There's no doubt, you're in deep


It's raining.

The strength of the rain falls somewhere between hard and gentle. The droplets come down one by one, like they're chasing one another to the various puddles that litter the broken street. Bay watches them fall from Emmett's window, noting that there's really nothing special about the rain. Hollywood uses it to demonstrate sadness or rebirth. In literature it poses as a symbol for something deeper. It's always portrayed to mean more than just a natural occurrence. But to Bay, it's just rain. Nothing special at all.

Turning her back on the window, she shifts her attention to Emmett instead. Every time she thinks about the beautiful, if not terrible, language barrier between the two of them, an intensely bittersweet feeling washes over her. At first, it was just the coolest game of charades. Then it became more about intuition. Reading not just his hand motions, but also reading into the emotions he exuded. It wasn't about his being deaf or her being hearing. Statistics be damned. Emmett was brilliant, in so many more ways than she could have, would have, anticipated.

Emmett is reading a book. It's one she's read before given that she was the one who recommended it to him. He's somewhere in the middle of the paperback, and his expressions are so acute, portraying them in such a way that she can almost guess which part he's at. It's strange. The relationship they have, where they can just read a book in silence and avoid an awkward exchange. It's incredible.

Emmett pauses as he finishes a chapter, holding his place with his forefinger in between the pages and thumb on top of the cover. He sits up on his bed and motions for Bay to sit down next to him. She complies, and he wordlessly, as per usual, kisses her. It's quick and it's sweet, and in an odd way more satisfying than the make-out sessions of her past.

'You have great taste. This book is fantastic,' he signs to her. He motions to the book for emphasis and smiles, but it's unnecessary.

She happily says, "I love this book. It's one of my favorites." She adds a few signs to accompany her lips, thinking to herself as an afterthought that she ought to study a little more.

He nods in agreement. 'I can see why. Grenouille is a freak, but he's also an outcast. You can't help but feel bad for him.' He points to the name on the back of the cover so Bay isn't lost on his comment.

"Grenouille? When I was reading it, I couldn't decide if he's really the victim or the villain. Maybe he's neither." Bay looks down to her hands, wondering if the comment was about Grenouille or if she was really talking about herself.

'Something wrong?' he signs to her, concern painted all over him.

"Yes. And no."

Emmett's concern morphs into confusion. He doesn't need to sign her the question on his mind; Bay already knows.

"It's about Daphne," she starts slowly, signing the other girl's name.

Emmett removes his fingers from the book and places it down on his side table. He sits up a little straighter.

It figures, she thinks to herself, that he would pay more attention at the sound of her name. Sign. Damn it.

"I'm worried that if we don't tell her the truth soon, she's going to be angry with us," Bay says, testing out his reaction. She leaves out the part about Daphne's feelings for him.

'You think she'll be mad?'

"Think about it for a second, Emmett. When Daphne was dating Liam, what did you think about it?" His face falls and she knows that the guilt, the same guilt she's been feeling, is hitting home with him as well. "You thought that hearing and dead people relationships couldn't work. And I didn't want them to be together, because Liam was too close. I felt like she was invading my life. I was wrong. We were wrong."

'Did Daphne say something to you?'

"She doesn't know about us if that's what you mean, and I don't want her to find out from anyone but us."

'Are you sure?'

"No," she says, shaking her head along with the lone syllable. "I don't know what exactly I should do. I know she's going to be mad, she has to be."

'Daphne will understand.'

"Why? I wouldn't." The truth stings a little, having to admit to her own hypocrisy hurts.

Emmett doesn't get a chance to respond, because Bay forges ahead with the second half of what needs to be said. "And, there's more. Daphne told me something a few days ago that I didn't want to tell you, because I was afraid of what you'd say. And I know you want to know what it is, but I can't tell you what she said. You'll have to hear it from her."

'Why?'

Unexpectedly, Bay feels as if she could just breakdown in his arms and cry all over again. "I can't tell you why, Emmett. You have to talk to Daphne."

'Please don't cry, Bay.'

"I'm not crying," she says, even as a tear leaks out. She quickly swipes it away. "Please, Emmett. Talk to her."

'Okay.'

"And promise me that if anything changes, that you won't think of me."

Emmett holds her gaze, leans in, and kisses her forehead. It's a tender gesture and it gives her another surge of hope. He says nothing. It's typical, but his hands speak nothing as well. He's promised her absolutely nothing. It's the most thoughtful, unspoken gesture she's ever witnessed.


I know it's another short chapter...well longer than the first, but still kind of short, but I just wanted to get an Emmett/Bay scene out before writing out a couple of chapters. Again, I really hope that you guys will enjoy this. And if you are, I hope you review with criticisms or suggestions, any particular scene/thing you're looking forward to. Your opinions matter a lot to me.

Also, I would like to give a big thanks to my anonymous reviewers: Lina, bemmettlover, and Ashley. I wasn't able to reply to your reviews, so I just want you three to know that I really appreciate your comments, and I hope that if you read this, you enjoyed it. Also, thank you again to MilaDance, Taylor310, 0appletree0, TopazCullen109, Zoey24, and ciaranoelle for reviewing.

Thanks for reading, I hope you'll tune in next time.

- Cage


P.S. - I like to imagine that there's a particular theme song to every story. The one to this story, I think, is Florence + The Machine's 'Addicted to Love.' Check it out! :D