Virgil hated the start of a new school year. Especially when it's at a new school. New kids. And those kids dress up for the first day like they never do.
He slammed his locker shut and found his first class. He opened the classroom door a little too forcefully, sending an apologetic look towards the teacher.
"Mr. Sanders, glad you could join us. You can take a seat next to Valerie in the back." The teacher smiled, pointing to a brown haired, hispanic girl in the back of the class.
He sat down and put his chin on his hand.
"Hi! I'm Valerie." The girl smiled, looking at Virgil, who just ignored her. "What's your name?" She asked.
He turned to her and frowned. He brought out his notebook and started writing.
'Virgil.'
"You don't talk much, huh?" She chuckled and studied his expression. "Or.. not at all?" Her smile fell the slightest bit.
'Sorry to break it to you'
It's not that he couldn't talk, it's that he didn't want to. Seven years, speechless after what happened that one day. That one day he had to sit there and watch it all happen. And he never spoke after that.
Valerie smiled. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Virgil." She turned and paid attention to the teacher at the front.
Virgil sat at an empty table at lunch. He didn't eat, for he was not about to eat cafeteria food. Of course the first day was the only day he didn't bring his own food.
He plugged in his earbuds, putting on Nathan Sharp's "Sandcastle Kingdom" album and just any punk rock song he had saved in a playlist.
He noticed a weight at the other end of the table. He looked up from his game and noticed a kid with reddish brown hair picking at his food. Then he got distracted by Valerie sitting in front of him.
"Hey Virgil!" She smiled, catching his attention.
He waved then pointed at the boy on the end of the bench.
"Oh, Roman? Yeah, he's pretty cool. I suppose." She shrugged and looked down at her food.
Virgil gave her a confused look. She sighed when she look at his face.
"I mean, I would try to be his friend. But.. it'd be weird. Y'know?" She watched him shake his head. "He's deaf."
Virgil opened the door to his house, instantly getting tackled by the dog, Dabbles. He chuckled, getting up and closing the front door. He walked over to the couch and petted his cat, Winston, before walking to his room and throwing his stuff on his bed.
He walked over to the snake aquarium and opened the top, taking out his ball puthon, Mushu. He closed his bedroom door so that Dabbles didn't get in. He let Mushu hang on his shoulders while he scrolled through Tumblr.
"Virgil, are you home?" His big brother asked, opening his bedroom door and Winston walking in. "Oh good.'" He held the dog back, seeing as he had Mushu out. "I'm about to go make dinner. Welcome home, kiddo!" He smiled at his little brother before walking back out.
Winston hissed at Mushu and jumped off the bed. He found room for himself on top of Virgil's dresser.
Virgil jumped at the sudden buzz of his phone. He saw a text on instagram.
Valerietr47: Found you! Hey Virgil!
VirgeSanders: Hey.
Valerietr47: Sorry if I came off as rude when I told you about Roman.
VirgeSanders: It's fine
~4 Hours Prior~
Virgil looked at Roman. He looked back over at Valerie, who had a guilty look. He stood up and left, walking out of the cafeteria.
He played his music again, walking to the field and sitting down.
Does she not like him? But why? He seems nice. Or is it just cause he's deaf? I'm mute and she's put up with me. He thought. He was suddenly furious. Maybe it's because she can actually talk to me with me hearing her, but he can't hear. He stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets. He heard the bell ring and left, finding his next class.
