A world without sound.pdf

A World Without Sound

1.Playground

“Why the hell did you say that about him!?” I yelled at the little punk as I threw him against the chain link

fence.

“Hey woah!” he cried. “Is this about the retard thing? ‘Cause, c’mon, he is slow, you can’t deny it - “

I cut him off by kicking him in the stomach; not too hard, but hard enough to leave a bruise. His breath

wheezed out in a quick ‘woosh’. He clutched his stomach, clenched his teeth, squeezed his eyes shut tightly,

and slowly slid down the fence, till he was slumped over on the ground.

“He’s not stupid,” I told him coldly. “He’s deaf. And he’s about ten times smarter than you are obviously,

because you should’ve known I wasn’t going to let you make fun of my best friend like that. You don‘t even

know him, you jerk.”

“’Best friend’,” he breathed mockingly through his still clenched teeth, as he stared up at me in pain and

loathing. “Yeah right. I’ve seen you; you’re always all over him, you slut.”

I didn’t hit him this time. I just shrugged it off and walked away toward Edward’s house. I didn’t mind too

much what he said or thought about me; I knew it wasn’t true, and my own honor I didn’t really care enough

to fight for or defend. Edward, however…was a different matter.

Ever since we met when we were five, we’d been best friends. I’d always been patient; and he needed a

patient friend, something no other five year old was. Growing up is hard, but it’s even harder when you’re

trying to understand the world but everyone in it is talking and…you just can’t hear it. He’d had to learn sign

language, but as he was very smart he accomplished it (flawlessly, I added fondly in my head).

But not enough people knew it to make things easier for him. His teachers, his family, and me. But other

kids…they didn’t know it, and it was hard for many to understand that he just couldn’t hear them. It had

seemed impossible…as a result, many had thought he was slow. But that was when we were children, and it

infuriated me that even now, at the age of eighteen and nearing the end of senior year in high school, some

people were still that stupid and ignorant.

I myself had learned sign language for him, sometimes with him, because I’ve always loved him. Edward’s

my best friend.

Well…it was hard to admit to myself sometimes, but honestly, over the years my love for him had surpassed

friendship. It encompassed everything; he was my light, he was my world. It surrounded him. Sometimes it

seemed like he felt the same way, but I couldn’t be sure.

Anyway, sign language wasn’t the only thing I’d learned because of him. I was also a black belt in karate,

(pretty cool, right?). I’d asked my mom to enroll me when I was very young, because I wanted to protect

Edward from the meanness of people, even back then.

He didn’t know that was why I’d learned karate. I just told him it was fun. He had merely laughed then and

shook his head, amused; he was a gentile person. Fighting wasn’t him. He probably could if he wanted to;

but he found no reason to do so.

Edward was definitely the better of us two.

I glanced at my watch and saw that it was almost four o’clock. School had let out almost an hour ago.

Usually, Edward and I either went to my house or his together to do our homework and then hang out. But

today, I’d told him I had some business to take care of first. I didn’t tell him what it was. I doubt he’d be

approving. Thankfully, he didn’t ask, because it was hard to lie to him.

I mean, I didn’t really think he needed me to save him; just the opposite, because I always thought him so

much stronger and better than I. But I had a defensive, protective side when it came to him. I just couldn’t

help it. I guess that develops when you love someone a lot. You don’t want them to get hurt; and even if

people’s nastiness didn’t hurt him, it most certainly hurt me. He deserved so much better than that…

I pulled out the spare key from under the Cullen’s welcome mat and stepped in the house. This was

practically my second home; I no longer had to knock, really.

“Hey Esme!” I called out cheerfully as I passed the kitchen.

“Oh, Bella!” Esme said to me. “I made cookies just now. Want one? They’re ho-ot…” she said in a sing-song

voice, making it very inviting.

“And how exactly am I supposed to resist that?” I asked, in mock outrage as I walked into the kitchen. It

quickly turned to me smiling at her though, as I took one of the cookies from her outstretched hand and bit

into it. “Mmm…it’s edible!”

“Oh hush!” she laughed, literally kicking me in the butt out of the kitchen. I giggled as I headed toward

Edward’s room on the third floor.

“Thanks for the cookie!”

Edward’s door was slightly ajar. It usually was, but even when it was closed, it was never locked. That would

be dangerous in an emergency.

I slipped inside and saw the beautiful man sitting on his huge bed, back turned toward the door as he bent

over his homework, always the studious student, especially now that exams were coming up.

I bounced on his bed hard to alert him to my presence, but before he could turn around I threw my arms

around his neck, leaning my head over his shoulder to grin at him.

His answering smile was beautiful and angelic.

“Bella,” he said.

It still almost brought my eyes to water to hear him say my name. He only could say a small amount of

words - just his name, his families….and mine.

I had no idea…how very, very hard exactly it must’ve been for him to learn to speak the small amounts of

words he could. For months, I’d had to sit with him and slowly pronounce my name, letting him see my

tongue’s movements, and nodding or shaking my head if the sound he made was right. But he wanted to

learn my name, he had told me, though it was so very difficult…

And he did. I loved him even more after that; that he would care enough to go through the whole frustrating

exercise.

Almost done with homework?, I signed, and he turned to look from my face to my hands in front of him.

He nodded quickly and smiled, before turning to me again with a more serious look in his eye.

So, where’d you go?

Ah, crap. I just shrugged and prayed he would let it go, letting my arms around him fall as I turned to drag

my backpack onto the bed.

When I turned back around he was looking skeptical, but he didn’t sign the question again. He knew me well

enough, I suppose, to understand I wasn’t going to answer. I felt slightly uncomfortable; sometimes it felt

like he could read my mind and see right through me; like he knew exactly what I’d been doing. I changed

the subject hurriedly.

Hey you, can you help me with this Calculus? You’re a lot better at it than I am.

He grinned cheekily and slid over so our sides were touching. My heart sped up as usual, but I showed no

outward signs, and that was good. I pulled my notebook over our adjoined knees and he started helping me.

You surpass my math teacher by far; she just rambles on and on, I can never understand her. I don’t even

think she’s talking about math most of the time.

He chuckled, and I reveled in it. It was one of the view times I ever got to hear his melodic voice.

That, or you’re just not paying attention, you goober.

I stuck my tongue out at him and rolled my eyes, turning back to my homework.

Thanks, I signed, a sour look on my face.

He smiled brilliantly, and hugged me tightly then, laying his head against my hair in a silent joking plea for

forgiveness. I shook my head.

No, no, I won’t forgive you.

I couldn’t see his face, so he didn’t see it coming. But suddenly his hands were at my ribs and I was flat on

my back, shrieking with laughter.

“Ahhhh! Stop, Edward, stop!” I screamed, gasping for air. He couldn’t hear me, but he could get the

message.

He stopped then, and pulled back, smiling innocently at me as my laughter subsided. But for a brief moment,

as I looked over, I saw his normally happy, peaceful expression darken with something akin to deep sorrow

and…regret?

What? Edward, what?

He looked at me broodingly a second before looking out the window instead.

I wish I could hear you laugh. I’m sure it’s pretty.

I sighed and sat up, placing my hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned forward till our foreheads

were touching. I shut my eyes too.

We stayed like that for a little while, before I felt Edward’s breath sigh against my face and he pulled away.

Thank you, “Bella,”…you can always make me feel better.

I smiled sadly and rubbed his arm. He flashed me a quick crooked grin, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes,

and he turned back to his homework to finish it up.

I scooted over and rested my head on his shoulder as he worked. I closed my eyes and a memory overtook

me.

__________________________________________________________________________

“Hey you!”

A five year old girl in a yellow sundress, specifically picked for her first day of school, bounced over to a

cute little boy with bronze hair, sitting alone in the corner of the playground.

“I haven’t seen you yet! What teacher do you have!?”

He looked up at her, eyes drawn together in confusion, but he didn’t speak.

“Why are sitting here alone? Come on, come play with me!”

Again, there was no answer, no sign that he had heard her other than the fact that he was paying attention to

the cheerful little girl.

Slowly, he put his hand up to his ear, and shook his head.

The girls brow wrinkled in confusion this time. “What?”

He pointed to his ear again, and shook his head. The girl copied him, and asked, “What, you can’t hear?”

He didn’t answer, not positive whether she’d gotten it right or not, and just continued to look up at her.

She shrugged. “Well oh well. Let’s go play with the tetherball! C'mon!”

This time, she reached down and grabbed his hands, yanking him up and dragging him after her.

____________________________________________

I didn’t know then that that moment was the seal for our everlasting friendship.

I looked over at Edward’s face. He was looking at me from the corner of his eyes questioningly. I knew what

he was silently asking.

Just thinking about the day we met. You remember?

He looked out the window and thought back. As he did, a smile slowly formed on his face until he was

positively glowing. It took my breath away.

Of course. That was one of the best moments of my entire life.

I smiled up at him and hugged him tightly. He reciprocated the action.

I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t met you, “Bella,”.

I reached up and kissed his cheek.

Me too, Edward, me too.

2.Braces

My dreams were pleasant as usual, because they all centered around Edward. How couldn'tthe dream be

good? We were alone somewhere, maybe on the lake that was nearby in our "little" city of Phoenix, and he

was holding me. It was night time, but the moonlight shown bright, illuminating his perfect skin. Honestly,

just with the holding part and sitting somewhere, I could've believed this was real.

Except that his mouth was running soft, burning trails up and down my neck, and he was...talking.

Whispering, really. Sweet, sweet delectable words in my ears. I felt a little guilty, trying to perfect his

"imperfections" when he was more than fine to me the way he was. But oh well, I hadn't quite mastered the

art of controlling my unconscious night time excursions.

The only real problem was that there was this little buzzing going on around us; louder than a mosquito, and

ten times more annoying. It would start, then when I would swat around the place, it would stop for a few

minutes. And then it just kept buzzing.

Shut up!, I just wanted to scream, but didn't want to distract Edward, who seemed perfectly at ease.

That is until someone yanked the covers out from under me, and almost sent me toppling to the floor.

"Ahh!" I yelped, and reached out for something. A strong pair of arms caught me before my face could

become too well acquainted with the carpet. I looked up into the eyes of my alarm clock and savior, knowing

who it was because he always came over in the mornings and made sure I was awake in time for school.

I smiled at him as he set me on my feet.

Do you think one day you can get up to the sound of your alarm clock, instead of waiting for me to do it?

I laughed and looked over to my alarm, whose snooze button was going off, yet again. That's what the noise

in my dream was, I guessed. I reached over and turned it all the way off, refraining from hitting snooze

again.

I smiled up at Edward. Why would I when I know you'll just come over and dump me unceremoniously on

the floor? I wouldn't give that up for the world.

Edward laughed out loud, throwing his head back. I relished the sight of his strong, lean neck, the tendons

standing out as they strained against the skin taut from his head leaning back. The sunlight coming through

the thin orange curtains over my window made his skin glow warmly, differently than the moonlight in my

dream. I smiled softly, taking in his majestic beauty.

He sobered up after a few moments and looked down at me, still grinning. Get ready. You know where I'll

be.

Yup. Devouring the food in my kitchen, as per usual. But since I didn't have a car, only borrowing Renee's

when I could, I owed him his breakfast for giving me rides everywhere in his shiny silver Volvo.

I took a quick shower and pulled on some dark blue jeans, and a long v-neck black blouse. It was long-

sleeved, and it curved over my butt, but it was really thin so I couldn't get hot, and very comfortable. It was

my favorite article of clothing, aside from all the shirts I'd stolen from Edward over the years, and especially

the black jacket he'd given me. He'd owned it when we were much, much younger, so it sorta, kinda, (not

really), fit me now. I didn't get to wear it often outside though, because it was just too hot in Arizona. Inside

the safety and solitude of my own room, however, was a completely different story.

I was brushing my hair as I walked downstairs, before pulling it back in a low, messy twist at the nape of my

neck. I walked into the kitchen with my messenger bag and saw Edward sitting there, chewing on an apple.

Always so healthy, I signed, smiling. I, however, am going for the totally delicious, totally sugar-filled,

totally bad for me Lucky Charms.

I'm not always healthy, he grinned. But when I am, just remember it's really your fault. You put the habit in

me.

I rolled my eyes. I didn't put anything in you. It was your choice.

He just smiled benignly at me while I ate. I chewed the cereal slowly, recalling when we both - well, just me,

really - had to have good eating habits; but he adjusted to them too, anyway.

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