#charce

Charlie Jones

Age:15

Relationship status:single

Reece Bibby

Age:16

Relationship status: just got out of a relationship.

How would you describe your problems?

Reece: Well that’s easy. He’s deaf. And I am so madly in love with him. He can’t really hear anything, but he’s always been interested in what music sounds like. And to his luck I am a guitarist who can also sing. He’s also really weird. So we are weird together. He gets bullied at school for not being perfect. But I swear on my Nutella jar to protect him.

I mean just look at him. Why would anyone want to hurt something so precious. You can’t do anything but love him. Spend time with him. Get to know all of his secrets, fears, dreams. And fall in love with him even more.

-

It was 8:30 and Reece was running late, again. He hasn’t been here quite long enough to know all the secret hallways or how long taking the metro would take if you miss three stops.  And exactly on which street the studio was located. But this was not important, he had 15 minutes of practice left and he was not going to let it go.

As soon as he got through the door he ran into someone. He dropped his phone that he was texting his mum on and watched how it in slow motion fell on the floor. He was seriously going to kill the person he hit if the phone cracked.

“Watch where you’re going idiot.” he said while picking up the phone and running off. He got no response from the person he hit. As he jogged away he looked back and saw the guy that he hit staring at him. He was wearing headphones, how in the world could’ve he heard Reece say anything?

-

Reece was leaving the studio just two minutes later. No he didn’t miss the whole practice, he came in on the wrong day. Reece mentally added that to a list of things he doesn’t know how to do quite yet. Remember schedules. And also getting angry for no particular reason. He didn’t know why he had such a short temper, but it was there and it was kind of annoying. Point proven a few paragraphs earlier. He really didn’t have to get so mad at that kid.

And just his luck as he was coming down the stairs he hit someone again. And that person dropped something. Reece wanted to curse again, but he looked up to see the guy from before. So instead of getting all mad he started to say sorry and pick up the notebook that fell. He got up and the guy was just staring at him.

“Sorry for earlier. I was an idiot not you.” Reece said but the guy was still just staring at him. Reece then saw he had his headphones on so he motioned to him to take them of. The guy just shook his head no, and Reece was slowly getting fed up with him. Then the guy pointed at Reece or something and Reece just said “I dunno what you mean mate.”

Then the guy pulled the notebook out of Reece’s hand and Reece was just about to protest when he saw the guy writing something down. He then turned the notebook to Reece and Reece read.

Sorry but I can’t talk, thank you for picking this up though.

Reece was a bit confused at first, but then thought that maybe the guy had some infection and it hurt to talk.

“Yeah, but could you take of your headphones.” Reece said, but the guy looked at him confused. Reece repeated what he said, but the guy just passed him his notebook. Reece wrote down his words and the guy read them. Then he quickly scribbled something down and passed it to Reece and he read it.

I doubt that will be any help at all.

Reece looked confused at him and wrote down a question mark. The other guy then wrote something on the page. He then turned it to Reece.

My muteness is a consequence of me being deaf. My name is Charlie by the way.

Charlie, what a nice name, Reece thought. Wait! Reece read it again. He was deaf? Then what the hell was he doing at a music studio? Charlie saw the confusion on his face and he wrote down something in his notebook.

I think this will be easier to explain over coffee. Wanna come?

Reece read it and nodded. Coffee sounded good right now. It was early and just why not. And maybe getting to know Charlie’s story could be nice. He didn’t have any friends yet and getting one would be helpful.

-

And when I was born they didn’t find anything wrong with me, but when I didn’t respond to a glass breaking my mum figured that something is wrong with me. Then I had to go on a billion of tests to check if I can’t hear anything or if my hearing is just slightly damaged. So I started going to a special school and I was taught sign language pretty early. I could sign fluently at the age of 6. My mum and dad learned it to, so I could have at least two people to talk to. Then I figured that maybe I would be able to meet more people if I had notebooks with me all the time, cause no one could actually sign. My mum and dad encouraged it a lot, even though some of my teachers thought it would slow down my learning. But I beat the odds by learning another language beside English and that was Spanish. So my parents took me to Spain, Mexico, anywhere where people spoke Spanish, trying to get me to learn more. So I now have a pile of about 50 notebooks of all of my conversations.

Charlie wrote to Reece, while they sipped their coffee. Well a hot chocolate in Charlie’s case.

Yeah, but why are you here?

Reece wrote and Charlie read, starting to write down his answer quickly.

My dad works here and sometimes I tag along since I don’t have anyone to hang out with.

Charlie wrote and it hurt Reece to read it.

I mean sure I go to a ‘normal’ school twice a week, but no one tries to form any relationship with me.

Charlie wrote and Reece swore that he could see a tear slip down Charlie’s cheeck. They probably bully him for not being able to hear, Reece thought. It made him feel even worse for being so rude when they first met.

Charlie reached for his phone and started to get up. He showed Reece the phone and it read dad. He took his notebook and wrote.

Have to go, sorry, dad is picking me up.

Charlie was almost at the door when Reece ran to him. He took Charlie’s notebook and wrote his number in it. He added text me under it. He wanted ti sign call me, but that was somehow impossible for Charlie.

Charlie put a hand in front of his mouth and Reece looked at him confused.

It means thank you.

Charlie wrote. Reece nodded and Charlie continued to write.

This means goodbye.

And he waved his hand. Reece took the notebook and wrote.

This is how I say goodbye.

And hugged him. A huge smile appeared on Charlie’s face as he went away. Reece watched how happily he jogged away. And it made Reece happy. Almost too happy. Like he had butterflies in his stomach. Too cute.

-

“Reece. Reece? REECE!” Lexi shouted as Reece was texting Charlie on the phone.

“Yeah, what is it?” Reece said as he lifted up his head.

“You’ve been talking to this boy Charlie for the past hour.”

“And?” Reece said to his sister.

“You were supposed to be spending time with me.” Lexi shouted as she jumped on her brother.

“What is so special about him anyway? He can’t even hear you.” Lexi said and Reece looked at her like she was crazy.

“Yes, he can’t hear me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t talk to him or anything. We write our conversations in his notebooks. It takes more time than just talking, but we converse about a lot more important things than you could ever imagine. I tell him about my family, even about you. And I tell him about my musical dreams. And he tells me about all of the people he met and his dreams and his fears and secrets that he doesn’t tell anyone.” Reece explained.

“That’s cute.” Lyndsey said.

“Since when are you here?” Reece asked.

“Since you started talking. Now come on, dinner’s ready.”

-

Why do you always wear headphones Charlie?

Reece wrote in the notebook and passed it to Charlie, who was sitting between his legs, while they were watching a movie in Charlie’s living room. Charlie looked at the writing and started writing himself. He then showed it to Reece.

If I wear them, people will think that the reason I can’t her them is because I’m listening to music or something, not because my ears don’t work like they should.

Reece took the notebook and wrote his response.

Do you want to hear what music sounds like, if that will ever be possible?

Charlie looked at him and got a very sad look on his face.

I am without hope that I will ever be able to hear it. Or anything.

Reece felt bad again. Then he got an idea. He took Charlie’s hand and put it on his throat. Charlie looked up to him and then Reece said.

“Can you feel this?” and Charlie looked up surprised.

Maybe if we try to train you to sense different notes, in time you could ‘feel’ music.

Reece wrote and Charlie jumped to hug him.

I’m not yet sure this will work, but it seems the best idea anyone ever had.

-

Charlie was laying on Reece’s lap, his back pressed to the bottom of Reece’s guitar, while Reece was strumming on his guitar. This was how the figured that Charlie would feel music the easiest. The technic Reece thought of was somehow magically working, since Charlie was so eager to have any connection to music.

And Reece stick up doing it, even though Charlie would sometimes cry in his arms because he thought he was the biggest mistake in the world, because in moments like this when Charlie would look so happy being able to make his favourite passion come true, it was all worth it. And he was falling in love with him even more every minute. He was just scared that Charlie’s feeling towards him weren’t the same.

A few songs later, Reece put down his guitar and laid down on Charlie’s bed. Charlie got up to get his notebook.

I have some news.

Charlie wrote. Reece looked worried at him.

I’m going to have some tests done to see, if it would be possible for me to hear with implants.

Reece read on.

This will be the third time I have to go under this. It’s all nice that mum and dad don’t want to give up on my wish to hear, but it get’s harder every time to find out the same old news, that I will never be able to hear. 

Charlie wrote and Reece held him tight and rubbed his back, which meant ‘I’ll be there for you’ in their own sign language.

It hurts Reece, that I’ll never be able to do normal things all alone. And my parents won’t be around all of the time to take care of me, I’ll always be someone’s burden. 

Charlie wrote down after he calmed down a bit.

Reece then had enough of it all and just decided that this moment literally couldn’t get worse.

“Charlie, I have to show you something.” Reece said and lifted up Charlie’s chin. And he went on. As soon as he got Charlie’s attention he signed ‘I Love You’ to Charlie, who picked up the nearest notebook.

I love you too Reece. But why’d you have to sing that. I already know you like me?

And Reece took the notebook in his hands. 

I didn’t mean what you think I meant. I love you Charlie Richard Jones. I want to go on a date with you, so I could show you to every one. I want to marry you when we’re older. And just know that you are in no way a burden in any way. I love you so much.

Reece wrote. Charlie read it, probably more than once and then covered his mouth,staring at Reece. Tears started streaming down his face.

Do you really think that?

Charlie wrote and Reece nodded. Charlie went to hug Reece and Reece hugged him back.

May I have a kiss?

Charlie wrote and Reece nodded again. And then went to lean to Charlie, touching his lips with his own gently. And it felt like there was nothing around them that mattered any more. It felt like they were in zero gravity. They pulled apart three minutes later, resting on each other’s foreheads, Charlie having his eyes closed, breathing heavily. Reece was staring at his face, checking if he was okay. Charlie opened his eyes, stared into Reece’s and laughed.

Charlie leaned forward again and kissed Reece, pushing him down on the bed. Their lips moved perfectly and Charlie felt light-headed again. After they stopped Charlie lied down on Reece’s chest. Reece wrapped his arms around Charlie, who started to doze of.

-

Charlie and Reece sat waiting in the doctor’s office. Their mothers , who got along pretty well after Lyndsey once picked up Reece from Charlie’s, were sat in the next room, talking with the doctor about Charlie. Reece ignored the conversation for Charlie’s sake. The poor kid was already stressed out, no need to put more pressure on him.

What if it hurts?

Charlie wrote in one of the smaller notebooks they had to take around. Reece hugged him and kissed him on the cheeck, while shaking his head no.

If it will hurt you, then I swear I will beat the shit out of them.

Reece wrote and Charlie laughed.

“Okay Reece, Charlie has to go now.” Julie said as she came in the room, signing what she was saying at the same time. Reece got up and asked.

“Can I go with him?” Reece asked as he held Charlie’s hand. The doctor poked her head inside.

“Of course you can.” She said and motioned them to follow her. Reece then placed his hand, that held Charlie’s and hugged him over his shoulders, rubbing his back in order to calm him down.

-

“Charlie? Charlie, can you hear me?” was the faint sound that was becoming louder that Charlie heard. He looked at Reece standing in front of him waving his hand in front of his face.

“Charlie, please just nod if you can.” Reece said again and even though this was the first thing that Charlie ever heard in his whole life he could sense that he was sad and worried. So Charlie eagerly nodded.

“Charlie? Can you say something? Anything yet?” Reece said and Charlie saw tears streaming down his face.

“I love you.” was what Charlie said and it was nowhere near perfect, but to Reece it must’ve been the most beautiful thing he ever heard. In the short year that he knew Charlie he grew so attached to him, that seeing Charlie being able to hear and speak, it probably won’t be long till he will start begging Reece to teach him how to play guitar.He jumped and hugged him so tightly, while kissing him.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear you.” Charlie said while crying in Reece’s arms.

-

Have your problems solved themselves now?

Charlie: Yes, I think they have. I can finally hear and talk and the thing that Reece was in love with me wasn’t as a big problem as he thought. Cause I was just as crazy about him.

Reece: Yeah, I think it all solved itself. I also got to put a ring on him, because I liked him. And we’ve been together for what, like forever. Also we got to welcome this little cutie to our home. Isn’t that right Annie?

Annie: *from Charlie’s lap* Banana!

-

A/N

Ello!

So I got this idea and wanted to make it in a ff, but I am already writing the Tomclay one so I don’t want that one to die, but I also wanted this one to live. So why not a one shot?