Page 29 of Muted

Susu: Yeah.

Me: Why not?

Susu: I don’t talk to people…

Me: You’re talking to me.

Susu: Yeah, so I told you. It wasn’t a secret I was intentionally keeping from people.

Me: Not like the secret you’re keeping from me about why you don’t speak.

I’m left on read again. Staring at my phone, I give her another fifteen minutes before giving up and turning off the screen. Guess I pushed her one too many times tonight.

I’ll try again tomorrow.

Chapter 8

Reticent

Susu

Fuck all this fucking rain. My God, does this shit never stop?

I crash through a deep puddle and cringe when I feel the icy water saturate my sock. The padding cradling my heel squelches and a whimper works its way past my always clenched vocal cords.

Late. I’m running late and it makes me feel sick. The bus I normally take is already blocks away, taillights taunting me. Maybe I wouldn’t stress so much, but I’ve heard Vance and Chester bitch often enough about Thad showing up late that I worry they’ll get just as irritated at me.

I have to let Vance know, but I don’t have his damn number. Slowing down to stand under an awning near my stop, I wait for the next bus scheduled to stop in fifteen minutes. With trembling fingers, I send a text to Theo, hoping he’ll have Vance’s number.

Me: Do you have Vance’s phone number?

Theo: *contact forwarded*

Thank God.I blow out a slow breath and quickly shoot off a text to let Vance know I’m on my way, but I’ll be an extra few minutes. Another message from Theo follows quickly.

Theo: Is everything okay?

Me: Yes.

Theo: You’re pretty terrible with one-worded texts, you know that? It’s like pulling teeth.

I wrinkle my nose.What’s that supposed to mean?He asked a question, and I answered.I have no idea how I’m supposed to respond.

Me: Sorry?

Theo: *sigh* See? There you go again. Most people would explain that they’re okay and maybe add in why they’re looking for a phone number.

Is there some sort of text etiquette class I missed? Wait… is he flirting with me? No. No fucking way.

I type out another response and snort out a laugh when he finally asks.

Me: But you didn’t ask me why I wanted his number.

Theo: Why do you need Vance’s number?

Me: Because I missed my normal bus and I’m waiting for the next one. I’m going to be a few minutes late.

Theo: You know you can text me for a ride. Or Chaz. Or Vance. Or Cliff, for that matter. Any of us would come pick you up. Well, Cliff might not, but he’s an asshole, so I wouldn’t call him unless it was an emergency. But the rest of us would.

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