Silence

Chapter 5

The rest of the day goes by slowly, dragging out my nerves. My knee jumps up and down as Mr. Buckley- my English teacher- gives us our assignment. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Owen watching my leg as if he's in a trance.

"Mr. Bainbridge?" Mr. Buckley booms, startling everybody. "Could you please pay attention to my instructions for your first big assignment. I really don't want you to fall behind so soon." Gulping, Owen nods and sits up straighter. Everybody is a little scared of Mr. Buckley because of his size, but I'm not. I know that he wouldn't hurt a fly. He's the tutor for English and I used to struggle in it so I would go to him for help. We got to know each other and I learned that he's currently engaged to a total sweetheart- I met her one day after school when she came by to drop off his lunch- and that he really cares about his students.

"I need you guys to partner up and work together on writing a research paper on one historical figure. Don't worry, I will be picking your person and partner." Several groans erupt and for once, I join them. Usually, I wish for partners to be picked because that means I don't just sit there while everybody finds their friends. Now, I have Owen in this class and now there's a big chance we won't be partners.

Mr. Buckley makes his way around the room, surveying people and randomly picking partners and giving them a figure to research. He reaches me and smiles before glancing over at Owen, who automatically chose to sit next to me on his first day, just like in all our other classes together.

"Mr. Bainbridge, I believe that you need a good influence since you can't seem to pay attention in class. I think that Miss. Cartwright over here is the perfect person to help." Owen grins at me and I quickly join him. "Alex, do you have any idea who you want to do?" My grin gets wider when he asks me this. I get several glares from people and whispers about being a teachers pet, but none of those bring me down.

"W-whoever you think i-is b-best, Mr. B." He chuckles at my nickname for him and thinks hard for a second.

"I'm giving you Sybil Ludington." Owen and I both raise our eyebrows, confused. "She's not very known but one of the bravest women in history. Much like Paul Revere, she rode to alert the militia of British forces, but she actually traveled twice as much as him." Mr. Buckley pauses, watching the shock on our faces with amusement. He opens his mouth to continue but a kid calls him over before he gets the chance to go into more detail.

"You have to weekend to get with your partner and write this paper. If it's not done by Monday, I won't take it, even for late points. You guys are seniors so act like it." Everybody groans but secretly, I'm relieved. This means I'll be busy. Too busy for Roger and Susan to hurt me like they usually gets to.

"So partner," Owen draws out. "How are we going to do this?"

"Your house?" I blurt out. "If that's okay." A soft, warm smile spreads across his face, filling me to the brink with joy.

"That'll work as long as you don't mind meeting my family." Nodding my head, Owen continues to explain. "My mom is the kindest person I know and my step-dad is very brunt so don't be put off by it. Tyler and Taylor are 12 and twins. They're harmless unless they think you're a threat." I raise an eyebrow in confusion. "My dad... He wasn't a good guy and he hurt us. They were really young when he left but they still remember a few things. It just takes them a little time to trust people, that's all."

I think about explaining to him that I know what it feels like to be hurt by someone who's supposed to care for you and love you, but I can't. Not when it's my fault that the people who were supposed to do that for me, are dead. Roger and Susan didn't have a choice about taking me in. I was just given to them.