Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of twilight. I do own the story in which they were borrowed then placed within
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The quietness, the tranquility, the loss of noise, I now have all the time in the world to sit and think about everything I couldn't possibly think about, when I could hear. I didn't have to listen to all the annoying babble, my friends talking about their new boyfriend, the latest gossip about the newest boy, hell, talking on the phone was totally out. Yep, I have all the time to sit and think about all kinds of stuff. … I can't believe I took something so common for granted! But I'm making the best out of this. I have nothing else but time.
I lost my hearing two years ago when I got deathly sick over the summer. The doctor said...It's never coming back, I never dropped a tear. I had no idea what I would be missing. I really thought I could just keep going like I always did. Once my friends decided it was too hard to talk with me, I turned into a shadow. My grades dropped, my moods got darker, I did nothing but read. My mother decided I needed a new look on life. She thought my Dad, Charlie, could help. So here I am on a flight from Phoenix to Forks. From my mother, to my father. To another school, to the middle of nowhere, from people I knew, to strangers. I wanted this new start to a new life, that was forced upon me.. All in all, I wasn't handling it well. I figure, a change in location, could be the thing I needed.
I doubt it.
Loosing your hearing, after you know what things sound like, it's harder then never having it at all. I know what the rain makes when it falls from the clouded sky; I know what the waves sound like when they roll up onto shore. I can hear my mother's voice in the back of my mind when no sound comes out of her mouth anymore. I remember what having friends was like, even thought I was nothing more than an idiot to them now. As insignificant as it is, I remember what it sounds like to crunch down on a carrot, or pop open a cold soda. I have none of that now. Just the empty silence that sits there as ugly and as hollow as I am, and have been for the past 2 years. I had a hard time believing a new location would change that, but I was willing to please my mother and try.
After arriving, and getting settled into my new life with my father, I settled up in my room. Nothing had changed outside my bed. Instead of a crib, it had been replaced with a twin. I laughed at the fact that nothing ever changes in Forks. NOTHING. I took, and put away what little cloths I had brought with me. Most of what I had packed was my books, and CD's. I arranged them as best I could as they were at my old room with my mother. I noticed a computer sitting on the desk that looked as old as I was. I smiled at the fact that Charlie was trying hard to make this work for me. We didn't spend a lot of time together in the past, but that was about to change. I lived here now. I crashed on my bed letting that sink in. I lived here now. It had bitter and sweet all round those four words. I wasn't sure which one would win out in the end. Time would tell.
The first day of school.
After watching Charlie's lips move, telling me about the quarks of the ancient 1950's truck he purchased for me, after giving me all his numbers, in case something were to happen, I nodded, telling him that I would be fine. He laughed when I finished, saying, I was speaking too loudly. I of course, blushed. I've had problems on my volume as I couldn't hear how loud I was. I mentally toned it down, hoping to correct it, and tried again. My speech, unfortunately, had slowly turned into slurring as time progressed. The doctor warned me about it, so, I tried to keep accentuating all my letters; I really didn't want to sound as if I were deaf. I had learned to sign, along with my parents, but refused to actually use it. What is the point when no one else but the deaf was using it? After saying our good-byes we both left to start the day. Charlie was head of the police force, so I knew that everyone in town heard of my coming. Today was not going to be fun.
I drove up to what the signs pointed out as the high school. There were only a few cars in the parking lot, as I got there early to avoid people in general. I slammed the door, waiting for the metal on metal crash of the door to the frame of the old truck. I expected it, but as always, I was sadly disappointed.
On top of being of the 'hearing impaired', I was the clumsiest girl I had ever known. I could and would trip on nothing, and everything that was, or wasn't in my way. It was okay at first, now just driving further attention to me more than ever before, when in actuality, wanting to just fade into the shadows forgetting I existed at all. I carefully walked to the sidewalk where I knew walking would be easier. There was no sense in making a fool out of myself before I even got to the front doors.
I walked into the tiny school, following the signs to the small, main office in the center of the smaller buildings around it, to get my new schedule. There was a lady at the desk, Ms. Cope, or so the name plate stated as I walked up to greet her. She smiled at me when she didn't recognize me.
"May I help you?" She looked at me with a huge smile.
"I'm Isabella Swan. I'm supposed to stop here for my schedule." When my name registered in her mind while looking for my schedule, she took on a saddened look to her. After printing, what I assumed was what I asked for; she waited for me to look directly at her. As slowly as she could (which made it VERY hard to understand her) she started to talk again.
"H-e-r-e y-o-u g-o." She smiled sadly as she handed me the paper. As I went to reach it she let go of it as if not to catch what I had. "W-e-l-c-o-m-e t-o F-o-r-k-s H-I,,,"
I walked away before she finished. I couldn't take how stupid she was making me feel. It was just better for me to leave before she tried to sign what she was saying. I had hoped to leave all this crap behind me. Apparently I couldn't,,, today was going to be a long day.
After getting my locker to open, I followed the map Ms. Cope handed me to my first class. I was eternally grateful that no one had arrived yet, outside of the teacher. She gave me my assigned seat and the text book needed for the class. I took my seat and pulled out my book. I intended to lose myself in to avoid conversation with anyone. Soon the kids were piling into class, taking their seats. I didn't look up to see if anyone was starring, but seeing as how small this school was, and the class it's self, I knew I wouldn't go unnoticed. After the class was in session, I had to look up to follow the teachers' lips as she talked. I kept up nicely as she didn't turn to write something on the chalk board. I glanced around once to find three girls gawking at me. I decided to read part of the conversation two of them had going.
"So she is the new girl? There isn't anything special about her." One said to another.
"I thought she would be pretty, something of a challenge with the guys here at school. I guess there is no competition there." The other said while looking at me to see if I had anything special about me. "No, nothing,,, she's just new. No one would be interested in that."
"You never know. That Mike Newton might find her attractive." The first one said.
"Mike? Doubt it. I got him. It's just a matter of time before he asks me out. He wouldn't go for,,, her."
I turned away as fast as I could back to the teacher who was staring at me. Oh, no. She had asked me a question and I missed it watching the privet conversation going on with two spiteful girls.
"Umm," I said hoping she would ask the question again. All the students were giggling.
"I asked, if you knew what had started the great 'Civil War'?" She asked again, knowing I wasn't really paying attention. Thankfully I knew the answer so I didn't hesitate any longer and spit out my answer. The girls I was watching laughed even harder when they heard my voice. I had hoped I didn't yell out the answer, or speak it too quietly. I blushed. I looked at the teacher and she was happy with my answer, turning her attention to another student. I looked back at the girls who snapped their head to yet another girl who was sitting beside me. I turned to look as well. What I caught surprised me. There was small pixy like girl with spiky hair saying something to them I didn't catch. When she was done, I turned to see the two girls that were making fun of me snap their heads back to their papers with not another word. I glanced at the teacher who smiled at the pixy girl with satisfaction. I went back to paying the utmost attention to the teacher keeping my head from watching others. I knew it was a mistake to follow their conversation, but I couldn't help it. A mistake I wouldn't make again.
The class ended and I waited till I was the last out of the class room. I walked with my head down to my next class.
After finding it, I was almost late. This school was small, but confusing. I walked into the class; saw the teacher who gave me yet another seat. I noticed the two girls that were in my last class sitting together. I guess in a small school, as this one was, I was bound to have many classes with them. This class however, went without me noticing them at all. I refused to watch them talk about me. I also didn't notice the pixy girl whom I hoped defended me in my last class. I hated it when people stuck up for me; it was more out of pity then friendship. Especially when it was someone I didn't know. Thankfully I was seated in the back of the class to the only open seat.
In my third class, right before lunch, I looked up at the wrong time to find those same two girls talking and giggling at me but this time they covered their mouths as they talked. I had no idea what they were saying, all I knew was it was directed at me. I sunk lower in my chair looking around at the rest of the class wondering if they were the only ones talking. There was the pixy like girl starring holes at the two girls as if they were talking about her and she was plotting her revenge. She said nothing but you could see the hateful words coming from her eyes. I laughed quietly. I saw another girl who was sitting reading her book right next to one of the hateful ones. One of the girls, her name, I think, was Jessica, tapped the quiet one on the shoulder and whispered something to her. She glanced back at me. There was sadness in her eyes. I couldn't explain it, she didn't want to make fun of me, she felt sorry for me and it came across in her eyes. When she noticed me looking, she went back to her reading blushing as I was surly doing.
I was shocked out of my eves dropping when someone tapped my shoulder. I was sitting in the second row to the end; I hadn't noticed who was sitting behind me. I snapped my head around ready to defend myself to whomever was tapping me. I'm sure there was anger in my face. "Yes?" I said not so friendly.
"I just wanted to say, Hello." The boy said rising up his arms as if to surrender.
"SO?" I said more so louder then I had planned, at least I think I did. The hurt on his face showed me he was not out to make fun or pick on me, He was just saying hi. When I noticed this, I immediately blushed and tried to change my tone. "Sorry, it's been a long day."
"Oh, no worries, I understand. I just wanted to say hi, I'm Mike Newton." His hand was out for me to take. I reluctantly took it and he shook it softly.
"I'm Bella. Nice to meet you." I said while we shook hands. A small smile appeared on my face to show I was sorry for the sudden outburst.
"So you do know how to smile." He released my hand. "Sorry about Jessica over there," he nudged his head to the girl I thought was Jessica. I was right in who she was. "She can be a bit, overwhelming, most of the time." He said holding back a laugh. "Well, I guess I'll see you at lunch?"
"Sure, Okay." I said looking back to the teacher who was getting ready to start the class. In the process I saw Jessica give me the ugliest face of disapproval I'd seen in a long while. I by-passed her nasty look to get back to the class. I really don't know what I did, but she was defiantly mad at me for something.
When this class was over, I gathered my books, thankful lunch was next. I walked down the hall with my head down hoping to just make it there without incidents. I turned the corner and ran into what I thought was a wall. My books and lunch flew out of my hands as I staggered back from the hit. When I looked up, I saw a very tall, well built, semi good looking guy standing in front of me like he was a tower. I quickly looked down to find my belongings. After locating my stuff, I glanced back at this guy standing in front of me. I missed what he said hearing only a fragment of his words.
",,,hope?" he said with a look of concern. I glanced to his side to find a very beautiful woman standing at his side. She looked like she should be on TV or a model or something. She had the perfect hair, the perfect outfit, shoes to match; there wasn't anything out of place on her. Meeting my gaze, she looked extremely put off. I really don't blame her, I was nobody and she knew it.
"I'm sorry." I said hoping that was what he was asking.
"Good to know, but that is not what I asked." This huge man laughed as he looked at me confused. "Well?"
Oh, no. I had no idea what he had asked, and he had no intention of asking again. I had to come up with something. No, honesty was best. "I'm sorry, can you ask me again?" I blushed.
"Sweetie, you really shouldn't flirt with THESE girls, it's embarrassing, them falling all over you."
That upset me. Thinking I was interested in him. Granted he was good looking, but I knew my status. He was way out of my league and not that attractive to me. I snapped when I heard this. "I'm not interested in him! What makes you think I care?" I regretted what I said immediately but there was no going back. She looked like someone just slapped her face.
"My mistake." She said as she turned gracefully and walked away as if she were on a cloud. Her boyfriend was picking up my books and my lunch when I looked back at him.
"I asked if you were alright, but I can see at the way you talked to Rosalie that you must have a concussion." He said handing me my stack of stuff. "You might want to go to the nurse to get checked out." He laughed. "You should look up every now and again when you're walking. It could save your life." With that he turned to catch up to his girlfriend. I was horrified again and I haven't even hit the lunch room. I composed myself, making my way to the cafeteria.
Could this day get any harder?
