Chapter 8
Y ulianna
“This is your room. Your roommate’s name is Ella. She tends to keep to herself,” Eddie said.
“Oh? Why is that?”
“She’s deaf, and there are only a couple of teachers who can sign with her. But she can lip-read really well,” Eddie said, pulling a key from his pocket and handing it to me. “I got this for you earlier.”
Smiling, I took the key and slipped it into the lock. I opened the door and spotted Ella sitting on her bed with a large sketchpad on her lap. She looked up and smiled as we walked inside. Ella was beautiful, with strawberry hair, green eyes, and a smattering of freckles on her cheeks. Her warm smile reminded me of Frida, and I instantly felt connected to her.
Not waiting for her to take the lead, I walked over and signed.
Hello, I’m Yulianna.
She jumped up off the bed.
You sign?
I do.
Are you not able to hear?
Yes, I can, but I spend a lot of time alone. I learned multiple languages and then one day decided to learn sign language.
She squealed, grabbing me and pulling me into a hug. I held her back, falling in love with her immediately. Eddie’s eyes were on me as the guys put my stuff down, but I sat on Ella’s bed as she tugged my hand.
I don’t even know what to ask first. Other than my interpreter, I don’t have anyone to talk to. I’ve thought so many times about transferring schools, but it felt like I was giving in.
I nodded.
You want to show that you’re more than what everyone expects of you. If you transfer, then you’ll feel like you failed.
Yes!
I get that, but it must be lonely.
Ella shrugged. I’m used to it.
That made me sad because I knew just what she meant. I pointed to her sketch pad.
What are you drawing?”
Ella grabbed the pad and handed it over. It was a stunning home. Every little detail had been added, from shading on stones to the flowers in the garden.
This is beautiful.
Thank you. I’m going to be an architect.
She turned the page and showed me the layout of the house inside. It looked like the kind of place I’d always wanted rather than the monstrosity I’d lived in my whole life.
I love this. It’s what I want one day.
Then it will be yours.
Really?
She nodded.
You tell me what else you want added. Then, when you’re ready, and I have my license, I’ll draw the blueprints for you.
Ella smiled wide and brushed her strawberry blonde hair out of her eyes. I laughed and hugged her this time.
Thank you.
The guys are staring at us.
She nodded to my side of the room. I looked at the four dumbfounded expressions and lifted a brow at Eddie.
“How long have you known Ella?” I spoke as I signed so that Ella knew what I was saying without me looking at her.
He shrugged. “We met last year.”
“Why haven’t you learned to sign?”
His mouth opened and closed, looking around the room as if the walls might produce an answer.
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, you’re going to learn starting today,” I said.
“Um…okay,” Eddie answered. Lawrence and Marcus laughed, but Paul stayed quiet, making me like him even more.
“I wouldn’t laugh. I meant all of you.”
“What? No way,” Lawrence grumbled.
“I’ll do it,” Paul said, and Lawrence rolled his eyes. “I’d like to learn.”
He was quickly rising on my list of people I trusted here.
I placed my hand on Ella’s shoulder before handing back her sketch pad and standing.
Eddie promised me a tour. Do you want to come?
She bit her lip like she was unsure. I grabbed her hand tugging her to her feet.
Please come with us. It’ll be fun. I need a girl’s perspective anyway. You know who I should avoid and all that. I’ve never been allowed to attend school before, and I could use some help.
Ella giggled, and her smile was completely infectious.
Okay, let’s go.
Edmundo – Age 18
Ana was captivating and more incredible than even I had realized. That was saying something because, to me, she was as perfect as an angel. We’d walked the entire property of Wayward, and her smile never wavered. She pointed at things that I’d overlooked, yet she found them fascinating or beautiful.
Paul had never been so talkative except with me, and Marcus now hung on her every word, which was amusing considering how much shit he’d given me over the years about her. She blew me away with how fast she could sign and talk to Paul at the same time. Ana and Ella went back and forth laughing, and it made me realize just how cut off Ella had been from the rest of us.
There was so much we couldn’t stuff into our short once-a-week conversations. The all too brief moments we spent in person were filled with a desperation for touch and scheming of ways to marry. I quickly realized that as much as we knew about one another, there was equally as much that we didn’t.
We ate in the cafetorium, and as soon as I could get Ana alone, I dragged her outside to my favorite spot on the whole property.
“Eddie, this place is pure magic,” Ana said as she cuddled into my side.
“Yeah, I love sitting by the pond. Especially when there’s a full moon.”
Walking her to the bench, we sat down, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
“It’s not just this, it’s everything. I feel like I’ve stepped out of a gilded prison and into freedom. I’ve never felt so alive or free. Being here with other people my age and with you. It’s a dream I don’t ever want to wake up from.”
Feeling the same, I kissed the top of Ana’s head and hated that I’d only get this one year with her. I was graduating in the spring, but at least Ella and Paul would be with her next year.
“I never want this to end either. We need to make every moment count. A year will fly by and….”
Ana looked up at me.
“I want to do it all. I want to go to the movies with you, have a real dinner date, study until we fall asleep with our heads on tables, and I want to watch you play football,” she said.
Smiling, I tucked her blonde hair behind her ear.
“Here, they call it soccer. Don’t get me started. I fight about the name daily,” I said, and Ana laughed. “I want to kiss you, but once I start, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to stop.”
“What if I don’t want you to stop?”
Shifting on the bench so I could look at her, I cupped her face and took a moment to just stare into her eyes.
“I’ve always believed that we each have one special someone out there in the world. God graced me by allowing me to find mine so young. I love you, Ana. I will always love you.”
“Even if I have to marry another?”
Anger roared through me at the thought.
“I won’t let that happen.”
Ana’s eyes were filled with so much fear that I felt it coursing through my veins. Until our names were on a contract anything could happen, but I’d been making strides and now had my father helping me. It had to be enough.
“Eddie….”
“Ana, even if it does happen, we will do what we must until we can find a way back to one another. When we have enough power so that no one can stop us, we will be reunited.”
“And what if you fall in love with whoever you’re forced to marry? What then?”
“I can’t make you believe me, but that’s impossible. When I look at you, it’s as if I’m staring into my soul. You have always been my only love, and that will never change.”
“I feel the same way. I don’t know what I’ll do, Eddie, if my father doesn’t agree to our marriage.”
I kissed her forehead, then her cheeks, and finally, her lips. We barely touched, but the spark and connection that had been between us from day one flared brightly. Ana moaned, and I shuddered. Before I lost myself completely to the feel of her, I broke away.
“We have two years to convince him to say yes. So, instead of focusing on what we can’t control, let’s pour all our effort into what we can?”
Ana took me by surprise and kissed me hard. My brain fried on the spot. I would do anything for her and already had started. I’d taken over businesses, strong-armed my way into more areas back home, created alliances with new families, and I would do a million more things until it was enough—until I was enough.
“Come back to my room with me,” Ana said breathlessly against my lips.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Ana. Us getting kicked out on your first night is not what I want, but you drive me insane.”
She nipped at my lip, her hands roaming over my body. “Ella said she didn’t care if you stayed the night.”
“You told her about us?”
“Oh…yes. Is she not a good person? Will she betray us?”
I sighed as I thought. There was nothing that I’d learned about Ella that screamed she was someone to be worried about, but that didn’t mean anything at Wayward.
“No, I think we can trust her,” I said, and Ana’s eyes lit up. God, she could warm me with just a simple look.
“Good, because I don’t just want to sleep.” I licked my lips, my body already agreeing with the idea. “Please, Eddie. I don’t want to be in my bed alone, and I’ve missed your touch,” she said, her voice luring me in and dripping with sweetness.
“You can get me to do anything. I’m powerless to say no to you,” I said, and Ana smiled.
That one look made all the risk worth it. Standing, I brought Ana to her feet with me and loved how she pressed her body into mine until there was no room between us.
“Perfect. It’s settled. You will stay with me the entire time we’re here together.”
“You’re dangerous, Ana, but I love it.”
She gave me a quick kiss before grabbing my hand and practically dragging me back to the dorms.
This was a terrible idea. I’d been able to control myself around Ana so far, but I wanted her like I wanted my next breath, and everything in me screamed to make her officially mine.