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Chapter 12

"Ok, ok, I get it!" I laughed and Gale narrowed his eyes at me. We were sitting together on the floor of the greenhouse, about to watch Finding Nemo. Yes, out of my entire movie collection, Finding Nemo. It was the movie Gale insisted we watched, and when I argued that it was a boring movie, Gale started to to rant about how I "didn't know a good movie when I saw one, and that I must've had a crap childhood." l just gave up and let him watch it.

It was five in the afternoon, and this was our first movie. Gale and I spent most of our day hanging out in the greenhouse. He taught me new words and phrases in sign language, so talking to each other would be easier. Since it was a Saturday and no one was here, we played hide and go seek. Childish, I know, but it was fun. One of us would take the elevator and hide on one of the floors. Which one we hid on was the hard part. Gale was way better at hide and seek because he was small. He had a knack for curling up in small boxes and, somehow, the tops of book shelves.

We wheeled the tv stand in so we could watch movies an hour ago, and now,here we were, loading the DVD player with one of the most family friendly movies on earth. I folded my arms and leaned back, pouting. Gale popped the DVD in and jumped onto the futon we set up, smiling adorably. The movie came on, and after ten minutes, I opened my mouth to complain. Before I could, however, Gale shot me his special I-Dare-You-To-Say-Something glare. Still, he manages to look scary and cute all at once.

"Gale!" I whined, but he ignored me. I frowned And crawled onto the futon with him. "Gale!"

He continued to watch the movie, completely unfazed by my whining. I hurried my face in his neck, waiting, but still nothing. Smirking, I opened my mouth and niped his neck. This time, he reacted. His deep blue eyes met mine, annoyed at first, but then smoldering. He slowly placed his hands on my chest and leaned closer. I did the same, and closed my eyes as his lips hovered, small puffs of breath warming my lips.

Then, like the jerk he is, he shoved me of the futon.

I tumble backwards and hit the floor with a thump. Groaning and rubbing my sore hip, I looked up at Gale, who was seated on the futon, grinning smugly. I grabbed a pillow off the futon and chucked it at Gale with all my strength. It hit Gale square in the face, and to my surprise (and amusement), Gale fell backwards off the futon. Instantly, I panicked.

"Shit!" I went to the other side of the cot and crouched over him. He was lying on the floor, looking a little out of it. "Gale?! Are you ok?"

He nodded and sat up, but I wasn't convinced.

"You sure? Do you see any dark spots? Does anything hurt? How many fingers am I holding up?" Gale rolled his eyes pushed away the three fingers I had held up. He climbed back onto the futon and waited until I reluctantly joined him.

You have an impressive right arm, Gale signed, stretching his back. I blushed and smiled almost feeling a little guilty. Almost.

"Yeah, sorry about that." I apologized but Gale just shrugged. Then he smirked and before I could even react, he snatched up a pillow and smacked me in the head with it. I laughed and grabbed a pillow, starting a war that lasted for at least an hour. We ended up chasing each other around the greenhouse with pillows until we got tired. Luckily, Gale lost interest in Finding Nemo and opted for Iron Man 3. I laid my head in in Gale's lap while we watched.

"Gale?" I asked and Gale looked at me.

"Why do you have so many buttons on your jacket?" I asked and Gale didn't answer at first. I know how he gets about questions, but I wanted to know something. Anything. Just to know more about him. Just as I was beginning to think he wouldn't answer when he did.

My jacket is like your shoes. Every one of my buttons belonged to someone else at one point. I collected them from everyone important to me before I came out. That way, even if they hated me, I'd still have a piece of them.

"Did things work out?" I asked, closing my eyes slightly as he ran a hand through my hair. I loved when he did that. Gale paused for a moment before shrugging a little.

I lost a lot of friends.

"They were never really your friends then." I murmured. "True friends accept you for who you are." Gale smiled slightly.

"Hey, Gale?"

Yes.

"We're you always mute?" Another pause.

Yes. My vocal cords were severely damaged at birth. At least that's what I was told. My grandmother told me it was because my mom smoked while she was pregnant.

"Is it hard, being mute?"

Yeah, but I'm still able to go to normal school. I had an electronic that spoke for me, but I don't like it that much.

"That's cool." I breathed. We were quiet as we watched our movie, until my phone rang. I grumbled as it disrupted our comfort and and checked the caller I.D. It was Ash. Gale paused the movie while I answered the call.

"Hey Ash."

"Where the hell are you?!" He snapped, and I heard Shannon and Danny in the background. They sounded like they were arguing.

"With Gale." I answered, yawning a little. My yawn triggered Gale's and I smiled. He always looks like a sleepy kitten when he yawns.

"Don't "With Gale" me like I'm supposed to know that! Shannon won't stop yelling at everyone, Hayley is crying, and Danny is at my house! And he won't leave until I tell him where you are! Do you know what kind of situation I'm in for you?!" Hayley was crying? That's a first. I pulled my ear away from the phone as he yelled. Gale was listening curiously so I put it on speaker. Gale cringed as Ash's got louder. Finally, I interfered.

"Look, I'm fine. I'm alive and I'm with Gale. I'm coming back tomorrow. Tell everyone to stop worrying." I said and hung up. I opened my arms wide and smirked playfully at Gale. He rolled his eyes but bit back a smile as he curled into my chest.

***

Our night was perfect. We spent most of it eating snacks, watching movies, kissing, and actually talking. I got to know Gale, and it made me ecstatic. His dad just got laid off so money is tight. He saves up all his money for his family, which is really sweet. They don't know know he doesn't take his device because he doesn't like it anymore. He says it sounds like a robot. His brother's name is Zach and he's a serious homophobe. Gale doesn't hate him for it.

Some of his favorite movies are I Am Legend, Zombieland, Twenty Weeks Later, World War Z, and...Finding Nemo. Yeah, one of these things seriously doesn't belong in this list. I have no idea why he enjoys Finding Nemo so much. Anyway, we had a blast and and I dropped Gale off around eleven after taking him out to breakfast. He still insisted on paying so I gave in and let him pay the tip.

After that, I went to Shannon's house to assure her that I had not jumped off of a bridge to "end the depression of hiding my true self from the world" as Shannon dramatically described it. Hayley and I made up. She apologized even though I had already forgiven her a long time ago. Danny was upset, but only because he was worried. And because he had to go to Ashton's house.

Now, I was just pulling into my driveway. Both my parents cars were gone, so I just let myself in with my key. In a way, I was glad they weren't here. I could still hope that my parents were ok with me being gay when they weren't there to tell me otherwise. Sighing, I dropped my car keys on the kitchen counter and retreated upstairs. My parents didn't get back until three.

I actually didn't know they were home until my mom literally knocked my door off its hinges with her shoulder and collapsed onto my bed face down. My dad rushed in behind her, his face worry stricken.

"JASPER!" My mom wailed and wrapped her arms around me, her eyes tearing up. I was shocked. My dad sat next to her and rubbed her back in circles as she sobbed. All I could do is stare.

"What is wrong with you?!" My mom sobbed, smacking me on my chest hard. For such a little woman, her strength is incredible. My dad will probably need to buy me a new bedroom door and I'll definitely have a bruise later. "Don't you dare leave this house again without telling me where you are or so help me Jasper I will castrate you and ground you for so long that Satan will be calling your name Jasper, I swear on your father's life-

"Wait, what?" My dad asked but mom ignored him.

"if you pull this again you will wish you had stayed missing!" At that, I hugged her tight, tears leaking from my eyes.

"So your okay with it?" I whispered and my mom rolled her eyes, even though they were puffy and red.

"Jasper, who you love doesn't change how I feel about you. I am your mother. Now, if it was some curvy slut bitch-

"Stephanie!" My dad exclaimed, laughing. I smiled and my mom huffed and pouted. We were quiet, lost in our own thoughts, before my dad cleared his throat awkwardly, indicating he wanted to say something.

"So, Jasper, when will we meet your boyfriend?" He asked, without pausing or changing his usual expression of indifference and amusement. My mom popped up and nodded enthusiastically, clasping her hands together.

"Yes, what's he like?" My mom added, smiling sweetly. I stared at them, wondering how I was so lucky to have parents who accepted me. Not many had parents who were okay with their child being gay. Grinning, I started telling them about Gale. His smile, his personality, his quirks, how he looked, everything.

"And his eyes are really blue, like the ocean at night, when the night sky reflects against the waves and the stars shine on the sea." I sighed, and my mom sighed as well, her head propped up by her hand. My dad smirked and rolled his eyes. I ended up telling them Gale was mute, but I knew he wouldn't mind. My parents could be trusted, and soon, he'd get to meet them. And I already know they'll love him.

Gale

I waited behind the school, tapping my foot impatiently. It was Monday, and I didn't have much time. Jasper was waiting for me so he could drive me home, and it would be rude to keep him waiting. Not to mention, he didn't know I was here. I didn't tell him because I wouldn't know how to explain to him. And honestly, I don't want to. I'd rather not go down memory lane.

Where the hell was he? It was windy and although my oversized button jacket is thick, it was beginning to look like it would rain. Storm clouds were already gathering. I sighed and picked up my violin case, more than prepared to leave, when I heard footsteps and a metal chain clinking. Finally.

Damian walked up to me with the familiar swagger in his walk. He wore black muscle shirt and baggy jeans. A chain hung from his hip and his hair was messy. Nothing about him had changed. And if that's true, he's still trouble.

THIS ENTIRE CONVERSATION IS IN ASL

"Hey, Gale." I set me case down on the floor and frowned at him.

"Your late and Jasper is waiting for me."

He ran a hand through his hair and shot me an apologetic smile before signing. "Sorry, Shannon was talking my ear off."

"Why are you dating her? She's cheating on you, and your cheating on her. Im not seeing the point." Everyone could see she was cheating on Damian with one of his teammates on the football team. Several people had gone to him and told him (mostly desperate girls), but he didn't seem to care.

"Correction. I'm trying to cheat on her. So far, I haven't succeeded. And the point is, I need a reason to be at her house."

"You couldn't do that without dating her?" He didn't answer, instead he rubbed the back of his neck and shifted from one foot to the other. He knew dating her was stupid. He was just making this a game. As usual. And by doing so, he was making things hard for me, because I know I'll eventually have to defend him when people get suspicious. That's what I've always done.

"Look, Damian, I know you love h-

"Love? Who said anything about love?"

"You don't need to say anything. It's written all over your face. Whether you'll admit it or not." I said and Damian huffed.

"Right."

"You know I'm right. Why would you be going through all this trouble for a good lay. I'm not stupid, Damian. And you aren't either. So stop acting like you are."

"Oh, please. Who are you to lecture me when your just toying with Jasper's heart? Does he know anything about your life that isn't a lie? Does he know about your parents-

"You know why I can't tell him about that."

"or how you don't live down the street from the school-

"Damian."

"Or about me! Huh?! Does he know about that? Your such a hypocrite. Don't tell me lying isn't the way to go, because you lie everyday. And what would you know about love when you won't let yourself love anyone?"

"I loved you! And look where that got me!"

Damian froze and sighed.

"I'm sorry, Gale. Ok? If I could go back and change everything I would. I know what I did was wrong, and I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix anything. You sold me out, Damian, to save your own skin, and now my parents would burn me if I ever tried to walk through the doorway again! Don't come to me for my help anymore, Damian. Because I'm done covering for your ass. I'm tired. I'm tired of running, I'm tires of hiding, and I'm so sick and tired of lying. You go ahead and crush another heart like you crushed mine, but I'm not going to help you do it."

With that, I picked up my case and left. It was almost ten minutes after school had ended, and Jasper was probably looking for me. Damian called my name, but I ignore him. I was done. I have to many secrets of my own to keep his too.

END ASL

"Hey, Gale, I was looking for you. Let's go." Jasper smiled when I reached the parking lot and opened his car door for me, bowing slightly. I shook my head, smiling as well, as he helped me into his car. In a way, I envied him. His life was so carefree. His parents accepted him. His friends still loved him. He had a home with his own clothes in his own room. Something I would never get to have.

"So, what kept you so long?" Jasper asked, one hand on the steering wheel, the other around the back of my seat. I smiled fondly at him, and shrugged.

I ran into an old...friend, and we started talking.

-

Dedication goes to *drum roll please* LaraaBananaa because I appreciate the follow AND I like The Monsters Around Us :) So yeah...thanks for being awesome!

Another chapter completed! Haha! Celebration Dance Break! *turns on dubstep and dances with Jasper's mom* I actually feel like this is kind of short :/ I don't know it probably is, but no matter. Because things shall change in the next chapter. And honestly, I don't know if they will change for Bette or for worse. I mean, I do know what will happen, but some of you might think it's good, while others will think it is bad. Do you understand? No? That's ok, I don't either. Just....you'll see >:)

Picture of Damian----------------------->

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