Hometown Chapter Thirteen
Talli's POV
I woke up the next morning and it was weird waking up here. It was different; it didn’t feel like home. I have moved a ton of times and it never felt like home. Now, this place doesn’t feel like home. Where me and dad were at, that place felt like home. A real home. It sadden me thinking about everything and how it was all going to change. Again.
I was suppose to go to school this morning. But I just couldn’t do it this morning. The only person in this world that loved and cared about me is now gone for forever. How was I suppose to get up and deal with life right now? We had a bond. Dad was my everything. Even if we didn’t talk all the time; he was there for me.
I saw my door open and Grandma walked in.
“Good morning sweetie,” Grandma signed while talking.
“Hey,” I said.
“If you get a shower you might feel better,” she signed.
“There’s no use. It won’t bring him back,” I signed.
“It’s won’t; but it could help you feel a little bit better,” she said signing.
“Okay,” I sighed.
“Besides, people are going to be stopping and dropping food off,” she signed,”one of those people could be Tex!”
I looked at her and let out a little laugh.
“I don’t think he likes me like that,” I signed.
“Why not,” she asked confused.
“Umm, I’m Deaf,” I signed, “no one wants to be with a Deaf person.”
“Your dad did,” she signed and then patted me on the knee.
Before I could say anything she was leaving the room.
There was no way Tex could ever like me. Beside we are so different. He works, like farming, and has his life planned out. Me, I haven't ever had a job since I never stayed in one spot for too long. I have no idea what I should do with my life. This is my senior year. I'm suppose to know what I want to do with my life right? I thought most people my age had some general idea of what they wanted to do with their life. I could always work in Grandpa's store. That would be a pretty good idea. I liked living here. Grandpa could teach me everything I needed to know. Maybe I could get a job cleaning stalls at the barn where Tex works. I'm starting to like horses the more I am around them.
I had to stop all this thinking at one time. I was overwhelming myself with the sudden decisions I felt like I needed to make. I jumped in the shower and got out. I think Grandma told me to hurry up so I did.
I let my hair down out of the towel and combed it out. It was getting so long. I liked it long! I went and sat outside in the backyard. I hadn't ever been to my grandparents' house. It was pretty. They owned some land. Okay, a lot of land. They had a pretty backyard. Grandma has a garden filled with flowers. There was also a gazebo surrounded with flowers. I went and sat in there.
I looked at the back porch of the house I would be living in. It was a nice house for the 3 of us. I was so excited to live in the house that my mom and dad started out in. It felt like it was home. Now, I have to change my home. Again.
I looked into the fields behind the gazebo. What a gorgeous sight. There was so much farmland out here. Maybe I should be a farmer. It seems popular in this town.
I felt someone tap me on my shoulder. I spun around and there stood Tex. He was leaned up against a post of the gazebo and a this grin on his face. He seemed happy to see me.
"Hey, what are you doing here," I asked happily but a bit confused.
"I bought you some pizza and homework," he said signing, "why are you wearing your hearing aides?"
"Oh thank you! I don't know," I shrugged as I looked at the floor.
Tex waved to get my attention. So, I looked up.
"How are you," he signed.
It was like slow motion. His signing showed he cared.
I shook my head and looked back at the floor. It was tough. I was trying to he tough and not cry. It was not working too well.
"My world has been flipped upside down," I signed as I plopped down on the seat.
He came to sit next to me and put his arm around me. I turned into him and couldn't stop crying.
This guy was allowing me to soak his shirt with tears. He showed me cared. He kept his arm around me and squeezed me every time a new sob came on. It seems as if he actually cares for me. This is what a true friend does. He really is my friend.
Thinking these things only made me cry harder. So I tried to dry it up.
"Thank you so much," I signed, "I'm sorry!"
"There's nothing to be sorry for," he signed.
The way he signed was so gentle. With so much truth to it.
I don't want to jinks myself. But we are going to become the best of friends. Maybe even more...

Tex's POV
I hated to see Talli like this. She was heartbroken. I mean who wouldn't be in a situation like this. I didn't know what to do for her. I could only bring her so much pizza until she got tired of it. I was happy to see her when I arrived. She was just staring out into the field. She was filled with thoughts of wonder. I could tell. She had her head slightly tilted to the side.
I then had to ask her how she was. I was so stupid. I shouldn't have asked her that!! I knew how she was. She's sad. We could have talked about anything else. Like her homework. If she needed help or if she needed company. I just had to ask her how she was.
She tried to stop crying but she would just start back. But she finally manage to stop and look at me. She was studying me. Trying to figure me out. So I gave her a silly face to study. She started laughing. It made me feel better. I was happy to see her smile back. She has a really pretty smile.
"So, are you hungry," I asked signing.
"Are you," she asked.
"I could eat," I signed.
Without saying a word. She wiped her eyes and walked off.
"Where are you going," I asked her.
But she kept walking because she didn't hear me.
I chuckled to myself. I'm an idiot. I'll get us to it. I plan to be around for a while. Unless she says otherwise.
She was gone for a few minutes and then came back with plates and drinks.
I met her and helped her carry everything back to the gazebo.
"This is your pizza," I signed.
"I can't eat the whole thing," she said, "okay I can! But I would rather share."
"Would you rather me talk or sign," I asked signing.
I always signed to her but she mostly spoke to me. She spoke clear. Not much of a Deaf accent unless she has her heading aides out.
"Either or both," she shrugged, "I just figured you would rather me speak than sign."
"I can understand your sign language just fine," I signed.
"Okay," she said, "this is good!"
"Thanks! I made it," I said signing.
"You liar,"she signed.
"I'm not," I signed, "I promise!"
"Wow, is there anything you don't know how to do," she asked signing.
"Nope! What about you," I asked.
"A ton," she signed.
"That's not true," I signed.
"Yes! I can't fix a truck, ride a horse, and I can't tell tools apart," she signed, "but I'm going to have to if I'm gonna work in Grandpa's store!"
"Well, I can teach you that stuff," I signed, "it's easy!"
"Okay sounds like a plan," she signed.
"I brought some homework for you to do," I signed, "do you need help?"
"Not right now," Talli signed, "I would rather sit here and enjoy the beauty!"
"Sounds like a good plan," I signed.