A/N: here's the second chapter! Thanks for reading :)

EV: thank you so much for leaving a review. I really appreciate it.

I never really liked Mondays, but that sort of changed when the new school year started last week. Lucy, my favorite teacher ever, is back from her maternity leave and her classes are scheduled on Mondays. Plus, I really don't mind the fact that I only have two classes on the first day of the week, I mean… it's the first day after the weekend okay? Everyone hates Mondays.

I shuffled through the hall, walked around the corner and glanced through the window of classroom 104. She is sitting behind her desk, thirty minutes early, just like she promised. I reached for the door handle and slowly opened the door, holding my breath as I stepped inside. She snapped her head up and her green eyes peered into mine as she gave me a sweet smile.

"Hey, you're on time!" she said, her face full of surprise, and I instantly felt sad, because I would never find out what that voice sounds like. It must sound very confident and warm, just like her personality. "Come in Cosima."

I've known her since my freshman year and she's everything I want to be when I'm twenty-eight myself. A brilliant biologist, who loves teaching annoying and lazy high school students on Mondays. My father used to teach her when she was a student at Berkeley and he still remembers her as a hardworking and disciplined student. God, I really look up to this woman, it's almost embarrassing.

I placed my leather backpack on the floor and pulled out my biology textbook, a notebook and a pen before I sat down at the table in front of her desk.

"Do you have any questions about today's topic before class starts? Did you come across new words you don't know how to pronounce?"

I shook my head and opened my textbook, flipping the pages until I reached chapter 9.

"Well that's great. Are you gonna tell me if you do have trouble pronouncing some of the words? It's nothing to be ashamed of. The book is pretty detailed and profound."

"I'm just going to avoid saying those words then," I answered, signing while I spoke.

"You can't avoid it when you're a biology student at Berkeley."

I could feel my face heat up and I quickly focused my eyes on the book. Lucy immediately touched my hand to get my attention and gave me a reassuring smile when I met her gaze again.

"Okay," I whispered. "I did find some unfamiliar words, but I think I know how to pronounce them."

"That's good, you're so smart. How was your weekend by the way?"

"M..my weekend?" I stammered, remembering by parents' barbecue. She used to ask me that question every Monday before she had her baby. She's looking after me since the first day of high school and I feel so safe and welcome around her. I tell her everything about my life and she seems to be okay with that.

"Yes? How was your father's party?"

"It was allright. My parents invited a new employee and he brought his daughter with him."

"His daughter?"

"Yes, because they're still determined to find me a female friend," I signed, rolling my eyes. "It's getting a little pathetic now."

"That's nice of them Cosima, they worry about you."

"I know, but it's embarrassing. I'm not a child."

"But don't you think it would be nice? To have a female friend?"

"I don't care," I shrugged. "Scott is my friend."

"Yes he is, but you can't really talk about girl stuff with Scott right?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know," she laughed, squeezing my hand. "Clothes? Makeup? Feelings? Physical changes? Boys?"

"Ugh," I groaned, shaking my head. "Sounds boring."

"Okay then, tell me more about that girl at your dad's party."

"Oh, yeah it was Delphine. Super humiliating at first, but she talked to me eventually."

"Delphine? That new student from France?"

"Yes. She was so nice to me, she met Pegasus and I showed her my room. She really liked my ceiling too."

"Hmm," she smiled. "Why are you blushing?"

"I AM NOT…" I gasped, touching my own face. My cheeks feel warm and I began to blush even harder.

"It's okay Cosima."

"What is okay?! What are you implying Lucy?!" I practically shouted, my hands flying through the air. I suddenly feel like a threatened animal, locked up in a cage, while his trainer pokes him in the ribs with sticks.

"I am not implying anything Cosima! I only asked you why you're blushing. And don't shout at me, I know you see me as your friend, but I'm still your teacher."

"Sorry," I whispered, averting my eyes. "We're not friends? You talk to me and you show interest in my life."

"I am like a mentor to you," she smiled. "You can tell me everything and we can talk about if you want to."

"So, you're my therapist at school?"

"If that's what you wanna call it."

I let out a huff and couldn't help but feel a little rejected. I am convinced she was implying something when she asked me that question. Delphine was just being nice to me at the barbecue and I was too excited because I never really speak to anyone my own age, except for Scott. Yes, it felt good to lie down next to her when we were talking on my bed and yes, she's gorgeous and I can totally understand that the boys in my class are practically drooling over her whenever she enters the classroom, but that doesn't mean I am drooling over her too. I am not interested in her that way… I think.

I've been questioning my sexuality since last Christmas. My parents took me to the Seychelles to celebrate the holidays together and that's when I kind of met Carmen, a beautiful girl from Spain with blonde hair, green eyes and a tanned skin. She looked absolutely perfect in her pink bikini and I spent every morning at the swimming pool, staring at her from my lounge chair. We never spoke to each other, we only locked eyes once, but she made me feel things I had never felt before. I've never experienced anything like that again, so maybe Carmen was just very mysterious and it didn't mean anything.

"Lucy?" I whispered, my bottom lip trembling as I felt a wave of shame crawling up my spine.

"Yes?"

"I am not gay okay? I'm not into girls."

"I didn't say that Cosima."

"I've never had a crush on a girl."

"What about boys?" she asked, looking at me with a serious expression on her face. "Have you ever been in love with a boy?"

"No, but that doesn't automatically mean I like girls. My mom says I'm a late bloomer Lucy. I enjoy reading books and playing games with Scott. I'm not interested in boys yet."

"Okay," she smiled, standing up to open the door. A few of my classmates entered the classroom, talking to each other as they walked past my table without looking at me. I wonder how Delphine is going to act today. The seat next to me is free… maybe she's gonna sit… oh my God. There she is. My eyes traveled up her impossibly long legs, taking in the bare flesh of her calves and thighs. The jeans shorts she's wearing make her legs look even longer. Her blonde curls are bouncing around her shoulders and the white color of her hoodie makes her skin look tanned. I swear this girl is a reincarnation of Helen of Sparta herself. Holy watershed.

Our eyes met for a split second and I curled the corners of my mouth into a smile, but she quickly looked away and walked past my table without acknowledging me. Damn! Maybe I made her feel uncomfortable when we fell asleep together. Maybe she's embarrassed for spending time with me? Maybe her new friends don't approve of our… friendship. If you can even call it a friendship after just one night.

The hour flew by and I could only think of Delphine. I can tell she's staring at me. One of the benefits of being deaf is a strong development of the other senses, and I can feel her eyes burning into my back. I shifted my attention to Lucy, forcing myself to focus on her lips.

"Okay class. We're going to do a biology experiment, an experiment with ants you can do at home. I am asking you to team up with someone and build your own ant farm together. I want you to take notes about their behavior and communication for the next six weeks. Try to experiment with temperature, food, light and whatever you can come up with. Every duo will present their findings to another duo in October."

I froze in my seat as bile crept up my throat. Duos… right. I can tell from experience that nobody wants to be on my team, so I guess I'll have to do this experiment by myself… again.

"Okay we have 24 people in this class now that Delphine joined us, which means no one has to do this experiment alone."

Shit. No, no, please. This is not happening. She can't be serious.

"You're all old and wise enough to form duos without my help, but Delphine you're new and I want you to team up with Cosima."

I swallowed thickly while my heart slammed against my ribcage, making me physically ill. I really want to become friends with Delphine, but I don't want her to feel pressured.

"No Lizzie! Delphine is forming a duo with Cosima. End of discussion," Lucy said, locking her eyes on mine.

I slowly turned around and looked at Lizzie, who was articulating so clearly that I could read her lips from miles away.

"But Cosima is a mute! She hasn't said a word in two years. How do you expect Delphine to work with her?"

I quickly turned around again, staring at my biology textbook as I tried to push back tears. I did my best to ignore the heated argument between Lucy and Lizzie, thinking of my horse, Delphine's smile, the growing vegetables in my garden, Delphine's smile, my trip to Istanbul with my mother, Delphine's smile, until a soft hand touched my bare arm, making me jump in my seat.

The girl that's been constantly on my mind since Saturday night sat down next to me, holding a plastic box in her hands.

"So, this is for our ant farm," she smiled. "You don't have to talk back if you don't feel comfortable speaking right now."

I felt immensely grateful for her thoughtful suggestion and I couldn't contain the smile that was forming on my face.

"Look Delphine, you can work with Lizzie. You don't have to form a team with me if you don't want to," I whispered, trying to keep my hands still, which didn't feel natural at all.

"No. I want to work with you. I was going to ask you."

"Really?"

"Yes."

I can't describe the feeling that's swirling through my chest, my heart is fluttering and the smile on my face is so big that it literally hurts.

"Where do we get the ants?" she asked, tucking her hair behind her ears.

"I guess we have to catch them ourselves," I whispered, pushing my book into my backpack. "I've done it once when I was like six."

"So, you're gonna catch an ant colony and fill this box with sand?"

I let out a soft chuckle and took the box from her hands.

"And what's your contribution to this experiment mademoiselle Cormier?"

I instantly felt insecure, blushing furiously. I don't even know how to pronounce that French word, but it tumbled from my lips before I knew it.

"Nothing," she laughed, ignoring my horrible pronunciation and embarrassment. "You're the ant expert here."

I groaned and rolled my eyes at her before I flashed her a toothy grin.

"Do you…" I began, feeling incredibly awkward. "Do you wanna come over to my place after school? To fill this box together?"

"Of course, but I need to go home first. I promised Jane to water her plants."

"Sure, no problem. I wonder if they found someone to replace Mrs. Jackson today."

"To teach History?"

"Yes."

"Kate just told me that they've found someone. I didn't know you're in that class too."

She stood up and swung her backpack over her shoulder, carrying the box under her left arm.

"I'll see you there Cosima."

I wonder where they dug up the ancient fossil that's standing beside the digital screen, trying to figure out how it works. He's from a time where they used a chalkboard and crayons to teach kids, that's how old he is. His age makes him the perfect person to teach History, it's kind of funny to be honest.

I'm sitting alone again, in front of the teacher's desk. I secretly hoped that Delphine would sit down next to me, but she's sitting with her new friends, and I can't blame her of course. She likes them, she's new, they like her, and they welcomed her into their social group. God, I really need to stop thinking about her. I don't know why my brain is so interested in Delphine.

I quickly focused my gaze on the teacher, whose name I hadn't catched when he introduced himself. He has a moustache and a beard, which makes it impossible for me to read his lips. He's telling a story about Napoleon and he's completely into it, his hands are flying through the air and his eyes don't meet mine, making it even harder for me to keep up with the story. His hands are confusing my brain, gesturing wildly, but it doesn't make any sense. It's as if he's speaking my language with a thick and heavy accent. You're trying to understand every word that this person is saying, but it sounds so different that you can't figure it out. I gave up after fifteen minutes and decided to do some self-study about Napeleon at home. I grabbed my mythology book out of my backpack, allowing myself to step into another world.

I was so caught up in my book that I almost screamed when the man slammed his fist on my table. He was so close to my face that I could smell his breath and count the wrinkles on his angry face.

"You're not listening are you? I told you to repeat my words," he growled, his lips were so close, that I could read them easily. I gaped at him, my eyes wide as my heart began to beat wildly. Repeat his words? No, no, please, no. He snatched the book out of my hands, his face growing red with anger.

"You're reading a book! I'm hired to teach you something about history dammit! Your behavior is so disrespectful young lady!"

I wanted to apologize, explain that I couldn't hear and couldn't read his lips because of his excessive facial hair, but nothing came out of my mouth. I was completely paralyzed and frozen in my seat.

"Get out! Meet me after class, so you can write me an essay about Napoleon."

My body began to tremble and tears started to flow down my cheeks. Detention? Me? This can't be real. I think I'm having a nightmare and I can't wake up… I'm sure I'm tossing and turning in my bed right now.

"GET OUT!" he shouted, causing me to cry harder. I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle the sobs that escaped my throat, feeling extremely humiliated. I slowly rose from my seat, stuffed my book in my backpack and ran towards to door, locking my eyes on Delphine's hazel ones. She was as white as a sheet, staring at me with a shocked expression on her face. The other kids where whispering to each other, and I hastily left the classroom, slamming the door behind me.

"Here you go," my mom smiled, handing me a cup of tea. "Dad's gonna call Lucy tonight."

"Why?"

"Because it's her job as your mentor to inform the other teachers about your disability honey."

I cringed in my seat when my mom signed the word that I hate so much. I can tell she's doing her best not to cry. My mom worries the most about me, treats me like a child sometimes and is very protective, whereas my dad thinks I should be a little more assertive, he lets me solve my own issues and treats me like a full-grown adult. I know I'm very intelligent, but I'm not an adult yet and he seems to forget that sometimes.

"I'm not going to call her Sally, Cosima is old enough to talk to this guy herself. He'll understand if she just explains. He'll also forgive her for not meeting him after class."

"Gene, look how upset she is! You know she hates talking to strangers."

"Exactly, and that's why she needs to do this herself. She'll graduate next year Sal. I'm not going to call her professors at Berkeley when Cosima is upset because of something they said."

"Gene, I can't…"

"STOP IT!" I screamed, surprising myself and my parents. "Let's not argue about this okay? It's just a stupid miscommunication between him, Lucy and me. I don't want us to fight. Delphine will be here soon… I think."

"Delphine?" my mom said with a surprised look on her face. "How nice is that sweetheart! Is she staying for dinner too?"

"No mom, let's not overwhelm her okay? I don't want to screw this up."

"You're not going to screw up Cosima," she signed, tears of joy filling her eyes. "You're such a sweet girl. I'm sure she wants to be your friend."

"Hmm I don't know," I shrugged, not fully convinced. "Can we use the lab? Lucy gave us an experiment to work on."

"Oh… is that the reason why she's coming over?" she gestured, her smile faltering.

"Yes? Why?"

"Nothing honey," she said, putting on a fake smile. "Of course you girls can use the lab."

I stood up from the couch, climbing the stairs before I entered my room. I looked at myself in the mirror and quickly decided that my outfit wasn't very flattering, so I replaced my jeans for a maxi-skirt and grabbed another bra from my drawer, one that makes my breasts look a little bigger. I unfastened the bra I was wearing and threw it on the bed before I put on the other one. I was just fastening the clasp behind my back when the door of my bedroom slowly opened. A soft gasp escaped my mouth and a furious flush spread across my face when I saw Delphine standing in the doorway.

"Oh my God," she gasped, blushing too. "I'm so sorry. Your mom said I could go upstairs, I knocked and called your name, but you didn't respond."

"It's fine Delphine. Don't worry about it."

"Do you want me to wait outside until you're finished?"

I wonder what her voice sounds like, her lips are so full and glossy. She must have a very elegant way of speaking, like she sings every word that comes out of her mouth.

"Cosima?"

"Ehm… no, we're both girls right? Just sit down on my bed if you want. Gimme two seconds."

I hastily put on a black tank top and tried to calm my racing heart. Was she staring at my bra or was I imagining it? Oh my God, why is this so awkward?

"Cosima," she said, touching my wrist to get my attention. "Are you okay?"

"Sure."

"I hope you're not going to be mad at me, but I told Mr. Davis the reason why you didn't pay attention to his story."

My eyes grew wide and I swallowed back another round of tears.

"You did what?" I huffed, clenching my fists in anger. "Delphine, this will give them another reason to bully me."

"Them? Who? What are you talking about?"

"Your new friends," I accused, gesturing wildly. "No one knows I'm deaf Delphine, and I desperately tried to keep it that way."

"Cosima…"

"No!" I cut her off, digging my nails into my palms. "You had no right."

"I didn't tell the others. I walked up to him when class was over and everyone already left. Don't worry okay? He's not mad at you, he even feels a little guilty for shouting in your face."

"Oh," I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and wanted to hug her, but I felt too nervous and didn't want to ruin our budding friendship. "Sorry."

"It's fine. I get it," she smiled, standing up from my bed before she picked up the plastic box. "Let's go outside to catch an ant colony okay?"

"Hmm," I hummed in agreement, following her out of my room, feeling incredibly happy while my entire body tingled from head to toe.