Anthony:

In the world, most people live without fanfare. Actions are taken and decisions are made in the slightest whispers of the wind.

However as someone born blind, music has been my godsend. Music surrounds me and comforts me in all the places that hurt or feel stress. It alleviates me and brings me high upon a cloud. All my life, sound has been my way of communicating with others. In a world where sight is taken for granted, the noise of this planet keeps me at bay.

Right now, I am outside on the lawn, eating a sandwich and hearing a surfer play a party tune to relax til class is back in session. In our school, the term 'open lunch' is used to describe the custom of allowing students to eat their lunch outside and feel the sun on their backs. That is another sense that I have mastered, touch and feeling. To say that feeling the sun was a wonder is paramount to saying that a mountain was high enough. I never felt that I missed out much on this world, but this new girl had me aching for something that was never there.

Was it strange that I wished to know what she looked like?

After she defended me earlier in the hallways, I have developed an admiration for her courage and tenacity. If she was to be described as as sound, then she would be a most brilliant firecracker up ahead in the sky.

"Anthony, that's your name, right?" a girl's voice rang out next to me and I identified her as the  girl from earlier.

"Yes." I replied.

"We never got to introduce our names to each other. I know yours as you escorted me to my next class and helped me, but do you know mine?" she asked quaintly.

I looked in the direction of her voice and readjusted my sunglasses.

"No. I'm afraid not." I answered quickly.

"Oh, then. Then let's formally introduce ourselves. I'm Danica." she responded and I felt the brush of her hand against mine. She was trying to shake my hand, I supposed.

We exchanged hand shakes and I said, "I'm Anthony. Nice to meet you, Danica."

"The pleasure is all mine...Anthony!", she seemed elated with her odd declaration alas I was slightly confused at that.

(Oh my god, I almost said hotcakes! That would have been so embarrassing! What kind of girl says stuff like that to the boy she likes? I do not feel very proper right now.-Danica)

"What are your interests, Danica?"

"Interests?"

"Yes, hobbies, interests..."

"Oh, well I have a few!" she interrupted and then began her long rant.

"I like reading books, watching movies, going to sleepovers, eating ice cream, doodling, going to school, talking to people, singing, coloring, walking outside..."

(I basically listed everything that I had been able to do in the time that I got this illusion to work. Everything became my interests now that I could do it!-Danica)

"I just love being outside, don't you?" her voice slightly raised at the "don't you" part like she was expecting me to reciprocate.

(Did I sound too desperate for affection?-Danica)

"Yes, being outside is nice." I answered as I had been standing this whole time and was starting to feel my legs ache from the strain.

She must have seen my face of discomfort for she touched my arm and still touching my arm, used to motion to a table besides us.

"You could have just said you wanted to sit." I teased.

(Oh my goodness, I just blushed at him. Is he teasing me?-Danica)

"I'm teasing, Danica. May I call you Danica even though we just met?" I asked politely of her.

"Of course", she answered back with a smile and then we finally sat down.

(I just mentally freaked out! Is he going to do this to me the whole time? Wait a minute, am I doing it to him? What am I talking about right now...-Danica)

Her mind seemed preoccupied so I tapped her hand that was placed on the table.

(I am just embarrassing myself. Let me talk to him. I need to be logical and...his hand is touching mine! His hand touched mine!-Danica)

Instantly, I heard a shuffling noise so I assumed that she was currently alert.

"Present! I mean, I wanted to sit with you in the first place because I don't know a single soul here and all the cliques have their own way of doing things and..." she suddenly stopped talking in midsentence and I wondered what was going on in that head of hers.

(He probably thinks I'm a freak now...why I am so nervous around him? Does it have to do with...-Danica)

I cleared my throat and tried to speak, but no words came out of it.

And so began the most awkward silence of my life...