Chapter Text
On the first day of his new school, Josh Wheeler had the usual paranoia and nervousness. There was the whole new kid situation, him being a plain transfer from Canada and then there’s the quick thought of ‘everyone is hot’ as he rushes over to the principal’s office.
The California heat is nothing compared to the two girls waiting outside the office door.
The blonde one approaches him with a bright smile and with a little wave of her hand.
“Hello!” She greets then she moves her hand slowly, hesitantly, to match her words. “My name is Sam Dean.”
Sam’s eyes flickered from her hands, to the girl besides her, then to Josh with a smile becoming wobbly.
The other girl, a cheerleader by the looks of her uniform, introduces herself, “I’m Veronica Meres. You’re Josh, yes? Principal Burr asked me to interpret for you.”
True to her words, her hand movements are precise, practiced, but also informal for time and energy.
“Yeah, I’m Josh,” he nods, signing the words he can no longer hear.
It’s a bit of a rocky process since the accident.
Months of this new way of living without music, verbal words, any other sounds. Sign language was always an early learned skilled but lip-reading is very new for him. He has to rely on that now that his hearing has muddled down into almost complete silence.
Almost.
That’s a privilege he’s still learned to cherish.
A thick fog or blockage prevents the average amount of noise but on rare occasions an extreme level can reach his sense.
Mom says writes to him that at least he doesn’t hear the blaring horns of slow freeway traffic.
He hopes that he still pronounces his words accurately.
The girls give him kind smiles again. Sam’s appears wider while Veronica treats it all as not a big deal.
Sam opens the office door after a knock and presuming a “Come in!”
Principal Burr has a polite, patient smile as he waits for Josh to take a seat but the girls remain standing to the side. Veronica deliberately stands in a spot where Josh can easily see her hands as Principal Burr begins some introduction and greeting about the school and how change can be challenging but good.
Josh notices that while Principal Burr’s speaking is evenly paced, he doesn’t bother a glance at Veronica or wait for her to catch up with his speech.
At some point Josh is sure the principal is talking about prohibition of nuts. A glance over to Veronica confirms with her signing ‘no peanut November every day.’
Sam’s furrowed and annoyed face expresses the students’ sentiment.
“I have asked Sam Dean here to help integrate you to the school,” Principal Burr gestures to girls. “Veronica Meres on the other hand shares only a few classes with you and another student with deafness.”
“Is there no,” Josh pauses, second guessing the use of his tongue. He tries again with his hands, ‘Do the teachers know sign?’
Veronica passes the message but Josh easily sees the flicker of frustration in her eyes.
“I’m afraid not,” Principal Burr replied with smile that showed off no sincerity.
It wasn’t sheepish or apologetic. It was a type of smile Josh has seen already.
A couple of his teachers in his last school gave him that smile, one of relief, knowing that their sudden complicated student will be someone else’s case to deal with.
They didn’t want to help him but they didn’t want to come off as useless. Just let Josh adapt on his own because he’s leaving Canada soon, we don’t have to adjust to his needs right now, it’ll be unnecessary.
Josh is sure he accidentally scoffed. He quickly turns it into a cough when Principal Burr narrows his eyes.
He turns to Veronica, ‘Who does know ASL?’
The cheerleader has an unhappy smile, ‘Victoria and I know the most. Other cheerleaders know the basics.’
‘You won’t be embarrassed to be seen with me?’ Josh has to ask. He is not prepared to be caught in any unfortunate situation where a new student follows a pretty cheerleader around, partially deaf or not.
‘Don’t follow me to practice,’ she warns teasingly, winking.
Principal Burr dismisses them all for the day, wishing Josh a good day but Josh still has his doubts as he walks with the girls down the hallway where the typical jocks knock down the typical nerds.
Josh knows it won’t be long for him to be hitting the floor.
He notices how most passing students greet Sam with an out stretched hand or a gentle nudge on her shoulder. For Veronica, the cheerleaders and jocks send their group a questioning glance. The cheerleaders don’t look surprise though, likely the first people to learn about the new kid’s main tick.
Sam, the self-proclaimed human sorting hat, continues the conversation to the best of everyone’s ability. It feels a little slow and unbalanced in a way but they’re trying their best.
More often than not, Veronica interprets Sam’s flowery words and sarcasm into the cheerleader’s flair of a certain sharpness and bluntness that doesn’t sugarcoat how school social order is as mean as ever.
‘Don’t be fooled,’ Veronica smirks. ‘All pretty girls have sharp nails.’
‘Threat or warning?’ Josh blinks with wide eyes.
Sure Sam has clearly caught his attention and his heart’s all a fluttered but it’s a pain in the ass to just stare at her lips and try to focus on the words and not her lip stick.
He’s listening, he really is, but he can’t quite interpret Sam’s cadence or inflection when she calls him a challenge. The interested look on her face sends high hopes to the boy though.
Veronica lightly swats at his arm, ‘I can’t be there for you all the time. Do you trust Sam for her looks or her skill?’
This is the situation that Josh feared honestly, being voiceless with no help or friends.
He feels a small spark or connection with Sam but as he fumbles with his words he is less and less certain if he should seek out that curiosity to be by Sam’s side.
Veronica on the other hand, even with the tension and wariness of her cheerleader status, is a granted secured communication. It’s safe and less intimidating despite status quo.
Also he kind of wants to meet this Victoria girl.
He’s not the only one on his boat of silence.
Finally Josh answers, ‘You. I might need you more.’ He turns to Sam, expressing all his gratitude as he signs, “Thank you Sam. Um, when I need help I will ask you or um maybe,” Josh just knows his voice is cracking. Wincing, he looks to Veronica who’s suppressing a laugh from the looks of it.
“I get it Josh,” Sam assures and there’s a slightest sigh of relief that Josh hopes he misreads. “I’m sorry I’m not the best person to help but Veronica and Victoria?”
When targeted with a raised brow, the cheerleader tapped her chin, thinking intensely for a bit then gives them both a shrug.
That’s not completely reassuring, Josh thinks. Veronica sends him a flashy smile and a double thumbs up.
Yet this is the best worst case scenario as Veronica signs him to follow him further down the hall where a group of cheerleaders are hanging out.
Josh sends one last nervous smile to Sam and she gestures him to go ahead, grinning encouragingly.
With a wave goodbye, Josh leaves Sam and takes some measured steps over to Veronica and the cheerleaders.
Of course, none of them are impressed with his style of clothes or nervousness as introductions are made, all in sign to Josh’s relief.
Only one of them stares at him with no judgement, the only one with steady hands that matches Veronica’s skill.
‘Partially deaf?’ Victoria Lecher questions.
“Yep,” Josh can’t help but pop the affirmative, quickly signing along. “I had a hunting accident a few months ago, so yeah.”
He has practiced signing and speaking that exact line to his doctors or anyone else who needs to know. Explaining that to Mom’s side of the family results in instant pity and babying.
There’s no pity in Victoria’s eyes, just accepting the answer, processing it.
‘Your ASL is good,’ she notes, sending him a suspicious look.
A little embarrassed, he signs only, ‘I was on a morning special for a Canada kids show when I was younger. I just kept learning.’
Victoria tilts her head a little, looking him up and down with a ghost of a smile in her pursed lips. ‘If you keep up with me, you can stay around.’
The cheerleader click was never Josh’s first choice but out of everything else in Glendale High School, Sam Dean included, this was the best decision he has ever made.
It’s also his worst decision too.