I came up with this idea a few hours ago and just had to write it down! aaaahhhh I love these two so much afsfgdgafd!
She didn't even realise what had happened until she was on the floor, her textbook and papers scattered all around her.
She rubbed her head as she started to pick herself, and her books, up from the floor.
"Don't you watch where you're going?" She spat at the other person that she had knocked heads with and who had sent them both to the floor. "Are you blind?"
She glared over at the other person, who didn't respond as they gathered the loose pieces of paper for her. When they finally looked up at her, the young boy sent her a sheepish smile as he handed over the crinkled pieces of paper.
She was about to yell at him again about how her pages were now bent and her books were soggy from the wet ground, but then he rubbed his hand against his chest, and the fire was gone from her.
"Oh. Sorry." She quickly stood up and turned away, feeling embarrassed and ready to just walk away and forget the whole thing, or hope that the ground swallowed her up first.
But then she felt a hand on her arm stop her, and she hesitantly turned around to find that same boy smiling at her.
His hands then started to move quickly in what was most definitely sign language, but she didn't have a single idea of what he could be saying.
"I'm sorry," she shook her head, hoping that he would understand her confusion. "I don't-"
He paused in his movements, and seemed to think for a moment. Then held a finger up as he reached into his pocket, and pulled out his phone.
Penelope waited as he typed something into his phone, and then he spun the screen around and held the phone out to her so she could see what was on it.
He had the notes app opened, and on it there was a message.
I'm looking for my brother - John Tracy?
She glanced back up at him, to his hopeful little puppy dog eyes that definitely did not make her heart flutter.
"Yes, I know him. I can take you to his dorm room." She gestured for him to follow so he understood, and his smile grew even wider as he quickly fell into a step beside her.
She was as stiff as a board as she made her way across the campus. She clutched her books to her chest and pointedly didn't look at the other boy who didn't leave her side. She was always collected and never nervous, so she didn't understand why just his presence was having this effect on her. Maybe she hit her head harder than she'd thought.
She could see him looking around at the campus and old architecture of the buildings as they walked, and more than once he stopped to take a photo before he hurried to catch her up.
It was the longest walk across campus she had taken, but eventually they reached John's building and, finally, John's room.
"This is John's room." She turned to the other boy as she pointed to the door they were standing in front of.
He looked between her and the door a couple of times, before he lifted his hand to his chin.
Thank you. At least that one she knew.
She didn't know how to sign you're welcome though, so she hoped the nod and small smile she gave him sufficed.
The young man then turned to the door and knocked a couple of times. Several moments later, it opened and John stood in the doorway.
"Gordon! I didn't realise you were here yet, or I would have come and found you." Whilst John spoke, he signed along with his words.
The boy, Gordon, then said something back, and Penelope felt her heart stutter when he pointed at her.
Probably just telling John how I showed him the way, she thought, but then Gordon pointed to her again, and John spluttered.
"No, she's not," he said quickly as he rapidly shook his head, and a small sound left Gordon as he laughed.
Penelope squirmed on the spot, knowing they were definitely talking about her now.
"What did he say?" She asked as Gordon moved past John into the dorm room, whilst John stayed in the doorway.
"He asked if you were my girlfriend."
Penelope felt her cheeks go read, and she clutched her books tighter. She shouldn't have cared, many other people had failed to believe the two of them could just be good friends and they had learned to just ignore them, but for some reason she felt different in that moment.
"He's your brother then?" She tried to change the subject so the attention was off her.
John had told her he had four brothers, but hadn't told her much more than that. She didn't even know he was fluent in sign language.
"Yeah, this is Gordon." John pointed to his brother. "And, Gordon," he caught his brother's attention, who was still watching the conversation intently from inside the dorm room, "this is Penelope."
Gordon waved at her and then signed something, and from what she had seen John sign, she could tell he was signing her name.
Penelope flushed again, and then waved as well, now formally introduced to the boy.
The conversation grew quiet after that, and she took that as her cue to leave.
"I'll leave the two of you to it then," she said to John, and turned to go, but paused. She sent one last look to Gordon. "It was nice to meet you, Gordon."
John translated for her, and then without another word, she headed off down the hallway.
She only made it around the corner before she collapsed against the wall and buried her face in one hand and groaned.
She felt like an idiot. Her cheeks were burning. All she could see were those brown eyes and that adorable smile as she squeezed her own eyes shut and tried to contain the squeal.
This was definitely not going to be good for her.
I hope you enjoyed!