Kaz:

Things had been going well in the Fahey house. I have been here for almost a month, which is longer than I've stayed anywhere else besides Per Haskell's club. I decided to set the goal to talk to Jesper one of these days. Sure, I would probably chicken out. Or freak Jesper out, but I figured I'd at least give it a shot.

I woke up at 6:07 this morning after going to bed at 5:56. So not much sleep, but enough for me, and not enough for the nightmares to take over. I think Colm was getting suspicious of how much sleep I had been getting. I usually played off as I was pale and dark circles under my eyes were normal. He did not push much harder.

That's what I liked about Colm, he was chill, and respected boundaries. I had only said a few words to him, usually leading to, or in a panic attack, so I don't think we can count those.

Anyways, I walk downstairs, to be met with only Jesper in the kitchen. There was a note on the fridge about Nina and Colm going to one of her Doctor appointments.

"Good morning Kaz!" Jesper said enthusiastically. I usually would hate the enthusiasm, but I was in a decent mood.

"morning." I mumble, barely audible to anyone but myself.

"Yeah, so today- Wait! You talked!" Jesper screamed, I tried to suppress my flinch. "Sorry, I'm just so excited!"

I nodded back, deciding that's all the talking I wanted to do. Well, more of my voice wanted to do. I walked over to grab a bagel and put it in the toaster. I had started to feel comfortable in the Fahey house, maybe even part of their family. That was dangerous.

"So, I invited Wylan and Inej over today." Casually states Jesper. Since I arrived no one had been at the house besides the people that live here. I force down my revolt of having to meet new people and sign 'ok' at a Jesper.

"They'll be here any minute." He says getting up and moving to the living room so that he can hear the door.

I finish about of my bagle then decide that's enough and move to sit by jesper to watch TV. Pretty soon after that there is a knock and someone yelling Jespers name from the other side. He quickly jumps up and opens the door.

Standing there is a short red headed boy, with a soft aesthetic, he looks about 14 but I'm assuming he's closer to our age. Behind him is a Suli girl, who is the most beautiful person I've ever seen. She is around 5'2 and with long hair that reaches her knees.

"Jes!" The Boy leans in to kiss Jesper. Must be Wylan I think to myself. "You must be Kaz, I've heard alot about you." Jesper must have told them about me, now I gotta determine what he has told them.

Based on the fact that neither of them go to shake my hand, or expect verbal responses, they know I don't touch people, and I am not verbal. I guess it's better than the awkward confrontation of, 'why won't you talk to me or shake my hand.'

"So, what do you guys wanna do?" The girl asks.

"Ooh, I forgot to introduce you!" Recalls Jesper, "this is my boyfriend Wylan, and my BFF Inej!" Jesper informs.

I nod my head and bow it a hit, then sign 'do you know sign language'. Both look at me in confusion. Looks like I'll be talking to myself.

They soon put on Heartstopper, so I decided to sit there and watch. Jesper had Wylan practically top of him, a little too much PDA if you ask me, but it's not like I could say anything about it. It looked like Inej had thought the same thing.

She and I were on the actual couch. Since Jes and wylan were on the recliner. I had scooted away so I was almost on the armrest and she had done almost the same thing. I felt some kind of mental attraction towards her, like I wanted to get to know her and become friends, I had never felt like that before. It was weird.

Wylan and Inej left after the movie, so we were left to clean up the popcorn and blankets, all used or eaten by everyone but me. I still decided to help so I wouldn't get in trouble.

"You seemed to like Inej." Jesper said in a suspecting voice. I pretended not to know what he was insinuating. Obviously he thought I thought of Inej romantically, since he was Jesper "the hopeless romantic" Fahey. I clearly only wanted to be her friend, right?

I settled on shrugging my shoulders since Jesper doesn't know sign language. I left to go put the dishes in the dishwasher before Colm gets home. As I close it Nina and him walk through the door.

"Hello?" Me and Jes both make it known that we're here by peeking out so that we are visible from the kitchen. I hadn't even noticed Jesper had been in the same room as me. I was getting comfortable, too comfortable.

"Hey, you ate popcorn without me! Thats almost as bad a waffles." Nina says fake offended.

"Who says we didn't eat waffles without you and hid the evidence." Jesper says, trying to keep the joke going.

"Wowwww! Y'know what, you're no longer my brother!" Nina says in a scary good impression of a soap opera character. They both know their joking, since that's what they both do 95% of the time. I didn't mind though, it was entertaining.

"*gasp* noooooo!" Jesper can't get through the whole line without bursting out laughing, soon followed by Nina. I smile a little, but not enough to be noticeable.

"Do I even want to know?" Colm says, entering the room.

"Probably not," Nina replies in between gasps for air. I walk over to the table to sit down, the tapping of my cane announcing wherever I go.

"Ooh, that reminds me!" Jesper yells.

"What reminds you?" Nina says as though Jespers thoughts just come out. Though that probably wouldn't be too far off.

"The clicking of the cane." Jesper answers, "Kaz talked to me today!" Jesper says as if it's his own achievement.

"Really, is that so?" Colm looks at me with 'proud parent eyes' as I like to call them. Usually I would be annoyed, but for some reason this made me proud of talking. "What'd he say?" Colm interrupts my thoughts.

"Well I said, good morning Kaz, and then he replied Morning which is more than I've heard Kazzle Dazzle talk when not in a panic attack!" Jesper replies. I wince and the nickname.

"Kazzle dazzle???" Nina replies practically reading my mind.

"I don't know," Jesper responds. At Least now I know his thoughts kinda just fly in through his ear and out through his mouth.

"Well, why don't we have waffles for dinner, and have another family game night?" Colm suggests.

"WAFFLES!" Nina and Jes almost scream in sync.

Colm looks over at me and I force myself to let out a little, "Ok." I'm met with multiple big smiles and it looks like Nina and Jesper are trying to hug me with their eyes.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to let my guard down.