Just as I got ready to ask her another question, she says, "And.." and pulls
the screen toward her face. "We look alike, right?" she asks me.
Studying the picture and Bay intently, I do see a few similarities. They
could be related, I suppose. I do the sign for "Clapping" and smile widely.
"You're acting excited. YAY for excited! Me too!" she says.
"Is he working tonight?" I ask her.
She looks confused by my signs for a second. "Oh, I know that sign," she
says, and repeats "tonight." Then the bulb clicks on. "Oh! Tonight?" I point,
"yes"
Continuing, she says, "Yeah, he's working tonight. The club opens at 9:00."
Perfect! "So, we'll go?" I sign and mouth, letting her know we can take my
motorcycle too.
"Tonight?" she signs again, looking apprehensive.
"Yeah. On my motorcycle." Seeing she still doesn't look okay, I ask, "What's
wrong?"
I shouldn't have asked. I've learned that when Bay gets nervous, she talks
fast. And boy, was she talking fast at the moment. I didn't catch a single word
she said until she finally slowed down, apparently realizing she had lost me
along the way.
"I mean, what am I suppose to say?" I start to answer her, when she signs and
speaks, "He's gonna think I'm crazy."
Nah, not her! Trying to alleviate her fears, I sign and mouth, "He will love
you!"
Bay finally smiles. "You think?"
Why does Bay find it so hard to believe someone could love her for just being
herself? She is funny, talented, spunky, pretty, and she has a great
personality. Who wouldn't love her? She is very lovable. How do I tell her that,
though? And, would she even believe me?
Before I can express any of my thoughts to her, Bay repeats the sign for
"love." "Is that the sign for "love,?" she asks.
Thinking how much I wish she was saying that to me right now, I repeat the
sign again and tell her, "yes."
"Oh, how cute!" she says. I can't help but enjoy this for a little bit. We
just stared at each other, holding the sign for "love."
We stayed like that until I saw Bay look to her right. Turning around, I see
Daphne in the doorway, and she looks pissed. I realize she saw what we were
signing. AWKWARD! What the hell is her problem now? I'm just teaching Bay more
sign, for heaven's sake! It's not like we were naked on the couch!
On second thought, better not think THAT thought!
"I didn't know you were coming over?" Daphne signs.
To me, it sounds accusatory because I didn't tell her something I was doing.
I'm not her personal property! I do have other friends besides her! What the
hell?
Realizing now is not the time to address this, I start to respond to her,
when I see Bay talking.
"I asked him," she says.
"Asked him for what?" Daphne asks.
To come over! Just what have we been talking about here?
Bay and I give each other a long look before she finally answers Daphne. "You
remember that picture you gave me of Regina in front of a car? Well, you could
see the license plate, and Emmett was helping me track down the owner."
She gets an, "Oh really… and why would he help you do that?" look on her
face. What is the big freaking deal!
"I ran into her at Buckner when I was waiting for you…"
"It was an accident. We met at Buckner. I saw him." I notice Bay speaking at
the same time so I stopped signing. "This is totally my fault. If you're going
to get mad at anybody, get mad at me!"
"I don't get it. You kept all this from me?" Daphne signs silently. Well
that's a little rude!
I start to answer her, when Bay tapped my arm. Looking down at her I see her
sign, "I think I found my dad," to Daphne. "If that matters at all? If you're
curious?" She turns the laptop so she can see the picture. "Does he look
familiar? Is that him?" she asked her.
"I have no idea!" she huffs, turning around and going back out the door.
Bay grabbed my arm. "Go talk to her!"
I was trying to decide whether I should stay with Bay, or run after Daphne.
Daphne was pissed. I could tell I wasn't going to like that conversation.
Finally, I got up to chase her.
Running outside, I grab her arm. "Don't follow me!" she signs angrily.
I grab her again. "STOP!"
"Why are you helping her?" Daphne wants to know. God, what is her freaking
problem!
"She wants to find him!" I tell her.
"But I don't want him found," she retorts.
"Come on, that's not fair! He's her dad!"
Daphne's jaw drops. Oh, boy! Here it comes…..
"I can't believe you're taking her side over mine! You just met her!"
Who's taking sides? Trying to stay calm, I tell her, "We're going to his club
tonight. You should come."
"We?" she says almost with a snarl on her face. I knew I wasn't going to like
this conversation. She continues with, "What's all this "we"? And why aren't you
LISTENING to me?"
Okay, now I'm a little pissed. I AM listening to her. I've listened to her
for 8 years. And now, when the opportunity is in front of her, she acts like
THIS?
"This has been bothering you your whole life! I'm trying to HELP you!" I tell
her angrily.
"Then let it go!" No! For Bay's sake, I won't!
"Daphne. You're smart. Beautiful. Happy. Let him see what he missed out on."
"I don't CARE enough to let him see…." she starts, but I cut her off.
"Yeah, you do! I think you owe it to yourself to look him in the eye, and say
everything you've wanted to say all these years." I can see her resolve
wavering.
"At least think about it," I ask her.
Daphne looks at me with a hurt look, before making her way up the stairs to
the guest house. Shaking my head, I head back to Bays' studio. When I walk in,
she is looking at her laptop again.
I plopped down on the couch, pulling off my jacket.
When she looked at me, I signed, "So, 9:00?"
"What about Daphne?" Bay wanted to know.
I shrugged. "She'll come around later. Just give her some time to cool off,"
I signed and mouthed.
"So, she's coming with us tonight, then?"
"Probably," is the best answer I can give her right now.
Gesturing to my jacket, she asks me, "So, are you staying here for a while?"
I stretched out on the couch and stacked my hands behind my head. Oh, yeah!
All day if I have to.
"Ok, then." Bay says, pulling out a canvas. This is gonna be a long day.
#-----------------------
I wonder what Emmett would say if I asked to paint him? He had been rambling
around my studio for the last couple hours, looking at all my paintings,
sculptures and such. A couple of times, he even asked me to explain the meaning
behind the particular item he was looking at. I told him slowly and signed very
little, but he got the gist of what I was telling him. Daphne was studiously
avoiding both of us. I had seen her come out of the guest house and go into the
main house a couple different times and go back again. I think she was checking
to see if Emmett was still here or if he had left. Why not just come to the door
again? Why try to be secretive about it?
Deciding to think about other things besides Daphne, I turned to Emmett and
waved to get his attention. My stomach had been growling for an hour now and I
was sure Emmett was probably also hungry.
"I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want anything?" I asked him
slowly, signing what I knew.
Emmett looked at me and mouthed, "Turkey sandwich?"
"Okay. Be back in a few," I told him, heading out the door. He turned back to
the painting he had been studying.
Heading across the driveway, I look up in time to see Daphne standing in the
window of the guest house. As soon as she saw me, though, she stepped away from
the window. WOOOHH! Stalker much! Making my way to the kitchen, I tossed a
couple of sandwiches together and grabbed a couple sodas from the fridge. When I
went back outside, I didn't see her in the window again. Why is she so concerned
about what Emmett does? Or, maybe its me she has a problem with? Maybe she
thinks I'm trying to steal Emmett away from her or something. Whatever the case
may be, I wasn't going to worry about her right now.
Emmett was standing in the same spot I left him in, so I stomped on the floor
to get his attention. He turned around and quickly came over to relieve me of
the sandwiches. We sat on the couch, munching our lunch.
"This is good," he mouthed between bites.
"Yeah, well, even I can make simple stuff once in a while," I told him,
trying to jump over the compliment. Usually, I didn't like them, unless someone
was talking about my art. With Emmett, however, I actually enjoyed when he would
compliment me. I actually looked forward to it. What was wrong with me?
#-------------------------
For the last couple hours, I had been walking around Bay's studio, looking at
her paintings. She had a real talent. I even asked her to explain what some of
them meant. She told me, signing what she knew. She was getting good at ASL. I
wondered what she would say if I asked her to paint something for me?
I had also been watching her. I enjoyed the opportunity to study her when she
was distracted. She was so cute with little paint streaks on her hands and face.
She was one of a kind.
I saw her waving at me. ""I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want
anything?" She asked, signing what she knew.
"Turkey sandwich?" I mouthed back.
"Okay. Be back in a few," She told me, heading out the door. I turned back to
the painting I had been studying. When I was sure she was out of sight, I headed
to the garage door. I looked out just in time to see Daphne step back from the
window she had been looking out of. Is she stalking us now? Wondering why I
haven't left yet? Not that it is any of her business. Her smothering ways were
starting to wear on me a bit. Before Bay came into my life, it never bothered me
before. I was a little ashamed to admit, even to myself, that since Bay and I
started getting closer, I had started distancing myself from Daphne. I was
starting to realize that Bay had somehow become more important to me. It was a
little scary how important she was becoming to me in so short a time. Given the
choice, I would rather spend time with Bay now. I think Daphne had picked up on
that fact. So far, however, she hadn't said anything. It was only a matter of
time though. Realizing Bay was coming back out of the house, I quickly ran back
over to the painting I had been looking at. A minute later, I felt the floor
vibrate. Bay was stomping the floor to alert me of her presence. Fighting a
grin, I turned around.
Seeing that she had her hands full with the sandwiches and sodas, I rushed to
grab the sandwiches from her. We sat on the couch, eating in silence. Well,
silent in as neither of us was signing anything at the moment. Hhhhmmmm, this
sandwich isn't half bad.
"This is good," I mouthed to her between bites.
Bay blushed a little. I don't know why, but seeing her blush is such a
turn-on to me.
"Yeah, well, even I can make simple stuff once in a while," she told me. I've
gotten the impression she is not big on compliments. When I compliment her,
though, she seems to enjoy it. Almost as if she's waiting for it.
I wonder…
#---------------------
Having nothing better to do, and the fact that I had gotten bored painting, I
turned on the tape that Emmett and I found in the briefcase. I had actually been
listening to it since the night we found it in Emmett's garage. The songs on the
tape were actually pretty cool. Angelo had some awesome taste in music.
Emmett was studying yet another of my paintings, the newest one I had started
working on. It was actually going to be one about ASL. I already had one of the
signs on the canvas. Emmett turned around as I approached him.
"What if Regina's right? What if he is a jackass?" I asked him, signing
Regina's name sign. I was getting nervous the closer it got to 9:00. Emmett and
I agreed that we should get there a little before the club opened. That way, I
would have time to talk to Angelo with no interruptions.
Emmett smiled at me indulgently. "What if he's amazing?" he signed back.
Truth was, I wasn't so sure meeting Angelo was going to be a great idea. I
mean, Regina told me flat out that this was a guy who took off when Daphne was
little, and never showed up again. Why would knowing that I'm his daughter make
him want to stick around?
"How much longer do we have to wait for Daphne?" I used Daphne's name sign as
well. Ever since I had seen her watching us earlier, I didn't really want her to
come along. But, Emmett seemed to think she would come. Out of curiosity if
nothing else, he had told me earlier. I hoped he was right. My biggest concern
was that she would try to get him on her side, just like what had happened with
everyone else that I knew.
He pinched his fingers together, like he was telling me, "A little longer."
Well, how much longer did she need to make up her mind? It's not like a life or
death decision here.
"You really think she's coming?" I asked, signing almost all of it. I could
tell that Emmett was proud that I was picking up ASL so fast. Some things I got
faster than others. Simple stuff was easy. If he signed slow enough, I could get
almost everything. I still had to read his lips though.
Yeah. She'll be here," he mouthed back to me.
Great, the suspense is killing me here! Looking around my studio again, I try
to figure out what else I can do to kill time. Just then, Emmett walked over to
the CD player. I watched him, curious. Placing his hand on the speaker, he
starts moving his leg to the beat. OH! I remembered Daphne telling me if music
was loud enough, that a deaf person could feel the beat. Emmett was feeling the
beat with his hand so he could follow the song that was playing! I have to
admit, it's pretty cool how they do that.
Walking into his line of vision, I touch his arm. When he looked at me, I
told him, "It's the tape that we found with Regina's stuff." I signed we, found,
and Regina. He nodded and smiled to indicate he understood me. "It's kind of
groovy, right?" Emmett smiled again.
Since he couldn't hear the music, I decided to tell him about what was
happening in the song. "Those are animal noises." I playfully growled like a
lion or tiger. Emmett smiled wider. "Birds." I cawed like a bird.
Emmett turned up the music quite loud and started moving even faster to the
beat. I got it. Now he'd be able to feel the beat through the floor. Moving away
from the speaker, he did a few cool dance moves and spun around. I did a few
moves of my own. "That's right. Get down!"
Then, he surprised me. Grabbing my hand, he spun me around and we started
dancing. Nothing fancy, just moving our bodies and feet in the same motion. When
he spun me again, I placed my one hand on his shoulder to actually fast dance
with him. I noticed ever time he would spin me, he would pull me a little
closer. Not that I was complaining. I loved being in his arms.
We were so engrossed in each other, I didn't notice Regina standing in the
doorway till Emmett spun me around again. Stopping quickly, I stared at Regina.
Emmett stopped as well. Oh, god! What would she say about this?
"No, no, no. Don't stop! I love this song. I used to dance to it too." She
spoke for my benefit and signed for Emmett's. Really! I wonder if she suspects
anything?
Seeing that we weren't moving, Regina said and signed, "No, no, no. Keep
dancing! Please. I'll go." Picking up her bags, she turned around again. "Bye."
Okay! That was…interesting. Looking at Emmett, I see his face mirrors my
thoughts. Then he shrugged. Well, she wanted us to dance! Emmett clearly had the
same thought as me, because he grabbed my hands and we started dancing again,
closer than we had been before.
#--------------------------------
Bay was wandering around her studio, clearly at a loss for something to do. I
think she was getting bored with all the waiting. Truth be told, I was getting
bored too. I wished Daphne would hurry up and make up her mind already! God, she
can be so stubborn sometimes.
I saw Bay turn on her CD player. Coming over to me, she said, "What if
Regina's right? What if he is a jackass?" signing Regina's name sign. I could
tell she was getting nervous the closer it got to 9:00. We had agreed that we
should get there a little before the club opened. That way, she would have time
to talk to Angelo with no interruptions.
I smiled indulgently. "What if he's amazing?" I signed back. She raised her
eyebrows like "We'll see."
"How much longer do we have to wait for Daphne?" She used Daphne's name sign.
I had told Bay earlier that Daphne would come out of curiosity if nothing else.
I hoped I was right. I pinched my fingers together, "Just a little bit more."
"You really think she's coming?" she asked, signing almost all of it. I was
proud that she was picking up ASL so fast. Some things she definitely got faster
than others. If I signed slow enough, she got pretty much everything I was
telling her. She still had to read my lips though.
Yeah. She'll be here," I mouthed back to her. I was fairly confident, anyway.
I decided to see what she had playing on the CD player. Not that I could hear
it, but I could get the beat anyway. Placing my hand on the speaker, I started
moving my leg to the beat. It was a fast song. The beat was kind of fast. It
would be cool to know what the song sounded like. I didn't tell anyone this, but
sometimes, I did miss the fact that I couldn't hear music. I loved music.
I felt a touch on my arm. Bay told me, "It's the tape that we found with
Regina's stuff." She signed we, found, and Regina. I nodded and smiled so she
knew I understood her. "It's kind of groovy, right?" Yeah, it is pretty groovy.
I smiled again.
What Bay did next delighted me beyond words. She said, "Those are animal
noises," and then she playfully growled like a lion or tiger. I couldn't help
it. I smiled wider. "Birds." She cawed like a bird. That she would do that was
something that I still had a hard time comprehending. Why would a hearing girl
care enough to tell me what was happening in a song? Did she know how much I
wished I could hear the music?
I decided to show her my dance moves, just to show off a little bit. I turned
up the music quite loud and started moving even faster to the beat. Moving away
from the speaker, I did a few cool dance moves and spun around. Bay did a few
moves of her own. "That's right. Get down!" she told me.
Then, I surprised her. Grabbing her hand, I spun her around and we started
dancing. I loved having her in my arms. We just fit together so well. When I
spun her again, she placed one hand on my shoulder. I placed one hand on her
waist. Every time I spun her around, I pulled her in, just a little bit closer.
I wondered if she could feel how hard my heart was pounding? God, she felt good
in my arms.
We were so engrossed in each other, I didn't notice Regina standing in the
doorway till Bay stopped dancing. Following her line of vision, I stopped as
well and stared at Regina. What would she say about this? Would she tell Daphne?
"No, no, no. Don't stop! I love this song. I used to dance to it too." She
spoke for Bay's benefit and signed for mine. I wonder if she suspects anything
going on between Bay and I?
Seeing that we weren't moving, Regina said and signed, "No, no, no. Keep
dancing! Please. I'll go." Picking up her bags, she turned around again. "Bye."
Okay! That was…interesting. Looking at Bay, I see her face mirrors my
thoughts. Then I shrugged. Well, she wanted us to dance! Bay must have had the
same thought as me, because when I grabbed her hands and we started dancing
again, closer than we had been before, she didn't complain.
#-----------
Having finally given up on Daphne showing up to go to the club, Emmett and I
got ready to leave. It was now 7:45 at night and Emmett had been at my house all
afternoon. I must say it was an interesting experience. Just hanging out, the
two of us. I really enjoyed it and I think Emmett did too.
"Make sure you have a warm jacket. Don't want you to get cold." Emmett
reminded me.
"Okay," I signed back. That was one of the easiest signs I could remember. I
was so nervous now, my mind was starting to blank out.
Emmett must have sensed my nerves or something, because he grabbed my hand
and pulled me toward him. My eyes widened. What was he doing? Gently, he rubbed
my hand in his. "Relax," he mouthed.
Easy for him to say. I felt like I was starting to sweat bullets over here.
Letting go of my hand, Emmett placed his hands on my cheeks. Looking me in the
eye, he mouthed, "Remember, he will LOVE you."
"Yes, okay. Lets go before I chicken out," I replied. Emmett smiled and
chuckled silently.
We made our way out to his bike. Emmett straddled it, getting it ready. As I
was getting ready to put on my helmet, I heard the door of the guest house open.
Well, it's about freaking time! I tapped Emmett a couple of times to get
his attention. By now, Daphne was almost in front of us. Emmett looked at me and
followed my hand that was pointing at Daphne.
"Okay," Daphne signed and said when she was right in front of us.
"Okay, what?" I replied. I was NOT making this easy for her.
"Okay, I wanna go."
Emmett and I shared a knowing look. He smiled like "I told you so."
"So, what's his name?" Daphne asked. Really?
"Angelo Sorrento," I told her with a smile on my face. At the look on her
face, I make a quick realization. "You really didn't know his name?"
Daphne shook her head. "I can't promise to be nice to him."
Not a problem there. "Oh, that is okay with me," I readily agreed.
"So, how are we getting there?" she asked. Uh…..
Looking at Emmett, I ask jokingly, "You have a sidecar so we can fit in a
third?"
Emmett clearly didn't know what I was talking about. He signed what looked
like, "What?"
Daphne also looked a little unsure. "You want me to interpret that?" she
asked me skeptically.
Okay, then. That went well. "Why make a joke die twice? No!"
Daphne just nodded and gave me a weird smile.
Looking at Emmett again, I said, "You know what? We'll take Toby's car."
Emmett signed, "Do you want me to drive?"
Did I? If he drove, I could watch him unhindered. But then, Daphne would
notice. No, better not.
"No, I'll drive," I said, signing "drive"
Emmett did another sign I didn't know. Huh? Looking at Daphne, I asked, "What
did he say?"
"He's calling shotgun," she responded. OH! That's what that sign meant. Duh!
Emmett just shrugged and got off his bike. We got in Toby's car and headed to
the club. God, I'm so nervous. I hope this goes well.
#----------------------
Having finally given up on Daphne, we got ready to leave. I had been at Bay's
house all afternoon. Well, technically, we were in her studio. It was an
interesting experience. Just hanging out, the two of us. I really enjoyed it and
I think Bay did too.
"Make sure you have a warm jacket. Don't want you to get cold." I told her.
"Okay," she signed back. I could tells her nerves were starting to get to
her. Grabbing her hand, I pulled her toward me. Her eyes widened. Gently, I
rubbed her hand in mine. "Relax," I mouthed.
Seeing that this was not calming her down, I tried another approach. Letting
go of her hand, I placed my hands on her cheeks. Looking her straight in the
eye, I mouthed, "Remember, he will LOVE you."
"Yes, okay. Lets go before I chicken out," she replied. I couldn't help but
smile and chuckle silently.
We headed out to my bike. I got on, getting it ready. Bay was getting ready
to get on as well, when I felt her tap my arm a couple times. I looked at her
and followed her hand. She was pointing at Daphne. About freaking time!
"Okay," Daphne signed and said when she was in front of us.
"Okay, what?" Bay responded.
"Okay, I wanna go."
Bay and I shared a knowing look. I smiled at her. "I told you so."
"So, what's his name?" Daphne asked. Regina never told her that?
"Angelo Sorrento," Bay said with a smile. Daphne looked unsure now. "You
really didn't know his name?" Bay guessed.
Daphne shook her head. "I can't promise to be nice to him."
"Oh, that is okay with me," Bay agreed.
"So, how are we getting there?" she asked. Good question.
Looking at me, Bay said something longish. I have no idea what she actually
said. All I got was something about a "Sidecar" and "a third."
I asked Bay, "What was that?"
Daphne looked unsure. "You want me to interpret that?" she asked her with
skepticism clearly on her face.
"Why make a joke die twice? No!" All right then.
Daphne just nodded and gave her a strange looking smile.
Looking at me again, Bay said, "You know what? We'll take Toby's car."
I signed, "Do you want me to drive?" Please say no!
"No, I'll drive," she said, signing "drive." Good, now I can look at her with
no interruptions.
I called shotgun. Bay must not have understood that because she asked Daphne,
"What did he say?"
"He's calling shotgun," she responded. I thought everyone knew THAT one.
I just shrugged and got off the bike. We all got in Toby's car and headed to
the club. Bay looks so nervous. I hope this goes well.
#-------------------
On the drive over, I tried to keep my eyes glued to the road. I could feel
Emmett's eyes on me the whole time. As we got closer to East Riverside, I
started sweating. All the insecurities were coming up again in my head. Was he
going to like me? Would he recognize Daphne and claim her instead of me? Would I
be enough for him as a daughter? Would he want me?
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Emmett signing to Daphne. Since he
didn't talk and she wasn't talking, I couldn't look to see what
was being said. Daphne was probably complaining about being in the backseat.
Emmett called shotgun. Was I suppose to say No! I mean, come on, I would much
rather have Emmett in the front seat with me than Daphne. Even without talking,
Emmett could calm me down like no one else. All he had to do was smile.
Chancing a glance in his direction at the red light, I see he is in a heated
discussion with Daphne. His signing is quick and edgy, a clear indicator he is
pissed off. What in the world is he riled up about? Whatever Daphne said to him,
he obviously didn't like it. Abruptly, Emmett turned toward me. He signs to
Daphne.
"Emmett said, "Tell Bay we should move the car before a cop comes. We don't
need a ticket." Daphne told me smugly.
It was then that I became aware of all the honking horns behind us. OH, GOD!
Was I staring at him this whole time? I could feel the heat rising to my face. I
wanted to crawl under the seat and die! Quickly, I moved forward. Emmett signed
again to Daphne.
"Emmett said, "Do you want me to drive so you can relax?" Daphne said with a
bit of…anger?
I shook my head. He must think I'm a freak now!
When I finally saw the club ahead, I did what any sane person would do….I
drove around the block again. I could feel both Emmett and Daphne watching me.
What? I'm nervous! Now was the time I really wished they could hear me.
After circling the block for the…15th time? I heard Daphne say, "Uh, Bay? We
know you're nervous, but, uh, we're gonna run out of gas soon if you don't stop
circling around the block."
Okay! The next time the club came into view, I pulled into the parking lot. I
heard both Emmett and Daphne heave a sigh of relief. Well, really!
#-----------------
I knew Bay was trying to focus on the road so her nerves stayed in check.
However, the closer we got to East Riverside, the more she started fidgeting in
her seat. I knew her insecurities were creeping up again. She would do fine, I
was sure. She just had to RELAX.
Daphne tapped my shoulder. Turning around in the seat, I said, "What?"
"Why did you call shotgun?" She said back.
"Because, I wanted to sit up front." Why else would I call shotgun?
"With Bay?" Daphne said accusingly. Like it's her business.
"No, because I like sitting in the front seat of a car!"
"So, the fact that Bay is also in the front, makes no never mind to you?"
Daphne said almost sneering.
"Why is this such a big freaking deal to you? Do you want to sit in the front
or something? Is that it?" I asked her, starting to get pissed now.
"It's a big deal because you two have already been hanging out all day and
now when I finally get the chance to talk to you, It's STILL about Bay!" She
almost shouted at me.
What the hell? Was Daphne….jealous? Just because I have been hanging out with
Bay, does Daphne really think I'm replacing her or something?
"You are the one that started this conversation, NOT ME!" I responded.
"Because you barely talk to me anymore! You haven't come around the house as
much and I hardly see you at school now. I miss you!" Daphne said, deflating a
little bit.
"Grow up, Daphne! We can all be friends. We did all learn how to share."
Damn it! I knew she would notice that eventually. I just didn't figure she
would bring it up in front of Bay. Looking over at Bay, I see her staring at me.
Shit! How much of our conversation did she catch?
Glancing out the rear window, I couldn't help noticing the line of cars
behind us. Some people were even flashing headlights at us. How long had we been
sitting here? Turning to Daphne, I told her, "Tell Bay we should move the car
before a cop comes. We don't need a ticket." I then looked back at Bay.
Daphne translated what I said to Bay. Her face turned beet red. Huh? That
shouldn't have embarrassed her. Quickly, she drove forward.
Turning to Daphne again, I said, "Ask Bay if she wants me to drive so she can
relax?"
Daphne again translated. Bay shook her head quickly. Okay, then.
When we finally saw the club ahead, I was anticipating pulling into the
driveway and getting out of the vehicle. No such luck there! Bay drove right by
the damn club! What the hell is the matter? I turned to stare at her. Now was
the time I really wished I talked.
After circling the block for the…15th time? I saw Daphne say, "Uh, Bay? We
know you're nervous, but, uh, we're gonna run out of gas soon if you don't stop
circling around the block."
At least one of us said it! The next time the club came into view, She pulled
into the parking lot. I heaved a sigh of relief. Well, finally!
#----------------------
By the time we finally pulled into the club, I was shaking. Emmett reached
across and patted my hand. Trying to calm me down, I'm sure. Daphne was
chattering in the back seat, but I tuned her out. I needed to stay focused or I
was sure I would be sick.
"Bay? Bay? BAY!" I heard Daphne say. Shit! How long had she been trying to
get my attention?
Turning around, I said, "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
Daphne rolled her eyes. "I said, Are we going in or are we sitting in the car
all night?"
"Oh, right. Yeah. Let's go," I said to her. She translated to Emmett as I was
talking. He nodded and opened his door.
"Oh, good thing we skipped dinner, cause it would be coming up about now!" I
said, as we rounded the car.
Daphne said and signed, "Are you nervous?" Well, DUH! That's why I drove
around the block 15 times!
Acting calmer than I felt, I said, "Aren't you?"
"No, not really," she replied. Must be nice!
I saw a sign for "Latin Heat" on Thursday nights and told Daphne she should
tell her grandma. She just rolled her eyes. Making our way to the back door,
Daphne asked, "So, how do we get in?" Good question.
"We could try the door," I answered with a grin. Good answer!
Of course the door is locked! Why should this be easy! Okay, then. I knocked
on the door and waited. "And….." Daphne said. A moment later, a lady came to the
door. Taking in the three of us, obviously still in high school, she says,
"Yeah?" rather drolly.
Trying to sound as hip as I can, I give her a huge smile and say, "Hello
cool, sexy bar lady!"
Scoffing, she says, "We're not open right now," and tried to slam the door in
our faces. "Oh, uh wait!" I said.
Emmett grabbed the door and came forward. Now what was he going to do?
Watching him curiously, he does a lot of sign to the woman. All I caught was,
"Do, you, me, and hands." Alrighty then.
The woman's jaw dropped. Looking between all of us, she says, "What? What is
he saying?"
Emmett, who had been looking at me, was apparently waiting for me to answer
her.
I told her honestly, "I'm not exactly sure."
Emmett took this as a sign that she did not know ASL and started throwing a
BUNCH of sign at her. Forget it! I'm not even gonna try to keep up with him this
time. Too much info for the brain to process!
By the time he was done, the woman was VERY agitated. You could practically
see the steam rising off of her head. Emmett just nodded at me and gave me a
look like, "Go on, tell her." Yeah, right! I have NO idea WHAT he just said.
Finally realizing time is wasting, I say the first thing that pops into my
head. "He left his retainer here last week." God, that sounded so stupid. Would
she buy that?
Apparently realizing we weren't leaving and probably thinking we were all
crazy besides, she said, "Lost and found is in the coat check."
Oh my god, she actually bought that? Wow, I'm a better liar than I thought!
"Did you just say, "He left his retainer?" Daphne asked me incredulously.
"I'm nervous, okay!" I retorted.
We followed her to the coat check room. She pulled out a huge box and placed
it in front of Emmett. "Here. If you don't find it, I've got three more boxes
back there," she told us.
Emmett gamely dove into the box, looking for his "retainer" among the items
strewn about inside. When he looked good and occupied, I asked if I could use
the restroom. The lady said it was through the bar. Then I asked if my friend
could come along. She said she really didn't care. So we took off, leaving
Emmett to pillage.
#-----------------------
By the time we FINALLY pulled in to the parking lot, Bay was so nervous she
was shaking. Reaching across the seat, I patted her hand. I could see Daphne out
of the corner of my eye. She was talking in the back seat, but I wasn't looking
at her lips and she wasn't signing anything.
"Bay? Bay? BAY!" I saw Daphne sign and say. Shit! How long had she been
trying to get her attention?
Turning around, I saw Bay say, "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
Daphne rolled her eyes. Signing and speaking, she said, "I said, Are we going
in, or are we sitting in the car all night?"
"Oh, right. Yeah. Let's go," was Bay's response. Daphne translated to me as
Bay was talking. I did see what she said, but I nodded and opened my door.
As we walked around the car, I saw Bay say something about "dinner" and
"coming up." Was she going to get sick? I hope not. I'm not cleaning it up!
Daphne said and signed, "Are you nervous?" Well, DUH! Pretty sure that's why
she drove around the block 15 times!
Looking calmer than I'm sure she felt, Bay said, "Aren't you?"
"No, not really," she replied. I almost laughed at the look on Bay's face.
Making our way to the back door, Daphne asked, "So, how do we get in?" Yeah,
how?
"We could try the door," Bay answered with a grin. Good answer!
Of course the door is locked. Bay knocked on the door and waited. A moment
later, a lady came to the door. Taking in the three of us, she says, "Yeah?"
rather drolly.
Bay plants a huge smile on her face and says, "Hello cool, sexy bar lady!"
Yeah, that'll get us in the door.
Scoffing, she says, "We're not open right now," and tried to slam the door in
our faces. Okay, my turn. Grabbing the door, I came forward. The woman eyeballed
me suspiciously. Time for a pro.
"Do you understand me when I do this with my hands?" I said all in sign,
without mouthing the words. The woman's jaw dropped. Looking between all of us,
she says, "What? What is he saying?" I looked at Bay, waiting for her to answer
her.
Eyeing me curiously, she told the lady, "I'm not exactly sure." Let the
fun begin!
"So, I'm just going to keep nodding to her and signing really fast…and
throwing out random words like… baseball…grapefruit…tiger….rice
pudding…..because hearing people always get really uncomfortable and give me
what I want….just so I'll go away!" Take that!
By the time I was done, the woman was VERY agitated. You could practically
see steam rolling off of her. I just nodded at Bay and gave her a look like, "Go
on, tell her."
I see the gears working in her head. Finally, she tells the woman, "He left
his retainer here last week." My RETAINER! That is the best she could come up
with? Yeah, she'll believe that, I'm sure.
Apparently realizing we weren't going anywhere and probably thinking we were
all nuts anyway, she said, "Lost and found is in the coat check."
Oh my god, she actually bought that? Wow!
We followed her to the coat check room. She pulled out a huge box and placed
it in front of me. Diving into the box, the first thing I pull out is a pink and
orange striped bra. Now THAT is freaking HOT! YOOZA! Down, boy hormones! Before
I can get myself in trouble, I rifled through some other paraphernalia. Bay and
Daphne took off, presumably to find Angelo. Okay, lets see what else is in here.
Pins….sunglasses…..keychain….feathers…FEATHERS?
Not finding my "retainer" I shook my head at the woman. She pulled up another
box. Okay, then. Box 2. Let's see….more pins…a brochure that said, "Saving your
heathen soul." Okay, then. I keep digging. Makeup
bag….wig….stilettos…hmmm, wonder if Bay would wear those? Another key
ring….a whip… A WHIP?
Realizing something is off about this place, I start to look around. Gay
pride week posters line the side wall. Gay pride? Oh my god! This is a freaking
GAY BAR! How did we not notice that coming in?
I was starting to realize that this "Angelo Sorrento" that Bay thought was
her father, well…wasn't straight. Oh boy! This is going to be interesting!
#-------------------------
As we made our way onto the dance floor, I looked around. Angelo was nowhere
in sight. Daphne came up behind me. Looking at her, I said, "I don't see him. Do
you?"
Daphne looked to her left. "Over there," she said, nodding toward the stage.
Looking up, I finally see Angelo. Okay, Bay! Breathe. You can do this. Remember
what Emmett said. He will love you. But, I better double check to be sure.
"Is that him?" I asked Daphne.
"I don't know. Is it?" So not the answer I was hoping for here.
"You've met him," I said rather stupidly.
"I was 2!" Daphne replied, as if saying "Duh!" Well, great.
"So, what do we do now?" I hope she has a better plan than I do at this
point.
"Go talk to him," she said quickly. Easy for her to say.
Suddenly, my nerves got the better of me. Realizing I may not like how this
all turns out, I backpedal.
"This is stupid. We should probably just go," I told Daphne, trying to
retreat.
Of course, Daphne will have none of that. "What are you talking about? Just
go talk to him!"
"I….can't!" What if I screw this up so badly, he wants nothing to do with me?
"Will you do it?" I ask Daphne desperately. Finally, she walks toward him. Oh,
good. Now we'll see if he is my father.
Boy was I wrong to let Daphne handle it!
Daphne started out simply enough. But, years of pain and frustration came out
at such the wrong time. She asked him if he remembered Regina or her. He acted
like he didn't. Then, she just got on a roll. Poor Angelo didn't know what hit
him. She went on and on about him leaving, and how she always wondered about
him. About the time she said he had a problem, I decided to step in. Note to
self: Never let Daphne have any more dealings with my father.
"Hi. I'm Bay Kennish," I told him.
"Don't bother. This guy's an ass!" Daphne said angrily. Okay, then. This is
going well.
"Sorry. She has an axe to grind with you for obvious reasons."
"He doesn't remember our mother," Daphne said point blank.
Had I known this was going to go this way, I would have left Daphne home. She
is so not ready to confront Angelo.
"You don't remember Regina?" How is THAT possible?
Angelo finally stepped down off the stage. Oh, boy. What's gonna happen now?
"Okay. I don't know who that is, and I have no idea who you are," Angelo told
us. Wha…..?
"Look at me. Think! I know it was a long time ago, but, big clue…I'm deaf."
Daphne said, tears brimming in her eyes. Wait a second…..
"And, I'm looking for my father. I'm not here to yell at you or blame you for
anything. I just wanted to meet you, so I could say I've met you, and you've met
me!"
"I still don't understand?" Angelo told us honestly.
"There was a mistake at the hospital. Daphne's the one that you left. I'm
your real daughter." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daphne's eyes narrow.
What? It's the truth!
Suddenly, it all clicked for Angelo. He chuckled. Chuckled? I tell him I'm
his real daughter, and he chuckles? Is he insane?
"Girls, I'm sorry. But, I'm not anyone's father." Huh?
"But, you're Angelo Sorrento?" I ask him, almost as a question.
"I am," he confirmed. "I'm also gay."
Gay? My father…..I mean, this Angelo is gay? But, he HAS to be my father!
"I have known since I was 5," he continued. "I have never slept with a woman.
If you were my daughter, It would be the immaculate conception." Really?
I start grasping at straws. "Ever donate sperm?"
He tells us that no, he hasn't. "But, we look alike!" I tell him. He says he
is very flattered thinking that he could be responsible for someone as beautiful
as Daphne and I. He also told us that he is very sorry that he isn't the man we
are looking for. But, he also says that he hopes we do find him.
"Thanks," Daphne said.
As we walked off the floor, I saw Emmett standing there, waiting. Not wanting
to think anymore, I wrapped my arms around him. He returned the hug. Pulling
away, he mouthed, "Are you two okay?"
Daphne signed something, but I wasn't paying attention. I just wanted to get
away from there. I wanted to forget everything that has happened tonight.
"Can you drive, please?" I asked Emmett. He nodded. I handed him the keys. He
put his arm around my shoulder and we walked out the door to the parking lot.
#--------------------------
2 boxes later, I still hadn't found my "retainer." I HAD however found more
stuff that I wanted to forget about ever seeing. I had found more pins and
brochures and other items that I didn't even WANT to think about, let alone put
my hands on…YUCK! I so need to wash my hands!
Shaking my head at the woman, (who had been hovering the whole time mind you)
I mimed "restroom?" at her. She thumbed toward where the girls had gone out.
Okay. Heading to the men's room, I scrubbed my hands till they were raw.
UGGGGHHH! If I ever see any of that….stuff again, I may just have to burn my eye
sockets out.
After disinfecting my hands for the 4th? Time, I walked to the edge of the
dance floor. Daphne and Bay each had shocked looks on their faces. Guess they
found out he's gay. Angelo talked to them for a minute. Being so far away, I
can't make out what he is saying. Guessing it's not what they were hoping to
hear.
Finally, Bay and Daphne make their way toward me. Bay looks like she got hit
by a bus. Daphne just has a bewildered look on her face. As soon as Bay got
close enough to me, she threw her arms around me. Okay, then. I am a little
shocked that she is hugging me in front of Daphne, but, I'm not going to push
her away. I returned her hug as Daphne got a shocked look on her face. Oh, boy.
Wonder how long before I hear about this?
Pulling back, I looked at Bay, mouthing, "Are you two okay?"
Bay didn't respond, but Daphne did. "He wasn't our father. He's gay." Kind of
already knew that, but I was hoping I was wrong too.
"Can you drive, please?" Bay asked me. I could tell she was a little in shock
at all that had happened. I nodded and she handed me the keys. Putting my arm
around her shoulder, I lead her out the door to the parking lot. Daphne was
shooting me strange looks, but I ignored them. Bay needed me.
#-----------------------
The drive was quiet. No music playing, no talking(not that there would be).
Daphne had been strangely silent since we left the bar. After we got in, Emmett
suggested we stop to get something to eat. I was in no hurry to get home, so I
agreed, as did Daphne. We found a diner that was open 24 hours and went inside.
Emmett and Daphne took one side of the table and I took the other. Actually, I
didn't mind that so much because I could look at Emmett.
The waitress came to take our orders. It was easier for Emmett this time
because Daphne was here to interpret what he wanted. I'll be honest, it was
probably the only time I was happy to have Daphne around. It's not that I
wouldn't have tried to interpret for him if needed, because I would have. It's
just the thought of it set my stomach on edge and made me nauseous, I was so
afraid I'd screw up. What if I did screw up? Would he then decide that being
friends with a hearing girl was just to much trouble? I couldn't face that fact,
not when someone was finally starting to accept me and want me...even if we were
only friends. I know I can't compete with Daphne.
After she brought back our food, we dug in and started talking about the bar.
"I can't believe that wasn't him. Shouldn't I have known or something?" I
said, a bit bewildered.
"Our first clue should have been that it was a gay bar!" Daphne said, trying
to be funny.
"Seriously! Everyone in there was gay?" I couldn't help but wonder.
"Pretty much," Emmett signed and mouthed. Well okay, then.
"Wow! I have NO gaydar!" Now, I felt really stupid. Of course, Daphne gets a
chuckle out of that. I didn't look at Emmett, but I'm sure he thought it was
funny too.
"I'm sorry I dragged you both into this." I told them sincerely.
"No! I'm happy I came. I needed to say all that, and hopefully, one day, I'll
get to say it to the right guy." Daphne said and signed. Emmett just nodded.
"I can't do this again! I think I'm done looking," I told her, feeling a
little defeated.
"You can't give up! There can't be that many Angelo Sorrento's in the world."
Really! I had to practically drag you into this and now you are pushing me to
keep going? Weird!
"What about the guitar case?" Emmett signed. Boy, I'm glad he taught me that!
"What "guitar case?" Daphne signed back.
Showing off a little, I signed perfectly, "The guitar case you and Emmett
found when you were little."
Daphne got a surprised look on her face that I could sign all that. Emmett
just smiled.
"How do you know about that?" she asked suspiciously. Uh-oh!
Fortunately, Emmett stepped up and told Daphne, "I told her." Daphne's jaw
dropped a little.
"He thinks it's Angelo's," I said, trying to take some of the pressure off of
Emmett.
"It's not!" Daphne replied, sounding agitated.
I told her about finding the guitar pick in the car and pulled it out to show
her. Daphne's face now looked like a thunderstorm.
"You found his car?" She signed and spoke sharply. Shit!
"In a junkyard."
"When?" was her sharp reply. That answers the question of if Emmett told her
or not.
"A few days ago," I said, wanting to hide in the corner of the booth. Emmett
had a similar look on his face.
Daphne stared at Emmett. He signed something to her, but I didn't catch all
of it. I got you, how, mom, and guitar case. Okay.
"It wasn't that big of a deal! She didn't like us going through her stuff!"
was her angry reply.
"Okay, well. What do you think is in the guitar case?" I asked her
impatiently. Don't yell at Emmett!
"I have no idea."
"You've never even looked in it?"
"NO!" Well, alright.
"Could we look in your house?" I need to know what is in that case!
Daphne looked between Emmett and I. "I thought you were done." I thought I
was.
Grabbing my drink, I sipped on it and stared out the window. I noticed Emmett
do the same thing.
So, he's not ready to give up either! Excellent!
#--------------------------------
The car ride was quiet. Not that it wouldn't be anyway. Can't sign and drive.
I had asked the girls if they wanted to find someplace to eat when we first got
in the car. Both of them agreed. I found a diner that was open 24 hours and
pulled in. Bay had been staring out the window since we left the club. I knew
she must have been thinking about everything that had happened there. Daphne was
sitting in the backseat, not even moving. Was she dead? Or, was she wondering if
something is going on between Bay and I?
I have to admit, I was starting to wonder myself if something was going on
between us. When Bay threw herself into my arms at the club, I was shocked and
excited at the same time. I loved having Bay in my arms, the feel of her body
against mine. When did that start to be something I craved?
After we got inside, we sat in a booth. I took the window, and Daphne climbed
in after me, leaving Bay to take the opposite side. Damn it! Why did Daphne just
HAVE to sit next to me. Oh, well. On the plus side, I can watch Bay without
suspicion from Daphne.
When the waitress came, I told Daphne what I wanted and she ordered it for
me. Sneaking a peek at Bay, I saw a relieved look cross her face. Was she
remembering the last time we were in a diner together, too? It was easier this
time with Daphne, she could interpret. Bay was getting better, but she still
wasn't perfect.
After she brought back our food, we dug in and started talking about the bar.
"I can't believe that wasn't him. Shouldn't I have known or something?" Bay
said, with a bewildered expression on her face.
"Our first clue should have been that it was a gay bar!" Daphne said and
signed, trying to be funny.
"Seriously! Everyone in there was gay?" I could almost hear the shock in
Bay's voice. If I could hear her.
"Pretty much," I signed and mouthed. I had told them about the "treasures" I
had found in the lost and found boxes. They both looked like they had wanted to
be sick.
"Wow! I have NO gaydar!" I couldn't help but laugh at this. She's so cute
when she is clueless. I saw Daphne get a chuckle out of it too.
"I'm sorry I dragged you both into this," she told us. I started to respond,
when I saw Daphne talking.
"No! I'm happy I came. I needed to say all that, and hopefully, one day, I'll
get to say it to the right guy." I just nodded. I was happy I came too.
"I can't do this again! I think I'm done looking," Bay said, looking
defeated.
"You can't give up! There can't be that many Angelo Sorrento's in the world."
Really! I had to practically hog tie you to come with us and now you are
pushing her to keep going? I decided to change the subject.
"What about the guitar case?" I signed.
"What "guitar case?" Daphne signed back.
Bay signed perfectly, "The guitar case you and Emmett found when you were
little."
Daphne got a surprised look on her face. I just smiled. She did that
perfectly!
"How do you know about that?" Daphne asked suspiciously. Umm…..
Thinking I was probably going to regret this, I signed, "I told her."
Daphne's jaw dropped.
"He thinks it's Angelo's," Bay interjected, trying to take some of the
pressure off of me, I'm sure.
"It's not!" Daphne replied, signing sharply.
Bay told her about us finding the guitar pick in his car and then she pulled
it out to show her. Daphne's face now looked like a thunderstorm was passing
over it.
"You found his car?" She signed and spoke sharply. Damn!
"In a junkyard." Bay replied.
"When?" was her sharp reply. Maybe I should have told her before now….
"A few days ago," Bay said, looking like she wanted to hide in the corner. I
was experiencing a similar feeling.
Daphne stared at me. Realizing I needed to tell her something, I signed,
"Don't you remember how pissed off your mom got when we started to open the
guitar case?"
"It wasn't that big of a deal! She didn't like us going through her stuff!"
was her angry reply.
"Okay, well. What do you think is in the guitar case?" Bay asked her
impatiently.
"I have no idea."
"You've never even looked in it?"
"NO!" Simmer down, Daphne! Geez!
"Could we look in your house?" Bay asked her hopefully. I stared at Daphne as
well, waiting for her answer.
Daphne looked between Bay and I. "I thought you were done." I thought we were
too.
Grabbing my drink, I sipped on it and stared out the window. I noticed Bay do
the same thing.
So, she's not ready to give up either!
#-----------------------------
The following day, all I could think about was the club. How did I not know
it was a gay bar? Was I so focused on finding Angelo that I missed that part
entirely? At least Daphne got some things off her chest. I wish I could have.
Emmett was so sweet on the way back home. He held my hand the whole way home
after the diner. Moments like those, I was starting to wish he actually was
mine. But, I also knew that he liked Daphne, and therefore, anything he was
doing was strictly a friend helping another friend. I could wish though.
Liam and Ty both didn't respect me. I can see that now. Liam thought I was
too high maintenance, and with Ty, it was all physical. He didn't try to get to
know me. But, Emmett….
He learned so much about me in such a small amount of time. He was my friend,
confidante, and he treated me with the respect I should have got from the two
guys I actually had dated. I wished Daphne wasn't in the picture. Maybe then,
Emmett would want me…..
The way I wanted him.
#--------------------------
I was a Carlton, getting ready to go to my next class. I was thinking about
the night before. All the way home, I held Bay's hand. I couldn't comfort her
the way I wanted to, so that was my best solution. The only problem was, how did
I want to comfort her? As a friend….
Or as something more?
My thoughts were interrupted by Daphne, who had stepped in front of me. The
look on her face said she wanted answers. How much was I willing to tell her?
"What's going on with you and Bay?" she asked me.
For some unknown reason, I went on the defensive with her. "Nothing."
The look on her face said, "Yeah, right." Why does she feel I need to answer
to her? My life is my business, not hers. If something is between Bay and I,
that's our business, not Daphne's. Daphne just keeps on staring at me.
"What?" I ask, a little pissed now. Yes, I like Bay. A LOT! There was just
something about her that touched me in a way I never thought I could feel about
someone, even Daphne. I'm even starting to think she may feel the same way about
me. However, I wasn't in the mood to discuss any of this with Daphne. Not
everything in my life is her business.
"Anyway, she's all moony for Ty, right?" Why I tossed Ty into the
conversation, I couldn't honestly say. All I knew was I wanted out of this
inquisition. If I was going to talk to anyone about my feelings, it was going to
be Bay. I certainly wasn't going to tell Daphne anything. Besides, It's probably
wishful thinking anyway, that Bay could feel the same way I do. We haven't known
each other that long. Yes, we have a lot of awesome memories together now, but
did she want me as badly as I wanted her? Needed her?
Of course, Daphne won't drop the subject. God, she's like a dog with a bone.
"Why are you asking?" she says with a smirk. Am I that transparent? Nah, can't
be. I had a crush on Daphne for years and she never noticed. Why is she suddenly
so astute?
"Why are YOU asking?" I ask almost angrily. My life, my business!
She starts ranting about how much I picked on her when she was with Liam. How
I was always giving her grief. She would have to bring up that loser. I gave her
grief because he wasn't good enough for her, or for Bay.
"Because, he was a loser!" I tell her impatiently.
Of course, she has to turn it around to, "He wasn't a loser. He was hearing."
Next, she smugly threw my words back in my face. "And according to you, deaf
plus hearing doesn't work!" I was so regretting saying that to her now. My
opinion on that had changed drastically. Bay had made me change that opinion. I
wasn't telling Daphne that though, either.
"It doesn't!" Usually. With Bay, it was different. She was different. I
didn't see her as hearing or deaf. She was just Bay. And that's why I liked her
so much.
As if she was reading my mind, Daphne said, "Not even if 'hearing' has dark
wavy hair and alabaster skin?"
Her facial expressions alone set my teeth on edge. What exactly does she have
against Bay? Every time she is mentioned, Daphne gets a sour look on her face.
Does she dislike her that much?
Fed up, I tell Daphne, "Watch my hands carefully…" Slowly, like she is new to
sign, I tell her, "Nothing. Is. Going. On."
Walking away, I got the impression she didn't believe me.
That's okay….I didn't believe me either.
That night, lying in bed, I made a decision.
I was going to tell Bay I had feelings for her. I just hoped she felt the
same.
#------------------------
The day my life changed forever started like any other day. I got up, got
dressed for school, and went downstairs. Toby hadn't come down yet, but Daphne
was at the table.
"Good Morning!" I signed.
"Morning," was all the response I got. Okay, then.
"Where's Mom?" I said, looking around.
"Is something going on with you and Emmett?" Daphne asked point blank.
WOOOHH! Back up the train! Where did that come from?
"He's my friend. He was helping me find Angelo. That's it," I told her
firmly, signing a little.
Daphne raised her eyebrow at me. Okay, so maybe it's not the most believable,
but I wasn't going to tell her I liked him. It's none of her business.
"Okay, if you say so," she said and went back to her breakfast. That's it? No
3rd degree questioning?
At school, I couldn't help but think about what Daphne asked me. WAS
something between us? I didn't know. I knew I really liked him, but I doubted he
felt the same. He liked Daphne. I just kept repeating that in my head. He likes
Daphne….He likes Daphne…..He likes Daphne…..
"MISS KENNISH!" I finally heard Ms. Wyant talking to me. Oh, man!
"Yes, Ms. Wyant?" I asked sheepishly.
"Class is done for the day. Why are you still sitting here?"
Looking around, I realized everyone had left. Geez! I need to stop
daydreaming!
When I walked out the front steps, I saw the object of my daydreams right in
front of me. Emmett waved and smiled.
"Hi!" I waved and smiled back. What was he doing here? "Daphne's not here.
Her class isn't today." He must have got his days screwed up. He couldn't be
here to see me.
He waved his hands no and signed, "I came here to see you."
Okay, so maybe he was here to see me. But, why? Oh, maybe he wants to look
for my dad some more. I actually kinda need a break from looking for him,
actually.
"Look, if this is about my dad, I don't want to hear anymore," I tell him
honestly.
Again, he waves his hands no. Uh….. He starts signing again.
"Daphne….you…..You and Daphne were talking….okay…..You and Daphne were
talking about you and me?" Why would she talk to him about me?
He waves his hands "no" quite fast. Okay, I'm confused now.
"Okay, you guys weren't talking about you and me?" Which is it? You were or
you weren't?
Emmett sighs and gets a frustrated look on his face. Well, if I'm confused,
then he has to be. And, he's the one doing the signs!
Finally, he looks at me and signs, "I….like you." Well, I like you too.
Thought we already established that before. Then, he moved closer. Was he going
to…?
Before I could think about anything else, I felt his lips press against mine.
I felt like fireworks went off around us. He kissed me for a few seconds and
then pulled back and smiled. Okay, I guess that clarifies HOW he likes me.
Before I had time to process anything else, Emmett waved and walked away.
Seriously, you kiss me and walk away? Pressing my fingers to my lips, I could
still feel his lips against mine.
It felt like I had found the other half of my soul.
#----------------------------
The day my life changed forever started out normally. I got up, got dressed
and went downstairs for breakfast. Mom wasn't home, which was fine by me. I was
nervous and giddy and I knew she would be able to tell.
At school, I barely concentrated through my classes. I was thinking about
after school. I was going to see Bay and show her how I felt.
When I got to Buckner, classes hadn't let out yet. I stood around waiting for
a few minutes. Do I just tell her? Show her?
Finally, I saw Bay come out the front doors. I waved to get her attention.
"Hi!" she smiled and waved back. When she got up to me, she said, "Daphne's
not here. Her class isn't today."
Of course she would think I was here for Daphne. I always picked her up after
her classes. Well, not every time.
I waved my hands "no" and signed, " I came here to see you."
Bay got an "Oh" look on her face. "Look, if this is about my dad, I don't
want to hear anymore."
Okay, time to tell her before we get off track.
Waving my hands "no" again, I sign, "Daphne and I were talking about you and
me."
Bay followed right along with me. "Daphne….you…..You and Daphne were
talking….okay…..You and Daphne were talking about you and me?"
Realizing I didn't want her to think this was Daphne's idea, I waved my hands
"no" frantically.
"Okay, you guys weren't talking about you and me?" Bay says with a confused
look on her face. Well, I can understand why she is confused. Time to just play
it straight.
Taking a deep breath, I sign, "I….like you."
Bay is still looking confused. Okay, time to show her. Leaning in, I press my
lips to hers. I felt like fireworks went off around us. I kissed her for a few
seconds and then pulled back and smiled. Okay, I hope that clarifies HOW I like
her.
Before she could process my actions, I waved and walked away. Pressing my
fingers to my lips, I could still feel her lips against mine.
It felt like I had found the other half of my soul.
#-------
Disclaimer: Switched At Birth is owned by Lizzy Weiss and ABC Family. No
copyright infringement is meant. I am using the characters for entertainment
purposes only.
Disclaimer: There will be "M" rated themes in later chapters......
#-----------
Chapter 5-episode 7
For the next couple of days, I dedicated my free time to researching Angelo
on the net. So far, I had no leads. I also began studying ASL. I found some good
sites on the web to help in this endeavor. I also began studying Emmett more.
Watching him sign, I would mimic his signs. Once he realized what I was doing,
he seemed genuinely pleased. He even started teaching me simple signs for
everyday use. A few times, I did them wrong, and he laughed at me. Patiently, he
would repeat the signs until I got them right.
I was starting to really, really like Emmett. Just thinking about him would
make me smile. But, I still was not sure of his feelings. He seemed to enjoy
spending time with me, and he really did seem to like me, at least as a friend.
The other night, in his garage though, I really thought he was going to kiss me.
And I can't say I would have stopped him.
Maybe, he is just intrigued that a hearing girl doesn't treat him like he is
different. That had to be it. He couldn't have feelings for me. He liked Daphne,
didn't he?
I had also been thinking about what he told me about Toby. I still had the
bruises on my arm from Toby's fingers. I had been wearing longer sleeves to hide
them until they faded away. Absently, I rubbed my hand over the bruises. It was
still tender and sore.
I couldn't believe that Emmett had been sucked into Toby's issues. I had
warned Daphne about Toby's "mini golf" games. Why had she dragged her best
friend into it as well? Now, Emmett had seen the more unsavory side of my
family. Would that change what he thought of me?
So consumed by my thoughts, I didn't realize someone had entered my studio
until a hand came down on my arm, directly on top of the bruises. At first I
thought it was Toby. Turning around with a pained look on my face, I see Emmett
standing behind me. I release the breath I had been holding.
"I'm sorry. I thought you heard me come in," he mouthed and signed. I didn't
even realize I was rubbing my arm until Emmett mouthed, "Did I hurt you?" He had
a pained look on his face to match mine.
I was planning on lying to him, telling him I ran into a canvas. But, the lie
stuck in my throat. I couldn't lie to Emmett. I wanted to share this with him
because I trusted him. More than that, I realized I NEVER wanted to lie to
Emmett, not even to protect Toby. Emmett meant too much to me. It scares me just
how important he has come to mean to me in so short a time. But, would he think
less of me for letting it happen in the first place? Only one way to find out.
"He already knows about Toby's other problem. So, what's wrong with
sharing this?" I think to myself. Here goes nothing.
As Emmett watched me intently, I slowly pulled the sleeve of my shirt up. In
vivid contrast to the white of my skin, 4 bluish-green bruises stood out. Emmett
stared for a moment. Reaching out, he ever so gently matched his fingers to the
bruises marking my skin. Recognition dawned on his face. A second later, it was
replaced by rage.
"WHO DID THIS?" he signed and mouthed sharply.
"Toby," I said quietly, tears forming in my eyes. Emmett read my lips. His
eyes narrowed and his hand fisted. I felt an over whelming need to be in his
arms. Throwing caution to the wind, I threw my arms around Emmett and started to
sob into his shirt. He held me against him, allowing me my tears. I felt the
tenseness of his body. Slowly though, the longer I am in his arms, the more I
feel the tension in his body fade. Finally, he maneuvers me toward the couch I
have in my studio. Sitting us both on it, he continues to hold me as I cry.
It is amazing to me that this boy, who barely knows me, is this upset on my
behalf. Could his feelings run deeper than I realize? Or is he just being nice
to me, like the day I went to Ty's to tell him goodbye? That day felt like a
lifetime ago now. I know knew that Ty and I would never have lasted. It wasn't
meant to be. It still hurt, but I was finally getting over the pain.
Once my tears stopped flowing, I pulled back to look at Emmett. His face was
now calm, but he was still tense enough to make me believe he was still upset.
Emmett stared at me. Finally, with a rather serious look, he signed and mouthed,
"Do you want me to beat him up?"
My eyes widened. Was he serious? He sure looked like he was.
Patiently, he waited for me to answer.
Laughing slightly, I tell him, "No. Not right now. But, can I reserve that
for later?"
Finally, he cracked a smile. "Absolutely. Just say the word," he mouthed.
Rubbing my hand around my face, I muse out loud, "I must look frightening,
don't I?"
Ever so gently, he ran his fingers over my face. Pulling back one of his
hands, he signs something I don't know yet.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what you are telling me," I say to him.
Pointing to me, he then signs it again, mouthing the words this time. Tears
threaten again.
"You….are…beautiful!"
I sign the first sign he ever taught me.
"Thank you."
I could fall in love with this boy.
#------------------------
With a spring in my step, I approached Bay's studio garage. She has been
researching Angelo for the last couple of days. So far, she had no leads. To my
genuine pleasure, she had also started learning ASL. I knew this because I
caught her mimicking my signs yesterday. So, I decided to help her out. I spent
several hours teaching her basic, everyday signs. She caught on quickly, but a
few times she screwed up the signs badly. I couldn't help laughing at her.
Patiently, I did the signs again and again until she understood them.
I was starting to really, really like Bay. Thinking about her always made me
smile. I wasn't sure of her feelings, though. She seemed to enjoy spending time
with me, and she really did seem to like me, at least as a friend. The other
night in my garage, I really wanted to kiss her. In that moment, I couldn't
honestly say she would have stopped me.
Did she think I was using her to learn about hearing girls? That couldn't be
it. She couldn't have feelings for me? She was still hung up on Ty, wasn't she?
I had also been thinking about what Bay said about that girl, "Black hole"
Katie. That nickname still made me laugh. Only Bay had noticed that exchange.
Only Bay had cared enough to apologize for someone else's callousness. Only Bay
had cared!
Knocking on her garage door, I waited a moment for her to answer. Getting no
response, I decided to just walk in. Opening the door, I see Bay has her back to
me. She is rubbing her upper arm like she is cold. I've noticed in the last week
or so, she has taken to wearing longer sleeved shirts.
Coming up behind her, I placed my hand on her arm. She jumped slightly and
turned around. I caught a brief flash of pain on her face.
"I'm sorry. I thought you heard me come in," I mouthed and signed. She didn't
seem to realize she had started rubbing her arm again. What the…? I mouthed,
"Did I hurt you?" My face started to match hers. I didn't grab her that hard,
did I?
Bay stood there and stared at me for a few moments. What is going through her
head right now? She looks like she is waging a war inside herself. I am just
about to ask her again, when she seems to come out of the trance she has been
under.
As I watched her intently, Bay slowly pulled the sleeve of her shirt up. In
vivid contrast to the white of her skin, 4 bluish-green bruises stood out. I
stared for a moment. Looking closer, I see a pattern emerge. Same size, evenly
spaced. WAIT A MINUTE…..! Reaching out slowly, so as not to spook her, I gently
matched my fingers to the bruises marking her skin. Realization hit me. These
are the size of a man's fingers. A second later, I felt a consuming rage. Who
had dared to hurt Bay!
"WHO DID THIS?" I signed and mouthed forcefully. If it was Ty, I would find
him and kill him.
"Toby," she said, looking down slightly, tears forming in her eyes. I was
still able to read her lips though. Toby? HER OWN BROTHER! Why would he…..?
Realization hit me harder. Toby had tried to get money out of Bay for his
gambling debt, and she had obviously refused him. My eyes narrowed and my hand
fisted. I was going to find Toby and….. Before I could finish that thought, I
found my arms full of Bay. She started to sob into my shirt. I could feel her
sobs vibrate through my body. It is killing me not to be able to hear her right
now, or to be able to comfort her with words. So, I did the only thing I could
do for her at this moment. I held her against me, allowing her all the comfort
and support she needed me to give. I could feel the tension in my body fade the
longer I held her in my arms. Finally, I maneuvered her toward the couch.
Sitting us both on it, I continued to hold her as she cried.
It amazed me that this girl, who barely knows me, trusts me with something of
this nature. Could her feelings run deeper than I realize? Or does she just
think I'm being nice to her again, like the day she went to Ty's to tell him
goodbye? That day felt like a lifetime ago now.
Once her tears stopped flowing, she pulled back to look at me. Her mascara
had run down her face, and her eyes were all puffy from crying. She was still
beautiful to me though. I was now calmer, but I was still tense enough for her
to notice. All I could do was stare at her.
Finally, seeing she was back under control, I asked her, quite seriously, "Do
you want me to beat him up?"
Her eyes widened. Did she think I was kidding? I would like nothing better
right now than for my fist to land on Toby's face. Maybe I could crack a few
teeth, too. I watched her face. I think she knew I was serious.
Bay finally laughed a little. "No. Not right now. But, can I reserve that for
later?"
Fighting the urge to laugh too, I still managed to crack a smile.
"Absolutely. Just say the word," I mouthed.
Bay rubbed her hand over her face. "I must look frightening, don't I?" Not to
me. Never to me.
Gently, I ran my fingers over her face. Pulling back one of my hands, I sign,
"You are beautiful."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what you are telling me," she says to me with an
apologetic look.
That's okay. She'd learn it real quick!
Pointing to her, I then signed it again, mouthing the words this time. Tears
well in her eyes again.
"You….are…beautiful!"
"Thank you." she signed. The first sign I ever taught her.
I could fall in love with this girl.
#--------------------------------
The next morning, I was really looking forward to eating the last lemon
square that was in the fridge. However, as I neared the fridge, I saw Toby pull
out my lemon square! Oh, no you don't, Toby! Coming up to his side, I tell him,
"Toby, if you take the last lemon square, I will shave off your eyebrows in your
sleep!"
Trying to be cute I'm sure, Toby replies, "Halfsies?"
Deciding to be merciful, I retort with, "Then I'll just shave 1." I would
have my lemon square!
Toby apparently liked both his eyebrows where they were, because he handed me
the lemon square. Yay! I win! I smiled at him and walked away with my prize.
Mom is standing at the counter with a signing book in front of her. She waves
to get Daphne's attention.
"Daphne, look," she signs and speaks once Daphne looks at her. She then does
the sign for….making out? I stifle the laugh I had building in my chest. I don't
think that is what Mom was going for. Oh, well. Let Daphne handle it.
"Are you asking me to make coffee?" Daphne says, dubiously.
"Yes!" Mom is happy she got it right. If she only knew. Daphne gives her a
"well.." look. Mom figures out real quick she messed up. "No!"
"Close," Daphne tells her. Mom makes a cute "argh" growl.
Daphne shows her the correct sign. "This is "make coffee."
Mom does her sign again. Really, Mom! "What was I saying?" Here it comes
people. Ready….set…..GO!
"You're asking me to make out," Daphne informs her with a semi straight face.
Mom's hands stop mid sign. "OOOHHHH! Okay." You've got to love her. She never
gets the signs right at first. Of course, she doesn't have a truly awesome
person teaching her like I do, either.
Toby, feeling left out apparently, decided to crack a joke. "There's a couple
of girls at school I'd like to make some coffee with."
Not to be outdone, I retort with, "Just make sure you use a coffee filter!"
And then Dad walked in….
He started talking about an e-mail he got from Buckner about a Chemistry test
that got stolen off a teacher's desk. Apparently, whoever stole it, sold it to
other kids for lots of money. Suspicious, I look at Toby. Is it just me, or is
he sweating now?
Mom, having pulled up the e-mail on her phone, says the school wants the
parents to talk to their kids about cheating.
Hoping to get out of a long speech, I water down what I know she will say to
us. "Cheating bad. Studying good." All through this, I have been staring Toby
down. He responds with, "Good talk, Mom."
Dad tells us the principle is giving whoever stole the test 24 hours to come
forward and be suspended. Toby starts looking a little sickly. He didn't…?
"I'm going upstairs," Toby suddenly says and bails.
DING, DING, DING! After getting Daphne to come upstairs with me, under
the guise of teaching me dirty words in sign, I confront Toby. He denies it, of
course. I remind him of his accosting me for money and talking with Wilke
secretively.
"That's a pretty big leap to assume I stole the test." he tells me coolly.
Apparently, all Daphne caught was, "I stole the test," because she just about
shouted, "You stole the test!"
Toby jumped up to close his door and pretty much confessed that, yes, he was
the one to steal the test. He did it to pay his debt to Wilkie.
Of course, he also said he wasn't going to confess to it. He figured he was
in the clear. I decided that he could get himself out of his own mess.
This can only end badly…
#--------------------
"Hey! Where are you off to so early?" Mom says, stopping me on my way out the
door.
"Out for a drive, and then to see a friend." I was going to see Bay. She had
sent me a text, asking me to come over. She wouldn't say why, though.
"You've been doing that a lot lately. You're hardly ever home anymore. I miss
seeing you," Mom complains.
Truth was, I didn't actually like being home anymore than I had to be. With
Dad in his new place and Mom hardly ever home, the house felt like a tomb. It
was just too quiet.
That thought made me laugh to myself. Me, a deaf guy, saying something was
too quiet. I'd been hanging out with Bay too long. She was rubbing off on me.
Not that I minded.
"Sorry Mom. I've had a lot going on lately." Should I tell her the truth,
that I was hanging out with a hearing girl, who happened to be her best friends
real daughter?
"I've noticed. You leave for school in the morning, and stay out till just
before your curfew. What are you doing all day?"
Deciding that a partial truth is okay, I go with, "I've been helping a friend
do research on some stuff, that's all."
"Who?" God, Mom! Enough with the 20 questions.
"I have to go, Mom! My friend is waiting for me," I tell her impatiently.
I'm not finished, Emmett!" Mom all but shouts at me.
"Later, I promise!" I tell her and run out the door.
Bay is waiting for me…..
#---------------------
Come on Emmett! I had sent a text to him over an hour ago, asking him to come
over. I had finally gotten a hit on Angelo, and I was dying to share it with
him. To kill time, I started practicing my signs again. I also had another
surprise for Emmett. I hope he likes it.
Finally, I hear his motorcycle pull up. So excited I can barely sit still, I
run outside to greet him. Before he can sign anything, I hold up my hands.
"Wait!"
As Emmett watched me expectantly, I say and sign, "I think I found my dad!" I
was very proud of myself. Emmett must have been too, because he got a huge smile
on his face. "Was that right?" I asked him.
Emmett signed back, "You found him?" so I guess I got it right. Emmett
continued to grin at me.
"Yeah," I said, grabbing his hand. I pulled him into my studio, to the chair
I had just vacated. Sitting back down with Emmett sitting on the arm of the
chair, I show him what I found. A website for "Angelo Sorrento" was on the
screen. Also on the website was a picture.
Emmett studied the picture for a moment. He then signed and mouthed, "He's a
DJ?"
"Yeah. And, right age. He works at a club near East Riverside. It's GOT to be
him!" I tell him excitedly. "And.." Pulling the laptop toward me, I put my face
next to the picture on the screen. "We look alike, right?" I ask with a grin.
Emmett makes a big show of studying me, then studying the picture, and back
again. I'm guessing he likes what he sees, because he waves his hands like he is
happy or excited and smiles widely again.
"You're acting excited. YAY for excited. Me too!"
Emmett signs what looks like, "Is he working" … but what is that last sign
again? I repeat it while he watches me. "Oh, I know that sign." Oh, right!
"Tonight?" It finally clicks. Emmett nods.
"Yeah, yeah. He's working tonight. The club opens at 9:00," I tell him.
"So, we'll go?" he signs, looking hopeful.
Apprehension starts to fill me. "Uh, tonight?" I ask, repeating the sign
again. He signs the sign for "motorcycle." "Yeah."
Oh, I get it. He wants us to go on his motorcycle to the club tonight. I
don't know which is making me more nervous, the club or the motorcycle again.
Reading the apprehension on my face, he signs, "What's wrong?"
Where do I start? This man, this DJ, could quite possibly be my
father. My real father. Biologically related to me on so many levels. I wanted
to meet him, but I was also scared as hell! What if I met him and he didn't like
me? What if I met him and he didn't give a shit one way or the other?
I had always felt out of place in my own family. Even after meeting Regina, I
still feel inadequate compared to Daphne. Perfect Daphne, who everybody fell
over backwards to get to know. Pretty Daphne, who blended into the family so
effortlessly, you had to wonder how she made it look so easy? Regina still
treated me like an outsider, while my family enveloped Daphne with open arms.
I want to find my father so badly. I want him to want me as his daughter.
But, will I be enough for him? Will he like that I'm artistic? A bit moody at
times? No matter what I do or how I act, I have no hope of even matching Daphne.
Why am I not enough for the people in my life who are suppose to love me? And
just how do I translate all of that to Emmett? Emmett seemed to at least care
about what happens to me. Sometimes, I feel like he is the only one who does.
Seeing that he is waiting for my answer, I start to ramble nervously. "So, do
I just walk in and say "Hey, I'm your daughter, but not the deaf one you
abandoned all those years ago?"
Realizing Emmett caught none of what I said, I slow down and try again. "I
mean, What am I suppose to say?" Saying and signing the next part, I tell him
matter of factly, "He's gonna think I'm crazy!"
Emmett shakes his head. "He will love you," I see him mouth and sign.
"You think?" I ask him, hope dancing in me again. Realizing I can learn a new
sign from him, I repeat the sign I saw him do for "love" and ask, "Is that the
sign for love?" He repeats it and mouths, "yes"
"Oh, how cute!" I say, still holding the sign. He also continues to hold his
as well.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Daphne walk in. OK! AWKWARD! This
is SO not what she thinks this is! Nothing happening! Honest! I can tell by the
look on her face, she is less than thrilled to see me using this particular
sign, especially with Emmett. "JUST FRIENDS!" I want to shout at her.
Ignoring me for the moment, Daphne focuses on Emmett. "I didn't know you were
coming over?" she says and signs. She sounded confused, but also a little
irritated.
When Daphne came in, Emmett had swiveled around so fast, I thought for sure
he would fall off the arm of the chair. Sure! Daphne comes in and forget all
about me! What else is new?
Hoping to stop an argument, but thinking also I might make it worst, I tell
her, "I asked him."
She looks confused again. "Asked him for what?"
To come over! Duh! Isn't that what we are talking about? Deciding that is not
the wisest thing to say to her, I instead go with the truth.
"You remember that picture you gave me of Regina in front of a car? Well, you
could see the license plate, and Emmett was helping me track down the owner."
She gets an, "Oh really… and why would he help you do that?" look on her
face. What is the big freaking deal! Emmett can have more that just her
as a friend!
Emmett starts signing to Daphne, but I don't know what he is telling her. I
don't want her to get mad at Emmett, though!
"It was an accident. We met at Buckner. I saw him." I notice that Emmett has
stopped signing. Was he telling her the same thing? Weird! "This is totally my
fault. If you're going to get mad at anybody, get mad at me!"
Of course she can't answer me! She signs to Emmett like it's a huge secret or
something. He starts to gesture again.
Before a war breaks out, I decide to distract her. Signing and speaking, I
tell her, "I think I found my dad."
Seeing the look on her face, I add, "If that matters at all? If you're
curious?" I turn the laptop so she can see the picture. "Does he look familiar?
Is that him?" I ask her.
"I have no idea!" she huffs, turning around and going back out the door.
Not wanting her to leave mad, I grab Emmett's arm. "Go talk to her!"
He looks back and forth a couple of times before he finally goes after her.
While he is outside with her, I can't help but think she isn't all too thrilled
Emmett is helping me. I go back to looking at the website again.
Minutes passed, and then Emmett came back inside my studio. Honestly, I
didn't think he would come back. I thought Daphne would talk him out of helping
me, and I would hear his motorcycle driving away. So, I was pleasantly surprised
that he came back.
He plopped down on my couch, pulling off his jacket in the process. Was he
planning to stay? All day?
As if nothing had happened with Daphne, he signed, "So, 9:00?"
"What about Daphne?" I have to know.
He shrugs. "She'll come around later. Just give her some time to cool off,"
he signs and mouths.
"So, she's coming with us tonight, then?"
"Probably," is his vague response.
Gesturing to his jacket, I ask him, "So, are you staying here for a while?"
He stretched out on the couch and stacked his hands behind his head. Guess
that's a yes, then.
"Ok, then." I pulled out a canvas. This is gonna be a long day.
#-------------------------
Pulling into the Kennish driveway, I look around, but don't see Bay. Must be
in her studio. Pulling up next to it, I see Bay inside, on her laptop.
Seeing me, she comes running outside. "Wait," she tells me, holding up her
hands. Curious, I watch her closely. To my pleasant surprise, she speaks and
signs, "I think I found my dad!" I was very proud of her. She had been studying!
"Was that right?" she asked me, seemingly proud of herself as well.
"You found him?" I ask her instead, grinning.
"Yeah," she says and grabs my hand, pulling me toward her studio. I'm not
gonna lie. I love the feel of her small hand wrapped around mine.
She pulls me to her chair in front of her laptop. She sat back down in the
seat, so I sat on the arm of the chair. I look at the screen in front of me. I
see Angelo Sorrento….a DJ?
"He's a DJ?" I sign and mouth for Bay.
"Yeah! And, right age. He works at a club near East Riverside. It's got to be
him!" She tells me excitedly.
Just as I got ready to ask her another question, she says, "And.." and pulls
the screen toward her face. "We look alike, right?" she asks me.
Studying the picture and Bay intently, I do see a few similarities. They
could be related, I suppose. I do the sign for "Clapping" and smile widely.
"You're acting excited. YAY for excited! Me too!" she says.
"Is he working tonight?" I ask her.
She looks confused by my signs for a second. "Oh, I know that sign," she
says, and repeats "tonight." Then the bulb clicks on. "Oh! Tonight?" I point,
"yes"
Continuing, she says, "Yeah, he's working tonight. The club opens at 9:00."
Perfect! "So, we'll go?" I sign and mouth, letting her know we can take my
motorcycle too.
"Tonight?" she signs again, looking apprehensive.
"Yeah. On my motorcycle." Seeing she still doesn't look okay, I ask, "What's
wrong?"
I shouldn't have asked. I've learned that when Bay gets nervous, she talks
fast. And boy, was she talking fast at the moment. I didn't catch a single word
she said until she finally slowed down, apparently realizing she had lost me
along the way.
"I mean, what am I suppose to say?" I start to answer her, when she signs and
speaks, "He's gonna think I'm crazy."
Nah, not her! Trying to alleviate her fears, I sign and mouth, "He will love
you!"
Bay finally smiles. "You think?"
Why does Bay find it so hard to believe someone could love her for just being
herself? She is funny, talented, spunky, pretty, and she has a great
personality. Who wouldn't love her? She is very lovable. How do I tell her that,
though? And, would she even believe me?
Before I can express any of my thoughts to her, Bay repeats the sign for
"love." "Is that the sign for "love,?" she asks.
Thinking how much I wish she was saying that to me right now, I repeat the
sign again and tell her, "yes."
"Oh, how cute!" she says. I can't help but enjoy this for a little bit. We
just stared at each other, holding the sign for "love."
We stayed like that until I saw Bay look to her right. Turning around, I see
Daphne in the doorway, and she looks pissed. I realize she saw what we were
signing. AWKWARD! What the hell is her problem now? I'm just teaching Bay more
sign, for heaven's sake! It's not like we were naked on the couch!
On second thought, better not think THAT thought!
"I didn't know you were coming over?" Daphne signs.
To me, it sounds accusatory because I didn't tell her something I was doing.
I'm not her personal property! I do have other friends besides her! What the
hell?
Realizing now is not the time to address this, I start to respond to her,
when I see Bay talking.
"I asked him," she says.
"Asked him for what?" Daphne asks.
To come over! Just what have we been talking about here?
Bay and I give each other a long look before she finally answers Daphne. "You
remember that picture you gave me of Regina in front of a car? Well, you could
see the license plate, and Emmett was helping me track down the owner."
She gets an, "Oh really… and why would he help you do that?" look on her
face. What is the big freaking deal!
"I ran into her at Buckner when I was waiting for you…"
"It was an accident. We met at Buckner. I saw him." I notice Bay speaking at
the same time so I stopped signing. "This is totally my fault. If you're going
to get mad at anybody, get mad at me!"
"I don't get it. You kept all this from me?" Daphne signs silently. Well
that's a little rude!
I start to answer her, when Bay tapped my arm. Looking down at her I see her
sign, "I think I found my dad," to Daphne. "If that matters at all? If you're
curious?" She turns the laptop so she can see the picture. "Does he look
familiar? Is that him?" she asked her.
"I have no idea!" she huffs, turning around and going back out the door.
Bay grabbed my arm. "Go talk to her!"
I was trying to decide whether I should stay with Bay, or run after Daphne.
Daphne was pissed. I could tell I wasn't going to like that conversation.
Finally, I got up to chase her.
Running outside, I grab her arm. "Don't follow me!" she signs angrily.
I grab her again. "STOP!"
"Why are you helping her?" Daphne wants to know. God, what is her freaking
problem!
"She wants to find him!" I tell her.
"But I don't want him found," she retorts.
"Come on, that's not fair! He's her dad!"
Daphne's jaw drops. Oh, boy! Here it comes…..
"I can't believe you're taking her side over mine! You just met her!"
Who's taking sides? Trying to stay calm, I tell her, "We're going to his club
tonight. You should come."
"We?" she says almost with a snarl on her face. I knew I wasn't going to like
this conversation. She continues with, "What's all this "we"? And why aren't you
LISTENING to me?"
Okay, now I'm a little pissed. I AM listening to her. I've listened to her
for 8 years. And now, when the opportunity is in front of her, she acts like
THIS?
"This has been bothering you your whole life! I'm trying to HELP you!" I tell
her angrily.
"Then let it go!" No! For Bay's sake, I won't!
"Daphne. You're smart. Beautiful. Happy. Let him see what he missed out on."
"I don't CARE enough to let him see…." she starts, but I cut her off.
"Yeah, you do! I think you owe it to yourself to look him in the eye, and say
everything you've wanted to say all these years." I can see her resolve
wavering.
"At least think about it," I ask her.
Daphne looks at me with a hurt look, before making her way up the stairs to
the guest house. Shaking my head, I head back to Bays' studio. When I walk in,
she is looking at her laptop again.
I plopped down on the couch, pulling off my jacket.
When she looked at me, I signed, "So, 9:00?"
"What about Daphne?" Bay wanted to know.
I shrugged. "She'll come around later. Just give her some time to cool off,"
I signed and mouthed.
"So, she's coming with us tonight, then?"
"Probably," is the best answer I can give her right now.
Gesturing to my jacket, she asks me, "So, are you staying here for a while?"
I stretched out on the couch and stacked my hands behind my head. Oh, yeah!
All day if I have to.
"Ok, then." Bay says, pulling out a canvas. This is gonna be a long day.
#-----------------------
I wonder what Emmett would say if I asked to paint him? He had been rambling
around my studio for the last couple hours, looking at all my paintings,
sculptures and such. A couple of times, he even asked me to explain the meaning
behind the particular item he was looking at. I told him slowly and signed very
little, but he got the gist of what I was telling him. Daphne was studiously
avoiding both of us. I had seen her come out of the guest house and go into the
main house a couple different times and go back again. I think she was checking
to see if Emmett was still here or if he had left. Why not just come to the door
again? Why try to be secretive about it?
Deciding to think about other things besides Daphne, I turned to Emmett and
waved to get his attention. My stomach had been growling for an hour now and I
was sure Emmett was probably also hungry.
"I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want anything?" I asked him
slowly, signing what I knew.
Emmett looked at me and mouthed, "Turkey sandwich?"
"Okay. Be back in a few," I told him, heading out the door. He turned back to
the painting he had been studying.
Heading across the driveway, I look up in time to see Daphne standing in the
window of the guest house. As soon as she saw me, though, she stepped away from
the window. WOOOHH! Stalker much! Making my way to the kitchen, I tossed a
couple of sandwiches together and grabbed a couple sodas from the fridge. When I
went back outside, I didn't see her in the window again. Why is she so concerned
about what Emmett does? Or, maybe its me she has a problem with? Maybe she
thinks I'm trying to steal Emmett away from her or something. Whatever the case
may be, I wasn't going to worry about her right now.
Emmett was standing in the same spot I left him in, so I stomped on the floor
to get his attention. He turned around and quickly came over to relieve me of
the sandwiches. We sat on the couch, munching our lunch.
"This is good," he mouthed between bites.
"Yeah, well, even I can make simple stuff once in a while," I told him,
trying to jump over the compliment. Usually, I didn't like them, unless someone
was talking about my art. With Emmett, however, I actually enjoyed when he would
compliment me. I actually looked forward to it. What was wrong with me?
#-------------------------
For the last couple hours, I had been walking around Bay's studio, looking at
her paintings. She had a real talent. I even asked her to explain what some of
them meant. She told me, signing what she knew. She was getting good at ASL. I
wondered what she would say if I asked her to paint something for me?
I had also been watching her. I enjoyed the opportunity to study her when she
was distracted. She was so cute with little paint streaks on her hands and face.
She was one of a kind.
I saw her waving at me. ""I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want
anything?" She asked, signing what she knew.
"Turkey sandwich?" I mouthed back.
"Okay. Be back in a few," She told me, heading out the door. I turned back to
the painting I had been studying. When I was sure she was out of sight, I headed
to the garage door. I looked out just in time to see Daphne step back from the
window she had been looking out of. Is she stalking us now? Wondering why I
haven't left yet? Not that it is any of her business. Her smothering ways were
starting to wear on me a bit. Before Bay came into my life, it never bothered me
before. I was a little ashamed to admit, even to myself, that since Bay and I
started getting closer, I had started distancing myself from Daphne. I was
starting to realize that Bay had somehow become more important to me. It was a
little scary how important she was becoming to me in so short a time. Given the
choice, I would rather spend time with Bay now. I think Daphne had picked up on
that fact. So far, however, she hadn't said anything. It was only a matter of
time though. Realizing Bay was coming back out of the house, I quickly ran back
over to the painting I had been looking at. A minute later, I felt the floor
vibrate. Bay was stomping the floor to alert me of her presence. Fighting a
grin, I turned around.
Seeing that she had her hands full with the sandwiches and sodas, I rushed to
grab the sandwiches from her. We sat on the couch, eating in silence. Well,
silent in as neither of us was signing anything at the moment. Hhhhmmmm, this
sandwich isn't half bad.
"This is good," I mouthed to her between bites.
Bay blushed a little. I don't know why, but seeing her blush is such a
turn-on to me.
"Yeah, well, even I can make simple stuff once in a while," she told me. I've
gotten the impression she is not big on compliments. When I compliment her,
though, she seems to enjoy it. Almost as if she's waiting for it.
I wonder…
#---------------------
Having nothing better to do, and the fact that I had gotten bored painting, I
turned on the tape that Emmett and I found in the briefcase. I had actually been
listening to it since the night we found it in Emmett's garage. The songs on the
tape were actually pretty cool. Angelo had some awesome taste in music.
Emmett was studying yet another of my paintings, the newest one I had started
working on. It was actually going to be one about ASL. I already had one of the
signs on the canvas. Emmett turned around as I approached him.
"What if Regina's right? What if he is a jackass?" I asked him, signing
Regina's name sign. I was getting nervous the closer it got to 9:00. Emmett and
I agreed that we should get there a little before the club opened. That way, I
would have time to talk to Angelo with no interruptions.
Emmett smiled at me indulgently. "What if he's amazing?" he signed back.
Truth was, I wasn't so sure meeting Angelo was going to be a great idea. I
mean, Regina told me flat out that this was a guy who took off when Daphne was
little, and never showed up again. Why would knowing that I'm his daughter make
him want to stick around?
"How much longer do we have to wait for Daphne?" I used Daphne's name sign as
well. Ever since I had seen her watching us earlier, I didn't really want her to
come along. But, Emmett seemed to think she would come. Out of curiosity if
nothing else, he had told me earlier. I hoped he was right. My biggest concern
was that she would try to get him on her side, just like what had happened with
everyone else that I knew.
He pinched his fingers together, like he was telling me, "A little longer."
Well, how much longer did she need to make up her mind? It's not like a life or
death decision here.
"You really think she's coming?" I asked, signing almost all of it. I could
tell that Emmett was proud that I was picking up ASL so fast. Some things I got
faster than others. Simple stuff was easy. If he signed slow enough, I could get
almost everything. I still had to read his lips though.
Yeah. She'll be here," he mouthed back to me.
Great, the suspense is killing me here! Looking around my studio again, I try
to figure out what else I can do to kill time. Just then, Emmett walked over to
the CD player. I watched him, curious. Placing his hand on the speaker, he
starts moving his leg to the beat. OH! I remembered Daphne telling me if music
was loud enough, that a deaf person could feel the beat. Emmett was feeling the
beat with his hand so he could follow the song that was playing! I have to
admit, it's pretty cool how they do that.
Walking into his line of vision, I touch his arm. When he looked at me, I
told him, "It's the tape that we found with Regina's stuff." I signed we, found,
and Regina. He nodded and smiled to indicate he understood me. "It's kind of
groovy, right?" Emmett smiled again.
Since he couldn't hear the music, I decided to tell him about what was
happening in the song. "Those are animal noises." I playfully growled like a
lion or tiger. Emmett smiled wider. "Birds." I cawed like a bird.
Emmett turned up the music quite loud and started moving even faster to the
beat. I got it. Now he'd be able to feel the beat through the floor. Moving away
from the speaker, he did a few cool dance moves and spun around. I did a few
moves of my own. "That's right. Get down!"
Then, he surprised me. Grabbing my hand, he spun me around and we started
dancing. Nothing fancy, just moving our bodies and feet in the same motion. When
he spun me again, I placed my one hand on his shoulder to actually fast dance
with him. I noticed ever time he would spin me, he would pull me a little
closer. Not that I was complaining. I loved being in his arms.
We were so engrossed in each other, I didn't notice Regina standing in the
doorway till Emmett spun me around again. Stopping quickly, I stared at Regina.
Emmett stopped as well. Oh, god! What would she say about this?
"No, no, no. Don't stop! I love this song. I used to dance to it too." She
spoke for my benefit and signed for Emmett's. Really! I wonder if she suspects
anything?
Seeing that we weren't moving, Regina said and signed, "No, no, no. Keep
dancing! Please. I'll go." Picking up her bags, she turned around again. "Bye."
Okay! That was…interesting. Looking at Emmett, I see his face mirrors my
thoughts. Then he shrugged. Well, she wanted us to dance! Emmett clearly had the
same thought as me, because he grabbed my hands and we started dancing again,
closer than we had been before.
#--------------------------------
Bay was wandering around her studio, clearly at a loss for something to do. I
think she was getting bored with all the waiting. Truth be told, I was getting
bored too. I wished Daphne would hurry up and make up her mind already! God, she
can be so stubborn sometimes.
I saw Bay turn on her CD player. Coming over to me, she said, "What if
Regina's right? What if he is a jackass?" signing Regina's name sign. I could
tell she was getting nervous the closer it got to 9:00. We had agreed that we
should get there a little before the club opened. That way, she would have time
to talk to Angelo with no interruptions.
I smiled indulgently. "What if he's amazing?" I signed back. She raised her
eyebrows like "We'll see."
"How much longer do we have to wait for Daphne?" She used Daphne's name sign.
I had told Bay earlier that Daphne would come out of curiosity if nothing else.
I hoped I was right. I pinched my fingers together, "Just a little bit more."
"You really think she's coming?" she asked, signing almost all of it. I was
proud that she was picking up ASL so fast. Some things she definitely got faster
than others. If I signed slow enough, she got pretty much everything I was
telling her. She still had to read my lips though.
Yeah. She'll be here," I mouthed back to her. I was fairly confident, anyway.
I decided to see what she had playing on the CD player. Not that I could hear
it, but I could get the beat anyway. Placing my hand on the speaker, I started
moving my leg to the beat. It was a fast song. The beat was kind of fast. It
would be cool to know what the song sounded like. I didn't tell anyone this, but
sometimes, I did miss the fact that I couldn't hear music. I loved music.
I felt a touch on my arm. Bay told me, "It's the tape that we found with
Regina's stuff." She signed we, found, and Regina. I nodded and smiled so she
knew I understood her. "It's kind of groovy, right?" Yeah, it is pretty groovy.
I smiled again.
What Bay did next delighted me beyond words. She said, "Those are animal
noises," and then she playfully growled like a lion or tiger. I couldn't help
it. I smiled wider. "Birds." She cawed like a bird. That she would do that was
something that I still had a hard time comprehending. Why would a hearing girl
care enough to tell me what was happening in a song? Did she know how much I
wished I could hear the music?
I decided to show her my dance moves, just to show off a little bit. I turned
up the music quite loud and started moving even faster to the beat. Moving away
from the speaker, I did a few cool dance moves and spun around. Bay did a few
moves of her own. "That's right. Get down!" she told me.
Then, I surprised her. Grabbing her hand, I spun her around and we started
dancing. I loved having her in my arms. We just fit together so well. When I
spun her again, she placed one hand on my shoulder. I placed one hand on her
waist. Every time I spun her around, I pulled her in, just a little bit closer.
I wondered if she could feel how hard my heart was pounding? God, she felt good
in my arms.
We were so engrossed in each other, I didn't notice Regina standing in the
doorway till Bay stopped dancing. Following her line of vision, I stopped as
well and stared at Regina. What would she say about this? Would she tell Daphne?
"No, no, no. Don't stop! I love this song. I used to dance to it too." She
spoke for Bay's benefit and signed for mine. I wonder if she suspects anything
going on between Bay and I?
Seeing that we weren't moving, Regina said and signed, "No, no, no. Keep
dancing! Please. I'll go." Picking up her bags, she turned around again. "Bye."
Okay! That was…interesting. Looking at Bay, I see her face mirrors my
thoughts. Then I shrugged. Well, she wanted us to dance! Bay must have had the
same thought as me, because when I grabbed her hands and we started dancing
again, closer than we had been before, she didn't complain.
#-----------
Having finally given up on Daphne showing up to go to the club, Emmett and I
got ready to leave. It was now 7:45 at night and Emmett had been at my house all
afternoon. I must say it was an interesting experience. Just hanging out, the
two of us. I really enjoyed it and I think Emmett did too.
"Make sure you have a warm jacket. Don't want you to get cold." Emmett
reminded me.
"Okay," I signed back. That was one of the easiest signs I could remember. I
was so nervous now, my mind was starting to blank out.
Emmett must have sensed my nerves or something, because he grabbed my hand
and pulled me toward him. My eyes widened. What was he doing? Gently, he rubbed
my hand in his. "Relax," he mouthed.
Easy for him to say. I felt like I was starting to sweat bullets over here.
Letting go of my hand, Emmett placed his hands on my cheeks. Looking me in the
eye, he mouthed, "Remember, he will LOVE you."
"Yes, okay. Lets go before I chicken out," I replied. Emmett smiled and
chuckled silently.
We made our way out to his bike. Emmett straddled it, getting it ready. As I
was getting ready to put on my helmet, I heard the door of the guest house open.
Well, it's about freaking time! I tapped Emmett a couple of times to get
his attention. By now, Daphne was almost in front of us. Emmett looked at me and
followed my hand that was pointing at Daphne.
"Okay," Daphne signed and said when she was right in front of us.
"Okay, what?" I replied. I was NOT making this easy for her.
"Okay, I wanna go."
Emmett and I shared a knowing look. He smiled like "I told you so."
"So, what's his name?" Daphne asked. Really?
"Angelo Sorrento," I told her with a smile on my face. At the look on her
face, I make a quick realization. "You really didn't know his name?"
Daphne shook her head. "I can't promise to be nice to him."
Not a problem there. "Oh, that is okay with me," I readily agreed.
"So, how are we getting there?" she asked. Uh…..
Looking at Emmett, I ask jokingly, "You have a sidecar so we can fit in a
third?"
Emmett clearly didn't know what I was talking about. He signed what looked
like, "What?"
Daphne also looked a little unsure. "You want me to interpret that?" she
asked me skeptically.
Okay, then. That went well. "Why make a joke die twice? No!"
Daphne just nodded and gave me a weird smile.
Looking at Emmett again, I said, "You know what? We'll take Toby's car."
Emmett signed, "Do you want me to drive?"
Did I? If he drove, I could watch him unhindered. But then, Daphne would
notice. No, better not.
"No, I'll drive," I said, signing "drive"
Emmett did another sign I didn't know. Huh? Looking at Daphne, I asked, "What
did he say?"
"He's calling shotgun," she responded. OH! That's what that sign meant. Duh!
Emmett just shrugged and got off his bike. We got in Toby's car and headed to
the club. God, I'm so nervous. I hope this goes well.
#----------------------
Having finally given up on Daphne, we got ready to leave. I had been at Bay's
house all afternoon. Well, technically, we were in her studio. It was an
interesting experience. Just hanging out, the two of us. I really enjoyed it and
I think Bay did too.
"Make sure you have a warm jacket. Don't want you to get cold." I told her.
"Okay," she signed back. I could tells her nerves were starting to get to
her. Grabbing her hand, I pulled her toward me. Her eyes widened. Gently, I
rubbed her hand in mine. "Relax," I mouthed.
Seeing that this was not calming her down, I tried another approach. Letting
go of her hand, I placed my hands on her cheeks. Looking her straight in the
eye, I mouthed, "Remember, he will LOVE you."
"Yes, okay. Lets go before I chicken out," she replied. I couldn't help but
smile and chuckle silently.
We headed out to my bike. I got on, getting it ready. Bay was getting ready
to get on as well, when I felt her tap my arm a couple times. I looked at her
and followed her hand. She was pointing at Daphne. About freaking time!
"Okay," Daphne signed and said when she was in front of us.
"Okay, what?" Bay responded.
"Okay, I wanna go."
Bay and I shared a knowing look. I smiled at her. "I told you so."
"So, what's his name?" Daphne asked. Regina never told her that?
"Angelo Sorrento," Bay said with a smile. Daphne looked unsure now. "You
really didn't know his name?" Bay guessed.
Daphne shook her head. "I can't promise to be nice to him."
"Oh, that is okay with me," Bay agreed.
"So, how are we getting there?" she asked. Good question.
Looking at me, Bay said something longish. I have no idea what she actually
said. All I got was something about a "Sidecar" and "a third."
I asked Bay, "What was that?"
Daphne looked unsure. "You want me to interpret that?" she asked her with
skepticism clearly on her face.
"Why make a joke die twice? No!" All right then.
Daphne just nodded and gave her a strange looking smile.
Looking at me again, Bay said, "You know what? We'll take Toby's car."
I signed, "Do you want me to drive?" Please say no!
"No, I'll drive," she said, signing "drive." Good, now I can look at her with
no interruptions.
I called shotgun. Bay must not have understood that because she asked Daphne,
"What did he say?"
"He's calling shotgun," she responded. I thought everyone knew THAT one.
I just shrugged and got off the bike. We all got in Toby's car and headed to
the club. Bay looks so nervous. I hope this goes well.
#-------------------
On the drive over, I tried to keep my eyes glued to the road. I could feel
Emmett's eyes on me the whole time. As we got closer to East Riverside, I
started sweating. All the insecurities were coming up again in my head. Was he
going to like me? Would he recognize Daphne and claim her instead of me? Would I
be enough for him as a daughter? Would he want me?
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Emmett signing to Daphne. Since he
didn't talk and she wasn't talking, I couldn't look to see what
was being said. Daphne was probably complaining about being in the backseat.
Emmett called shotgun. Was I suppose to say No! I mean, come on, I would much
rather have Emmett in the front seat with me than Daphne. Even without talking,
Emmett could calm me down like no one else. All he had to do was smile.
Chancing a glance in his direction at the red light, I see he is in a heated
discussion with Daphne. His signing is quick and edgy, a clear indicator he is
pissed off. What in the world is he riled up about? Whatever Daphne said to him,
he obviously didn't like it. Abruptly, Emmett turned toward me. He signs to
Daphne.
"Emmett said, "Tell Bay we should move the car before a cop comes. We don't
need a ticket." Daphne told me smugly.
It was then that I became aware of all the honking horns behind us. OH, GOD!
Was I staring at him this whole time? I could feel the heat rising to my face. I
wanted to crawl under the seat and die! Quickly, I moved forward. Emmett signed
again to Daphne.
"Emmett said, "Do you want me to drive so you can relax?" Daphne said with a
bit of…anger?
I shook my head. He must think I'm a freak now!
When I finally saw the club ahead, I did what any sane person would do….I
drove around the block again. I could feel both Emmett and Daphne watching me.
What? I'm nervous! Now was the time I really wished they could hear me.
After circling the block for the…15th time? I heard Daphne say, "Uh, Bay? We
know you're nervous, but, uh, we're gonna run out of gas soon if you don't stop
circling around the block."
Okay! The next time the club came into view, I pulled into the parking lot. I
heard both Emmett and Daphne heave a sigh of relief. Well, really!
#-----------------
I knew Bay was trying to focus on the road so her nerves stayed in check.
However, the closer we got to East Riverside, the more she started fidgeting in
her seat. I knew her insecurities were creeping up again. She would do fine, I
was sure. She just had to RELAX.
Daphne tapped my shoulder. Turning around in the seat, I said, "What?"
"Why did you call shotgun?" She said back.
"Because, I wanted to sit up front." Why else would I call shotgun?
"With Bay?" Daphne said accusingly. Like it's her business.
"No, because I like sitting in the front seat of a car!"
"So, the fact that Bay is also in the front, makes no never mind to you?"
Daphne said almost sneering.
"Why is this such a big freaking deal to you? Do you want to sit in the front
or something? Is that it?" I asked her, starting to get pissed now.
"It's a big deal because you two have already been hanging out all day and
now when I finally get the chance to talk to you, It's STILL about Bay!" She
almost shouted at me.
What the hell? Was Daphne….jealous? Just because I have been hanging out with
Bay, does Daphne really think I'm replacing her or something?
"You are the one that started this conversation, NOT ME!" I responded.
"Because you barely talk to me anymore! You haven't come around the house as
much and I hardly see you at school now. I miss you!" Daphne said, deflating a
little bit.
"Grow up, Daphne! We can all be friends. We did all learn how to share."
Damn it! I knew she would notice that eventually. I just didn't figure she
would bring it up in front of Bay. Looking over at Bay, I see her staring at me.
Shit! How much of our conversation did she catch?
Glancing out the rear window, I couldn't help noticing the line of cars
behind us. Some people were even flashing headlights at us. How long had we been
sitting here? Turning to Daphne, I told her, "Tell Bay we should move the car
before a cop comes. We don't need a ticket." I then looked back at Bay.
Daphne translated what I said to Bay. Her face turned beet red. Huh? That
shouldn't have embarrassed her. Quickly, she drove forward.
Turning to Daphne again, I said, "Ask Bay if she wants me to drive so she can
relax?"
Daphne again translated. Bay shook her head quickly. Okay, then.
When we finally saw the club ahead, I was anticipating pulling into the
driveway and getting out of the vehicle. No such luck there! Bay drove right by
the damn club! What the hell is the matter? I turned to stare at her. Now was
the time I really wished I talked.
After circling the block for the…15th time? I saw Daphne say, "Uh, Bay? We
know you're nervous, but, uh, we're gonna run out of gas soon if you don't stop
circling around the block."
At least one of us said it! The next time the club came into view, She pulled
into the parking lot. I heaved a sigh of relief. Well, finally!
#----------------------
By the time we finally pulled into the club, I was shaking. Emmett reached
across and patted my hand. Trying to calm me down, I'm sure. Daphne was
chattering in the back seat, but I tuned her out. I needed to stay focused or I
was sure I would be sick.
"Bay? Bay? BAY!" I heard Daphne say. Shit! How long had she been trying to
get my attention?
Turning around, I said, "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
Daphne rolled her eyes. "I said, Are we going in or are we sitting in the car
all night?"
"Oh, right. Yeah. Let's go," I said to her. She translated to Emmett as I was
talking. He nodded and opened his door.
"Oh, good thing we skipped dinner, cause it would be coming up about now!" I
said, as we rounded the car.
Daphne said and signed, "Are you nervous?" Well, DUH! That's why I drove
around the block 15 times!
Acting calmer than I felt, I said, "Aren't you?"
"No, not really," she replied. Must be nice!
I saw a sign for "Latin Heat" on Thursday nights and told Daphne she should
tell her grandma. She just rolled her eyes. Making our way to the back door,
Daphne asked, "So, how do we get in?" Good question.
"We could try the door," I answered with a grin. Good answer!
Of course the door is locked! Why should this be easy! Okay, then. I knocked
on the door and waited. "And….." Daphne said. A moment later, a lady came to the
door. Taking in the three of us, obviously still in high school, she says,
"Yeah?" rather drolly.
Trying to sound as hip as I can, I give her a huge smile and say, "Hello
cool, sexy bar lady!"
Scoffing, she says, "We're not open right now," and tried to slam the door in
our faces. "Oh, uh wait!" I said.
Emmett grabbed the door and came forward. Now what was he going to do?
Watching him curiously, he does a lot of sign to the woman. All I caught was,
"Do, you, me, and hands." Alrighty then.
The woman's jaw dropped. Looking between all of us, she says, "What? What is
he saying?"
Emmett, who had been looking at me, was apparently waiting for me to answer
her.
I told her honestly, "I'm not exactly sure."
Emmett took this as a sign that she did not know ASL and started throwing a
BUNCH of sign at her. Forget it! I'm not even gonna try to keep up with him this
time. Too much info for the brain to process!
By the time he was done, the woman was VERY agitated. You could practically
see the steam rising off of her head. Emmett just nodded at me and gave me a
look like, "Go on, tell her." Yeah, right! I have NO idea WHAT he just said.
Finally realizing time is wasting, I say the first thing that pops into my
head. "He left his retainer here last week." God, that sounded so stupid. Would
she buy that?
Apparently realizing we weren't leaving and probably thinking we were all
crazy besides, she said, "Lost and found is in the coat check."
Oh my god, she actually bought that? Wow, I'm a better liar than I thought!
"Did you just say, "He left his retainer?" Daphne asked me incredulously.
"I'm nervous, okay!" I retorted.
We followed her to the coat check room. She pulled out a huge box and placed
it in front of Emmett. "Here. If you don't find it, I've got three more boxes
back there," she told us.
Emmett gamely dove into the box, looking for his "retainer" among the items
strewn about inside. When he looked good and occupied, I asked if I could use
the restroom. The lady said it was through the bar. Then I asked if my friend
could come along. She said she really didn't care. So we took off, leaving
Emmett to pillage.
#-----------------------
By the time we FINALLY pulled in to the parking lot, Bay was so nervous she
was shaking. Reaching across the seat, I patted her hand. I could see Daphne out
of the corner of my eye. She was talking in the back seat, but I wasn't looking
at her lips and she wasn't signing anything.
"Bay? Bay? BAY!" I saw Daphne sign and say. Shit! How long had she been
trying to get her attention?
Turning around, I saw Bay say, "I'm sorry. What did you say?"
Daphne rolled her eyes. Signing and speaking, she said, "I said, Are we going
in, or are we sitting in the car all night?"
"Oh, right. Yeah. Let's go," was Bay's response. Daphne translated to me as
Bay was talking. I did see what she said, but I nodded and opened my door.
As we walked around the car, I saw Bay say something about "dinner" and
"coming up." Was she going to get sick? I hope not. I'm not cleaning it up!
Daphne said and signed, "Are you nervous?" Well, DUH! Pretty sure that's why
she drove around the block 15 times!
Looking calmer than I'm sure she felt, Bay said, "Aren't you?"
"No, not really," she replied. I almost laughed at the look on Bay's face.
Making our way to the back door, Daphne asked, "So, how do we get in?" Yeah,
how?
"We could try the door," Bay answered with a grin. Good answer!
Of course the door is locked. Bay knocked on the door and waited. A moment
later, a lady came to the door. Taking in the three of us, she says, "Yeah?"
rather drolly.
Bay plants a huge smile on her face and says, "Hello cool, sexy bar lady!"
Yeah, that'll get us in the door.
Scoffing, she says, "We're not open right now," and tried to slam the door in
our faces. Okay, my turn. Grabbing the door, I came forward. The woman eyeballed
me suspiciously. Time for a pro.
"Do you understand me when I do this with my hands?" I said all in sign,
without mouthing the words. The woman's jaw dropped. Looking between all of us,
she says, "What? What is he saying?" I looked at Bay, waiting for her to answer
her.
Eyeing me curiously, she told the lady, "I'm not exactly sure." Let the
fun begin!
"So, I'm just going to keep nodding to her and signing really fast…and
throwing out random words like… baseball…grapefruit…tiger….rice
pudding…..because hearing people always get really uncomfortable and give me
what I want….just so I'll go away!" Take that!
By the time I was done, the woman was VERY agitated. You could practically
see steam rolling off of her. I just nodded at Bay and gave her a look like, "Go
on, tell her."
I see the gears working in her head. Finally, she tells the woman, "He left
his retainer here last week." My RETAINER! That is the best she could come up
with? Yeah, she'll believe that, I'm sure.
Apparently realizing we weren't going anywhere and probably thinking we were
all nuts anyway, she said, "Lost and found is in the coat check."
Oh my god, she actually bought that? Wow!
We followed her to the coat check room. She pulled out a huge box and placed
it in front of me. Diving into the box, the first thing I pull out is a pink and
orange striped bra. Now THAT is freaking HOT! YOOZA! Down, boy hormones! Before
I can get myself in trouble, I rifled through some other paraphernalia. Bay and
Daphne took off, presumably to find Angelo. Okay, lets see what else is in here.
Pins….sunglasses…..keychain….feathers…FEATHERS?
Not finding my "retainer" I shook my head at the woman. She pulled up another
box. Okay, then. Box 2. Let's see….more pins…a brochure that said, "Saving your
heathen soul." Okay, then. I keep digging. Makeup
bag….wig….stilettos…hmmm, wonder if Bay would wear those? Another key
ring….a whip… A WHIP?
Realizing something is off about this place, I start to look around. Gay
pride week posters line the side wall. Gay pride? Oh my god! This is a freaking
GAY BAR! How did we not notice that coming in?
I was starting to realize that this "Angelo Sorrento" that Bay thought was
her father, well…wasn't straight. Oh boy! This is going to be interesting!
#-------------------------
As we made our way onto the dance floor, I looked around. Angelo was nowhere
in sight. Daphne came up behind me. Looking at her, I said, "I don't see him. Do
you?"
Daphne looked to her left. "Over there," she said, nodding toward the stage.
Looking up, I finally see Angelo. Okay, Bay! Breathe. You can do this. Remember
what Emmett said. He will love you. But, I better double check to be sure.
"Is that him?" I asked Daphne.
"I don't know. Is it?" So not the answer I was hoping for here.
"You've met him," I said rather stupidly.
"I was 2!" Daphne replied, as if saying "Duh!" Well, great.
"So, what do we do now?" I hope she has a better plan than I do at this
point.
"Go talk to him," she said quickly. Easy for her to say.
Suddenly, my nerves got the better of me. Realizing I may not like how this
all turns out, I backpedal.
"This is stupid. We should probably just go," I told Daphne, trying to
retreat.
Of course, Daphne will have none of that. "What are you talking about? Just
go talk to him!"
"I….can't!" What if I screw this up so badly, he wants nothing to do with me?
"Will you do it?" I ask Daphne desperately. Finally, she walks toward him. Oh,
good. Now we'll see if he is my father.
Boy was I wrong to let Daphne handle it!
Daphne started out simply enough. But, years of pain and frustration came out
at such the wrong time. She asked him if he remembered Regina or her. He acted
like he didn't. Then, she just got on a roll. Poor Angelo didn't know what hit
him. She went on and on about him leaving, and how she always wondered about
him. About the time she said he had a problem, I decided to step in. Note to
self: Never let Daphne have any more dealings with my father.
"Hi. I'm Bay Kennish," I told him.
"Don't bother. This guy's an ass!" Daphne said angrily. Okay, then. This is
going well.
"Sorry. She has an axe to grind with you for obvious reasons."
"He doesn't remember our mother," Daphne said point blank.
Had I known this was going to go this way, I would have left Daphne home. She
is so not ready to confront Angelo.
"You don't remember Regina?" How is THAT possible?
Angelo finally stepped down off the stage. Oh, boy. What's gonna happen now?
"Okay. I don't know who that is, and I have no idea who you are," Angelo told
us. Wha…..?
"Look at me. Think! I know it was a long time ago, but, big clue…I'm deaf."
Daphne said, tears brimming in her eyes. Wait a second…..
"And, I'm looking for my father. I'm not here to yell at you or blame you for
anything. I just wanted to meet you, so I could say I've met you, and you've met
me!"
"I still don't understand?" Angelo told us honestly.
"There was a mistake at the hospital. Daphne's the one that you left. I'm
your real daughter." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Daphne's eyes narrow.
What? It's the truth!
Suddenly, it all clicked for Angelo. He chuckled. Chuckled? I tell him I'm
his real daughter, and he chuckles? Is he insane?
"Girls, I'm sorry. But, I'm not anyone's father." Huh?
"But, you're Angelo Sorrento?" I ask him, almost as a question.
"I am," he confirmed. "I'm also gay."
Gay? My father…..I mean, this Angelo is gay? But, he HAS to be my father!
"I have known since I was 5," he continued. "I have never slept with a woman.
If you were my daughter, It would be the immaculate conception." Really?
I start grasping at straws. "Ever donate sperm?"
He tells us that no, he hasn't. "But, we look alike!" I tell him. He says he
is very flattered thinking that he could be responsible for someone as beautiful
as Daphne and I. He also told us that he is very sorry that he isn't the man we
are looking for. But, he also says that he hopes we do find him.
"Thanks," Daphne said.
As we walked off the floor, I saw Emmett standing there, waiting. Not wanting
to think anymore, I wrapped my arms around him. He returned the hug. Pulling
away, he mouthed, "Are you two okay?"
Daphne signed something, but I wasn't paying attention. I just wanted to get
away from there. I wanted to forget everything that has happened tonight.
"Can you drive, please?" I asked Emmett. He nodded. I handed him the keys. He
put his arm around my shoulder and we walked out the door to the parking lot.
#--------------------------
2 boxes later, I still hadn't found my "retainer." I HAD however found more
stuff that I wanted to forget about ever seeing. I had found more pins and
brochures and other items that I didn't even WANT to think about, let alone put
my hands on…YUCK! I so need to wash my hands!
Shaking my head at the woman, (who had been hovering the whole time mind you)
I mimed "restroom?" at her. She thumbed toward where the girls had gone out.
Okay. Heading to the men's room, I scrubbed my hands till they were raw.
UGGGGHHH! If I ever see any of that….stuff again, I may just have to burn my eye
sockets out.
After disinfecting my hands for the 4th? Time, I walked to the edge of the
dance floor. Daphne and Bay each had shocked looks on their faces. Guess they
found out he's gay. Angelo talked to them for a minute. Being so far away, I
can't make out what he is saying. Guessing it's not what they were hoping to
hear.
Finally, Bay and Daphne make their way toward me. Bay looks like she got hit
by a bus. Daphne just has a bewildered look on her face. As soon as Bay got
close enough to me, she threw her arms around me. Okay, then. I am a little
shocked that she is hugging me in front of Daphne, but, I'm not going to push
her away. I returned her hug as Daphne got a shocked look on her face. Oh, boy.
Wonder how long before I hear about this?
Pulling back, I looked at Bay, mouthing, "Are you two okay?"
Bay didn't respond, but Daphne did. "He wasn't our father. He's gay." Kind of
already knew that, but I was hoping I was wrong too.
"Can you drive, please?" Bay asked me. I could tell she was a little in shock
at all that had happened. I nodded and she handed me the keys. Putting my arm
around her shoulder, I lead her out the door to the parking lot. Daphne was
shooting me strange looks, but I ignored them. Bay needed me.
#-----------------------
The drive was quiet. No music playing, no talking(not that there would be).
Daphne had been strangely silent since we left the bar. After we got in, Emmett
suggested we stop to get something to eat. I was in no hurry to get home, so I
agreed, as did Daphne. We found a diner that was open 24 hours and went inside.
Emmett and Daphne took one side of the table and I took the other. Actually, I
didn't mind that so much because I could look at Emmett.
The waitress came to take our orders. It was easier for Emmett this time
because Daphne was here to interpret what he wanted. I'll be honest, it was
probably the only time I was happy to have Daphne around. It's not that I
wouldn't have tried to interpret for him if needed, because I would have. It's
just the thought of it set my stomach on edge and made me nauseous, I was so
afraid I'd screw up. What if I did screw up? Would he then decide that being
friends with a hearing girl was just to much trouble? I couldn't face that fact,
not when someone was finally starting to accept me and want me...even if we were
only friends. I know I can't compete with Daphne.
After she brought back our food, we dug in and started talking about the bar.
"I can't believe that wasn't him. Shouldn't I have known or something?" I
said, a bit bewildered.
"Our first clue should have been that it was a gay bar!" Daphne said, trying
to be funny.
"Seriously! Everyone in there was gay?" I couldn't help but wonder.
"Pretty much," Emmett signed and mouthed. Well okay, then.
"Wow! I have NO gaydar!" Now, I felt really stupid. Of course, Daphne gets a
chuckle out of that. I didn't look at Emmett, but I'm sure he thought it was
funny too.
"I'm sorry I dragged you both into this." I told them sincerely.
"No! I'm happy I came. I needed to say all that, and hopefully, one day, I'll
get to say it to the right guy." Daphne said and signed. Emmett just nodded.
"I can't do this again! I think I'm done looking," I told her, feeling a
little defeated.
"You can't give up! There can't be that many Angelo Sorrento's in the world."
Really! I had to practically drag you into this and now you are pushing me to
keep going? Weird!
"What about the guitar case?" Emmett signed. Boy, I'm glad he taught me that!
"What "guitar case?" Daphne signed back.
Showing off a little, I signed perfectly, "The guitar case you and Emmett
found when you were little."
Daphne got a surprised look on her face that I could sign all that. Emmett
just smiled.
"How do you know about that?" she asked suspiciously. Uh-oh!
Fortunately, Emmett stepped up and told Daphne, "I told her." Daphne's jaw
dropped a little.
"He thinks it's Angelo's," I said, trying to take some of the pressure off of
Emmett.
"It's not!" Daphne replied, sounding agitated.
I told her about finding the guitar pick in the car and pulled it out to show
her. Daphne's face now looked like a thunderstorm.
"You found his car?" She signed and spoke sharply. Shit!
"In a junkyard."
"When?" was her sharp reply. That answers the question of if Emmett told her
or not.
"A few days ago," I said, wanting to hide in the corner of the booth. Emmett
had a similar look on his face.
Daphne stared at Emmett. He signed something to her, but I didn't catch all
of it. I got you, how, mom, and guitar case. Okay.
"It wasn't that big of a deal! She didn't like us going through her stuff!"
was her angry reply.
"Okay, well. What do you think is in the guitar case?" I asked her
impatiently. Don't yell at Emmett!
"I have no idea."
"You've never even looked in it?"
"NO!" Well, alright.
"Could we look in your house?" I need to know what is in that case!
Daphne looked between Emmett and I. "I thought you were done." I thought I
was.
Grabbing my drink, I sipped on it and stared out the window. I noticed Emmett
do the same thing.
So, he's not ready to give up either! Excellent!
#--------------------------------
The car ride was quiet. Not that it wouldn't be anyway. Can't sign and drive.
I had asked the girls if they wanted to find someplace to eat when we first got
in the car. Both of them agreed. I found a diner that was open 24 hours and
pulled in. Bay had been staring out the window since we left the club. I knew
she must have been thinking about everything that had happened there. Daphne was
sitting in the backseat, not even moving. Was she dead? Or, was she wondering if
something is going on between Bay and I?
I have to admit, I was starting to wonder myself if something was going on
between us. When Bay threw herself into my arms at the club, I was shocked and
excited at the same time. I loved having Bay in my arms, the feel of her body
against mine. When did that start to be something I craved?
After we got inside, we sat in a booth. I took the window, and Daphne climbed
in after me, leaving Bay to take the opposite side. Damn it! Why did Daphne just
HAVE to sit next to me. Oh, well. On the plus side, I can watch Bay without
suspicion from Daphne.
When the waitress came, I told Daphne what I wanted and she ordered it for
me. Sneaking a peek at Bay, I saw a relieved look cross her face. Was she
remembering the last time we were in a diner together, too? It was easier this
time with Daphne, she could interpret. Bay was getting better, but she still
wasn't perfect.
After she brought back our food, we dug in and started talking about the bar.
"I can't believe that wasn't him. Shouldn't I have known or something?" Bay
said, with a bewildered expression on her face.
"Our first clue should have been that it was a gay bar!" Daphne said and
signed, trying to be funny.
"Seriously! Everyone in there was gay?" I could almost hear the shock in
Bay's voice. If I could hear her.
"Pretty much," I signed and mouthed. I had told them about the "treasures" I
had found in the lost and found boxes. They both looked like they had wanted to
be sick.
"Wow! I have NO gaydar!" I couldn't help but laugh at this. She's so cute
when she is clueless. I saw Daphne get a chuckle out of it too.
"I'm sorry I dragged you both into this," she told us. I started to respond,
when I saw Daphne talking.
"No! I'm happy I came. I needed to say all that, and hopefully, one day, I'll
get to say it to the right guy." I just nodded. I was happy I came too.
"I can't do this again! I think I'm done looking," Bay said, looking
defeated.
"You can't give up! There can't be that many Angelo Sorrento's in the world."
Really! I had to practically hog tie you to come with us and now you are
pushing her to keep going? I decided to change the subject.
"What about the guitar case?" I signed.
"What "guitar case?" Daphne signed back.
Bay signed perfectly, "The guitar case you and Emmett found when you were
little."
Daphne got a surprised look on her face. I just smiled. She did that
perfectly!
"How do you know about that?" Daphne asked suspiciously. Umm…..
Thinking I was probably going to regret this, I signed, "I told her."
Daphne's jaw dropped.
"He thinks it's Angelo's," Bay interjected, trying to take some of the
pressure off of me, I'm sure.
"It's not!" Daphne replied, signing sharply.
Bay told her about us finding the guitar pick in his car and then she pulled
it out to show her. Daphne's face now looked like a thunderstorm was passing
over it.
"You found his car?" She signed and spoke sharply. Damn!
"In a junkyard." Bay replied.
"When?" was her sharp reply. Maybe I should have told her before now….
"A few days ago," Bay said, looking like she wanted to hide in the corner. I
was experiencing a similar feeling.
Daphne stared at me. Realizing I needed to tell her something, I signed,
"Don't you remember how pissed off your mom got when we started to open the
guitar case?"
"It wasn't that big of a deal! She didn't like us going through her stuff!"
was her angry reply.
"Okay, well. What do you think is in the guitar case?" Bay asked her
impatiently.
"I have no idea."
"You've never even looked in it?"
"NO!" Simmer down, Daphne! Geez!
"Could we look in your house?" Bay asked her hopefully. I stared at Daphne as
well, waiting for her answer.
Daphne looked between Bay and I. "I thought you were done." I thought we were
too.
Grabbing my drink, I sipped on it and stared out the window. I noticed Bay do
the same thing.
So, she's not ready to give up either!
#-----------------------------
The following day, all I could think about was the club. How did I not know
it was a gay bar? Was I so focused on finding Angelo that I missed that part
entirely? At least Daphne got some things off her chest. I wish I could have.
Emmett was so sweet on the way back home. He held my hand the whole way home
after the diner. Moments like those, I was starting to wish he actually was
mine. But, I also knew that he liked Daphne, and therefore, anything he was
doing was strictly a friend helping another friend. I could wish though.
Liam and Ty both didn't respect me. I can see that now. Liam thought I was
too high maintenance, and with Ty, it was all physical. He didn't try to get to
know me. But, Emmett….
He learned so much about me in such a small amount of time. He was my friend,
confidante, and he treated me with the respect I should have got from the two
guys I actually had dated. I wished Daphne wasn't in the picture. Maybe then,
Emmett would want me…..
The way I wanted him.
#--------------------------
I was a Carlton, getting ready to go to my next class. I was thinking about
the night before. All the way home, I held Bay's hand. I couldn't comfort her
the way I wanted to, so that was my best solution. The only problem was, how did
I want to comfort her? As a friend….
Or as something more?
My thoughts were interrupted by Daphne, who had stepped in front of me. The
look on her face said she wanted answers. How much was I willing to tell her?
"What's going on with you and Bay?" she asked me.
For some unknown reason, I went on the defensive with her. "Nothing."
The look on her face said, "Yeah, right." Why does she feel I need to answer
to her? My life is my business, not hers. If something is between Bay and I,
that's our business, not Daphne's. Daphne just keeps on staring at me.
"What?" I ask, a little pissed now. Yes, I like Bay. A LOT! There was just
something about her that touched me in a way I never thought I could feel about
someone, even Daphne. I'm even starting to think she may feel the same way about
me. However, I wasn't in the mood to discuss any of this with Daphne. Not
everything in my life is her business.
"Anyway, she's all moony for Ty, right?" Why I tossed Ty into the
conversation, I couldn't honestly say. All I knew was I wanted out of this
inquisition. If I was going to talk to anyone about my feelings, it was going to
be Bay. I certainly wasn't going to tell Daphne anything. Besides, It's probably
wishful thinking anyway, that Bay could feel the same way I do. We haven't known
each other that long. Yes, we have a lot of awesome memories together now, but
did she want me as badly as I wanted her? Needed her?
Of course, Daphne won't drop the subject. God, she's like a dog with a bone.
"Why are you asking?" she says with a smirk. Am I that transparent? Nah, can't
be. I had a crush on Daphne for years and she never noticed. Why is she suddenly
so astute?
"Why are YOU asking?" I ask almost angrily. My life, my business!
She starts ranting about how much I picked on her when she was with Liam. How
I was always giving her grief. She would have to bring up that loser. I gave her
grief because he wasn't good enough for her, or for Bay.
"Because, he was a loser!" I tell her impatiently.
Of course, she has to turn it around to, "He wasn't a loser. He was hearing."
Next, she smugly threw my words back in my face. "And according to you, deaf
plus hearing doesn't work!" I was so regretting saying that to her now. My
opinion on that had changed drastically. Bay had made me change that opinion. I
wasn't telling Daphne that though, either.
"It doesn't!" Usually. With Bay, it was different. She was different. I
didn't see her as hearing or deaf. She was just Bay. And that's why I liked her
so much.
As if she was reading my mind, Daphne said, "Not even if 'hearing' has dark
wavy hair and alabaster skin?"
Her facial expressions alone set my teeth on edge. What exactly does she have
against Bay? Every time she is mentioned, Daphne gets a sour look on her face.
Does she dislike her that much?
Fed up, I tell Daphne, "Watch my hands carefully…" Slowly, like she is new to
sign, I tell her, "Nothing. Is. Going. On."
Walking away, I got the impression she didn't believe me.
That's okay….I didn't believe me either.
That night, lying in bed, I made a decision.
I was going to tell Bay I had feelings for her. I just hoped she felt the
same.
#------------------------
The day my life changed forever started like any other day. I got up, got
dressed for school, and went downstairs. Toby hadn't come down yet, but Daphne
was at the table.
"Good Morning!" I signed.
"Morning," was all the response I got. Okay, then.
"Where's Mom?" I said, looking around.
"Is something going on with you and Emmett?" Daphne asked point blank.
WOOOHH! Back up the train! Where did that come from?
"He's my friend. He was helping me find Angelo. That's it," I told her
firmly, signing a little.
Daphne raised her eyebrow at me. Okay, so maybe it's not the most believable,
but I wasn't going to tell her I liked him. It's none of her business.
"Okay, if you say so," she said and went back to her breakfast. That's it? No
3rd degree questioning?
At school, I couldn't help but think about what Daphne asked me. WAS
something between us? I didn't know. I knew I really liked him, but I doubted he
felt the same. He liked Daphne. I just kept repeating that in my head. He likes
Daphne….He likes Daphne…..He likes Daphne…..
"MISS KENNISH!" I finally heard Ms. Wyant talking to me. Oh, man!
"Yes, Ms. Wyant?" I asked sheepishly.
"Class is done for the day. Why are you still sitting here?"
Looking around, I realized everyone had left. Geez! I need to stop
daydreaming!
When I walked out the front steps, I saw the object of my daydreams right in
front of me. Emmett waved and smiled.
"Hi!" I waved and smiled back. What was he doing here? "Daphne's not here.
Her class isn't today." He must have got his days screwed up. He couldn't be
here to see me.
He waved his hands no and signed, "I came here to see you."
Okay, so maybe he was here to see me. But, why? Oh, maybe he wants to look
for my dad some more. I actually kinda need a break from looking for him,
actually.
"Look, if this is about my dad, I don't want to hear anymore," I tell him
honestly.
Again, he waves his hands no. Uh….. He starts signing again.
"Daphne….you…..You and Daphne were talking….okay…..You and Daphne were
talking about you and me?" Why would she talk to him about me?
He waves his hands "no" quite fast. Okay, I'm confused now.
"Okay, you guys weren't talking about you and me?" Which is it? You were or
you weren't?
Emmett sighs and gets a frustrated look on his face. Well, if I'm confused,
then he has to be. And, he's the one doing the signs!
Finally, he looks at me and signs, "I….like you." Well, I like you too.
Thought we already established that before. Then, he moved closer. Was he going
to…?
Before I could think about anything else, I felt his lips press against mine.
I felt like fireworks went off around us. He kissed me for a few seconds and
then pulled back and smiled. Okay, I guess that clarifies HOW he likes me.
Before I had time to process anything else, Emmett waved and walked away.
Seriously, you kiss me and walk away? Pressing my fingers to my lips, I could
still feel his lips against mine.
It felt like I had found the other half of my soul.
#----------------------------
The day my life changed forever started out normally. I got up, got dressed
and went downstairs for breakfast. Mom wasn't home, which was fine by me. I was
nervous and giddy and I knew she would be able to tell.
At school, I barely concentrated through my classes. I was thinking about
after school. I was going to see Bay and show her how I felt.
When I got to Buckner, classes hadn't let out yet. I stood around waiting for
a few minutes. Do I just tell her? Show her?
Finally, I saw Bay come out the front doors. I waved to get her attention.
"Hi!" she smiled and waved back. When she got up to me, she said, "Daphne's
not here. Her class isn't today."
Of course she would think I was here for Daphne. I always picked her up after
her classes. Well, not every time.
I waved my hands "no" and signed, " I came here to see you."
Bay got an "Oh" look on her face. "Look, if this is about my dad, I don't
want to hear anymore."
Okay, time to tell her before we get off track.
Waving my hands "no" again, I sign, "Daphne and I were talking about you and
me."
Bay followed right along with me. "Daphne….you…..You and Daphne were
talking….okay…..You and Daphne were talking about you and me?"
Realizing I didn't want her to think this was Daphne's idea, I waved my hands
"no" frantically.
"Okay, you guys weren't talking about you and me?" Bay says with a confused
look on her face. Well, I can understand why she is confused. Time to just play
it straight.
Taking a deep breath, I sign, "I….like you."
Bay is still looking confused. Okay, time to show her. Leaning in, I press my
lips to hers. I felt like fireworks went off around us. I kissed her for a few
seconds and then pulled back and smiled. Okay, I hope that clarifies HOW I like
her.
Before she could process my actions, I waved and walked away. Pressing my
fingers to my lips, I could still feel her lips against mine.
It felt like I had found the other half of my soul.
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