Chapter 7 - Protective

The bell rang, and Venus groaned as she stood up and stretched. "As much as I love sports, I hate gym. I'd rather work out on my own time."

'I'd never find the time,' I giggled as I showed her my note.

"True. But it's still my choice," she smirked.

As we walked down the hall to the gymnasium, I suddenly panicked as I remembered the bruises on my back from being shoved into lockers. I didn't want to have to explain them to Venus, and I really didn't want anyone to stare at them and judge me more than they most likely were.

"What's wrong?" Venus questioned as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders. I smiled shyly up at her. "Oh, I get it. You don't like changing in front of other people, right?"

I nodded.

"Don't worry. Both the men and women's locker rooms have dressing rooms primarily for transgender students, but if you're not comfortable with changing in front of everyone, other girls change in them, too. Heck, I prefer the changing rooms. No one bumps into you while changing," she chuckled, and I exhaled in relief.

Venus led me into the women's locker room and over to the gym teacher's offices. She knocked on the open door and poked her head inside, smiling at the tall and slender woman in pink leggings and a white sideless top. Her blonde ponytail bounced as she hopped over to us, and she smiled at me as I awkwardly stood in the doorframe behind Venus.

"How can I help you ladies?" she asked with pep.

"This is Cameron, and she's new," Venus introduced, and I gave the teacher a small wave.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you. I'm Mrs. Helfrich, the Adventure Ed teacher. Your dad called and told me about how you're mute, and don't worry, there isn't much talking in this class. However, I will be pairing you up with Lindsey since she's fluent in sign language."

"But Mrs. Helfrich, I'm Cameron's friend."

"Are you fluent in sign language?"

"Not fluent, but I-"

"Then I think it would be best to have Cameron paired with Lindsey. After all, I don't want Cameron to have to carry around a notebook in order to communicate when Lindsey can easily translate for us," Mrs. Helfrich commanded with a smile.

The thought of being paired up with someone other than Venus terrified me. It didn't matter at the time that Lindsey knew sign language. I was used to people being rude to me and hating me before getting to know me, so regardless of her credentials, it was still worrisome. If someone who fluently knew sign language wound up hating me, I'd be crushed.

"Mrs. Helfrich, I can still communicate with her," Venus argued.

"Venus, dear, you are in Lindsey's group, remember? You all decided to group together at the beginning of the semester," she huffed. "All I'm asking is that Lindsey and Cameron are paired up purely for communication issues. You two will still be working in the same group. Now, take this lock, and show Cameron where her locker is. It's going to be the one right next to yours, 407."

Venus pursed her lips as she stared at the ground. She most likely had forgotten that Lindsey and her were in the same group. "I understand," she mumbled before pushing me out of the office. "Sorry about that. I know it can be hard making new friends, and I didn't want you to feel trapped talking to someone you don't know. But don't worry, Lindsey is a good friend of mine. Her brother's deaf, so that's why I know a little sign language. She's super nice, and she's going to love you. I promise."

It was relieving to know that Venus cared about me enough to make sure I was comfortable. She had only known a little about my bullying at this point, but since she had been bullied and depressed herself, she understood where I was coming from. I was, and still am, so grateful for her.

Venus glanced back at me and frowned. "What's wrong now?" she softly asked.

I made the sign for hug, and smiled giddily as she wrapped both her arms around my shoulders and giggled. "I swear, you are going to be the death of."

^^^

Since only one of the changing rooms were available, Venus instructed me to change first and meet her at the bleachers where our class grouped together before heading to the gymnastics room. As I glanced at all my classmates, a girl with long brunette hair that fell over her shoulders in pigtails strolled up to me and smiled. "Hey, I'm Lindsey," she greeted, signing it at the same time.

Cameron, I replied, spelling out my name since I didn't have a name sign yet. You're Venus's friend, right?

"I sure am. Where is she?"

Changing.

"Got it." Lindsey sat next to me and asked, "Are you excited about taking this gym class?"

Oh, yeah. We don't have classes like this back in Arlington, I replied. I've been rocking climbing a few times with my dad, so I'm excited to go again.

"How long since you last went?"

Two years.

"Well, this is going to be real exciting, huh? We're in the middle of the belay unit. I assume you've done it before?"

Yes.

"Well, I'm glad we're partnered up, because I have no fucking clue what I'm doing."

I've got your back if you've got mine, I firmly stated. I take rock climbing, belaying, and all that very seriously. It can be dangerous if you're not paying attention or messing around.

"Don't worry. I don't want to die-"

"Oh, God, please tell me you two are getting along?" Venus huffed as she ran up to us, placing her hands on her knees as she exhaled heavily.

"I think we are," Lindsey smiled, and I smiled back. "We're just talking about the importance of belay safety. Cameron said she's done rock climbing before."

"That's freaking awesome," Venus replied, still out of breath.

Clearly, you need gym class if you're out of breath on a short run, I signed, and Lindsey snorted in laughter.

"Right?"

"I understood one of those words," Venus said, glaring at us.

"She said you need gym because you're out of shape," Lindsey replied as she jumped off the bleachers and poked Venus's stomach.

"Stop, I'm sensitive there," she pouted as she covered her stomach.

I couldn't tell if Lindsey and Venus were either flirting with each other or just being that kind of overly friendliness a lot of girls claimed to have. I was hoping for the latter, because I knew if it were the former, I'd be heartbroken.