That's the Way We Are


Life was about choices and experience and most importantly, the id. The center controlling the sensation and desire of instant gratification. Seeing really is believing and that's especially true when you can't hear all of the distractions and the dangers and the noise. You can block everyone out, but you can also see them for whom and what they truly are, something hearing people just can't do, and if they can, then they refuse to and that doesn't make them very smart if that's the case. You can't miss something you've never had, so, no, he's never felt as if he's missed out on something simply because he couldn't hear it.

He can still see it. Feel it. Smell it, taste it, want it, need it. It's almost base rooted and led by something like desire and impulsiveness, but that's how he lives and he wouldn't change that for anything. When he wants to do something, he does it, and he doesn't let things like complications and impairments deter him from it.

So, he learned how to build bikes from the ground up. And then he learned how to ride them. And yes, both of his parents had to go with him to the Department of Motor Vehicles and strongly suggest to the service secretary there that while there are many rules pertaining to the fact that you must have sufficient eyesight to drive –which he has, 20/20 eyesight- there is no rule in the manual stating that you must have sufficient hearing to drive. It's more like, a bonus.

Emmett got his restricted at fifteen, his license at sixteen, and he used to unofficially off-road three years prior to that. He's a pretty good driver.

But he also knows that Mr. and Mrs. Kennish aren't exactly thrilled with the fact that he not only drives, but he drives Daphne, too. Not that they could stop that from happening, that's up to Regina.

And as for Bay, he knew just from a look that she wasn't like the rest of the Kennish clan. Maybe it's because she really wasn't, and maybe it's because of her rebellious nature, but he's just tolerant of her. She sees things that few take notice of and he can respect that. She's trying to communicate and learn at the very least without a secret agenda, and he likes that. She wears black nail polish and denim miniskirts in a prestigious school where everyone looks the same and yeah, she's pretty cool from what he's seen.

But then there are the things he can't. Like why she can't respect the fact that Regina and Daphne don't want to go into it regarding her dad. He can get why she'd be curious, but she's pushing for it and he doesn't really know why.

So he takes her to the pier and he's acutely aware of her head resting on his shoulder blade, which means that her eyes are probably closed, which just makes this even better.

He parks close to the boardwalk and cuts the engine and he can feel the lift from his shoulder, so he knows that Bay must be awake and aware by now. Emmett looks back and he can barely see her in his peripheral while wearing his helmet, but she's confused and looking at him curiously. He lifts his helmet from his head and kicks the stand in the back to park his bike. She pats both of his shoulder with her open palms and signs What, to which Emmett replies with indifferent shrug before getting off his bike. Bay pouts petulantly and Emmett smiles, bobbing his head towards to pier and walking off. Somehow, he figures she'll get the message.

By the time she decides to follow and meet him, he's already on the boardwalk by the wooden balcony, eye focused on his scope directed out towards the water and she stands by his side, leaning against the wooden block. Black curls swaying in the wind obscure her face but he's sure she's less than pleased with all of this. He adjusts the shutter speed and shoots the unsettled bay water further out on the horizon.

She taps his shoulder and Emmett looks over to see her palm spread out in front of her face and sweep away to her side carelessly with furrowed brows. Ignore? No, he's not ignoring her, he just doesn't know what to say because she's not going to understand not want to understand. Emmett shakes his head and of course, he figures Bay wouldn't be Bay if she let him off that easily. She grabs him by his shoulder firmly again and four of her fingers touch her forehead before her hand backs away and her fingers bunch up into a fist. She did the sign incorrectly, but the distinct wording of Why falls from her lips. So, she knows a few basic signs and conversational questions, but she won't ever get it. As much as he's been curious about this very issue himself –and he has been because how could anyone want to leave Daphne is beyond him- he's not going to try to overstep his boundaries, and he's not going to do it for pouty lips and chestnut puppy eyes. Nope, not gonna happen. Especially after he ended up in that situation with her brother. It's not that he judges a person by the actions of another, but he's definitely aware of the fact that he needs to be a little more wary next time.

She looks at him and then takes out a picture he's already seen before, but an inverted alternated version. It's Regina, cradling her very obvious girth from the time she was pregnant, and the meaning of the picture has changed in the photographer's eyes. Before, it meant that it was his best friend's mother in her second trimester and now he can see that the crinkle around Regina's eyes in the picture matches the crinkle around Bay's. The eyes, certain mannerisms. But not everything. She's slightly paler and the curvatures of her body type are different, so obviously she's a mix of both her mother and father. She has vision, something most people don't have, and maybe she sees something no one else has seen yet.

He looks up from the altered picture and she's cradling a thumbs up in her other hand and extending it toward him. Emmett sighs. Unfortunately, he must know as much as she does about the situation regarding her father. He does know he's in town and-

Emmett snaps his fingers and his eyes brighten by a sudden thought. Bay cranes her head as Emmett proceeds to take out his cell phone and rapidly type out a text.

I'm going to be a little late today, got held up. Wait for me?

In the To section, he clicks Daphne's name in his contacts and presses send. He looks back up at Bay and points back to his bike and she grabs his wrist and he can make out that she's saying What's going on? With a questioning and bewildered expression on her face. He bows his hands towards himself quickly and taps his pinkie on his temple before extending his arm away, mouthing the words I have an idea.

Emmett quickly walks back to his bike, Bay in tow and hands her back her helmet before slipping his on. He smirks when she gives a roll of her eyes before putting the helmet back on and straddling the bike once more. Once her arms are securely wrapped around his waist, he takes off, not wanting to waste any more time.


Daphne feels a vibration in her pocket as she descends the steps of Buckner Hall after last bell. Not that she could hear the last bell, but she was glad she didn't have to hear her cooking teacher either. After the incident yesterday of making a complete fool of herself in class and nearly getting ran over by a careless jerk, she almost relented and went to request an interpreter from the principal. But stayed up and practiced and went to Tia, as the teacher insisted on being called, and voiced her concerns from the prior day. And she knows that she didn't mean to, but it was as her mother said; the looks and the stares, they were inevitable. But at least she didn't have to hear the whispers. She promised herself a week, one week to see if this is what she really wanted because while she loved Carlton, it could do nothing to really prepare her for the real world. This was real, and unfortunately she was going to have to get used to it because while the Kennishs could afford it, it made no sense for Daphne to continue at Carlton while Bay and Toby attended Buckner Hall nearby.

She walks to the end of the crosswalk to the promenade and a couple of girls from her last period bypass her with an off-putting stare before bowing their faces into their hands, giggling. Daphne picks up the pace of her stride and huffs through her nose, blinking away the sting behind her eyes. Stupid teacher. Stupid girls. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Daphne takes out her cell and opens the incoming from Emmett. Her expression dims upon reading the message. It wouldn't have been an issue, since she planned on staying after class today, but since she forgone that idea, she was really looking forward to leaving school and clearing her head. So much for that.

She types back a quick No problem and as she's about to send it, she feels a hand on her shoulder and it startles her enough to make her drop her phone. She sighs at her own clumsiness and is slightly annoyed at how on edge she's been as of late. Maybe her mother was right, maybe this wasn't a good idea.

She crouches down daintily to pick up her cellphone, but mocha hands reach it first and her day has just been getting better and better at this point. She frowns and looks up into kindly dark eyes.

Daphne clears her dry throat, "Hello, Liam."

"Daphne," He signs with his hand going in a circle with his index finger extended. He hands her back her cellphone, which she pockets quickly, and she mutters a quick thanks, but he steps in front of her before she can go by. "Wait, I…I know we broke up, but we haven't really spoken since the benefit and I heard what happened yesterday after practice." Daphne's light green eyes survey him carefully and she forces a small smile.

"I'm okay, Liam, really." And suddenly all she wants to do is escape because even though she broke things off with Liam and it was an amicable split of a very brief relationship, she still has a crush on him and she's been glad she hasn't had to directly face him until now. Ever since the whole Bay and Ty thing fell apart, she, once again, felt stupid for breaking up with Liam when in reality Bay could've cared less. It was teenage rivalry at its best, and she succumbed to it.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Liam's dark eyes narrow in concern as he grips his bookbag by his shoulder. "Are you sure? Because I heard you were shook up yesterday."

Daphne sighs after she interprets the words from his lips and she looks around fleetingly, somehow wanting Emmett to appear and give her an excuse to leave. "Um, yeah, I'm fine, I promise," She says breathily and Liam's thumb brushes against her jawline, forcing her line of vision to cross his.

"Talk to me," Liam says steadfastly and as Daphne opens her mouth to speak, she sees Wilke appear behind Liam's right shoulder in her peripheral.

"Wilke," Daphne greets gratefully, drawing his and Liam's attention. "Thanks, for yesterday."

Liam is confused by the exchange, but Wilke's nods, "No problem. Hey Liam."

"Hey," Liam says warily. "What'd you do yesterday?" He asks Wilke.

"Pulled her away when the car was coming," Wilke shakes his head, his blond hair following the movement. "It was like they barely stepped on the brakes."

"Know who did it?" Liam asks, on the alert, but Wilke shrugs.

"No idea," He looks back at Daphne with softened blue eyes. "Hey, do you have a ride home?" Daphne, slightly caught off guard by the question, shakes her head. Wilke smiles, "Well, I could take you, if you need me to. I gotta talk to Toby anyways."

Liam touches Daphne's shoulder, prompting her to look at him, "I can take you home too, you know."

Daphne looks between both guys, and while Emmett did promise that he would come, she really does want to go home, and fast. Because not only is she a freak by Buckner Hall standards, everyone has been talking about her because of it. "I, um…" She looks to Wilke, "Well, since you are going to the Kennishs, it'd make more sense for you to take me." Daphne says, feeling shy all of a sudden from Liam's intense stare.

Wilke nods, "Cool." Looking back at Liam, he smirks, "We'll see you later, man."

Liam takes one last look at Daphne, who averts her eyes from his, and turns to Wilke, "Yeah, later," before walking off.

Daphne briefly looks after him, emerald meeting obsidian, but follows Wilke out to the parking lot.


Oh, my…eleven reviews in three days? Is this my new favorite fandom? I think it is~

So, how I'm planning on doing this is one chapter being Bay's POV, one being Emmett's, and then back again. I know that a lot of things are not being said, but as you continue reading, you'll get more and more questions answered, does that make sense? Hopefully, it does. If there are things you want addressed and/or to be seen, please drop a review/PM and I'll definitely do my best to fit it in. Daphne/Liam scene for Princess Pinky, and Ace5492, I felt the same way, thank you for pointing that out.

I'll make sure to get to PMimg everyone, but I wanted to post this prior to the new episode tonight! So thank you for reading, reviewing, alerting and faving, it really gave me inspiration to continue as well.

DAC