Chapter 3

I gritted my teeth as Louise opened her big fat mouth about me. The fact I’m deaf. I saw his face fall; he looked disappointed while the others looked surprised. Therefore, Shane started speaking loud and slow apologising that he and the others didn’t know. Ashley burst out laughing and started me off giggling. Aw, they looked confused – so cute.

“No need to apologise Shane. Yes, I’m deaf but I can hear just as well as you can. Just speak normally and I’ll be fine.”

Ashley looked at me with a knowing smirk and I grinned back. This always happens with everyone I meet. Well, mostly cuz half the time Lou doesn’t like it when cute guys talking to me. She’s jealous because I’m in the centre of the attention and not her. She’s desperate because she’s talking to Mark. Wait a second; since when did she like Mark? She doesn’t even like Westlife. It seemed that Ash had the same thought; I could read it on her face.

“You don’t look or even speak deaf.” Commented Kian.

I blushed, feeling hotness spread on my face, I knew right then I was blushing as if it’s obvious. Ashley elbowed me in my left side, causing me to hunch over in pain. She realised right then, she did it too hard and she looked sorry as I sat back upright. How embarrassing!!

“Emz was grown up being the only deaf person in her family. Which is why she speaks and hears so well. She’s used to the question you’re asking because she gets this everyday.”

It was right then, my hairs on the back of my neck prickled as if I was being watched so I turned my face and saw Mark staring at me intensely as Lou chatted away to him non stop. Boy, was it hot in here or was it just me? I quickly turned my head, gasping out loud as the limo suddenly braked so sharp I was almost thrown out of my seat if it wasn’t for Ashley grabbing me. I send her a grateful smile; I rested my forehead on the window, watching the scenes go past as the limo drove again. I tuned out everybody, as I was in deep thought. So deep, I didn’t notice the limo shortly stopping at our destination, Ashley had to smack my head. I whipped my head to look at her almost cracking my neck, rubbing my head sending her an evil look.

I soon climbed out of the limo and gasped at the building that I saw. It was huge! Looked like a skyscraper or something like that. Ashley cleared her throat causing me to look at her, she pointed her thumb over at Lou. Oh my god! She was practically draping herself over Mark and he didn’t seem to mind and I felt a prickle in my heart. I must be stupid, he doesn’t even like me, and here I am, feeling hurt that she was all over him or the fact he didn’t seem to mind. It must have shown because I saw the other four guys looking apologetic at me. I mentally shrugged it off. It was time for work. Time to get Lou. I took a deep breath and I walked over to interrupt them; they were about to kiss. Just how good was Lou at manipulation?

“Lou, we gotta work.”

Lou made a scoffing sound and waved me off as if I was scum or something. I rubbed my right eyebrow as Ashley came over, looking annoyed. This always happens with Lou. Seriously, I’m thinking of asking Ash whether we should cut Lou off and carry on dancing ourselves. However, I won’t, because Lou’s her sister. That’s why I’ve put up with her crap for so long. Moreover, Ashley knew it. How could she not? She would have been blind to not know. Or dumb.

“You better work.”

I blinked surprised as Mark repeated what I said to Lou. Her face was priceless! I never have seen a guy actually tell her to work. Maybe, he wasn’t like the other guys that Lou manipulated after all. They would usually succumb to her ways straightaway. But he didn’t. However, it might have been good for us as dancers but not so good for me because Lou knew that the reason Mark didn’t fall under her charm is because I interrupted them. Oh hell. Here we go again…

WHAM!

I fell onto the ground onto my butt because Lou shoved past me, I winced as my wrist landed awkwardly on the ground. I rubbed my wrist sending a glare at Lou’s retreating back. I suddenly saw a hand being offered to me so I grabbed it and felt myself being helped up but I thought it was Ashley when instead it was Mark. He looked concerned and grabbed my wrist, I winced under my breath but he had heard it and he did the most amazing thing. He lifted my wrist and pressed his soft lips to kiss the bruise that was forming already. I felt a shiver go through me, it was like lightening passed through me. I was vaguely aware that Ashley was asking if I was, OK.

I pulled away from Mark reluctantly and told Ash that I was fine. Nothing to worry about. We then walked into the building after Lou, leaving the boys question Mark. I assume about why the heck he was acting like Lou wasn’t bothering him. I didn’t say anything to Lou because I knew she was already mad at me. Can I tell you secret? She bullies me or threatens me at times. Which is why I don’t have a lot of confidence in myself. Ash pushed me in the dance room and I gasped.

“Oh my god. It’s wicked!”

My face lit up with a smile and I let out a delighted laugh swinging Ashley around. We saw a CD player and we saw various CD’s. So we started looking through them for a good song to dance with. I heard Ash’s shout of approval and I looked at what she chosen. I gave her thumbs up in my approval so she quickly put it on and we ran to the centre of the room. Have you ever felt like you were free soaring in the sky like a bird with no cares, no worries when you dance? I closed my eyes letting the beat overtake my body. My body hummed in response. I grinned when I heard Ashley cheer me as I started moving; I swayed my hips slightly as I started dancing about unaware that Westlife was watching me and Ash dancing to our hearts contends with no worries whatsoever. Lou was just standing there sneering at us but like I said – no worries. I was doing my dream and that was to dance.

When the CD finished, I heard loud cheers and wolf whistles so I snapped open my eyes and saw the guys; I blushed and smiled at them shyly while Ash was mucking about bowing like mad. I saw someone with the guys though. Turned out to be their choreographer. Ah! She just watched me and Ash do our dances! She walked over and explained to us what moves she wanted to do for the guys’s songs; Heal. So we got to work, which wasn’t easy, because Shane started mucking about causing the other lad’s to muck about too!

“Dude!”