Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Yes,” I echoed. Wow, he’d done that for me. “Thank you.”
He shrugged. “There’s a first time for everything.”
I laughed. “And I’m betting a last time, too?”
“Unless you miss Friday’s class.”
“No, I don’t think I will. I’m feeling better. The scrape is even starting to itch a little, so I think that means it’s healing.”
“Yeah, probably, although that part’s a pain in the butt—well, pain in the leg.”
“Exactly.” I paused. “I’m glad you’re here, because there’s something I need to ask you.” His only response was a cocked eyebrow, and I flushed. “I mean, I’m glad you’re here anyway, it’s not just because—”
“Just ask.”
Nodding, I talked to him about my project for my digital advocacy class and how I needed to assemble a team.
“Well, that’s a fucked-up assignment,” he said, when I was done explaining. He kicked off his shoes and put his feet up on the edge of the bed, his ankles crossed.
“Better than some. Remember all those stupid ones they’d give us in grade school where you had to write about your parents? I hated those. It was like the teachers had no concept that maybe some kids came from difficult backgrounds.”
“I never did those assignments.”
“I did, but I made things up—like the way I wished things were, not the way they were. Anyway, for this, I was wondering if you’d be part of my team.”
“Sure.”
“Thank you. The teacher said there are sites where you can get royalty-free music. And basically, I just need some kind of soundtrack to go under the pictures and the voiceover. It’s got to be quieter in some places and louder in other places. Could you help me with that?”
“No.”
“No?” I echoed. It was his right to say that, of course, but it still stung a little.
“I’ll make you something new for you,” he said. “As long as you’re back on Friday, I can go back to using class time to focus on music.”
That sounded amazing but also like it would take a lot of time. “But isn’t that a lot harder?”
“Not really. There are all kinds of ways you can mix the sounds in the audio lab. That kind of stuff is usually not very inspired. Just kind of your standard generic background track.”
“Won’t that be boring for you?”
“Maybe, but that’s the career I’m signing on for. Again, not many jobs for the next Beethoven.”
I cocked my head to the side. “You’ve mentioned him twice. Is he your favorite composer?”
“My favorite deaf one, yes.”
Okay… that was strange, but this was Cody. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. What’s with the smile?”
“I actually have a team. So far, it’s you and Aaron.”
“Sounds like a good team to me.”
He seemed to understand that meant something to me, and it did. I was so used to being on my own. And then I thought that Sara and I would be a team this semester. When that didn’t work out, I thought I’d be on my own again.
And now I wasn’t.
My next visitor was Jenna, with a tray of lunch. Cody nodded curtly at her and left. She gaped after him as I threw off the covers and hobbled my way over to my desk.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Were you two talking?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. You’re like the Cody Whisperer. Since the semester started, I think I’ve only had one real conversation with him. And it was a very short one.”
“He’s a good guy.”
“He’s a hot guy,” Jenna said, looking at the doorway where he had disappeared. “Is there anything going on that I should know about?”
I shrugged. “You should know I’m very grateful you brought food.”
She laughed. “All right but keep me posted or I might die of curiosity.” She eyed the beautiful flowers on my desk but didn’t ask about them. I still hadn’t figured out who brought them, but after the embarrassing moment with Aaron yesterday, I didn’t want to make assumptions and ask anyone else.
“Will do.”
26
MIA
By Thursday, I was going a bit stir crazy. I’d made it down the stairs yesterday, with Aaron hovering anxiously by my side, but it had hurt. Coming back up was even worse, so today I intended to stay in my room as long as people kept bringing me food. Which they did. It was an odd sensation, especially after having foster parents in the past who would yell at me for being sick.
But still, it was boring. Eventually, I settled at the desk and started working on a plan for my video presentation. Now that I had a team, I needed to act like a manager. I created a group chat for Aaron, Cody, and me, and worked on an outline for my presentation.
When I called Zoe to say I could return to the coffee shop next week, it was a bit awkward, but she didn’t mention the other day and politely asked how I was feeling.