Making a Play

by Abbi Glines

  I nodded. We hadn’t exactly met. I signed, “Do you know Ryker?”

  She paused midstep, and an unsure frown touched her face. “Ryker?” she repeated with her voice.

  I nodded.

  She pressed a finger to her lips for a moment. Like she was unsure about this question. “Did you meet Ryker?” she finally asked after moving her finger from her lips.

  I shook my head no. I didn’t want to sign in the hallway anymore. I glanced around to see if anyone was watching us, then turned back to her.

  “Ryker isn’t . . . he’s not someone you should be interested in.” Even as she said the words, she seemed torn about it. I could see guilt mixed with concern in her eyes. As if she wasn’t sure she should be saying this. But it wasn’t for selfish reasons she was warning me away. To say I was confused was an understatement.

  “He’s not always . . . nice,” she finally said.

  I understood then. She knew he wouldn’t accept me when he found out about my being deaf. I was disappointed, but it was an emotion I knew well. I would survive. It was good to know now before I spent too much time thinking about him.

  This Game, I Will Win

  CHAPTER 5

  RYKER

  Never noticed how little of Hunter I saw at school until I was looking for him. Jesus, did we not pass each other at all? I didn’t want to wait until lunch to meet Aurora. I’d also never been this damn anxious to meet a girl in my life. The more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable it made me.

  “Did you study for the history test?” Nash asked me, breaking my train of thought.

  I shot him a glance. “Yes.”

  Nash sighed. “I forgot. You got the notes?”

  “You don’t even have notes?” I asked, not surprised.

  He shrugged. “Can’t find them. I had some, but I think I left them at Tallulah’s.”

  “Yeah, I’ve got the notes. They’re in the notebook on top of all the other shit in my locker. You know the combination.”

  “Thanks. Maybe I have enough time to pass this thing,” he said. “Tallulah is preoccupied with Hunter’s sister. I didn’t want to bother her with it or admit that I hadn’t studied.”

  Hunter’s sister. That got my attention. “She’s met Hunter’s sister?” I asked, turning to him.

  Nash nodded. “Yeah, they got here about the same time we did. You meet her?”

  “Tallulah likes her?” I continued to question him instead of answering him. Tallulah wasn’t one to befriend someone easily. She was more reserved. She was careful who she let get close. To say Tallulah wasn’t social was an understatement.

  “Why wouldn’t she? Besides, she noticed Hunter being stressed showing her around today and thought she might need to step in. She’s good about paying attention to things like that.” You could hear the pride in his voice as he spoke about her.

  If I wasn’t so damn focused on Aurora, I’d roll my eyes.

  “Do you know where they are now?” I asked him, not wanting to talk about Tallulah.

  He shrugged. “I would assume headed to Aurora’s next period. Or Tallulah has taken her to the library for a break.”

  Why would she want to go to the library? Was she into books? How did he know if she was? Why wasn’t he giving me more answers, dammit? “How do you know she reads? Did you talk to her?”

  Nash frowned at me, confused. “You seem real wound up about this.” He paused, then began to grin. “Wait . . . are you interested in her?”

  He was going to be an asshole now just to piss me off. I wouldn’t be getting shit out of him. My glare only made him laugh before he walked away. I’d have to wait until lunch to find her, that is if we had the same lunch period. Frustrated, I continued to my next class with a scowl on my face. My name was called out twice, but I ignored it, keeping my eyes open for any sign of her.

  After an entire morning of wanting to meet this girl, I might not like her at all once I got a chance to speak to her. Which would suck. Because she was the most excitement I’d had at school this year. This building her up to be something was probably going to slap me in the face. Maybe this was just all the Nova bullshit that had bothered me. If I had slept with Nova, this might not be happening. Or it could be. I didn’t know. I wasn’t even making sense to myself anymore.

  Turning the corner, I was almost plowed down by Hunter, who had a serious concerned frown. Not like him at all. The guy was normally very even keel.

  “Sorry, Ryker,” he said without stopping.

  “You okay?” I asked him, wanting to get to the subject of his sister.

  He paused and turned back to me. “Just need to get to class. Make sure Aurora”—he paused and added—“my sister, got there.”

  He was about to start moving again, so I quickly told him, “Tallulah won’t let her get lost. She’s in good hands.”

  He sighed then, and the tense way he was holding his shoulders eased some. “So you saw them? She’s still with Tallulah?”

  “No, but I saw Nash, and he told me Tallulah was showing her around. She won’t lose her or leave her side.”

  He seemed a little relieved but not sure he was going to trust that completely. “She’s not good with new people. I need to get to class and make sure she’s there,” Hunter said, then almost broke into a run getting down the hall. I glanced in the direction of my next class then back at Hunter. Following him would probably get me in trouble for being late twice today.

  I also didn’t want to meet her with Hunter breathing down her neck. It was weird he was so protective. What was the deal with that? She wasn’t a kid. I headed for my class, but the reasons why Hunter was so concerned about Aurora didn’t seem normal. They were twins. Shouldn’t they fight and get annoyed with each other and shit?

  “Is this how it’s going to be? You’re not even going to try and get my attention?” Nova asked, causing me to pause and glance around for her. I hadn’t noticed her, but then I hadn’t been looking, either. My head was somewhere else.

  She was wearing red. She looked good in it. Nova would look good in about anything she wore. Red, however, was a color she stood out in. “Hey,” I said, not sure what else I needed to say. Before I’d laid eyes on Aurora, I’d had plenty to say to Nova. Those things seemed to be put on pause for the moment, though.

  She placed a hand on her left hip and slightly cocked her body. The flash of challenge in her eyes was intriguing. She wasn’t going to let this go. No guy would walk over her, and she scared me just a little. The intensity. I doubted she was used to guys turning down her offer of sex.

  “You’ve walked past me three times today and said nothing. Not even a glance in my direction. And I know I’m hard to miss.” That last comment could be considered confident or cocky. To some it might be sexy. I wasn’t sure I liked it, though.

  “I didn’t notice you,” I said, thinking she needed a little hit on that ego of hers. “But I wasn’t looking.”

  She smirked at me. As if I had started a game she knew she was going to win. I stood there waiting for her to say something, but I was running out of time. The late bell was about to ring. When she just kept smirking, I gave a nod and began heading toward my class, hoping I got there before the bell sounded.

  “I’ll win,” Nova called out.

  I reached the classroom door and opened it before glancing back at her. Still standing where I had left her. “What?” I asked, confused by that statement.

  “This game. I will win.”

  What the hell was she talking about? What game? The bell sounded, and I stepped into the room without looking back. There was a good chance Nova might be batshit.

  I Was Afraid I Would Have to Beg

  CHAPTER 6

  AURORA

  Today hadn’t been as awful as I’d imagined. It hadn’t been bad at all, really. Except Hunter had been a little overbearing. I’d asked him to let me meet him in the lunchroom, because I wanted to go to the restroom, and I didn’t want him standing guard at the do
or. I needed a breather. Tallulah had given me a brief one, but Hunter had shown up and taken back being my guardian. Sighing, I looked at myself in the mirror and tried to understand that he had a need to protect me. He always had. He’d been the perfect twin—the beautiful, athletic, hearing child—and I knew he felt guilty about it. He had no reason to, but he did. That was just Hunter.

  I couldn’t take too long or he’d come looking for me. After running my fingers through my hair, I quickly washed my hands, then headed back to the hallway. I didn’t want to face the cafeteria. I’d rather have taken Tallulah up on her offer to show me the library and hide out there with a book. The hallway was empty. I’d stayed in the restroom long enough. This morning it had all looked intimidating. But now, looking down the hallway, I felt as if I’d conquered something and won, even if the day wasn’t over yet.

  When I turned right to head toward the cafeteria, I froze, startled to see I wasn’t alone. My hand had gone to my mouth to cover any sound I may have made. My eyes locked on the guy from this morning. The pounding of my heart slowed some but not much. I was alone with him. What did I do with that? I had wanted to see him again, but not like this. Tallulah hadn’t said it, but I knew she hadn’t thought Ryker would be okay with my being deaf.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said slow enough for me to read his lips. There was a slight frown between his eyes, but also a soft smile was creeping up on his mouth. He seemed confused. I wondered if he’d said something to alert me he was there when my back had been turned.

  I stood there, silent. Using my voice with him was not going to happen.

  “I’m Ryker,” he said when I said nothing. “I saw you this morning.”

  I nodded and gave him a smile.

  He looked unsure of my silence. He obviously hadn’t asked about me like I had about him. He didn’t realize I couldn’t hear and was simply reading his lips. I didn’t expect him to ask about me, though. He was beautiful. There had to be a string of girls after him. Hunter said he was with a new girl all the time.

  “I’m sorry if I, uh . . . It’s just, I saw you this morning and—” He was stumbling over words, or I was having a hard time following along. My silence wasn’t helping.

  I pointed at my ear and shook my head, then without my voice mouthed, I’m deaf.

  Slowly his smile faded, and his eyes showed his thoughts so clearly as he took that in. Surprise, then a touch of sadness, then pity. That one always annoyed me. There was no reason to pity someone who was different.

  “I’m sorry,” he said slowly this time, realizing I had been reading his lips.

  Why? I said silently.

  His frown deepened, and he studied me. We stood there like that, unaware, for a few moments. It wasn’t immediate, but the confusion began to change into understanding. Then a gleam of appreciation shone in his dark eyes. I smiled at him. Proud of me for handling this without help. For not getting flustered or running off. Once I would have. This would have been more than I would have been willing to face. Not now. I had changed.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Aurora.” He said my name. Which meant he had asked about me. That simple fact made the smile on my face explode before I could tamp it down. My stomach fluttered with the new knowledge, and I started to say more when a hand wrapped around my upper arm. I knew it was Hunter without turning.

  Ryker’s eyes left mine to meet my brother’s.

  Sister was the first word I caught from his lips. I didn’t know what else he had said.

  I quickly swung my gaze to Ryker, who was talking faster now, and I struggled to follow him. “I know ---- talking ----” was all I got from him, so I turned my focus back to Hunter.

  His grip on me tightened slightly, and I jerked away my arm, getting his attention. Signing, I said, “He was being nice. Don’t be rude. I am trying to fit in here!”

  Hunter’s nostrils flared, and he cut his eyes at Ryker then back to me. Then he signed, “He isn’t a guy you need to know. He is a player. He uses girls.”

  Rolling my eyes, I turned back to Ryker. I’m sorry, I told him silently, wishing I was brave enough to use my voice.

  He shook his head slightly. “It’s okay. I understand.”

  That was it. The look. He understood I was different, and he needed to stay away. Thanks to Hunter, he would. The moment when it was just us out here in the hallway alone was gone. I wouldn’t get that again, or the giddy feeling that came with it.

  Angry, I watched as he said something to Hunter, then walked away. No good-bye. Nothing. It was over that quickly.

  I glared at Hunter. “I’m not hungry. I’ll be in the library,” I signed, then turned and fled before he could stop me. I needed space and solitude.

  Hunter let me go. For that I was thankful. Because I wanted to yell at him and hit his chest a few times.

  Carrying my frustrated and angry mix of emotions with me, I found the library, picked up the first book that I came to in the fiction section, then sat down to read. Escape into another world where I wasn’t the deaf girl, and hoping it would get my mind off what Hunter had just done. He didn’t even realize how humiliating this was.

  Before I got through the first chapter, a hand touched my shoulder, and I jumped slightly. I looked up, and my eyes widened at the sight of Ryker. He didn’t say anything but handed me a piece of paper. I glanced down at the paper then back at him. His eyes were striking. Hard to look away from. “Read this? Please?” he said slowly.

  I reached up and took the paper from his hand. It was torn out of a notebook. His neat handwriting made me wonder if he wrote this clear all the time, or if this was just for my sake.

  I’m sorry about earlier. I wasn’t prepared for Hunter to be angry about me talking to you. Not sure what he said about me but it is probably true. You can take his advice or you can put my number in your phone and text me. Anytime.

  His number was written clearly underneath. I didn’t look up at him as I unzipped my book bag, took out my phone, saved his number into my contacts, then sent a simple text.

  I think I want to make up my own mind about you.

  That was brave. I was proud of myself.

  Ryker grinned and replied via text.

  Thank God. I was afraid I would have to beg. This way I look much cooler.

  I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing. Then tipped my head back to meet his gaze. We stayed there a moment, and the smile on his face was so genuine and almost excited that I found it hard to believe all these warnings I’d been given about him. He didn’t seem to care about my being deaf. If he was a player, then why would he go out of his way to get to know me? What I was being told and the guy in front of me didn’t add up.

  A slight frown interrupted our locked gaze, and he began texting again.

  Bell just rang. I’d walk you to your next class but I’m not sure Hunter could handle that just yet. He seems to need time to adjust to you being here.

  I nodded and said okay silently.

  The left corner of his mouth lifted, and there was the slightest dimple in his cheek. I had the urge to touch it. I didn’t, but I fantasized about it. “Thanks for your number,” he said, still not leaving.

  I simply nodded.

  Then he winked before turning to go. I sat there, smiling like an idiot and watching him. Once he got to the door, he glanced back and caught me still looking at him. My cheeks flushed from embarrassment. With a slight lift of his head and a pleased look on his face he left the library. I looked back down at my phone to reread our short text conversation. It wasn’t much, but I read it over and over until Hunter arrived, telling me to hurry or we would be late for class.

  She Drew Me In with Silence

  CHAPTER 7

  RYKER

  I didn’t listen to anything during the next two classes. My head was trying to wrap itself around Aurora. Was I that interested in her? Just from her smile? How could I even date her if we couldn’t talk? Not normally at least.

&nb
sp; But, damn, when she’d been sitting there staring up at me with those big green eyes, I just hadn’t cared about anything other than getting to know her more. She drew me in with silence, and it was impressive and scary as hell. How did she have that power with the obvious innocence in her expression? I’d never been attracted to innocence. In fact, I had run from it in the past. Every. Damn. Time.

  Then add my lack of compassion to that, and this seemed like a very bad idea. I had worried about only myself most of my life. Which had been a big, easy ride until Nash had gotten hurt. I did care about that. Nash was my cousin, but we were as close as brothers. Nash being hurt had changed me. I wasn’t the same jerk I had been, but I wasn’t a Boy Scout, either. Nash’s accident had been my wake-up call that life could change in an instant. Getting to know Tallulah had also taught me how shallow I had been. Just last year Tallulah had been overweight, and I had never paid her any attention except to make a joke at her expense. I wasn’t proud of that, and if I let myself think about it too much, I felt like shit. I wasn’t that guy now. Tallulah hadn’t just saved my cousin; she’d forgiven me, too. Even when I didn’t deserve it. That kind of generosity is humbling. It makes you think before you speak. I wasn’t perfect, and shit still flew out of my mouth at times, but I was better. I just wasn’t sure if I had changed enough to pursue someone like Aurora.

  Nova was what I was used to. She was fun, exciting, sexy, and knew the rules. She wasn’t trying to fall in love and look at me like Tallulah and Nash looked at each other. Nova knew the Ryker I had been, and she didn’t care. She wasn’t someone I had to work to impress. I didn’t have to win her brother over to date her. She was the obvious choice. Made sense to date Nova. Except her eyes didn’t make me feel like I’d been slapped in the chest so hard I couldn’t catch my breath. Her smile didn’t make me want to do everything I could to keep it in place. Nova didn’t make me feel . . . this . . . this . . . insanity.