Author's note: Holy cow! I didn't expect to get much reviews on this story. But twenty on one chapter! Thank you guys so much. Every time I checked my email, and I had alerts it brought a smile to my face. You guys made my week.

Special thanks to NuGirl for beta-ing this chapter and to DramaQueen1103 for helping me write.

Looking forward to hear what you guys think of this chapter. Enjoy.

*Sign language will be in italics

The Beauty of Hands

Chapter Two: B-E-A-U-tiful

A few moments of awkward stares and silence, Emmett had left, leaving Daphne to her lonesome. She sat on the edge her bed, squeezing a pillow. She was happy for Emmett, but why out of the people in the world, why does Emmett have to like Bay?

I really like her

Was he serious? Did Emmett actually like Bay? More than a friend? Daphne wondered. She sulked for a few minutes before getting up from her bed and walking to her mother. She had to tell

someone.

"Mom." She called, waiting for her mother to turn around from the sink, where she'd been washing dishes.

Regina turned to find her daughter with an upset look on her face. Regina closed her hand, leaving her thumb and pinky up. She brought her hand to her chin, 'What's wrong?' she signed.

Daphne sighed, 'Emmett'

'You guys fighting?'

Daphne shrugged, 'He kissed Bay.'

Regina stepped back a step, shocked, 'Emmett..no.'

'Yes. Emmett. My best friend.'

Regina gave her daughter a sympathetic smile, 'Did you talk to him? Tell him how you feel?'

Daphne shook her head, "I don't want to be like Bay." Daphne said, now able to see her mother's lips.

Regina glanced at Daphne, "Be like Bay?"

"Bay tried to guilt me into breaking up with Liam. I don't want to guilt Emmett."

"Emmett will understand." Regina comforted. "If you'd like I can talk with Em-"

Daphne stuck her thumb out, bringing that hand under her chin and dragging her thumb away, out from under her chin, 'Don't'


Bay sat in her art studio pretending to be busy, while she waited for Emmett to come down. She heard footsteps and immediately sprung up and began to look occupied as she splattered paint on her canvas. She thought about what happened a few days ago. Did Emmett forget about the kiss? Was it all a dream? Why did Emmett kiss her?She stopped a second, breathing heavy and waited, for something, the sound of a motorcycle revving, anything. Anything that could answer her questions. Instead what she felt was two strong hands wrap around her and soft lips pressed to the back of her neck. With a smile of delight she turned around and signed, 'Emmett, what are you doing?'

'I came to see you.' The boy with the red hair and sweetest smile, innocently pulled her to him with purpose and kissed her again. This time with as much desire as the last. He hoped his best friend could be happy for him. After all she was the one who said 'hearing and non hearing relationships could work'. He wanted this for himself and he wasn't going to let anyone take it away from him. He wanted Bay.

Bay's head was spinning by the time he pulled back away from her. Emmett could tell by the doe eyed look on her face that she had liked the kiss. She points her index finger at herself signing, 'I was thinking about the kiss...from yesterday.'

'I shouldn't of just kissed you like that.' He signed back.

'It's fine. I liked it.'

'I like you.'

"Now I know what you were saying," Bay chuckled softly remember the similar sign right before Emmett kissed her the first time. ' I like you too.'

Emmett sighed,. 'I can't stay, I just wanted to ask you a question?'

Bay watched Emmett's hands making sure she followed what he was signing,"Question? Okay."She caught on.

Emmett took a few seconds to himself as he gathered his thoughts. 'Will you...'

"Me." Bay repeated making sure she was following correctly.

'Go to the dance with me?'

"Will I go to the dance with you?"

Emmett nods. 'Will you?'

Bay didn't say anything, she just looked up to Emmett and kissed him.

'So...that's a 'yes' ?' He signed, as he pulled away.

'Yes it's a yes.' Bay smiled widely. "When is it?"

Emmett puts up five fingers.

"Five days?"

Emmett nodded.

"I better get a dress." Bay replied.

'You don't have to wear a dress.'

"But won't I stick out?"

'You will anyhow because you're beautiful.'

"I didn't catch most of it. But I saw you sign beautiful." Bay gushed, "You think I'm beautiful?"

Emmett open his hand as circles it around his face, before he closed it into a loose fist, 'Beautiful.'

Bay couldn't help but blush. She pointed to Emmett, then touched her lips with crossed fingers before using her pointer finger to circle her face and bringing her hand down to flatly slide in with her other hand. "You are handsome." She said as she signed.

Emmett smiled.

He never saw himself in a relationship with someone hearing, especially not with Bay. He always imagined he'd end up with Daphne but she never really caught on. Or maybe she had and just wasn't interested. Either way. One thing was clear to Emmett. Bay did like him, despite him being deaf. She tried and made the effort to understand him. She was beautiful, smart, sweet and he would hold onto her with all he had.

'I have to go.' He signed regrettably as he leaned in and kissed her cheek before turning and walking to his motorcycle. He would really miss her. After mounting the bike he looked at looked down at the floor reeling and then up into his eyes. 'When can I see you again?' She asked with her hands.

'Soon.' He told her with a reassuring smile before starting his engine and pulling out of her massive driveway.

Bay walked back into the garage to clean her art supplies. Once everything was cleaned she made her way into the house. Her mother had just finished setting the table when she came in with a huge grin on her face.

"Well this is a first." Katherine said, happy to see her daughter happy, "What occurred to cause this grin?"

"Oh nothing." Bay wiped the smile off her face, "See. Gone."

Katherine sighed, "I like to see you happy."

"If you really want me happy..." Bay looked up at her mother, all innocently, "I need money."

"I just gave you your allowance."

"I know but I spent that on a new easel." Bay whined. "Please, I'll pay you back."

"Why do you need money?" Katherine wondered.

"I have a function to go to."

"Function? What do you mean?"

"I have a dance to go to." Bay gave in and told her mother, "Emmett asked me to a dance."

"You're going to a dance?" Katherine chuckled at the thought.

"Whose going to a dance?" John, Bay's father, asked as he entered the dining room.

"Bay is." Katherine informed him with a smile.

"Whoa. What happened to you?" John joked, knowing that Bay wasn't on for dances.

"I'm not gonna go if you guys won't stop talking about it!" Bay proclaimed.

"Relax." Katherine urged, "If you help with dishes for the next week, I'll give you some money."

"Deal." Bay shook her mother's hand.

"If you'd like, I can go shoppin-"

"Ah no." Bay cuts her mother off.

"Oh come on, it'll be fun."

"No, Mom, I think I'll pass." Bay began to walk away.

"Bay!" Katherine called after her daughter, but it was too late, once they heard the door slam and music blare, they gave up.

"I didn't know Buckner had a dance coming up," John said as he helped his wife set out salad for dinner.

"They don't. Carlton does."

"Carlton? As in Daphne's school?" John asked as he nibbled on a piece of lettuce.

"Yes. Apparently Emmett asked her."

"Wait Emmett?"

Katherine sighed, "Yes. Emmett. Geeze don't you listen?"

"So what does this mean?" John questioned.

"What do you mean?"

"Are Bay and Emmett...together?"

Katherine and John both stared at one another.

"That didn't even cross my mind," Katherine announced.

"Don't you think you should ask?" John wondered, "I would but every time I talk to Bay about boys I get an eye roll."

Katherine chuckled, "I get the same treatment only with a 'Mom stop it' and she stomps away."

"I guess we can talk to her after dinner." John suggested.

"Sounds like a plan." Katherine agreed.


Daphne sat her desk, fumbling with papers, when her mother came in.

'I brought you some soup' Regina sat the bowl down next to her daughter, 'I'd thought it would cheer you up.'

'Thank you, but nothing will cheer me up.'

Regina frowned, 'How come?'

'I don't know why. I just feel...blah'

'Did you try and calling Emm-'

'No thanks I'm good.' Daphne gave a weak smile.

'Why don't you call Liam?'

'Why would I call him?'

'Because to take your mind off of Bay and Emmett, maybe he would like to go to the dance?'

'Yeah maybe' Daphne signed with a perplexed look on her face.

'Do you need anything'?'

'No' She brings her hand to her mouth then pulls it out in front of her, her palm facing up. 'Thank you'

Regina smiles. 'You're welcome, Daphne.' She watches the girl for a few seconds longer then turns and leaves the room.

Daphne sighs thinking of her best friend. She wonders what could have ever made him think of Bay like that. Why would he want her? She isn't even sure if she likes Bay and he was supposed to be her best friend. She felt sad and betrayed, but most importantly, embarrassed. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she should call Emmett or...at least talk to Bay.


The Kennish's dinner was over, it had taken longer than Bay wanted it to. She couldn't stand the constant spotlight on her. Yes she was going to a dance. Yes it was a boy. Yes they were an 'item'.

Bay flopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling, she slowly drifted into a daydream, but was soon jolted back to reality by a knock on her door. "Come in!" She yelled.

Bay glanced at the door and waited for someone to enter, but no one did. She sighed frustrated, "I

said 'Come in'!"

Once again no one enter.

Bay got up from her bed and stomped her door, obviously mad that she had to get up from her comfortable bed.

Daphne stood in the doorway, "Hey"

"That explains it." Bay mumbled to herself.

"Explains what?" Daphne wondered.

"Nothing."

"Do you have a minute?" Bay nodded allowing Daphne to continue, "I heard about you and Emmett. I just want you to know I'm fine that you two are dating."

"Thanks but I didn't know we need your approval." Bay winced the moment those words escaped her lips, "I didn't mean it like that."

Daphne threw a hand up, "It's fine, I know what you meant. I just wanted to tell you that because you did the same with Liam and I. Except...well the outcome it different."

Bay sighed, "I should have never told you to break up with Liam, I was just jealous."

"Jealous? You, Bay Kennish, was jealous?" Daphne chuckled.

"Yes I know, what a shocker!"

"So you wouldn't mind if asked Liam to the dance?"

"No I don't mind." Bay was honestly happy, she was happy for herself, and for Daphne.

"Cool. I'm gonna call him." Daphne turned and headed to leave.

"Wait," Bay stumbled, grabbing onto Daphne's shoulder, getting her attention.

"Yeah?" Daphne turned to face Bay.

"Will you go dress shopping with me?" Bay bit her lip nervously.

Daphne smiled widely, "I'd love to, as long as you don't make me look ugly."

"We are going to be…" Bay opens her hand and circles it around her face, then she closed it once she made a complete circle, 'beautiful'

"Cool you learned a new sign!" Daphne got excited, "Did you search it on YouTube?"

"Uh…yeah that's where I learned it from." Bay smiled.

"Well I should get to bed. Night."

"Goodnight." Bay waved and shut her door.

"Today was…" Bay said before she signed 'beautiful.'