Unkown number
Raelynn POV
After a grueling trigonometry class, I was finally able to go home and get out of my crusty clothing. They’d long dried, and felt crisp to the touch, so taking them off felt like a dream.
I laid out my still-damp books across my bed, the notebook for psychology catching my tired eyes.
Part of me still couldn't believe that out of everyone I could have been paired with, it was Kieran. I've known of him all my life. We've both lived in this town since elementary school, yet never really crossed paths.
We were like two parallels.
Caelum appeared in my doorway, “How was your first day of college?” he signed.
“It was interesting. Got splashed by a puddle and then paired up in psychology with the guy who splashed me. Trig made my brain ache.”
“Math is easy,” he signed with a smirk.
“Maybe for you. You’re a genius. How was your day?”
“Good,” Cae flopped onto the edge of my bed, pulling his knees to his chest. “I went and visited mom.”
“I was going to take you tonight. I’m sorry.”
Caelum and our mother had a special bond. She was so patient with him while still helping him become the best version of himself. Our mother learned sign language in record time just so she could help him live a normal life.
His cheeks flushed before his hands began to move, “I knew you would. That’s why I went alone. I wanted to talk with her about some things. I miss her.”
“I miss her too.” More than anyone will ever know.
Losing her was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through.
“What’s for dinner?” Caelum’s hands moved, but his hand movements were off, and I noticed he was trying to shield me from seeing his palms.
Narrowing my eyes, I reached out, grabbed onto his hands, and looked at his palms. They were scratched up, and looked like pebbles were stuck in them.
“What happened???”
“I fell.”
“You can’t lie to me. You know that.”
“How can you tell I’m lying when I’m using my hands to speak?” Caelum lets out a grunting noise, his shoulders falling when he accepts that he can’t hide the truth from me.
“Just a few kids who thought I was ignoring them,” Caelum sighed, finally lifting his hazel eyes to meet mine. “It’s nothing new. I’ll be fine.”
I hated how cruel kids these days were. I could handle the harsh whispers. The mean nicknames the kids gave me. Witch. Loser. Deer in the headlights. Bambi.
It’s not that I didn’t want to be like every other normal girl, I just couldn’t. I didn’t fit into anyone’s stereotype. I wasn’t a nerd. I didn’t do sports, not because I couldn’t, but because I never had the time. I wasn’t popular… I was just me. Trying to make it through the day without falling apart.
But Caelum didn’t deserve it. He wanted to do everything the other kids did, he just… couldn’t. Not until I could afford to get him a nicer pair of hearing aids. Right now, he can only hear muffled sounds, and make out voices if someone is close, and loud enough.
Our father thinks spending thousands of dollars on hearing aids that will only slightly improve Caelum’s quality of life is stupid, but he’s just a selfish man who can’t understand the struggles that Cae goes through.
“Want to go have ice cream for dinner?”
Caelum beamed, his face twisting with excitement, “Really?”
“Go get your shoes on.”
The ice cream shop wasn’t far from our house, and since the sky finally decided to clear up, the walk was nice. A comfortable breeze carried the scent of fresh waffle cones through the air, and my mouth watered with anticipation.
We walked up to the counter, and Mr. Smith smiled, signing ‘Nice to see you’ to Caelum before turning towards me, “What can I get ya’ both?”
We’ve been coming to this little ice cream stand since Cae was a baby, and Mr. Smith was kind enough to learn basic sign language to communicate with him.
Cae pointed to two, signing that he wanted a cup, while I got a scoop of Blue Moo and a scoop of Butter Pecan on a waffle cone.
“Want to watch a movie when we get home?” Caelum signed, a glob of ice cream dripping from his spoon down the front of his shirt.
As I was grabbing napkins, my phone dinged.
Unknown number: Wanna meet me at the Underground tomorrow night?
Raelynn: Who is this?
Unknown number: Kieran? You expecting texts from other strangers?
I handed Cae the napkins, sitting down opposite of him with a frown as I stared at my screen.
Raelynn: Yeah. At least three of em’
Raelynn: The fighting place?
Kieran: hah. The one and only.
Raelynn: Why would I meet you there?
Kieran: We’re supposed to spend time doing shit the other likes. I fight. You watch.
Raelynn: Okay.
Raelynn: What time?
Kieran: 10
Raelynn: I’ll be there.
Kieran: K
“Who are you texting with that look on your face?” Caelum arches a brow.
“That project partner I was telling you about. We have to spend time together outside of class, and he was asking if I was free tomorrow evening.”
“You sure that’s not a date?” Caelum wagged his brows, his lips pulling into a smirk.
“I don’t date.”
“You could.”
“It’s for the project. And you’re not allowed to hound me,” I wagged my finger at him. “Unless you want to start talking with me about girls.”
Caelum’s cheeks flooded with a bright pink, and I leaned back, crossing my arms.
“You’re mean.”
“Whatever,” I smiled. “What movie are you thinking?”
An hour later, Caelum and I had a bowl of popcorn between us, ignoring our shared pain with one of the old classic superhero movies playing on TV.