Tyler's POV

I can't believe I will be dancing to a song that Cesar will be singing to. I am a lot more nervous than I thought I would be. Since the performance is next week we nearly work everyday on it. 

The first couple days we just listened to song and I just played around just seeing what would be good but now we have something a little more solid. We really work well together he gives good critiques and asks me if there anything in the music we want to change. He is doing his own rendition of the song and he wants to make sure it will all work together. 

With one day before the event we have one final rehearsal. 

"I am happy with what we got. How are you feeling about it?" I walk over to him putting my hair up.

"Its going to be great! I have never accompanied with a singer by myself before so i'm a little nervous."

He smiles at me and starts playing on the piano, "You will be fine. If you perform the way you did just now you will be fine. Plus my professors are more focused on my skills anyway. So don't put too much pressure on your self." I nod and stretch my body while he plays other songs. 

https://youtu.be/z1yZUl0V6Ho

I walk up to him while he plays on the piano. I sit next to him on the bench and watch his hands move. Its so different from the original. It gives off such a different feel. One of timidness and sincerity.  He smiles at me while he sings. 

He makes me want to sing. I stand up and start singing using ASL. I sway to the beat of the piano. By the end of the song I found him looking at me. I am so embarrassed. I look down at the ground and I can feel my face getting hot. 

"Don't be embarrassed it was amazing! You sing beautifully!" 

I smile, "Thank you." 

I walk back to my dorm and find Tammy practicing her music. She took out her head phones.

"Hey! How did final practice go?" I sit at the table. 

"It went well. Cesar thinks we are ready." Tammy wiggles her eyes brows. "Shut up! I can't deal with you! We are just friends!" 

She slams her hands on the table. "Seriously! Tyler!? You gotta step it up!" 

"I don't want to rush things! Plus he might be willing to have a mute friend but i'm not sure if he would want a mute girlfriend."

"Seriously.. You are using that lame excuse again?"

"It's a legit concern." I look at her annoyed.

"The boy learned ASL for you. You literally have no excuse." I cross my arms and  blow a piece of hair from my face. Maybe I am making up excuses. I just don't want to put myself out there and then he tells me he is not interested in me like that. I don't think ill be able to handle it if he rejected me like that. 

"But if he rejects me.. I don't know what i'll do. I really like him..."

"I doubt he would reject you badly. I mean it'll hurt a bit but he won't be a dick about it. Cesar is too sweet for that.. Worst case scenario you end up with a really good friend and that's a lot better than the other guys." Maybe but I am tired of being seen as someone who doesn't deserved to be loved romantically. The deaf and mute community is my support but I wanted to meet other people who weren't like me. It was hard for me in the deaf and mute community because I didn't lose my voice until 8th grade. I made friends outside the community and when I couldn't communicate with my friends anymore. I got really depressed. Since my mom and dad are deaf, I always knew ASL. My parents wanted to move me to a different school so I would be more comfortable. But I knew that it was unrealistic since I live in a world that isn't mute accommodating. So stubbornly, I wanted to stay in my public school. My parents were concerned for me and rightfully so. I didn't handle rejection well but I insisted on staying in a regular school. So my parents put me in therapy to cope with my loss of voice. 

I sometimes visit my therapist every now and then but I don't go as often as I did when I was younger. She is like my second mom. I could tell her everything. There are some things I couldn't tell my mom not because I am hiding it from her, but because she just doesn't understand. She was deaf since was born so she doesn't know anything different. She insisted that I date a deaf or mute boy so I don't have to worry about miscommunication. 

While I love her to death, I don't my whole life to be me making everything comfortable for me. I like challenges and I am more than my disability. So when Tammy came along I was relieved. It really shows me who really cares about me. That she went out of her way to learn ASL so she can get to know me.. ME! So when Cesar surprised me I was at loss for words. Another person who cares about me because of who I am and not because they feel bad for me. 

Its now the night of the performance. I am in a black leotard with a white crop top over it. I stretch in the back and get into my mojo. I like to listen to classical music before i do any performances. It settles my nerves. I know Cesar told me not to worry about too much but i can't help it. I want to do my best for him. 

"Hey, You ready?" I look up and see Cesar walking up to me in black jeans and a white shirt. I cover my mouth letting a little laugh escape. 

We didn't coordinate colors. 

But we match anyway. He looks at our outfit color of choice, He chuckles.

"What are the odds?" I shrug my shoulders and smile. We go on stage and the rest of the band joins us. Cesar just got a random female singer to sing the duet but it was us front and center. The woman was singing behind stage but was still able to see Cesar for cues. 

I see Tammy, Hannah, and Asher smiling at us from the chairs and Cesar's professor staring us down. He looks super serious. I kind of tense up I look at Ceasar to see if he felt the same. He looks at me,"Its his normal face.. don't be intimidated by it." I shake out of my funk and nod. He smiles at me.

https://youtu.be/iKk6_2-AAGc

I follow what we planned and I imagine myself dancing in a room by myself. This song is about two people in love. About how they will follow the other where ever they go..that the best part about their life is the other. This one isn't too far from my initial feeling about Cesar. My dancing and his singing are harmonizing perfectly. My body moves with a passion of love unafraid of love, Ironically. Its a nice feeling, I hope to feel this feeling for real one day.

I end the song my arms stretched out to him. He is smiling.

Thank Goodness. I did it. 

The audience cheer us but Tammy, Hannah, and Asher made sure their voice was heard. Cesar walks over to me as he claps. He first recognized the woman who helped out and then he grabs my hand and I do curtsy. He starts to leave the stage. I grab his arm and make the crowd recognize him. 

How could he not take a bow?! 

The crowd cheered for him the loudest. He did a great job!

I gather with the others talking about the performances. I get a text from my mother. 

Tyler, something bad happened to Nathan... He got into a car accident. He isn't going to make it. Can you come home?

My heart drops into the pit of my stomach. I walk off stage to the back and sit down in a open chair just reading the same message over and over again.   My baby brother is dying!? 

"Tyler are you okay!!?" Tammy says. Cesar immediately comes to my side. I cry so hard. 

Asher and Hannah come over and sit beside me on the ground. Cesar puts his arms around me. I cry into his chest. 

"What happened Tyler?" Cesar says worried. Tammy takes my phone and reads the text message from my mom. She covers her mouth and starts tearing. 

"Oh my god Tyler. Her brother is..." Tammy hands the phone to the others so they can see. 

"Is there anything we can do?" Asher asks. 

"Help me get her stuff, Cesar can you take her back to the dorms?" Tammy asks. I nods. 

"Of course." 

We walk back to my dorm and I am still sobbing. His hand never let go of mine. He didn't say anything either.. I am thankful. I need to get home to my family. We finally gets there and I stand by the door lifeless and tired. 

"Thanks for taking me back."

"Of course.. Do you want me to stay?" I shake my head. 

"No i think I want to be alone.. I need to figure out how i am going to get home... I am leaving first thing tomorrow."

"Okay... Let me know when you get back to school." I nod. "Feel free to call me anytime if you need someone to talk to."  

"I am sorry i put a damper on such a great night." I start crying again. He hugs me in his arms. 

He smells sweet. Like a sugar cookies...

"Don't worry about that right now... It was still a great night regardless. I got to do a piece with a friend."

A friend... That's right a friend.

I pull away and wave him goodbye. He waves back as I shut the door.