Chapter 1

I always finish what I start. -Ally Carter

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"Ava, please! Can't you say something?!" My brother pleaded. He was older than me by two years. Normally he would be two hours away in Boston but when father died he came back to our small town to mourn with us. 

He'd been staying longer than expected though. It's been two months though since then and he's still here. I know the reason, too. It's for me. 

It's for a lost cause. He's trying to get me to speak again. I don’t want to speak, though, and I can’t. It’s too hard to. Why should I, if there’s nothing left to say? My best friend, my protecter, my father was dead.

I watched with sadness as a tear rolled down his face. His name was Jason. I loved him with all my heart and it hurt to see him cry over me. 

Looking into my eyes, he sensed this. He looked up at me from his begging position and stared at me with hopeful eyes where I sat on the chair in my bedroom. Shaking my head I wiped his fresh tears and leant forward kissing his cheek. Turning around I reached for my whiteboard.

Jason hadn’t learned sign language yet. It almost made me laugh. At twenty years old he was still a slow learner. It’d been two months and he still didn’t even know the gesture for my name.

Don’t cry. I scribbled messily. He smiled slightly, his red eyes puffy and irritated. “I won’t anymore.” He assured but his look of hurt didn’t leave.

“I just wish you would talk for me. I don’t want to lose you too.” Jason frowned taking my head in his hands making me bend down to the floor uncomfortably. Once I made movement beneath him he let me up to write what I needed to say.

You won’t ever lose me. I responded. Jason nodded solemnly. “I called the school today about your condition. They’re letting you go but if you don’t talk in four months Ashley will have to home school you.” He explained softly. 

I knew what he meant by that. If I didn’t talk soon I’d have to move to Boston with him and his fiance leaving mom all alone. That was something I didn’t want to do. She wouldn’t be able to handle it alone. 

“Can you at least try?” Jason asked. I nodded quietly staring out the window. He took that as a sign to leave. Standing up from his knees he kissed my cheeks and walked to the door.

I watched his long strides and was thankful for a brother like him. He was the most amazing brother a girl could ever have. Before walking out he turned toward me taking a last look at me.

“Remember school starts tomorrow. I love you.” He said smiling the slightest. I nodded and made a heart with my hands. Looking at me he just stared until he slowly raised his hands and repeated the gesture. 

It didn’t take a board to say that and neither did it take sign language. That was something we both knew we had for each other. Nothing could ever be as remarkable as Jason’s and I’s friendship and for that I was more than grateful.

The morning came to soon. Like always I was less than excited for today. My alarm was going off for the past five minutes. I knew I had to get up or else the annoying beeping side across the room would give me a head ache.

Slowly I withdrew the covers the cold air slapping my bare legs from the short pajama shorts I wore. Goosebumps arose on my naked arms and I quickly tapped the snooze button on the purple alarm clock. I walked over to my wardrobe desperately looking for real clothes to wear and smiled when I came across my favorite sun dress.

It was a cheap dress from Aeropostale only at fifteen dollars but I loved the way the deep blue dress matched my dirty blonde flat hair. Not only that, but when I turned it spun in the most beautiful way. I paired it with a pair of my light gray TOM ballet flats that I loved.

Stepping out of my pale yellow coated room I followed the hallway doors clutching my whiteboard to my chest. Jason greeted me at the kitchen with a tired hello. I wasn’t even sure if he was completely up yet.

He had just gotten home from driving all the way to Boston and back to pick up Ashley his three year girlfriend who he was dying to see. 

“Hey, sweet pea.” He said gently, his voice scratchy from exhaustion. I heard a sigh from the back of me and turned around to face Ashley. 

“First of all, Jason go to bed. I’ll bring her to school.” She said staring at my brother sternly and then she turned to me. 

“Well doesn’t my soon-to-be-sister-in-law look gorgeous!” Ashley exclaimed her brown eyes moving up and down my body. I smiled in thanks and took my leather backpack from the dining room table and put in my whiteboard. 

Walking towards the cupboards I took out a muffin from the jar of fresh homemade pastries that mother made. “Jason told me you aren’t talking.” The brunette focused worriedly as I grabbed the orange juice and a glass cup. For the moment I focused on pouring my orange juice and didn’t bother to watch Ashley’s disappointed face.

The two of us were like sisters. We were almost as I was to Jason but that would be soon to come as we were going to be sisters in a few months. 

“Please, just say something. I’m not rushing you to but slowly your breaking Jason. He feels like he let you down. Your his little sister and he was supposed to protect you. He thinks he failed.” Ashley explained quietly sitting beside me where I was eating the blueberry muffin,

I shook my head getting my whiteboard. He didn’t fail me, I love him. It’s just I don’t have a reason. Ashley frowned at my words scribbled on the page.

“I know you’re not talking now, Ava, but there will come a day where the right person comes and you’ll say those words unspoken.” Ashley smiled. I remained emotionless. 

I doubt that. With those last words I allowed her to read them. Ashley shook her head and her frown grew deeper in response. Instead of arguing like I thought she would, and that Jason would she just stood up. 

“Come on, you don’t want to be late.” She said turning away from me. She began walking towards the front door and I jogged up to meet her. This was going to be an interesting day.