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Chapter 10

She thought she was going to hate community service but it wasn't that bad. There was one definite good thing about it and that was she got to see Troy sometimes. He always made it a point to come to the homework center after school and say hi before he went to play basketball with his friends. She had fun helping the little kids but she got the distinct feeling that the teenagers here didn't like her. Especially the girls her age who noticed the bond her and Troy had. They didn't flaunt their relationship but she had a feeling people knew what was going on and didn't like it. The girls gave her dirty looks all the time especially when Troy was around. He of course never saw them. She tried to ignore it but after a while things like that can get to you. Taylor knew what was going on due to the fact that she had a pretty good window view of their getting back together a couple weeks ago but she had kept her mouth shut thank god. Gabriella had a feeling most of her friends wouldn't like her going out with Troy either. Neither of there parents knew yet. Gabriella's dad didn't question her whereabouts and his parents where used to him doing whatever although his mom was always texting him making sure he was okay. As long as he texted back she was fine with him being out.

Gabriella was leaving the center and walking down the halls of the school when she saw Troy. He was signing to a couple guys and when he saw her he started to say goodbye to them. She walked slowly by him and he joined her walking next to her.

Hi.

Hi.

Your dad picking you up?

Actually my friend Chad is because my dad had some business meeting.

I see.

But I will see you later tonight right?

Course I am going to be home a little late but yeah I will see you later. They were at the front of the school now and she stood up and kissed him lightly after he was done signing.

Bye.

See you later. He watched her leave and turned around to go back to the basketball court and was surprised when he saw his friend Robert watching him with a confused look.

You are dating her?

Yeah why?

Dude are you serious?

Yes I am serious. What is wrong?

She's hearing.

So.

So she is not like us Troy I am I can believe you would date someone like her anyway. I mean you do realize why she is here right. The only reason she is not doing her time somewhere else is because her dad I a big shot lawyer. She got off with a slap on the wrist.

I do not care who her dad is or what she did in the past. I like her.

What are you to good to date a deaf girl?

Robert are you serious? I have dated plenty of deaf girls that does not matter to me. I like Gabriella because of who she is not because she is hearing and I would not like her more if she was deaf. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?

Because it is a big deal. We should stick together and girls like her are just people who want to persuade us to the other side by talking about stuff like say cochlear implants. After he signed this he held up a packet Troy had gotten form one of his teachers about cochlear implants.

Where did you get that?

I found it in your bag I was looking for gum. Looks like she is getting to you.

That has nothing to do with her.

I have a feeling it has everything to do with that girl. She is already trying to brainwash you into thinking that a cochlear implant will solve your problems. What little Troy is tired of being deaf guess you want to be a normal huh? Well let me tell you something you get this implant and whose side are you on then. You will never be truly deaf or hearing so who will stand by you then. Not us because everyone knows traitors can not be trusted. As Robert signed all this two words rang through Troy's mind and that was deaf prejudice. He couldn't help but think that Robert was obviously a person with a lot of it or an over abundant amount of deaf pride either way it was crazy.

It is my choice and if I decide to get one it is because I want to not because she told me to or because she brainwashed me.

I hope you make the right choice Troy. Robert signed this and then threw the packet in the trash making very clear what choice he would make.

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Gabriella was in the passenger seat of Chad's car and he poked her when they got to a red light and she grinned at him. Out of habit she raised her hands to sign and then frowned dropping them.

"You okay?" he asked her.

"Umm yeah," she said smiling.

"So I haven't seen you around where you been," Chad said.

"Around," she answered.

"Well I knew that," he joked and she laughed punching him in the arm.

"I was hoping you would be a little specific," he told her.

"I've been busy you know doing this and that. Community service takes up a lot of time," Gabriella said.

"You still hanging out with that deaf kid," Chad said and Gabriella frowned.

"His name is Troy and yes I do actually," Gabriella told him.

"Hmm that should be considered community service right there," Chad said.

"Chad that is so rude," Gabriella said.

"What Gabi I'm just kidding around okay," Chad said laughing.

"Yeah well it's not funny. Troy is a really great guy," Gabriella told him.

"Yeah but he's not your kind of guy," Chad responded.

"What's that supposed to mean," she replied annoyed.

"Gabriella are you kidding me? You date guys that have a chance. You are going to marry some hot shot lawyer not someone who will probably not even get past high school," Chad said.

"You know they have deaf colleges," Gabriella said.

"So? Gabriella he's not like us," Chad told her.

"And what is us? Who are we?" Gabriella said.

"You know who we are. We are people that are going to get somewhere in life. You know the chances of him getting a high paying job slim to none. How will he people to manage people? He is going to be nothing and no one," Chad said as he pulled up in front of her house.

"You know Chad when I first got involved with troy he told me no one would understand. You know what I said? I said that my best friend Chad would. I said he would be happy I found someone I really liked. I guess I was wrong," she said as she got out of the car leaving Chad there speechless.

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As soon as she saw Troy later she started crying and it irritated her. She had been upset since Chad dropped her off and now it was seven that night and she was crying. She had been sitting next to her pool waiting for him and when he walked over to her she burst into tears. Gabriella didn't cry and for her to cry now when he could see her made her feel stupid. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap hugging her tightly against him. This did make her feel slightly better but it didn't get rid of the problem and that problem was the rest of the world. When she was done crying she pulled back and slide out of his waist instead sitting in front of him.

You want to talk about it?

I got in a fight.

Looks like you won. When he signed the she smiled much to his happiness.

A verbal fight not a real one.

With who?

Chad. You were right he does not understand at all. In fact he is a total ass.

Well I got into a fight with Robert if that makes you feel any better. He found this packet I got from one of my teachers about cochlear implants and he went off. He thinks you are brainwashing me.

What?

Yeah. He was highly upset with me but it does not matter.

Yes it does he is your best friend.

Chad is your best friend.

Yeah but he was being so ignorant and rude.

Yeah well I guess that is how people act when they don't understand something.

I just wish things did not have to be this hard.

Do you want to break up?

What are you crazy? Why do you want to break up with me?

No but your friends are fighting with you and I do not want to ruin your life and being with me seems to be doing that.

Yeah well if Robert is upset with you then your life is going to get difficult soon not that I did not see that coming.

What is that supposed to mean?

I see the way people at your school look at us and half of them think we are just friends. They do not like us being together because I am hearing and you are deaf.

That is not true.

Yes it is Troy whether you want to believe it or not. I see the dirty looks I get from people at your school. It all goes back to deaf pride and prejudice.

Gabriella that is not true.

Yes it is and I know you know it is.

Well it is not my fault. I can not help the looks people give you. I get looks all the time because I am deaf but I get over it.

Well I am not used to it. I am not used to people looking at me like I have done something wrong when what they see as wrong as us being together.

Do you think it is wrong?

No I do not and that is what makes it so hard.

Well I do not think it is wrong either. I think we should forget about everyone else. What do they matter anyway. I only need you. After he signed this and got back into his lap and hugged him tightly.

"But it does matter," she whispered against his chest knowing that he couldn't hear her doubts.

(A/N-Wicked long chapter. Originally I stopped after Chad dropped her off but I liked it better together. They are getting pulled in different directions and eventually after you get pulled for so long you are bound to snap. Please review!!)