Silent Song

by Jaci Wheeler

  “Do you come here a lot? Isn’t this illegal?” I whisper in Jodi’s ear. I hate to be a killjoy, but this is far out of my comfort zone. I have always been solidly in the goody-goody category.

  “Relax, girl, we aren’t racing or anything, just watching. And yes, it is, but Dee’s boyfriend Jay sets these up. See those scanners and equipment over there? That’s to let them know where the cops are. The racers are usually the same, they just go to different spots that Jay sets up and then informs everyone online. Rebekah’s boyfriend races a lot too, and they’ve never had any trouble, so chill.”

  One of the guys she introduced me to earlier comes over and puts his arm around her. I think his name was Twiggy.

  “So, you lovely ladies going to place a bet? All bets close in five.”

  “Who’s racing tonight?” Jodi looks in her purse; I’m guessing it’s to see how much cash she has. I’ve never been one to bet and I don’t think I’ll start now.

  “Caden is racing your boy here, so I know you want to be laying down some money on me.”

  “We’ll see about that. Who else?”

  “That deaf guy Barrett is racing some new guy named Miles.”

  “I’ve never heard of Miles, but that deaf guy is amazing.”

  “Yeah, brother can drive, that’s for sure. I’ve never heard of Miles either, but he comes with cash, so he’s in.”

  “Okay, put $20 on the deaf guy for me.” She digs the bill out of her purse and hands it over.

  “Oh, you wound me, girl. No faith in your man at all.”

  “Please, Twiggy, the day you are my man is the day you win a race.”

  “Ouch. Careful around this one,” Twiggy says to me. “She’s got ice in her veins.” He takes the money and goes to the next group.

  “Just wait until you see this guy race, Pres, it’s amazing. He’s never been beat any of the times I’ve been.”

  “Hmm,” is all I reply, feeling completely out of place.

  “Wait a minute, don’t you know sign language? You should totally go talk to him. That’s his car there.” She points out something up ahead that I can barely make out.

  “I know some ASL from high school but I never used it much until I started my fieldwork. I don’t feel comfortable enough to just walk up and start bugging the guy.”

  “Come on, I’m sure he’d love it. Oh wait, it looks like it’s starting. Our guy is up first, this should be awesome, let’s watch.” She pulls my hand and we join all the others on the sidelines. Jay listens in to something on his head phones and then gives the okay to Dee. She walks up to the starting line where the two cars are waiting. I can’t get a good look at either driver since both car windows are tinted. I know absolutely nothing about cars, so all I can say is one is an older looking black car and the other is a newer white car. It could be a Mustang, but I don’t know for sure.

  Dee throws her hands up in the air, and then down again, and they’re off. The black car takes off smooth like a shot. The white car peels out and you can tell he isn’t as seasoned a driver. His car is fast, but based on the way it swerves in and out, he doesn’t know how to control it very well.

  “Which one is your guy?” I know before she answers it must be the black car. She confirms by pointing at it.

  “The man can drive, can’t he?”

  “I can’t believe how smooth he’s going at that speed. Look at the other car.” I point to the white car that is still having a hard time staying straight. He gets closer to the black car now and I hold my breath that he doesn’t run him off the road, which is exactly what it looks like he’s about to do. He comes at the back-left tire and you can hear the intake of gasps all around. He makes contact and the other driver seems to lose a bit of control for a moment, but quickly regains control of the car and the lead.

  A loud shout and cheers are made when the black car pulls ahead at the end. Jodi is jumping up and down and chatting with Rebekah. I’ve got to admit, as freaked out as I was to be here, that was pretty exciting to watch. I’ve never thought of car races before as exciting…but then again, I guess there’s a difference between actually being here and watching a little car on T.V. drive in circles.

  “Next race, drivers take your mark,” Dee shouts out. The two cars who just finished racing make their way back. The door to the black car opens and I get my first glimpse of the driver. What was the phrase Jodi said last week about the maintenance guy? The best-looking man she’s ever seen up close? Well, I’m pretty sure this guy would have him beat by a mile. I watch as he opens the door and swings his long legs out. He gracefully stands and looks around. He is thin, but powerfully built. His height alone is impressive, but when he looks my way, I about swallow my tongue.

  Blue isn’t even the right word to describe his eyes. Siberian husky blue, is the first thought I have. That’s it. His eyes are the same color as a Siberian husky; sharp, piercing blue. Like he can steal your soul and devour your secrets with one glance. His eyes look just as keen and knowing as the wolf dog’s as he scans the crowd.

  “Girl, did you hear me? We have to jet now!”

  “What?” I ask, looking at Jodi like I was just brought out of a trance.

  “I said we need to go now, the scanners picked up activity. The cops will be here soon. A lot of the others are going to risk it so they don’t lose their bets, but it’s not worth it, let’s go.”

  “Okay.” I follow, and then mid-step, I stop.

  “Come on, chica, I seriously am not about to get arrested—not for this, anyway.”

  “The deaf guy,” I hate referring to him like that, but I can’t remember his name. “Did he come with anyone?”

  “His brother is usually always with him, but now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him tonight.” She scans the crowd looking for him, but comes up short.

  “I need to tell him. I doubt many others can sign…can I run over real quick?”

  Of course, the scanners choose this moment to start picking up and I don’t miss the panic that crosses Jodi’s face. She’s torn, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep not knowing if anyone told him what was happening. I can’t imagine not being completely aware of my surroundings.

  “You go. I’ll have him give me a ride, I’m sure he won’t mind.”

  “Seriously?”

  “I don’t have any other ideas. You need to go, and I won’t leave not knowing if he understands. Seriously, just go, I’ll be fine.” She looks torn, but kisses my cheek fast, and then takes off toward the car. I don’t waste any time running over to the boy who clearly has no clue what’s going on. By the panic on some of the faces and people fleeing, he can tell something is up, and I can’t help but hurt for him when I see the fear break out. His face is pinched, as if he’s willing himself to understand.

  I don’t waste any time with pleasantries. I run right up to him and tap his shoulder. He spins around looking shocked when I jump right into signing. I’m really not that good at it, I only know a bit from a while ago, and more recently from some of the DHH kids I do fieldwork for, but I know enough to get the point across.

  “Cops come. Need leave. Now,” I add as an afterthought, but when he turns and heads toward his car I’m glad he got the gist of it at least. I don’t take the time to ask for a ride, I just jump in the passenger seat, which completely shocks him, I can tell. To his credit, he doesn’t take the time to ask me what I’m doing, he just starts the car, checks his mirrors, and peels out. He drives a different way than we took to come here, and for a moment I panic that I just got into a car with a complete stranger and have no clue where I’m going. I’m banking on the good karma I hopefully received for getting stranded so I could save him. I just hope it’s enough so I don’t get killed. I’ve been told I have a face like a glass house, saying I can never hide my emotions, which prove to be right when he taps my arm.

  “Safe you.” He signs one handed…at least I think he was signing safe…without the other hand it could really be anything, although I take
great comfort in the fact that if he was signing stab, his hand would have gone the other direction. We drive in silence for several miles and I never really noticed how awkward silence can be before. Especially with a stranger. I actually open my mouth several times to fill the awkward void only to realize how stupid I’m being and then shut it. Here I am sitting next to the hottest guy I’ve ever seen up close and I look like a freaking baby bird opening and closing my mouth.

  This is shaping up to be quite the freaking night. I never should have listened to Jodi. Then again, after I look at the driver on my left, I can’t exactly say I regret it either.

  CHAPTER 7

  Barrett

  What a freaking night. First, I have to deal with my drunk dad blowing our rent, then I have to race an idiot who could have gotten me killed if I wasn’t so aware of my surroundings. Now I’m running from the freaking cops with some strange girl. How the hell did I end up with this odd stowaway in the first place? I wonder as I look over at her—she seems to be opening and closing her mouth like a guppy. I can’t hide my grin. It happens a lot with hearing people. They’ve never learned to just accept silence. They always feel the need to speak and break it. Silence is comfortable to me, and I rather enjoy watching her squirm a bit, so I just take a deep breath and relax. She smells like lemon. Not like Pine-Sol lemon, but something sweeter. Not a usual smell for most girls, but I’m quickly learning this girl is anything but usual.

  Once I’m sure we’ve missed all the action, I drive back toward town. I sure hope she doesn’t think she’s coming home with me, because that is not freaking happening. No way. Not that my dad would care, he’ll be passed out by now anyway, but I refuse to subject anyone to the hot mess that I call home, even an odd girl that jumps into cars with strangers. Then a thought hits me and I give her a quick once over. She doesn’t look like the usual groupies that hang out at the races. She isn’t showing any skin, in fact, she’s the classiest girl I think I’ve ever seen. Even though she’s trying to down play it with a band t-shirt, her jeans and boots are expensive, so I’d say she definitely has money. I see a McDonalds up ahead and I pull in, park, and turn on my dome light and face the girl. It’s actually the first time I’ve gotten a good look at her. She has dark hair that falls in layers and is slightly curled at the end. She turns expectant grey blue eyes on me and something in me melts a bit. She isn’t the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. Her features are soft, not fierce and striking. She has soft freckles that kiss her skin and a nose that’s almost too small for her face, but there is almost something endearing about her.

  “Who you?”

  “Oh sorry. I’m P R E S L E Y,” she fingerspells. What an odd name for a girl…then again, she seems like a rather odd girl, so like her scent, it seems to fit.

  “B A R R E T T. Nice meet you,” I sign back, because my mother taught me to be a gentleman, after all. “Happened what? Why you come car me? Okay you?”

  “Whoa. Okay, slow down, Mr. I’m still learning here.” “Slow please. Sign little me.” I internally scold myself for assuming she was fluent. Just because she signed to me earlier doesn’t mean she signs all the time.

  “Sorry.” I sign much slower and add a smile. “Happened?” I ask, pointing to her and then my car.

  “Cops were coming. You can’t hear, so I not want you to get…um… S T U C K.” Well, that was nice of her. I show her the sign for stuck and she repeats it, smiling her thanks.

  “I know little sign, so I thought I could help W A R N you.” I show her the sign for warn, and she doesn’t seem to get offended that I’m correcting her like a lot of people do.

  “Why you care me?” She blushes a bit at this question.

  “My friend wanted to leave before the cops showed up but I wanted to warn you so she left and well…I thought since I S A V E D you, I hoped you’d save me back. And you did, so thanks.” Wow, I can’t tell if she’s nervous or if she just naturally would have butchered that sentence, but I think I can piece together what she’s saying. She signs every few words in between voicing and finger spelling the ones she doesn’t know. This conversation is going to take much longer than I’d like.

  “Thank you tell me. Appreciate.” Although I think saving might be taking it a bit far, I did appreciate the heads up.

  “You W E L C O M E.” I show her how to sign welcome.

  “Don’t need sign you. Welcome only fine.” She just signs welcome and then smiles her thanks.

  “I’ll just call my friend and tell her to pick me up. You can go now.” She opens her door and starts to get out when I stop her by grabbing her arm.

  “Fine. I drive you. You help me. I help you.” I add a smile even though the last thing I want to do is go anywhere but home to bed.

  “Sure?”

  “Yes. Where?”

  “U O P,” she fingerspells, and luckily, I know right where that is. I’m not surprised she’s in college. A lot of the students spend their time at the street races. She just doesn’t seem like the type to go. I turn off my dome light and drive toward the school in silence. It doesn’t take long, and as I’m looking for a spot, she taps my shoulder and I turn the light on again.

  “I’m fine here. I can get out.” My mom would roll over in her grave if she knew I didn’t walk her to her door, especially in Stockton at night, but the girl keeps shaking her head.

  “Really, I’ll be fine. There’s no P A R K I N G anyway.” She points to all the cars showing there is no spot for me. “Seriously, don’t worry about me. I have my cell phone.” She holds up her phone. “And a rape whistle. How the heck do you sign um…R A P E um…” She gives up and holds the small silver whistle in her hand. I can’t help but laugh at this strange girl. What the hell is a rape whistle? I don’t bother to hide my thoughts and she instantly turns beet red but looks over at me defiantly. “It’s for safety.”

  “Tiny whistle keep safe you?” I ask, not hiding my laughter.

  “Well, no, but if…” She catches herself when she sees I’m joking.

  “Phone you?” I sign and she holds up her cell phone. I take it from her, causing her to jump a bit, and I just smile as I put my number in.

  “Text me safe you.”

  “That’s very S W E E T of you. Yes, I will.” I show her the sign for sweet, then quickly sign “Nice meet you.” Since I’m double parked, I’m hoping to speed this up.

  “Nice meet you.” She gets out of the car and takes off when I honk my horn to get her attention. I lean over and pick up the whistle she dropped on the passenger seat. I hold it up for her and I can see the embarrassment flood her face once more.

  “Forget not. Fault me if rape no whistle you.” She rolls her eyes but takes the whistle and walks briskly toward the dorms. I can’t help but smile as I think about the last half hour and odd turn of events. I remember the wad of cash in my pocket and I smile again. This time from relief. We won’t get kicked out after all. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I wait for a red light to pull it out and look down at the text.

  Unknown: I made it home with my virtue intact. Thank you for the ride, it was nice to meet you, Barrett. Congratulations on the race. *Presley

  I smile at her text but hate writing or texting people I don’t know very well. I know my English isn’t perfect so I try to stick to the shortest version of conversations I can.

  Barrett: TY. Goodnight.☺

  CHAPTER 8

  Presley

  “Oh, my God, Pres, this is seriously gold! Like you can’t make this stuff up! I’m calling Zeek, here—tell him about the rape whistle.” She thrusts her cell in my hand while she giggles uncontrollably.

  “No, Zeek, nothing happened. She’s lost her freaking mind is all.”

  “Tell him! Tell him about baby bird mouth. Oh, my Lord, my side hurts! My side!”

  “No, nothing. She’s being dramatic as usual. No, Zeek, do not come over. I can resist you just as well in person as I can on the phone. No, you aren’t. No, I’m not. Nobody is that cu
te. Zeek don’t—” I look down at my phone, yep. Sure enough, he hung up on me.

  “Look what you started.”

  “Oh, come on, Pres, you have to admit this is one awesome story! I can just picture you, too! Why do you always wait to do the amazing awkward things until I’m not with you to relish in them? It’s really not very polite, and here I thought you were Miss Manners.” Jodi jumps off the bed at the knock on our door.

  “Take one look at this magnificent face and tell me no,” Zeek commands as he saunters in.

  “Easy. No,” I say as I walk past him with my towel and robe in hand. I know Jodi is going to tell him anyway, and I refuse to be a party to it a second time. Well, third, if you count the original incident.

  “I’m taking a shower. Behave, you two,” I command as I head to the bathroom. I take as long of a shower as I can, but being a dorm shower, it doesn’t stay hot as long as I’d like. Once it runs cold, I step out and take my time drying off. I braid my wet hair and brush my teeth, then decide I’ve stalled as long as I will be able to.

  As soon as I step into the room I know something is up. Jodi and Zeek look far too innocent, I smell a rat.

  “What did you do?”

  “It was Zeek!” Jodi points at him and receives a scowl in return.

  “Seriously? Jodi Leanne!” Zeek accuses.

  “I cracked! She was interrogating me.” Jodi defends.

  “You are so dramatic, I didn’t see a water board in sight! Don’t ever join the CIA, all our national secrets will be out in five seconds.”

  “I don’t mean to interrupt your cute little banter or anything, but would someone mind telling me what Zeek is guilty of?”

  “Nothing,” Zeek replies at the same time that Jodi points to my phone.

  “Jodi! Again? Jesus!”

  “Don’t yell at me, you know I can’t keep a secret! That’s why you’re friends with me, so you can get all the gossip! Next time lock me in the closet!”

  “Gladly. You can keep all your skeletons company.”