Angry Wolf and His Deaf Mate

Max

It had taken me months of relentless begging and pleading with my mum for her to finally give in and move back. She wouldn't listen until I promised her if she lets me go back to Nai then I would stop being gay. That worked a treat. Ever since I came out to them she has been introducing me to every possible girl or woman she can find.

I think she hoped one of them could 'cure' me.

The instant we arrive I instantly go to Nai's house. It's locked and from what I can see through the windows no one lives there anymore.

'Maybe they have moved house?' I think as I make my way to school the next day. I head straight to the office after school when I fail to see Nai at all, in any of the lessons I know he should be in.

The women in the office tell me that Nai is no longer attending that school, in fact, he has moved to somewhere in Texas. When I got home I contemplated asking mum to move again but when she tells me about how good it is to see her old friends, I know the answer.

She asks me about Nai and I scowl.

"He's not here. He moved not long after you made me leave," I accuse. She gives me the look that says 'don't test me'.

"We wouldn't have moved if you didn't get into so many fights," she states.

"What was I supposed to do? Just let my best friend get bullied and beaten. You know I couldn't do that!" I yell at her. I stomp off to the stairs but stop before I head up.

"Oh and by the way deals off. I said I would stop being gay if we could go back to Nai. He isn't here so no deal."

I don't wait to see her expression. I can imagine how pissed off she looks right now.

It takes me a few weeks to find out where he has moved to. It would have taken less time if mum hadn't confiscated my phone and erased every number that wasn't family.

I had thought about contacting him on social media until I remember he doesn't do any of that. No matter how hard I tried to convince him.

With graduation coming closer I decided to take a risk and apply to the university closest to his new town. Mum isn't happy but I honestly don't care.

Ever since I left I realised my feelings for Nai were more than what I thought. I always thought he was cute, but he wasn't my type or at least that's what I thought.

Plus I never thought he was interested in anyone, let alone guys.

I am almost positive he will come to this school. I spend the better part of two weeks walking around campus looking for him. I'm about to give up, thinking he might have gone somewhere else when I spot him in a coffee shop.

He's sat reading, at first I wasn't sure it was him. He looks different somehow. I can't quite place how. I walk over to him and stand behind the chair in front of him, my heart is pounding.

"Finally, I've been waiting for you," he says. A stab of jealousy hits my heart, he's waiting for someone. A girlfriend maybe?

"Sit down already," he tells me. I follow his command, pull out the chair and sit down. Nai doesn't look up right away, it takes him a minute but when he does his dark eyes go wide.

"Max?" I smile, at least he remembers me.

'Hey Nai,' I sign. I'm really glad that I continued to learn. 'You look good, how have you been?'

His mouth opens and closes like a fish. It takes everything I can to not burst out laughing at the look he's giving me.

'Are you at least going to say hi to your oldest friend?'