Hollie was deaf, it was no secret. She wasn't ashamed of it either, well, not entirely. She knew that it was not her fault that she was deaf but sometimes it really got on her nerves. People also loved to tease her about it and pity her. Luckily, she wasn't alone in her plight to set people straight on how she felt about being deaf.
Enter Jean Kirstein.
Hollie had met Jean when they were just five years old. Of course Jean had no idea that she couldn't hear him when he spoke to her and this resulted in Hollie's sandcastle being kicked down. Jean expected her to cry and run off. Jean didn't expect her to turn around and give him a devastating punch to the jaw.
Needless to say, after the misunderstanding was cleared up by their mothers the two became the best of friends. As the years passed Jean had pretty much been the only constant in her life. The only thing that stayed the same no matter what and because of that Hollie was grateful to him.
During the Spring of 2013 Hollie's parents divorced. As it was right now Hollie was sitting in her yard ripping up grass and trying not to cry. Her father was moving out and it was anything but pleasant in the days leading up to the moving van parking in their yard.
Hollie's Pov
Hollie bites her bottom lip to keep the tears from flowing. One good thing about being deaf was that Hollie couldn't hear her parents fighting and screaming at one another. However it didn't block out the fact that her parents were splitting up.
Feeling someone sit beside her Hollie doesn't have to look up to know who it is. An arm goes around her and Hollie turns her face into Jean's chest. She's sure he's whispering comforting words into her ear, forgetting for a moment that she was deaf. Still, it was a comforting gesture on his part.
Finally though Jean takes Hollie's face between thumb and first finger, bringing her head up to look at him so she can make out what's he's saying to her.
"How are you doing?" He asks.
Hollie shakes her head, "How am I supposed to be? I mean my family is splitting up and my father is leaving."
"Yeah okay. That was a stupid question on my part. How about we go out somewhere and get away from this? My mom is nagging at me and I just broke up with Mikasa."
Hollie goes rigid, "What? Why!? I mean I thought you were in love with her or something!"
Jean has her look up at him again so that she can read his lips, "I did too but we figured out that we both like other people."
"Oh, I see-." The front door slams and Hollie flinches at the vibrations. Hollie's father storms past her and yells something back at the house. "Okay, let's go. I don't want to be around here anymore."
Jean smiles and pulls Hollie to her feet. Standing up they walk next door to Jean's house and Jean disappears inside for a moment. He comes back out grinning and twirling the keys to his car around on a finger. Going over to the car he unlocks it and the two get it. Digging the key into the ignition, he starts up the car and then they're heading toward the center of town.
Going to the center of town was a quiet jaunt. The two of them learned long ago that with the angle Jean's face it at while he drives Hollie couldn't read his lips well enough to tell what he was saying. So the two preferred to just stay silent until they got to places.
Hollie rolls her head over and watches Jean. She'd be lying if didn't think Jean was good looking. In fact he was gorgeous and kind and funny and smart. Yeah, Hollie realized a long time ago that she had a crush on her best friend. However, respecting the relationship that he was already in Hollie stayed away from being overt with her newfound affections. Still, perhaps now that he was single she would stand a chance.
Jean notices her looking at him and turns his head to look at her fully. Hollie blushes but can't help but giggle. Jean gives her a cheesy grin before turning back to looking at the road. Turning her own gaze back to the road Hollie can't help but smile discreetly, they'd look good together wouldn't they?
Jean's Pov
Pulling into the parking lot in front of the local park Jean kills the engine. Hollie gets out of the car and he follows. Personally Jean doesn't like the park, it was too crowded and hot. However, Jean knew that she loved the park and today was to make her happy.
"Come on Jean! Let's go look at clouds for a little bit." She grabs his hand and Jean nearly twitches.
The effect her touch had on him was electric and frightening all at the same time. Jean couldn't deny that she was beautiful. Anyone would be stupid to say that Hollie wasn't. However she was his best friend and he didn't want to ruin anything that he had with her. He'd die if she suddenly decided not to continue their friendship because he made a move she didn't like.
Walking over to their usual spot of grass just underneath the shade of the old tree they used to climb as children they lay down. For a while Hollie would point out shapes and Jean would tap her before pointing at what he saw. It was always interesting what they would come up with.
"Okay, okay, so I see two people k-uh-never mind." Hollie says suddenly.
Jean, intrigued, rolls onto his side to look at her. Hollie looks over at him, a blush on her face, "Tell me, what did you see?"
She shook her head, "Nothing, I'd rather not say."
Jean glances back up into the sky and his eyes spot the cloud formation she was probably hesitant to talk about and looks back at her, "Seriously Hol, it's fine. Mikasa and I had a mutual break-up; neither of us were hurt by it. In fact I think both of us knew it was over weeks ago."
"Still... don't you feel a little bad?" Her baby-doll eyes blink up at him, wondering.
"A part of me is and probably will be for a while. However a bigger part of me is glad that I'm free to be able to pursue other interests. Besides she wasn't always thrilled with me hanging with you and that's something that I won't compromise you. Your something I won't cut out of my life; you come before any respective girlfriend." Jean was sweating on the inside. He hoped that he wasn't laying it on so thick that Hollie was beginning to get wigged out.
Hollie smiles as she shuffles over and wraps her arms around his torso in a hug, "Jean... thank you. You're the kindest person I know, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Yeah well, I don't expect to go anywhere anytime soon so hopefully you won't have to find out."
Lying there with her felt so right, as cheesy as that sounded. Sure, she had her fair share of quirks but that just intrigued Jean more. He loved her and he didn't want to lose her. As they laid there in comforting silence he felt at peace. These were the moments that Jean was truly grateful for.
Unfortunately there's only so long two teens can stay out before their parents demand their presence once again. So, with a heavy heart and somber mood Jean regretfully heads back to take Hollie home.
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"Jean, wake up!"
Groaning Jean rolls over and flicks his bedside lamp on. Sniffling for a moment the teen blinks open his eyes to see his parents standing worried in his doorway, "Ma... pops... what's goin' on?" His words are still slurred with sleep.
"Hollie's gone missing!"
Sleep is all but forgotten now. Within ten seconds Jean is tugging a shirt over his head, very awake. "When was the last time her parents saw her?"
Jean's mother gives him a worried look, "You mean she's not with you?"
"Does it look like it? Now when was the last time they saw her?" He snaps.
"Dinner time; they'd been explaining to Hollie how the divorce would go but asked her which parent she'd prefer to live with." Jean's mother puts a hand to her face, "I can't believe what that poor child must be feeling."
"Mom, I'm going to go look for her. You and dad get in the other car and start heading around to look for her. If we split up perhaps we can find her faster." Jean snatches up his keys and is heading into his car.
Putting the car in gear he speeds off, his heart racing. What the hell was she thinking?! If she had a problem she could've always come to him! Jean lived for being able to help her, to see her smile. He couldn't believe she would be dumb enough to just run away before coming to him.
Putting the car in park in the parking lot in front of the park he gets out. Jean knew that she would probably go to the park first. He hoped he would find her sitting under their familiar tree. Running through the park full speed he clicks on his flashlight hoping that he's going to see a familiar brunette there.
Rushing up the last few feet to the tree his heart drops, she's not there. Dropping his flashlight he cups his mouth in a moment of sheer panic and screams her name, "HOLLIE!" He yells, despite knowing that even if she was nearby she wouldn't be able to hear him.
"J-Jean?"
Jean looks up and sees Hollie peering down at him from the upper branches of the tree. Her face is stained and blotchy with tears. Jumping down out of the tree she stands in front of him. Jean's knees go weak with relief as he crashed into her with a hug. He wraps his arms tightly around her and squeeze; he's not about to let her go anytime soon.
"What the fuck were you thinking?" He yells at her, looking her straight in the eyes so she can see how scared she made him.
"J-Jean I'm sorry I just... I couldn't deal with it." More tears leak from her eyes.
Jean shakes his head furiously, "You could've just come talk to me Hollie! For fucks sake I would do anything for you! You scared the shit out of me, I thought something truly terrible had happened to you."
"Jean I'm so sorry I just didn't want to bother you. I mean... you already do so much for me and you're just such a kind person. I didn't want to take advantage of that kindness."
Jean rolls his eyes, "You idiot, it's not kidness that made me do half of the things I do for you. It's because... well, it's because I love you." He takes a moment to catch his courage that was rapidly fleeing; that was not what he meant to say. "So please don't run away like that again. I thought my heart was going to leap up my throat and out of my body."
Hollie doesn't say anything in reply but rather leans forward and connects their lips.
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In the Late Spring of 2013, Jean Kirstein and Hollie Sumners began a relationship and graduated highschool.
In the early Summer of 2013, Hollie's father moved out for good.
In the Fall of 2013, Jean asked Hollie to marry him.
She said yes.