Someone Different Chapter 14

After resolving their conflict, Emily and Ali focused on having fun the rest of the summer day camp. Ali would sometimes visit Emily at the summer day camp and some of the kids liked Emily's girlfriend. One day as the day camp was ending, one of the faculty advisors went up to Emily and signed, "Emily, come into my office later on, I need to discuss something with you.

Later on, Emily entered the office of Mrs. Finch, the faculty advisor.

"Emily, the reason I called you into the office is because one of the parents and a student body member complained about you kissing your girlfriend. I have no issues with gays and lesbians Emily. But like all communities, some are opposed to homosexuality. I hate to be strict, but I think it would be best if Ali didn't come back to the summer day camp." Mrs. Finch said.

Anger boiled up in Emily. She was upset that a couple of people in the deaf community were against her relationship with Ali.

She later went over to visit Ali at work. When Ali was on a break, she went outside of the coffee shop with Emily.

Emily said and signed, "A parent and a student complained about us kissing at the summer day camp. Mrs. Finch thinks it would be best that you didn't go back to visit me during work. I'm sorry Ali. It's makes me so mad that people in the deaf community are against our relationship too. "

"It's ok Em, it's not your fault. Eventually, somebody in that community would have given us a hard time. Your mom has come to accept us and I think that is what matters." Ali said.

Emily signed and said, "I know. But it still makes me upset that people connected to a disability would also hate others for being gay."

Ali said, "Maybe we could ask, Samara, Shana, or for help with this."

Emily nodded.

A few days later, Emily and Ali were meeting a gay and deaf man named Rob at Starbucks. Through talking to , Ali found out about his friend Rob. Mr. Jacobson contacted Rob to meet with the girls.

The girls watched as Rob came into the cafe. He had light brown hair, green eyes, and a slight tan. He appeared to be in his early 30s.

Mr. Jacobson sent him a picture of Emily and Ali.

He walked over to their table and signed and said "Hello."

Emily signed back to him, "Hello, it's nice to meet you Rob. I'm Emily and this is Ali."

Rob smiled.

Ali signed, "Nice to meet you."

Emily looked at Rob and signed, "Do you want to order a drink? The barista Toby knows sign language."

A look of relief formed on Rob's face and he signed, "I'll be right back."

Minutes later, Rob and the two girls were sipping on their coffee.

Emily signed to Rob, "It's good to finally meet another gay person who is also deaf. Do you have a boyfriend"

Rob signed back and said, "I have meet a few others that are deaf and one of them is my boyfriend Kyle. I understand the frustration you're having Emily. Trust me, there are some people in both the hearing and deaf worlds that are against gay people. Sometimes religion and other factors play into their thinking. Even in other disabled communities, there are prejudices against gay people. I wish things were better, but right now all we can do is focus on educating people and trying to get them not to hate us for being gay."

Ali signed to Rob, " How did you go deaf? Did your parents accept that you were gay right away?"

Rob said, " I got meningitis when I was three. My parents accepted me right away when I came out. But they have always been on the liberal side and they have had gay friends since before I was born."

Emily signed and said, "It took my mother awhile to accept me. She had issues with gay people for a long time and then when I came out, she was upset because I gay in addition to be being deaf. She has come around thanks in part to Ali's mother."

"How did you and Ali meet?" Rob asked.

Emily and Ali then both told Rob through signing and speaking about how they met and how their relationship started. They told them about Emily's cochlear implant surgery and other things.

Rob signed, "Even though, I just met you two. I think you two seem perfect each other.

Emily and Ali smiled at each other. Rob had been previously told about the incident at the summer day camp which lead to Ali not being asked to visit Emily again at work.

Rob advised them, "I'm sorry that Ali can't visit you. You two could challenge that. But I don't think it would be worth it. Since summer will be over in a few weeks. You and Ali are still very young and you two aren't married or are in a domestic partnership. People will continue not to think of your relationship as merit in certain situations. Right now, you have to prepared in case stuff like this happens. Sometimes you may be able to fight against discrimination, but others time you two might not be lucky because of your ages. If something ever comes up again, text me and I can try to be find ways to help.

Emily signed, "Thank you."

The summer day camp program ended two weeks later. Emily would have two more weeks of free time, before the new school year started. Today, Aria's parents and brother Mike would be arriving from New Zealand. She could tell the short brunette was excited to see them after being a year apart

Aria was packing up her things and Emily was helping her.

Pam later came up and signed to Aria, "Your parents just pulled up."

The girl then rushed downstairs and Emily and Pam followed behind.

They watched as Aria was hugging her parents. Then Aria's brother Mike signed, "I missed you."

Aria hugged him.

Pam in signing and speaking said, "Come into the kitchen for coffee and muffins."

The group filled into the kitchen table. Pam and Emily served them.

Ella in speaking and signing asked Aria, "How did you and Emily like the tour of Gallaudet?"

"I like it a lot and so did Emily. I'm actually thinking about going to Temple next year. " Aria signed.

Both Ella and Byron were surprised at the revelation. Byron was a bit happy, but he was worried.

He spoke directly to Aria so she could read his lips, "Are you sure about Temple? You have always been in deaf schools. Your mother and I did think about putting you in mainstream school years ago, but we didn't want you to be bullied or anything. If you don't want to go to Temple that is ok with me."

Aria spoke to her father, "I am serious about Temple. You know that they will accommodate me. I could take one of your classes."

Byron smiled and hugged his daughter.

Later on, the Montgomerys left the Fields home, before they left Byron and Ella thanked Pam for allowing Aria to stay with them.

A few days later, Emily, Spencer, Aria and Hanna got together at Aria's house for a sleepover. Aria thought about inviting Ali to the sleepover, but decided not to. She wanted the sleepover to be for the friends.

Spencer brought over wine and some other booze.

Spencer signed, "I can't believe senior year is about to start soon. We have been through a lot over years. I'm start to worry about the future. I worry about me and Toby. He is two years older than me and he is about to finish up trade school and I'm still deciding on college. I really want to go to Gallaudet."

Emily signed, "I know what you mean. I don't know about college yet and I don't want to break up or be apart from Ali."

Hanna stayed quiet on the subject. Both she and Caleb made the decision to attend college at Gallaudet. Since both of them were deaf, in a way it made certain things or decisions easier. She felt bad in way for Spencer and Emily because their futures with their significant others weren't clear.

Aria faced Spencer and Hanna and signed, "I already told Emily this. But I'm thinking about staying here in Philadelphia and attending Temple. I want to experience a different kind of education setting and plus I can be closer to my dad and I can take some of this classes."

Spencer and Hanna were a bit shocked.

Hanna signed, "Aren't you scared of the hearing community? You will have a hard time fitting in, you know that."

Aria signed, "I know. But maybe I need to try a change. Ali has encouraged Emily to consider other colleges and be apart of the hearing world more. That inspired me a bit. Maybe you and Caleb could go off to non-deaf school."

Hanna signed, "No" right away. Hanna in some ways feared the hearing world more than the other girls. She feared more in part because her mother was also deaf.

Spencer decided to change the subject because she could tell that her friends were all worried about the future. Aria was the only one who had never had a significant other and that was because she felt her disability was a turn off and she was still avoiding asking Jake out on a date.

The girls then played some board games, one was a special Scrabble game that used the ASL alphabet on the tiles. Eventually they fell asleep. The next morning, they awoke slowly. Hanna noticed small pebbles hitting the bedroom window.

She signed to the other girls, "Someone is trying to get our attention."

They went to the window and looked down and saw Ali smiling up at Emily.

Author's Note: The next update might not be for another few days.