It's Friday, so as promised, here's a chapter! My writer's block has been so bad I couldn't even sit myself down at the computer. I finally pulled it together and wrote this chapter for you. Sorry if it sucks, I'm still halfway on writers block and I haven't written anything in like a week.
Aria's POV
My life is starting to become a bit normal. I'm getting used to being deaf and A actually hasn't bugged us in a few days. I'm walking to the cafeteria for lunch because the bell just rang. I'm really excited to try something, so I text the girls to meet me. I buy a salad and water and slide into my usual seat at our usual table. I sit and eat in silence for only a minute before the girls join me. Spencer holds out her phone and it says "What's up?"
I smile and write on my pad. I finish scribbling and perch the pencil behind my ear before turning the pad and sliding it across the table with one hand while taking a bite of salad with the other. After the girls read, they pass the pad back and nod. I take a deep breath and try to remember how we used to lip read in class way back when I got kidnapped the first time. How was that only like a month ago? I snap my full attention back to Spencer's face and she says a word. I take the pencil from behind my ear.
"You have to do something harder than my name." I write and show them with a smile. Spencer grins and says something. I carefully watch her mouth movements and process. The first word started with a sound that looked like a b or a p. the rest looked like est. I ask her to repeat and slowly complete the puzzle. I go the second word and immediately recognize it as 'friends'. That means the first word had to be best, not pest. Knowing that the first words are best friends I already know the last word.
"Best friends forever?" I write on the pad and hand it to Spencer. They all grin and nod excitedly. A huge wave of excitement and pride washes over me. I can do this. I motion for Hanna to give it a go and watch closely. Hanna says something and I figure it out almost immediately.
"Seriously, 'Ezra's hot?'" I ask Hanna on the pad and the girls crack up. I can totally do this. I could do this before, I can do this now. The girls and I turn it into a game and spend the rest of lunch playing it.
Jason's POV
I'm sitting in my car in the parking lot feeling sick to my stomach. Noel told me to just run Aria over when she comes out of the building because she won't hear me. I think about driving away until I come up with a plan that just might work.
Aria's POV
School is finally over. I'm walking out to the parking lot to drive home and I'm going alone because I need some time to just stay home and watch our new TV with captions. It's not as good as hearing it, but it's good enough. I hug my books to my chest as hastily step out into the middle of the parking lot just wanting to get into my car and go home.
Jason's POV
I pull out of my parking space right when Aria comes out of the building. I'm all ready to speed towards her and she steps into the parking lot without looking. Why does she have to make this harder for me? I get a text from Noel urging me to go. I press my foot down on the gas, but I also press my hand onto the wheel and honk like a maniac trying to get someone's attention, obviously not Aria's.
Ezra's POV
For once I finished all my grading during a planning period so I get to leave at the same time as Aria. I try to catch up to her. I walk outside and look around for Aria. My head snaps into the direction of someone honking their car horn like a maniac. I look over and see a car speeding out of control right at an unaware Aria. I drop my books and start to sprint across the parking lot. Please let me get there in time. I beg the universe. And stop trying to kill my girlfriend! I add to the prayer. I leap out towards Aria at the last second.
Aria's POV
I'm just walking when something slams into me from behind me. I drop all my books and try to stop my fall, but I'm partially under someone. I am still in shock after smashing into the ground with someone smoothing me from above. I soon realize it's Ezra and start to sob, wrapping my arms around him tighter. WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME? I scream in my head.
Era's POV
I scramble off of Aria as quick as I can. She hugs me and I wrap my arms around her. I saved her. She's not gone. She's shaking uncontrollably between sobs. I check her for any broken bones and sigh in relief when I don't find any. I help Aria get up on her feet while she wipes away tears.
"Are you ok?" I ask, forgetting yet again that she can't hear. She nods and smiles. What?
"You can understand me?" I say it slowly because I know she must be lip reading. It makes sense considering how much she lip read in class before everything. The other girls rush across the parking lot and they all start frantically asking her if she's ok. She looks back and forth nodding while processing words. We walk back into the parking lot and pick up all of her books. I had her the pad and pencil. She quickly scribbles something and holds it out.
"This has to end." It says. I totally agree, but how? And then I come up with a genius plan.
Sorry for the short chapter! Told you I have writer's block! I'll try and post more this weekend, but we'll see.