Casey had biology with us. When we entered the class the teacher was already there,we allowed Casey to go up and introduce himself.

"Hi I'm Casey".He said to the teacher.

"Oh Casey! the special student welcome to my class".

What the heck does he mean special.

Casey nod and turn back to Dale and I. We sat at the front,well because Casey sat there and for some reason I wanted to sit with him.

"Something is wrong with the kid". Dale said,not whispering.

"Shh he can hear you dude".I whispered but Dale shook his head.

"That's the thing,he can't".

I slowly turn to Casey who was playing on his phone.

"Casey?"I said.

I gulp when he didn't even look at me but continued his little game, I turn back to Dale.

"He's just in his phone that's all".I said hoping it was true.

"Okay class let's begin".the teacher said.

I sighed,looking at Casey he didn't even heard what the teacher said until he looked up and saw the teacher writing on the board.

When class over and the bell rang for lunch I waited for Casey at the door,when he came he smiled at me.

"Casey,do...you ...want ...to...eat ...lunch ...with ...my ...friends ...and ...I?".

"Why talk so slow".

I raise both my eyebrows when he replied,he was hearing me so I didn't have to talk so slow for him to watch my lips...he's not deaf!wait...why am I so happy?

"So do you?".

I ask and he nod.

"Lunch in locker". He pointed down the hall.

He still talks weird though.

We walked to his locker and he got his lunch,we went into the cafeteria where I left him with Dale to go buy my lunch. When I came back our table was full with our friends and Casey looked a little uncomfortable. I sat between him and Dale who whispered in my ears.

"Your boyfriend is a little uncomfortable with so many people".

I turned and glared at him,he just shrug.

"Casey?" I said,he didn't look at me but continued to play with his watch.

I touch him and he jump, looking at me with a small smile that cause me to smile.

"Wanna go outside ?"

He seem to just catch the last word.

"Outside?" He ask and I nod.

"Okay".He said happily

I got up with him and lead him outside,we sat on the bench under a tree. Casey looked like he was enjoying the view. The way he looked around and smile and close his eyes when the wind blew. I still don't get it, since today I met Casey I've been so soft and I want to be his friend so bad and I don't know why.

When school was over I didn't move until Casey's mom picked him up then I went to my car where Apple was waiting.

"What took you so long?" She huff.

"I was with Casey".I unlocked the car for her to go in.

"The new weirdo?".

"He's not a weirdo...just weird".I mumbled the last part. Casey was a little weird. He didn't act like the rest of us but maybe he just haven't gotten use to the new environment as yet.

"Whatever,take me home so I can go wash my hair".

I rolled my eyes and started the car.

I dropped Apple off at her house and drove to mine.My mom was in the kitchen when I walked in she was taking a pie from the oven.

"Ready to go meet the neighbors?" She ask.

"Okay let's go". I said.

"Wait what happened to the cupcakes I bake yesterday to take too".

"Uh you baked five,I ate one as soon as you took them out the oven,then another before bed,another one in the middle of the night, another one early in the morning and the last one this morning". I smile cheekily.

"You better bring something". She huff and walked past me with the pie. I looked around and saw an apple on the counter, I shrug and took it up.Hurrying after my mom.I met her at the door of the new neighbors. Then she rang the door bell and waited for someone to answer. The door was pulled and a lady came in view smiling,she looked around my mom's age,shoulder length black hair,brown eyes and a round face.She almost look like Casey only she's a woman.

"Hi I'm Sidney and this is my son Malik,welcome to the neighbor hood". My mom handed her the pie.

"Thank you so much Sidney,I'm Alisha,nice to meet you two".

"You too Sidney".I said and put the apple on top of the pie.

My mom rolled her eyes and I shrug while Sidney laugh.

"Thank you Malik,please come on in". Sidney step aside and we went in.Sitting in the living room.

"Mommy,no apples!" A very familiar voice said from behind us in the kitchen.

Sidney smile and took up the apple "Well thanks again for the apple Malik ".

"No problem".i smile

Just then a pouting Casey walked in,his pout disappeared and left his mouth open when he saw me. Now I know why Sidney look a lot like Casey,she's her mother. He smile before going to the apple his mom was holding out.

"This is my son Casey".Sidney put her hand on his back.

"Hi Casey".my mom said and Casey waved.

"Hi Mawik".

"You already met Casey?" Sidney ask and I nod.

Then Casey start doing weird things with his hand to his mother then she did it back...wait did he just call me Mawik

"Casey signs when he can't say a full long sentence but thanks for being friends with Casey, he say he was really nervous until you came". Sidney smile.

"Oh he's..". My mom trailed off.

"Yep". Sidney said ."Since he was 7".

Since he's seven what?am I this dumb?

"Casey,take Malik upstairs".she finish the rest with her hands action.

Casey took my hands and led me up the stairs. Leaving the moms to talk. He led me to a door and opened it, revealing his room.The first thing that caught my attention was this huge Spider-Man sticker on the wall,right beside his white dresser. The tv was on the other side on the room and the bed was in front with everything else.His room was just like any other teenage boy...except for the sticker.I pointed at the sticker.

"Amazing".He simple said and sat on his bed.

I sat beside him and he played with his fingers.

"So how was your first day?"I spoke but he didn't look at me.

I touch his fingers and he look up confuse.

"Why don't you answer unless someone touch you?" I ask slowly.

" don't know you talking tiww you touch me". He huff.

"What?".I think he still talks like a baby because his l's sound a lot like W's and he misses out some words".

"Why friends with me?".he ask

"Because...".I didn't really know,why do I want to be friends with him so bad and why do I feel like I don't want to lose him.

"Pity?" He ask and I quickly shook my head.

"Why would I have pity on you?" I ask slowly.

"Coz ears are broken".

WHY CANT I UNDERSTAND HIM?!

I put up a finger meaning one minute and went out the door and downstairs,I saw my mom on the couch so Sidney must be in the kitchen or something.

"Hey honey what's going on you looked confuse,I know you hate confusions". My mom snickered.

"What's wrong with Casey,he said his ears are broken?". ask.

"Malik,Casey is deaf".She sighed

I wasn't expecting that,well Dale told me already but he doesn't seem deaf...now I think about,you have to touch him to get his attention,he read your lips,he still talks in his baby ways,he became deaf when he was seven!,God I'm so stupid.

I ran back upstairs to see a crying Casey hugging a pillow.I hurried over to him,my heart ache to see him like this.His eyes were just filled with sadness.I couldn't help but pulled him into my lap and hug him tight,making him cry into my chest.His hands clutching on to my shirt. I don't care if this looks gay right now to have a guy in my lap but it's Casey and he's crying.

"Why did you come back?" He ask

I pulled him up so he was looking at me.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I can't hear,you don't want to be friends now you know". His eyes were filling with tears again.

"I do want to be friends,that does not mean we can't be friends Casey".I said slow for him to read my lips.

A smile appeared on his lips and I smile too.

"Watch tv?".He ask and I nod.

He jump off the bed and went over to his tv,turning it on.I wonder how does he watch tv and can't hear but I saw when the readings were at the bottom.He came back over to me,smiling and I took his hands,he blush a little but I didn't mind him blushing,he was my friend and for some reason I feel like I'm his protector.