Npov

Half an hour later

-

I stayed in the shadows, trying to stay out of sight, as I walked down to my next class. Then someone grabbed my arm.mI spun around, terrified of who might be there. It was my new roommate.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! It's just, you never told me your name."

I looked at my feet.

Then someone else approached us and I winced.

This isn't going to end well.

I looked up to see Octavian sneering at Will.

"Why are you hanging around him?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Octavian laughed, "Well one, he's deaf." He probably would've said this in Italian, but he must've heard him speaking to me in English.

My heart started beating faster. What's he going to think? What if Octavian tells him I'm gay?!

"That's not a reason to be mean to him!"

Octavian grinned evilly, "And another thing is that he's-"

I clamped my hand over his mouth. I won't let Octavian tell him I'm gay. Ever. Octavian grinned at me.

"What is it?" Will asked. "I'm sure it's not enough to be mean to him."

When I was sure Octavian wasn't going to tell him, I removed my hand.

"What's your name?" He asked me.

'Nico.'

'That's a pretty name. I'm Will.' He knows sign language?

Octavian snickered. "Honestly, Will, you don't want to be hanging out with him."

Will looked furious now, "Why?! What could possibly be so bad that everyone here hates him?!" I shook my head vigorously, trying to tell him not to ask. Octavian shoved me away so I couldn't cover his mouth. My back hit the wall.

"He's gay."

Tears fell down my cheeks. No, no, no, no, no!

I didn't want him to know! Why did he have to find out? Why did Octavian feel the need to tell everyone all my secrets?!

To my surprise, Will smiled at me. Then he turned back to Octavian and growled, "That's no reason to treat him that way."

Octavian raised an eyebrow. "He doesn't deserve to be protected."

"Don't you have a class to get to?"

His eyes widened and he swore. Then he sprinted in the direction of his class.

Will took my hand. 'Come on. I think we have the same class right now.' He sighed.

Why was he being so nice to me? Most people scowled at me when Octavian said I was gay. Why was Will different? It didn't make any sense. How come he didn't care?

He led me to the next class and we made it early. We were the first ones in the room, in fact. The professor wasn't even there yet. Will took this as a chance to ask me questions.

"So....how did he find out?"

I bit my lip. 'We used to be friends. I trusted him.'

"That's terrible...."

I looked away from him, so Will took my hand and started signing in it.

'How do you know English?'

'We lived here for a while, then-'

I hesitated. Will nodded, encouraging me to go on.

'-my sister got in a car accident. She died. My father wanted to get away from the memories. I was too little to stay here. When I was old enough, I moved back.'

"So are you here on your own, then?"

I nodded.

"What about your mom? Is she in America with your father?"

'She's with my sister.'

He nodded understandingly. "I know this won't mean much, because no amount of words can make them come back...but I'm really sorry about your sister and mom." He hesitated, "If it makes you feel better, my father left us when we were small."

'I'm sorry,' I sighed, 'How do you know sign language?'

"My sister. She's deaf."

Luke Castellan walked in and gave Will a strange look.

"You must be the new guy." He said as he walked over.

I backed up a bit. Luke had never liked me. Will noticed how nervous I was and I could tell he automatically hated this guy.

"Yes?" He said, glaring at him. Luke didn't seem to notice.

"You uh...you might not want to hang out with this guy. I thought Octavian would've already told you, but I guess not."

"I don't see why you guys hate him so much."

Luke snorted, "Well did he tell you his mother died because of him? It was all his fault.

Tears swelled up in my eyes. 'I didn't mean to! I couldn't hear!'

"It doesn't seem like it was something he could help." Will said, though he seemed curious.

"It was completely his fault."

A few tears slid down my face, and Will wiped them away.

"If he wasn't deaf-"

"He can't help that he's deaf, okay?! It's not his fault! Don't try to blame it on him!" Will was fuming. I couldn't help wondering if he was only doing this because his sister was deaf, too.

Luke backed up a bit at Will's anger.

"You're standing up for him? He killed his mother! He's gay and he's deaf! I don't understand how you can stand up for him!"

"Have you ever actually tried talking to him? Just once?"

Luke scowled, "Why would I?"

A few more students walked in, and Luke stalked off.

Will turned to me, "I'm really sorry Nico, you shouldn't have to go through that."

I turned my face away from him.

The teacher walked in, so I went over to my usual spot in the very back of the classroom. There were other seats, but I didn't like having attention on me.

Unfortunately, the teachers don't like me.

"Nico? Conosci la risposta?" Nico? Do you know the answer?

I tensed, even though I knew the answer.

"Nico, Qual è la risposta?" Nico, what's the answer?

'394.' I signed, my hands shaking.

"Mi dispiace, non posso parlare il linguaggio dei segni. Puoi venire qui e scrivere sulla lavagna, si prega di?" I'm sorry, I can't speak sign language. Can you come over here and write it on the board, please?

That was a lie. The teachers here were required to know sign language.

Trembling, I was about to get up but Will knew I wouldn't want to have all the eyes on me.

"Lui disse 394."

Ms. Dodds (the teacher) snarled, "Io non l'ho chiesto, e penso che Nico ha bisogno di rispondere per noi." I didn't ask you, and I think Nico needs to answer for us.

Hands shaking, I stood up from my desk and walked up to the board.

Everyone was staring at me! I hated it. Some, including Luke, were glaring. It seemed to take forever to get to the front of the room. I hate being the center of attention. I quickly wrote 394 on the board and went as fast as I could back to my seat. Ms. Dodds kept teaching, but she did this to me several times in the hour that she had me. And finally it was time to go to my next class.

Yaaaay this is also edited now! Also, to anyone who speaks fluent Italian, is it all right? Or do I need to change something? Please tell me.