Z E R O

Italics = Sign Language

THE class moved in sync, the movie blasting loudly, the grunts and claps filling the last bit of silence. Xavier led the class perfectly, all of their bodies burned but he kept reminding them that it would be worth it in the end. Montana moves beside her friend, the girls smirking at each other as they began the hip thrusts, the music beginning to get more upbeat.

Sat in the corner, oblivious to movements around her, Olivia read her comic book that she had brought with her while her sister worked out. She paid no attention to the music blasting out loud, she paid no attention to the people in the room making rather sexual sounds while feeling their bodies move to the music. She couldn't keep up with them even if she tried to.

They were now on the floor, their hips still thrusting as Montana and her friend noticed the brunette laying down at the back hold eye contact with Chet. Of course. It wasn't long until they were on their sides, lifted their leg up at 90°, their stomachs burning as they felt their muscles tightening. Xavier surely knew what he was going.

The class continued for a couple more hours, and Xavier ended it with a bang. The music stopped and everyone paused in a dramatic way, a way they thought would suit them best. Some did splits, whereas some reached into the air as if they were a pop star, but it didn't matter when the blonde teacher clapped his hands congratulating everyone. A round of applause echoed throughout the room as they all began cheering, their long lesson coming to an end.

"No classes from me for the next couple of months but.. well done everyone. Make sure to show your moves to the next person you have. I doubt they'll be as good as me" Xavier smirked, high fiving a few of his students. Montana hugged the girl beside her before she left her side, walking over to the corner.

She whipped her towel on her shoulder, Olivia's head still in her comic book before her leg was nudged, her head moving up.

"Time to go" Ana said, moving her head to the side, indicating it was time to leave. Olivia nodded her own head, moving off of the bench and grabbing her sisters workout bag as she already began to walk away. The blonde was the last out, and she watched as Ana made her way towards the showers, walking closely behind Montana.

She stood in the waiting area, her comic book held against her chest as her sisters bag weighed on her shoulder. This was a daily routine for Olivia, and she couldn't really get tired of it. There wasn't much that she could do, so coming out of the house and reading a comic while waiting for her sister to finish her workout was better to her than sitting around and doing absolutely nothing.

It wasn't long until Montana and Ana walked out the lockers together, joining Olivia's side. The blonde sent a smile in Olivia's direction, earning one back as her sister removed the bag from her shoulder. Ana placed her hand gently onto Olivia's back before guiding her away from the waiting room.

They reached the main area, all ready to leave after their workout. Montana joined in on the boys' conversation, Olivia and Ana not paying attention. Ana pulled her sister over to the sofas, the two sitting across from each other. Olivia opened her comic book again, continuing to read as Ana glanced in the window at the people working out in the gym next to them, tapping her foot and waiting for the rest of them to join her. She rolled her eyes when she heard the conversation that they were having.

"Met in traffic is a nice way of saying that I missed an audition for one of the last episodes of MASH because she rear-ended me" Xavier explained, his eyebrows raised. The blonde followed closely behind Chet with a drink in his hand as they made their way towards the two sofas. Chet took his place beside Olivia, smiling at her before she returned to her comic. Ray sat on the arm while Montana took the seat next to Ana.

"You are welcome" Montana added, a smirk on her face as the brunette from earlier watched them all.

"You're an actor?" she questioned, curiously. The group raised their eyebrows at her question before Xavier turned to her, nodding his head.

"Yeah. Not one of those happy to get a role on a soap opera or a Coca-Cola commercial types... I'm a serious actor" he explained, Montana snorting in the process. Brooke saw how he was pulling a serious face and she could easily tell that he was passionate about acting. "I trained at Stella Adler, I'm method"

"Is Xavier talking about his non-existent acting career?" Brooke turned to her left where two girls she hadn't met yet were sat "You know, saying that it's going to happen doesn't mean that it's going to actually happen. I wanna see you flaunt your shit" Xavier glared at the girl who they joined before she winked at him.

"Brooke, this is Ana and Olivia" Montana introduced as Ana glanced up at her, nodding her head in her direction. Brooke then looked over at the blonde sitting beside Chet, as she continued to look at the comic book in her hands "Don't take it personally. Unlike the rest of us, she can't hear what you say to her. Best way to talk to her, is just a simple tap" Montana told Brooke, noticing the sudden look she sent in Olivia's direction.

"She may not be able to hear what you say but I certainly can. If you wanna get through to her, you'll have to have a helping hand" Ana leaned forward before waving her hand in front of the blonde. Seeing the movement, Olivia looked towards her and smiled before shrugging her shoulders.

Realisation hit and the Brooke knew instantly what the situation was. The group watched in silence, as the girl sitting beside Montana began signing a sentence. The girl sitting beside Chet looked over to the new member, smiling gently before glancing back in front of her, at her sister.

"She's my sister, just in case you're wondering" Ana said, leaning back as Olivia looked back down at her comic "I told her that you were just saying how horrible she looks in that jumpsuit" Ana kicked her leg on the table and smirked at the sudden panic on Brooke's face.

"Relax, she's just messing around" Montana laughed, nudging Ana slightly. Brooke nodded her head, looking back down at the floor feeling awkward "She just said that you're new to the group, that's all"

"Do you speak it too?" Brooke questioned, curiously.

"Ana taught us a few things to say" Chet told her, holding his jacket in his hands "We thought it could come in handy, if we ever wanted to speak to her or tell her something. We don't know a lot but, we know more than we did before"

"That's... that's really sweet" Brooke smiled softly as she glanced over at Olivia, who was still reading her comic oblivious to the fact that they were talking about her. After a moment of silence, it was Xavier that spoke again when he hoisted his bag on his back.

"I'm getting out of town for the next couple of months... I got a gig as a counselor at a summer camp they're opening up a couple of hours from here" the group glanced over to him as he then smiled at them all, opening his arms up "You guys should all come. I mean, they're desperate for counsellors"

"Not really my type of thing" Ana told the blonde as he glanced over at her.

"Hey screw her, I'm in" Ray said, smiling as everyone looked over at him "When do we leave?" Ana glared at him while Xavier smiled triumphantly.

"Tomorrow, after class" he the blonde told him and they all noticed the disappointed look on Ray's face. Brooke began playing with her hands, looking around the room as she began to feel left out because they all knew each other well.

"Why can't we leave tonight?"

"What's with you? You been jumpy all week" Xavier told him, zipping up his jacket, smirking in Ray's direction.

"I'm just ready to get out before the Olympic shit show starts" Ray replied. Montana watched as Ana stood up before gently tapping Olivia, gesturing her to follow her as they moved away for a second.

"Xavier is going away to a camp, to be a counsellor" Ana signed as Olivia glanced over to Xavier "He wants to know if you want to go with them. Ray has agreed to go too" Olivia thought for a second before tucking her comic book under her arm.

"Only if you go" she told her sister. Ana rolled her eyes before clenching her jaw.

"I already said I'm not going, camping isn't my thing. I need to stay here anyway, to look after Mom" Olivia looked down at the floor, her feet moving side to side. Ana placed her finger underneath her sisters chin and lifting her head up so they were looking at each other again "Go with them, have fun. It'll be nice"

"It won't be fun for me without you" Olivia said as Ana smiled softly "Surely Mom can handle herself for a little while.. plus how will any of them understand me? They can't sign as good as you"

"It's summer camp Olivia, you'll be there for a couple of months, Mom can't manage that long on her own" Ana said, glancing over at the boy sat on the sofa, in a world of his own "And if you want anything, speak to Chet. He learnt quicker than any of the others. Take a notebook just in case you want to write anything"

"Chet will be too busy eye googling the new girl" Olivia said, glancing over in Brooke's direction as she was smiling at the group conversation. Ana chuckled, placing her hands on her sisters shoulders before holding her face gently.

Camping wasn't her thing, but she would have definitely gone for Olivia if their Mom wasn't as ill as she was. The two girls were on their feet constantly looking after her, but Ana would be able to manage looking their Mom on her own. Coming to Xaviers aerobics class was the only time that they managed to get away from looking after their Mom, as Ana paid her next door neighbour to look after her for a couple of hours. She couldn't ask her to do it for a few months.

"Fine... Fine! I'll go" Olivia signed as Ana smiled triumphantly "But you're packing my bag, and buying me that notebook, considering you're forcing me into this" Ana pulled her hands away from her sisters face, glancing back at the group before to see that they were now looking at them.

"You won't regret it" she told her sister, as Olivia rolled her eyes. Ana turned back to the group fully, clapping her hands together and looking over at Xavier, her usual scowl plastered back on her face "Olivia said that she's happy to come along"

"Atta girl" Xavier said, pointing over at Olivia as she rolled her eyes.

The blonde boy began walking away, Ray and Chet following behind him as they said their goodbyes. Ana picked up her bag, wrapping her arm around Olivia's shoulder as they began to walk away. She turned around to look at Montana, who was standing with Brooke.

"Montana you coming?" Ana said. The blonde waved at her before shaking her head.

"I'm going to hang back for a bit, I'll see you tomorrow in class" she replied. Ana nodded her head before walking away, dragging Olivia with her.

When they reached home that night, Ana had done as promised. She packed her sisters bag, practically shoving her sisters whole wardrobe inside. Instead of buying a new notebook, she found one of her old ones, shoving a small picture of the two with their mother inside, putting it in the bag. She smiled at her handy work before shoving it under her sisters bed ready for the morning.

It pained her that her sister would be having all the fun while she would be stuck at home, but she rather it be her than Olivia. Ana sighed, rubbing her eyes and making her way out of the room, getting ready to put their mother in bed.

It would be difficult not seeing Olivia every day for the next couple of months, but she knew that she would be able to manage on her own.