Page 20 of Shattered Silence Duet

Ugg. Why did he have to be so nice… and persistent? I shake my head and bite my lip nervously, hoping he won’t be upset.

“No? Are you sure?” he asks, clearly a bit taken aback. I repeat the motion and he nods in acceptance.

“We still have fifteen minutes before class and it’s cold out here, let’s go to the caf,” Jasper suggests, moving to my right side. Max moves to my other side and we walk silently into the school. My fingers play with the straps of my bag nervously. I’m not sure why they want to hang out with me, but I do like their company. They make everything here less intimidating.

When we get to an empty table in the cafeteria, I gingerly take my bag off, trying not to move my bad arm too much, then set it down on the table. As I sit down, I look up at Max and Jasper’s frowning faces. Why are they looking at me like that?

They stare for a few more seconds before exchanging a glance with one another, then they seem to relax as they join me, Jasper sitting beside me on the bench while Max takes a seat on the table between us.

Jasper rummages through his bag before pulling out a small notepad and a pen. He looks up at me with a question in his eyes before passing them to me. I slowly take them, staring down at them before looking back up at him in confusion.

“They’re so you can write. I know you can’t speak, but I figured this is a way we can communicate.” That is the nicest thinganyone has ever done for me. My mother certainly never tried to help me communicate with her after I went silent. But I had also just decided I couldn’t show them any more of my secrets.

I really appreciated Jasper’s kind gesture, but I need to tread carefully. Maybe if I keep my responses short, I wouldn’t give too much away, while still being able to build a friendship with the twins. I have a feeling school would be terrible without their help.

I pull the notepad and pen to my chest and give Jasper a tight-lipped smile in thanks. I see his shoulders visibly relax. “So, what are you up to this weekend, Mina?” he asks. I ponder the question as I stare at the notepad. I didn’t even have an answer to give him. I was literally going to be locked up in the basement all weekend. But I wasn’t stupid enough to tell him that.

Looking up at him, I shrug. “Good!” Max pipes up, diverting my attention. “We’re going to have a movie marathon at our house, you should join us.” There is nothing I would love more than to join them, but I would never be allowed to leave the house. If my mother even knew that I had friends, she would go crazy.

Not wanting to offend his kind offer, I flip open the notepad and write:can’t, and turn it to show him. He frowns before asking for clarity. “Can’t, or you don’t want to?” I tap my pen against the word. “You have plans or… you’re not allowed?”

I write:not allowed, and show him. I don’t think I’m giving away anything bad with that. I’m sure there are plenty of reasons why a high school girl wasn’t allowed to go to her male friend’s house.

“Are you grounded or something?” Jasper asks. Taking the easy out he’s given me, I nod, making Max snort and my eyebrows raise as in surprise.

“Sorry, Sweetheart. It’s just hard to imagine you doing anything that could get you grounded.” He clearly doesn’t view me the same way my mother does. Something I’m grateful for.

We soon head to class and when Mrs. Pinkins starts with the lesson, I do my best to not participate. I don’t write any answers in my book, and don’t so much as glance at Max’s textbook. I sensehim constantly watching me and it takes a great deal of effort not to look at him. My reaction makes me pause. I’ve never wanted to make eye contact with anyone before, it always gave me a sense of dread. But when Max looks at me, it has the opposite effect, it eases me, makes me feel grounded. It’s the same with Jasper and, if I’m being honest with myself, with Mr. Hargrove and Tucker as well. This could all be explained by the fact that I hadn’t met anybody new in a long time, but I didn’t feel the same with any of the other students or teachers. They didn’t all make me feel uneasy, per se, but they didn’t calm me either.

When I get to science class with Jasper, my decision to stay under the radar is a little harder. “Mina?” he asks, grabbing my attention. “Can you pull out your notepad for me?” he whispers while Mr. Yang stands at the front of class giving today’s lesson.

I silently pull it out and place it on the table between us. Jasper slides in front of himself and flips it open to a new page. He glances up to make sure Mr. Yang isn’t watching him, then quickly writes something before passing it back to me.

What’s your favorite color?I glance at him in surprise, but he’s watching our teacher now. Why does he want to know that?

I don’t see any harm in answering, so I write back:green, what’s yours?Then slide it back to him.

I pretend to color and not pay attention, but when I see him writing in my notebook, I bite my lip to hide my smile. Being able to communicate with someone is something I haven’t experienced since I was ten. It’s exciting and gives me the sense that I’m building a real friendship with Jasper.

When he passes the notepad back, I read his response.Green. Favorite food? Favorite movie?

Dammit. Could I remember the name of any movies I watched as a kid? I don’t want to sound like a child and name a cartoon. I wrack my brain, trying to remember, but nothing comes to mind. I could remember parts of movies, but no titles.

Answering him back, I write:burgers and I don’t have a favorite movie. What are yours?

When I pass it back, I see a small frown before he starts writing. When he passes it back, I read his response:lobster, Die Hard. What did you do last night?

Nothing, you?I write back.

I see him press his lips together when he reads my response. It seems like he isn’t happy with my response. But it’s the truth, I got home, went into the basement and literally just laid in bed until I fell asleep.

Homework, video games, watched a movie. Are you new to town?

I considered his question before responding. Was I new? I’ve been here a few months, was that considered new? Should I tell him that? So far, I have been keeping my answers simple and I’m not sure if it’s wise to tell him anymore just yet. Although I’m pretty sure I can trust him, I just wish I knew if he’s reporting back to my mother. Could I just ask him that? He wouldn’t tell me if he was, though, would he?

I glance up at him as I consider what to do and see him watching me, his eyes filled with an intensity I don’t understand. Luckily, I’m saved by the bell before I figure out a way to respond.

We pack up our bags and he takes mine before I can pick it up. Without missing a beat, he grabs my hand and gently leads me out of class and to the cafeteria. I keep my eyes down, but the whispers of other students reach my ears.