The Color of Silence Read Online Free PDF Page A

mirror.
    â€œHomework.”
    â€œAlready? School just ended and you’re going to work again? You need a break. Specifically, you need a shopping break. I need to look for a recital dress.” She runs her fingers through her carefully brushed hair, messing it up so it doesn’t look carefully brushed.
    â€œI don’t have my essay done. Do you?”
    â€œEssay? We have an essay? What in?” Cali actually looks confused. She’s unbelievable. How could anyone just forget that there’s an assignment due?
    â€œMusic History. Remember?”
    â€œObviously not or I wouldn’t ask. Music History? Really? Damn. When did she tell us that?”
    â€œAt the beginning of the term. On that list of important dates we were supposed to write down so we don’t fail the course. It’s due tomorrow, and I still have to proofread and do the bibliography.” I want to get it done so I have time to practice too.
    â€œHmm. I haven’t even started. Which means I probably should start it instead of shopping. Right?” She looks at me with her eyes all hopeful, as if she somehow expects me to tell her to go shopping instead of doing homework.
    As if! She knows me better than that.
    â€œRight. I can help you get started if you want.”
    â€œI thought you had too much to do. If you don’t have time for shopping, how do you have time to help me with an essay?”
    â€œPriorities, I guess.”
    â€œAll right, all right, Miss Prissy Pants. We’ll go get started on our really exciting essays.”
    â€œGood. We’ll go to my place because it’s quieter. I like to work in silence.”
    â€œThen you better not bring me along because I like to work in nois e !” She yells the last word in my ear.
    â€œPlease don’t break my eardrum. I need it. I have headphones. You can have as much noise as you want. OK?”
    â€œNot really, but I obviously I don’t have a choice. Oh, Lexi?”
    â€œYes?” I’m walking in the direction of my house, and I keep facing forward in case she tries to change my direction.
    â€œSo, have you decided or shouldn’t I ask?” She’s walking backward, hands clasped as if she’s praying. She’s using her angel eyes on me. I think about pretending I don’t know what she’s talking about, but those angel eyes are also lie detectors.
    â€œI’m still worried about my voice.”
    â€œA night of rest and relaxation will do wonders for it. Especially that close to the recital date. Consider it a prescription for perfection.”
    â€œThanks. I’ll check with my doctor and see if he agrees.”
    â€œCome on, Lexi. Admit it. The problem here isn’t really your voice. The problem is that it’s an actual party with actual guys at it, which means you might actually have to, like, talk to one of them or something horrible like that.” She laughs at me as I shake my head and roll my eyes.
    â€œI thought so.”
    â€œI didn’t agree with you!”
    â€œYou didn’t not agree either.”
    â€œThat’s a double negative.”
    â€œ You’re a double negative.”
    â€œThat doesn’t even make sense!”
    â€œYes it does. You’re negative about your voice and negative about the party. Double negative.” She smiles proudly at herself.
    â€œI’m just…I don’t know…scared, I guess, that I’ll try to talk to a guy and throw up on his shoes.” Cali bursts out laughing and grabs me in a hug that temporarily crushes my diaphragm.
    â€œI love you, Lexi. You know that? Come on. It’ll be fun. I’m the only thing keeping you from hiding in your room and you know it.”
    I think about telling her she’s wrong, but she knows me too well.
    â€œAll right—I’ll go! Just stop talking about it!” I laugh at her and push her away at the same time.
    â€œI knew I’d talk you