Allison
Night fell swiftly, and before I knew it, I was engrossed in an online lecture crucial for my school project. The soft glow of my iPad illuminated my face as I scribbled notes.
A knock at the door broke the silence. Nina rose from the bed, a gentle smile on her face, and made her way to the door. She opened it, revealing Sally, my sister, standing in the hallway with a bright smile.
“Hey, Sally, what’s up?” I asked, pausing the lecture and pushing my iPad aside. Sally waved, her eyes sparkling, and sat down beside me.
She began to sign, her hands moving deftly as she communicated with me. I watched, my heart warming at the familiar gestures.
“You met with Colby when I left, right?” Sally signed, her eyebrows raised in inquiry.
I nodded, feeling a twinge of indescribable feelings because it reminded me of the annoying and awkward conversation we had today.
“Yeah, I did meet him. What’s up?”
Sally leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “So, what did he tell you?” she signed, her hands moving swiftly. “Did he tell you the person he likes?”
I felt a pang of discomfort, unsure of how to reveal the truth. How could I tell Sally that the person her crush liked was me?
I shifted back, stalling for time. “No, Colby didn’t tell me anything,” I signed slowly, trying to appear nonchalant. “I’m sorry.”
Sally’s face fell, but she quickly rebounded. “Why don’t you ask him?” she suggested, her signs enthusiastic.
“What?” I signed quickly, an obvious look of shock on my face. “Why would I do that? That’s his personal life. I don’t think I can do that, Sally. I’m really sorry, but you can ask for another request.”
“But you’re his friend,” she signed, her expression turning persuasive. “Come on, just ask him. Pretty please!”
I tried to deflect her interest. “Sally, can you just forget about him? I don’t think he’s worth it.”
But Sally was undeterred. “He’s worth it,” she signed, her eyes shining. “He’s great.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Hmm… And how is he great?”
Sally’s face lit up as she began to compliment Colby’s looks, her hand gestures slow and smooth. “Have you seen his eyes? His beautiful brown eyes are so captivating. And his hair… it’s just perfect. Have you seen him on the field? He’s amazing.”
I watched, amused, as Sally’s signs became more animated, her praise for Colby’s physical appearance and athletic prowess flowing effortlessly.
Sally’s enthusiastic signs continued, but soon, I wasn’t paying attention. A smile crept onto my face, and it wasn’t because of Sally’s praise for Colby. My mind had wandered to Jayden, and I couldn’t help but think of him.
Sally’s hand on mine snapped me back to reality. “What are you thinking about?” she signed, her eyebrows raised. “Why were you smiling?”
“Nothing,” I answered, shaking my head, trying to brush it off.
“Don’t tell me you think you’re falling for Colby?” she asked.
“What?” I laughed, “You’re out of your mind, Sally. I mean, why would I fall for Colby of all people? It makes no sense. Now, I feel insulted.”
“Oh please, it was obvious you were thinking about him. Anyway, he’s mine, so get your mind off him. Stay off, alright?”
I sighed, trying to reassure her. “I wasn’t thinking about him, really. There’s nothing about him for me to even think about.”
Sally’s eyes narrowed. “Then who were you thinking about? I’m really certain you were thinking about someone? Your gaze, your expression… It was obvious, Allison.”
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Just then, I noticed Nina laying on the bed, trying to appear nonchalant, when in the actual sense, she was stealing glances at us.
“Nina, do you understand sign language?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
Nina nodded, looking sheepish. “I actually learned a little.”
Her eyes met mine, and I knew she had understood everything Sally and I had been discussing.
“I’m sorry,” she said, “but I heard everything. I understood what your sister was saying.”
I laughed it off, trying to brush off the awkwardness. “It’s fine, Nina,” I said, attempting to reassure her. “You’re surely free to listen.”
Sally rolled her eyes and pushed me off the bed, taking my place. “I’m sleeping over here,” she signed, her hands rising in defiance.
I raised an eyebrow. “Why? What happened to your dorm? There’s no space for-”
Sally cut me off, her signs becoming more animated. “No, I need to stay here. If I go back to my dorm, I might end up thinking about Colby more.”
“You’re crazy,” I muttered, as I shook my head.
At that point, I was unsure what to make of Sally’s reasoning. I picked up my iPad and continued my lecture, but my mind began to wander.
Jayden’s face flashed in my mind, and I felt a flutter in my chest. I tried to focus on the lecture, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him. Well, all thanks to this sister of mine, I can’t concentrate anymore.
Dinner had come and gone, and the three of us – Nina, Sally, and I – had spent the evening scrolling through our phones. Now, as I glanced around the darkened room, I saw that Sally was already fast asleep beside me. Even Nina, who usually stayed up late, was snoring softly in her bed.
I yawned, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. It was time to put my phone aside and get some rest. But just as I closed my eyes, I was jolted awake by the sound of the window creaking open. The rusty hinges squeaked in protest, and the leaves of the bush outside rustled softly, as if someone was stepping on them.
My heart racing, I opened my eyes to find myself shaking. I tried to scream, but my voice caught in my throat. Fear paralyzed me as I realized someone had entered our room. Why hadn’t we locked the window?
Before I could process anything further, a hand clamped over my mouth, silencing me.
“Ssshh.”
A warm breath caressed my ear, sending shivers down my spine. And then, I recognized the sound – the soft, husky tone that could only belong to one person: Jayden.