Violet's Pov:

I was lost in thought while we walked. Nervous about meeting with my family members which felt more like an executive meeting that I had to ace or I would lose my job. But I was thankful that Clem had asked to walk me home. Our hands slightly swung between us as I held onto hers.

I think she could tell I felt uneasy because she let me zone out and have my space. But I couldn't ease the harsh beating of my heart as we neared my house. I could see my driveway from where we were and the red minivan parked there told me that my aunt was already here.

Just as we were about to step onto the porch, I stopped dead in my tracks, pulling on Clementine's arm with a slight tug. Clem turned back to look at me. "What's wrong babe?"

I bit my lip for a few seconds wondering how to put it. "What if they don't like me?" I signed to her.

"What?" Clem asked me puzzled. "What do you mean?"

I bit my lip again. Maybe that wasn't the way to put it. I tried again. "What if everyone thinks I'm weird or that something's wrong with me?" I looked down at my purple shoes. "No one understands me like you."

I felt Clem grab my hands in hers. "Violet, there your family. They love you no matter what."

I still didn't look up at her, still uncertain about entering my house. But Clem reached up and brushed my cheek with her hand before cupping it. "And if they don't like you then there the weird ones. They'd be crazy not to like you." Then she leaned in and our lips met in a quick peck. "Because I sure do." She grabbed my hand again. "I like you a lot, Violet."

I felt my face flush at her words and I knew my cheeks were dusted pink. I didn't have the nerve to sign 'I like you back.' So instead I went to lean up and pecked her on the cheek. But I was surprised when Clem stopped me.

"But it's not just that." She grabbed my hand. "It doesn't matter that you can't talk Vi, you know why?"

I shook my head no and she chuckled at me. "In all honesty, you talk to me all the time."

I stared at her baffled. I don't talk to her. I can barely say I love you. How could I talk to her?

I think she could see my confusion for next she said. "Violet you speak a thousand words in everything you do. And you don't have to talk for me to hear it. I could never explain what I hear when you don't say a thing. The smile on your face lets me know that you need me." She reached up and caressed my cheek. "There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me. The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall." She brushed my bangs out of my eyes and cupped my cheek, pulling us inches from one another. "You say your best...when you say nothing at all." Then she kissed me soft and slow.

When she pulled away I had tears in my eyes. I didn't give her the chance to pull away fully before I wrapped my arms around her neck in a hug. A few tears dripped from my eyes as she hugged back. She was the most thoughtful and amazing girl in the entire world and she was all mine.

We pulled away and I brushed the tears from my eyes. Clementine smiled at me before looking at the front door. "You ready?"

I took in a deep breath before letting it out and I nodded. This was it. No going back now.

I approached the steps and pushed open the door to my house. First thing I noticed was chatter coming down the hall from the kitchen. I stopped halfway down the hall knowing there was more than just my mom in there. But Clem put her hand on my shoulder and urged me on.

I walked into the kitchen and the first person to see me was my mom. "Violet! You're back."

That's when the person she was talking to turned around to look at me. "Violet!? Is that really you?"

My aunt Marisa.

"Come give your aunt a hug!" She said to me with a huge smile on her face and arms open wide. I didn't really want to but I complied anyway and gave her a hug.

Marisa then let go of me and took a step back admiring my form. "Just look at you dear, so grown up. I think the last time I saw you, you couldn't have been more than this tall." She says as she holds up her hand about waist high.

Marisa was my mom's sister. But she lived down in Florida so we didn't see her much being from Virginia. She was sweet but she could be a bit much at times. Plus last time I saw her I wasn't mute.

"It's been forever, dear. How are you?" She asked me.

I wasn't quite sure what to do, so I gave her a thumbs up along with a sheepish smile. Though I think my aunt seemed puzzled by this.

But she waved me off. "Oh don't be shy Violet. Tell me, how is school going?"

"I guess she doesn't understand." I thought.

I gave her another thumbs up to answer her question, not sure how she would take.

I could see confusion cross her face at this. "Something the matter dear?"

I wasn't quite sure how to explain, but that's when my other half stepped in. "Violet's not much of a talker," Clem explained hugging me by the shoulders.

That's when I saw my mom's face light up. "Marisa, this is Violet's girlfriend. Clementine."

"Hello. Nice to meet you." Clem said with her hand extended.

Marisa smiled and shook her hand delighted in meeting someone new. "Hello dear. How are you?"

"I'm good, thank you," Clem replied.

"Glad to see you're not as shy as Violet here." Marisa joked.

I was a bit hurt by her comment though. She was just passing it off as shyness when I really couldn't talk.

I think my mom could see how uncomfortable I was and she quickly changed the subject. "Marisa? Why don't you call the kids inside? I'm sure they'd love to see their cousin."

"Oh my, Stephanie, you're absolutely right." And she proceeded to walk towards the back door.

"Oh no!"

She was getting her kids. Layke, Tidus, and Milli. All three were triplets around eight years old. Three devils more like it. They always seemed to cause trouble wherever they went.

I could hear arguing happening as the back door was opened and Marisa calling to the kids. Then in walked two boys with dark brown hair and a girl with blonde curls.

The argument ceased once they stood in front of me and Clem, but looks of agitation still hung on their faces as if an argument could break back out any minute.

"Layke, Tidus, Milli? This is your cousin Violet and her girlfriend Clementine." Marisa explained.

The boy on the end, Tidus I think, laughed. "You have a girlfriend." And I could hear the other two snicker at his comment.

I gave Clem a puzzled look. What was wrong with having a girlfriend?

"Oh don't mind them, Violet. They're just kids." Marisa waved their behavior off. "Why don't you go show them your room. I'm sure y'all will have lots of fun together."

"And Clem, you're welcome to stay as well," Stephanie added.

I didn't really want three eight-year-olds in my room and rummaging through my stuff, but I couldn't go against the adult wishes. So reluctantly, I led the way up the stairs.

Stopping at my door, I heard Milli say, "I like the stickers on your door."

I turned around and smiled at her as a sign of thanks. But then Layke said, "Yeah, you would like that."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Milli shot back. And it just started a whole new squabble of arguing.

I sighed and opened the door. Flipping on the light switch as I went. The triplets seemed to quiet down as they were let into the room. Each of them exploring a different thing.

Milli noticed my little table with pieces of paper and pencils on it. She asked me if she could draw something and I nodded yes.

Layke, however, noticed the stuffed animals on my bed. I was worried that he'd pick up Clover, but instead, he grabbed a stuffed dog. "Hey, Tidus! Think fast!" He yelled. And he threw the dog at his brother, hitting him in the shoulder.

"Hey!" Yelled Tidus. "No fair!" And he threw the dog back at Layke, who was laughing.

Layke threw it back and reached for another one. Thankfully he missed Clover and found the other bear that Louis had bought me.

Tidus was about to mount a counter-attack, but that's when he noticed something else. "Whoa! No way!" He said and he dropped the dog. "You have a rabbit." And he rushed over to the cage.

Layke and Milli soon followed suit and the triplets surrounded the cage asking a million questions. But the biggest one was, "Can we pet it?"

I nodded and opened the cage, allowing them to stick their hands in and pet the rabbit.

"What's his name?" Tidus asked me.

Luckily Clem came up behind me and answered for me. "His name is Woody."

"Hi, Woody," Milli said as she stroked his ears. "You're so cute."

I smiled at this. Glad to see that the kids had finally calmed down and were all happy and focused on something else besides arguing.

That's when I signed to Clem, "See if they want to give him a treat."

She smiled and nodded and asked the kids, who gladly said yes. While Clem gave each of them a rabbit treat dipped in yogurt, I picked up all the toys from the floor and put them back on my bed.

Then while the kids fed Woody I signed something to Clem. "I'm glad they've all calmed down."

But before Clem could respond Layke jumped in. "What are you doing?"

I guess he had caught me doing sign language.

"Yeah! And how come you don't talk?" Added Tidus.

Uh oh. Now my back was against the wall. I quickly signed something to Clem, telling her to explain.

"You're being weird," Tidus said to me.

I saw Milli whisper something into Layke's ear, to which he giggled. "Hey guys, I can do that too." And he started moving his hands in some weird way and both Tidus and Milli laughed.

I looked at my shoes embarrassed. They were making fun of me and it was hurting my feelings.

"Alright, that's enough!" Clem snapped. "It's not funny to be making fun of someone who can't talk."

"Oh yeah," Tidus shot back. "Then why can't she talk? And why does she do that thing with her hands? It's creepy and weird."

I blushed harder out of embarrassment, not taking my eyes off of my shoes. Was I really that weird?

Clem shook her head. "It's called sign language. It's for people who can't talk or can't hear. And it's not weird. It's perfectly normal. You should be ashamed of yourselves for making fun of Violet. She's your cousin and it's very rude and mean to make fun of someone with a disability."

"You're mean," Layke said to Clem. "We were just having some fun."

"Well, it's not funny to be making fun of people."

"Whatever," Layke said with an eye roll. "Let's go guys." And with that, the three of them left the room. Clem glared at them the whole way out until Tidus slammed the door shut.

Then Clementine turned her attention to me. "Are you okay?"

I looked up with tears in my eyes. "Am I really that weird?" I signed.

Clem shook her head. "No, baby of course not."

A few tears slipped out and ran down my cheek. And Clem brought me in for a hug. "Don't listen to them. They're rude and immature. Don't ever listen to anyone who tries to put you down. You're the most amazing girl in the world Violet. Don't you ever forget that."

I still looked down at my purple converses when we pulled apart. "Hey," Clem lifted my chin with her hand and then gently kissed my lips. "I love you."

I let a small smile cross my face and I made a heart with my hands as a way to say it back.

Clem smiled and tucked a strand of blue and blonde hair behind my ear. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to tell your mom what happened."

I smiled at her and nodded. Though I wasn't sure how I was going to survive a week of this.