A/N Updates might be a tad on the slower side. I have a load of exams hitting me right now, but I'll try my best. And BlackRose07? Cheers for the tip, I'll try to describe the characters in better detail in this one. DustEyes xx

My fingers danced lightly across the keyboard. They weren't playing anything in particular, just going of their own accord in a way.

My mind began to drift as usual. The house was ideal, small and quaint – just right for us. The bricks were red, but each one was a slightly different shade. A short drive-way curled up, past the house, and to garage in the back. The garden was slightly overgrown, but nothing that a lawnmower and some "tender love and care" couldn't fix.

The whole inside of the house itself was bright, with cream coloured walls and light wooden floors. The downstairs consisted of a long hallway, with two doors on the left. One led to the living room, and the other, to a warm, stone kitchen.

My room, of course, was upstairs. It was at the front of the house, with a large window facing out to our front garden. It would be too airy and cold for some, but I liked it that way. I don't mind the cold. I currently had all my furniture and instruments gathered in the centre of the room, to allow fresh paint to dry. I'd covered one of my cream walls in a soft green, I loved green for some reason – it just relaxed me. As for the other three walls, I cut out a rough stencil of the outline of a flying bird, and used that to paint a few scattered, black birds, fleeting across the walls.

As I admired my handiwork, I felt the casual tune I was playing, pick up in to a soft air. It was eerily beautiful. My fingers sped up, the music becoming louder and louder until it filled the room. With a sudden concentration, I worked to reproduce what my fingers had just created, and as soon as I achieved that, I grabbed one of my many note books, and quickly scrawled down the music.

I looked around my room again, feeling content, as I decided the paint was dry enough to shove everything back out. My bed went out to the wall opposite the window, so the sun would shine in on it. I carefully moved my keyboard and guitar out to the right of my bed, running my fingers over the guitar's strings as I did – I was simply aching to work out a rhythm to the melody I had discovered earlier.

Deciding that, that could wait for a short while, I went on to shove my desk out to the left wall. I carried on, putting everything in it's new place, until I came to my clothes. I had the patience to hang up my jacket and cardigans, but when I looked at everything else I thought – a good girl would fold all these clothes and put them neatly away. Yeah, not exactly the way I roll. I flung everything into drawers, leafing a bit of a mess. Now it looks more like my room.

Finally, I was able to continue with my music, I just picked up my guitar when Tom appeared at the door. He'd gotten taller than me over the past few years. His cream skin, dashed with some freckles, and his light brown hair, longer than it used to be, touched his eyes. Said brown hair, also had blue paint in it. I wonder what colour he painted his room?

He clapped his hands together to get my attention "Come on, we're going out for dinner."

He waited for a response, as I snapped a notebook and pen out of my back pocket – I may know sign language, but he was never so quick at it, thus the notebook and pen – I scrawled a message and turned the page to him. Go ahead, I'll make myself something later.

He frowned, "Mum hasn't been shopping yet. She got caught up in angling the furniture to her taste." I rolled my eyes, "I know," he replied, "I don't know who inherited her neatness either." He smirked and walked off.

To Mum, cleanliness and tidiness always comes first, so if she wasn't finished organising, everything else had to wait. I hope she doesn't see my clothes, but that's Mum for you. Neat-freak. Her dark brown hair is always immaculate, flicking out perfectly as it touches her shoulders. Her clothes – not matter how many years old they are – are always ironed to perfection. And her make up, well, lets just say she gives air brushing some serious competition. Tom and I didn't get her green eyes from her, she had soft, grey eyes. I guess we got our eyes from our Dad, whoever he was. Only our Mum knew him, and we knew not to bother bringing him up – he's not a part of the family, we like it just the three of us.

There was a gathering of small businesses a few streets away, so took the opportunity to get to know our area slightly better, and we walked. Even though it was only Mum's and Tom's voices that filled the air, I was still very much involved in the conversation. They're used to my different expressions and they know me well enough to interpret my actions. Of course if I wanted to convey a full blown opinion, I could always sign it to Mum and she'd translate for Tom.

During the short ten minute walk, we talked about our new house, what we thought of Belfast so far, and, much to Tom's excitement, school. We had moved during the summer, allowing ourselves to make a proper start when we went to Ardimare. That's the name of the school we'll be attending here. Tom was excited, for obvious reasons. He loved first days, meeting new people, discovering new things – he wasn't actually excited about the whole learning aspect of school. Me on the other hand? Learning was the only aspect I had. I don't think I'm even going to bother making an effort to become friends with the people at Ardimare, because they're all the same. I'd soon become the outcast, so I'll save them the bother this time, and just act invisible to begin with. Sounds like a plan, don't you think?

Tom and I would be starting fifth year, as we'd both turned sixteen earlier in the summer. Bad year to move I guess – right in the middle of our GCSE course. Ah well, catching up, or learning the same thing in one or two subjects wasn't exactly going to do us any harm.

School was starting in just over a week, and I was not looking forward to my classes. I'm taking English, Add Maths – this one sucks, Spanish, Technology and Design, Religious Studies and Biology. Yeah, for anyone who didn't notice, I'm not doing music. I don't show people pieces I've written – it just feels too personal, even if the don't understand the meanings behind each note. Therefore, GCSE music, sort of became a no-go for me. So the only lesson I in any way liked, was English.

The dinner went okay. I ordered the largest burger on the menu, then ended up taking all the onion and sauce out, because I can be a little picky when it comes to food. Seeing the waitresses made me realise I'd need to look for a job, to continue putting money in my operation savings. Unfortunately being something like a waitress wasn't quite on the menu – no pun intended. I'd have to look for a job, where speech wasn't exactly required, because, as much as it may shock you, not many people actually know sign language.

The next week passed by without any drama. All the unpacking was finished – much to Mum's determination, uniforms and some needed school supplies had all been bought, and I had, had plenty of time to experiment with my new melody. School was starting tomorrow, and luckily, all the arrangements were made, and the staff would all be informed of my disability, so there would be no need for an awkward meeting with the principal, then having to walk in to class late.

I sat on the edge of my bed, not wanting to sleep, but not exactly wanting to stay awake either. I just kept looking out the window, into the dark. A soft knock came from the door, and I heard my Mum's foot steps make their way over to me. I didn't move to look at her, I just stared out. I felt my mattress sidle down to the left, as Mum sat beside me.

"Nervous?" she enquired with a temperate tone. I shook my head. I expected her to say goodnight and leave, just as she did every night, but instead, she spoke on, "I know meeting new people has never been your favourite thing," It's my least favourite, but I just shrugged, "but don't predict their reactions, just because of how things were in 'Derry." Things will always be like that. I looked at her so she could see my raise an eyebrow, she sighed and said, "Just give it a go, Eva. You might surprise yourself. Goodnight." I signed Night to her, as I've always done, since I was little. She smiled at me briefly and put her hand on my shoulder, before getting up and leaving the room.

Only five seconds passed before I closed my curtains, and decided to get some shut-eye.

I was woken up by my lights, turning on and off, making me squint. I pulled the duvet over my head, and knowing Tom was the culprit, I stuck my hand out and flipped him the bird.

I heard him chuckle, "How pleasant of you. Come on. School today." He said while unsuccessfully, trying to pull me out of bed by my hand. "Mum bought Weetos!"

My head snapped up. Weetos? I could do with a bowl of Weetos.

After breakfast I took a shower, then proceeded to my mirror to dry my hair. It dried in long brown layers, matching the dark, ivory shade of my skin perfectly. I whipped on a bit of concealer, to cover the bags under my eyes, and put on a few layers of mascara. Just because I don't plan on making friends, doesn't mean I can't at least have a few cosmetics to help me out. My green eyes looked big and bright, with the slight improvement. Some freckles were still across my nose from the summer. I didn't look too bad I guess.

The walk to school was quiet – Tom was texting friends from 'Derry. I kept looking down at my uniform. Not too bad I guess – it was white socks, with a grey skirt, a white summer blouse, and a jumper with Ardimare's crest on it. My shoes were simple, black pumps, with a thin strap that went around my ankle. I had a small, green backpack, it was pretty worn.

I began to feel more nervous than I let on to be as I saw a few people in Ardimare's uniform along the path.

Soon enough, we turned down a drive that went straight down the middle of a large, grass lawn, which was split into football and Rugby pitches. Up ahead was a large two story white stone building, with a plaque above the main entrance that read "Ardimare School. Founded in 1904". By this point, the front of the school was swarmed with students sitting on the entrance steps – all talking about their holidays, teasing each other, telling jokes. There was a noticeable group of first years, gathered just inside the foyer, with their oversized uniforms that they would "grow into" and backpacks that were so big, they were unbalancing the kids. I few more confident first years were walking up to each other and starting conversations, or going to walk around the school together to get their bearings. I wasn't confident to go up and communicate with someone. I feel brave enough to go round the school. I just stuck to Toms side like a sheep, and I hated being a sheep. Jeez, I felt more lost than a first year, how did that happen?

Within two minutes Tom had already found a group of people in our class. I stood by his side, my head low, hoping no one would notice me.

I listened to Tom making conversation with them, wishing I had the power to do the same, "Yeah, we just moved from Londonderry," He spoke casually, the small group of guys and girls nodding in interest. "Oh," he said as if he'd forgotten something, "This is my sister Eva" he said nudging me. No!

There were murmurs of "Cool," and a "Hey," or two. I looked up around the group briefly and nodded at them. Tom immediately got stuck in conversation with quite a pretty girl. Then I saw Tom's eyes. They were glued! Ha! He's got the hots for someone already. Teasing ammo for dinner time I think. Then I realised, that because Tom was talking to the girl, the rest of the group was looking expectantly at me.

I was about to turn around, when one of the guys asked, "Like Belfast so far, Eva?" I froze. Shit.

I shrugged and smiled, then stood on Tom's foot, to bring him back into the group. He immediately noticed the "awkward turtle" situation and saved me, "Yeah, it's good, I haven't really been out much yet."

The guy replied with the usual, "Cool." Oh gosh. Thank you Tom. I hated seeing the reaction the whole mute thing, but, I guess they're going to find out as soon as class starts, why not do it in doses?

I sighed, and then looked at Tom. I nodded towards the group, "You sure?" he said under his breath. I smiled lightly at him to tell him to go on ahead.

He groaned slightly, I don't think he actually enjoyed telling people this, but none the less, he spoke with a slightly more serious tone, "Yeah, Eva, you see, she's actually mute." I cringed, and looked round the group. Just as I expected, they all went into an uncomfortable manner. I smiled quickly, nodded a thank you at Tom, and walked away.

A/N Just forgot to say, but you all probably picked up on the fact that 'Derry is short for Londonderry. I feel a bit sorry for Eva, but I hope you like it :) Please review, DustEyes xx