Isis Alban's Story

Daniel was looking around,noticing the impressive beauty of the room.
Then two more students entered.As they entered Daniel weaved his hand and smiled.He signed:"My pleasure: am Daniel Alphonse.How was the travel?"
Then he made a banal bow.He noticed various bags with them,comprehending a cello case,a violin.
"You do play cello and violins? Marvellous! The first time i passed the bow through the strings i nearly broke the windows." Daniel signed,miming the part where he was playing violin.
"That's one of the reasons I am a pianist...to recap....you are Isis Alban and you Ty Morton." during the signing he pointed at,in order,Isis Alban and then Ty.
They says Italians mimes when they talk...well atleast Daniel does.
"While there....wait...I got your names.... He was thinking, turning and looking at the rest of the group.
He tried to remember all the name,even if he was missing a few names.

The maestro clapped his hands for those who could hear it, and gestured for those already out of the vehicle to move inside. He went in first, his cloak swooshing behind him like some sort of wings, and the teachers followed. He entered into the main living room and gestured for everyone to sit down.

Serenity picked up her bags, trying to balance her carry on, and her two suitcases all at once. As she adjusted everything so she could carry it, she had to take a few quicker steps to catch up with everyone, including Damien. As they all sat around, the maestro looked at each of them in turn.

"You are here because you have a talent, but you are also deaf. Some of you maybe more than others, but you are still deaf. This great school was created by Beethoven, a brilliant composer who I'm sure you all know. Here, you will learn how to appreciate music, how to live in society being deaf, and how to compose and play music in and as an orchestra. At the end of your 2 year term here, some of you may choose not to continue for the full 10 year term, and therefore will be let out into the world to do as you please. Some of you, who do not play classical instruments, may be thinking How am I to be in an orchestra? Well, fret not, young ones. You who have not chosen a classical instrument will be given the opportunity to learn one, and everyone will have an opportunity to be in the band, which by band I mean like one of those rock and roll things that make my ears hurt," The maestro pauses in his signing so that his speaking counterpart can catch up to him. After she takes a breath and nods, he continues moving his fingers rapidly. "Some of you may think you are here to form friendships and relationships, and that may be the case seeing as I'm sure you are all mature enough to share a room with the opposite sex, but I don't want any sort of romantic nonsense ruining our chances of wining the prestigious title of Greater England's Greatest Young Orchestra for the 18th year in a row! So, be careful!"

The maestro pulls out a sheet of paper from his pocket and has one of the other teachers hold it for him. As he looks over it, he begins to sign once again. "Room assignments are as follows: Room 1- Nikolas Mikhalkov and Adele Gueren. Room 2- Aiden Markins and Isis Alban. Room 3- Elizabeth Clayworth and Gian Daniele Alfonsi. Room 4- Ty Morton and Bethany Woods, on a side note miss Woods will be arriving late due to a family emergency. And last but certainly not least room 5- Serenity Logan and Damien Rice," The maestro hands a key to each of the male counterparts in the room pairs, and smiles to all of them. After another one of his brief nods, he leaves the room.

Serenity smiles at Damien, blushing slightly. The only boy she'd ever shared a room with was her brother, but that didn't really bug her that much.

Another man took the floor and began speaking and signing. "Students, welcome. My name is Mr. Holliday, and I am the Music Appreciation teacher. Allow me to introduce my fellow teachers; Miss Marks, she teaches Music Theory; Coach, you're phys ed teacher; Mrs. Caplint, you're history teacher; Mr. Beling, maths; and last but in no way the least, Mrs. Barnes, you're English teacher. We will each help you find your rooms, and after you are settled please do not wander until we come to fetch you for your tour," At his last words and sign, each teacher found a room pair and showed them to five different areas of the house, where each of the five identical rooms were.

Mr. Holliday walked up to Damien and Serenity, smiling. "Speak or sign?" he asked in sign language only.

Serenity smiled. "I can hear, so you may speak or sign, either is fine by me. I know sign language because my older brother is 100% deaf," She spoke and signed out of habit.

Daniel smiled as Isis answered and commented his first-time at violin."Another curious thing is that a black cat did all the perimeter of the house...." He was signing when the Maestro called them inside the living room.He looked around,recognizing a pretty modern style."Like the english Highschools" Daniel thought.He never went to England,but saw many photoes of prestigious english school: stone outside,circuits inside.
Daniel sat down as the Maestro signed.
He watched the Maestro fingers move,and deduced that he surely have some problems at hearing.He followed the fingers carefully.
He missed the meaning of some signs,but he understood the message:"So we are here to win a competition" He was thinking,smiling at the idea.
Then they announced the rooms and the occupiers.
Daniel was with Elizabeth Clayworth.He was in a kind of Paralysis when Elisabeth introduced herself.Before Daniel could answer Miss Caplint came and presented herself as History teacher.Daniel smiled and signed his name.
Then the teacher led them to their room and left them.Daniel was carrying a backpack and was holding two sport bags.He wanted to ask Elisabeth if he could carry her cello case,but he couldn't sign or mime,since his hands were holding the bags.He noticed a few sheets of music.
As Elisabeth asked about beds,Daniel answered signing,"Really: I can even sleep on the floor.Feel free to pick!".For his luck Daniel passed his five years with his sister and had the possibility to learn,just a little,about their reactions.And anyway he wanted to be as kind as possible,particullary with ladies.
He posed his bags near the door and started to look around: a pretty large room.Good for him...the room's walls were painted in a light blue and the furnishing style was pretty modern,made by wood or metal.Then he noticed the beds."Meh....it is an exploit to guess out the best bed....it's an exploit for me" Daniel was thinking.He promised to himself to be starting thinking in english,while writing in italian his diary."So no one,except me,will be able to read it".

Aiden listened to the others around him, and paid special attention when the rooms were assigned. Rooming with girls? An interesting way to go. He thought to himself. He wasn't exactly sure who Isis was, but he figured he had better find out. They were going to room together for the next two years, after all. He had to somewhat get along with his new roommate. He stood there waiting as the chaos of finding other partners ensued. He stayed where he was, afraid that if he moved around he would never find his partner.

Sure enough, after a while a girl came up to him. ”Hi, I’m Isis. Um, are you Aiden… perhaps?” Aiden smiled down at the girl kindly and signed back to her, "Yes, I am. You are Isis? It's very nice to meet you. He held his hand out to be shaken. She was very pretty. Tan with dark hair. And gorgeous eyes.



Adele had gotten there in time to hear the old man who was her maestro begin talking about the school. It was quite a long speech, and she enjoyed it. She was grinning ear to ear as she watched his hands fly. The words he was signing were wonderful. And then she heard they would be rooming with boys. It didn't bother her much. No big deal, right? It was just a room. But with a stranger? She hadn't been able to meet anyone. But at least she would have constant company! When she heard who she was paired with, she began searching for him. She wanted someone to talk to, and she wanted to get to know her roommate.

After a bit of searching, she spotted Miss Marks, and behind her was a boy. He was a bit attractive. She was very glad she had been paired with him. She smiled kindly to the boy as she faintly heard his stutter. She signed and spoke back to him. "Hello! I'm Adele. It's great to meet you! I guess we'll be sharing a room together then. Should we go there now?" Her smile was bright and she wanted to come off as friendly, but didn't want to scare him away.

Aiden had taken the key from their teacher and followed her to the room he and Isis would be sharing. As they made their way there, he glanced at her from time to time. She was quite breathtaking, he would admit. But he wouldn't get his hopes up, nor would he persue anything. If she wanted anything to do with him other than being roommates, then she could let him know. Besides, he had just met her. It'd be creepy to try anything other than friendship.

When they made it to the room, he unlocked the door and walked in. “Want first pick for the bed? I don’t really mind. I’ll probably end up on the floor anyway.” Aiden chuckled a bit and put his stuff on the bed closest to the door, against the wall. "I suppose it doesn't matter. Both beds are the same, aren't they?" He signed to her.

"All students please report to the dining room, dinner will be held and then tours." Aiden tilted his head to the side as he tried his hardest to hear the announcement. It was quite faint to him, but he made out the words. "I suppose we should go then, huh?" He both signed and said. "They want us to go to the dining room for dinner, then a tour." He said to her in case she couldn't hear the announcement.



Adele had followed Miss Marks and Nikolas, listening intently to what the teacher had to say. She didn't want to miss out on something important. When they made it to the room and Nikolas held the door for her, she smiled widely at him. "And here I thought chivalry was dead." She signed to him and walked into the door. "Thank you." She said to him and looked around the room. It was a nice room, two beds. She looked back at Nikolas when she faintly heard his already familiar stutter. "Uhm. W-would yo-you like to have first pi-pick?" Adele smiled at him and signed and spoke. "No, you go ahead and take the bed you want Nikolas."

Adele had taken her bed and was starting to unpack her bags, organizing her clothes on her bed. After a while, she heard an announcement faintly. "All students please report to the dining room, dinner will be held and then tours." She turned to Nikolas in time to see him start signing and speaking. "W-would you hap-happen to k-know where th-the dining room-om is? .. Or w-would our guide fro-from ea-earlier be e-escourting us ther-there?" Adele bit her lip slightly. She had no idea where anything was here. "I don't know where the dining room is, but I'm sure there are signs to point the way, right?" She said and signed back to him.

Aiden listened as best he could to the girl. The voice was faint, but he still heard it. It was a nice sound, her voice. It had that different tone that only people deaf or going deaf had, but only slightly. But her voice was still nice, high and strong. He looked at her as she talked, watching her lips to help him know what she was saying in case he had missed something or heard something wrong. He wasn't great at reading lips, but he could catch a few words here and there, that was for sure.

"I adore fiction. It's all I read. I can't stand nonfiction. It's so... Boring. I mainly read fantasy, realistic fiction, and stuff like that. I rarely read historical fiction, but sometimes I enjoy it. Have you ever tried reading a book in verse? Like, in poetry verse?" He remembered reading Ellen Hopkins' books and loving them. He believed he had brought some with him. Maybe Isis would enjoy them.

They reached the dining room and he guided her over to a table, holding a chair out for her to sit in. When she sat down he pushed the chair in for her and went to sit in the opposite seat.



Adele sat in her chair when told to. "Thank you." She signed to him, wanting to be polite. He looked at Nikolas as he sat down. He seemed a bit upset. Is that my fault? She wondered to herself. Before she could voice her thought, Nikolas was signing to her, asking what was wrong. So it was that plain on her face? She supposed it was only natural. She was being more secluded where before she was being nice and bubbly. Adele sighed as he finished signing to her.

"No, I don't miss my instrument. It's just... I seem to be messing up already. If I had grabbed a map when I got here instead of thinking I wouldn't need one, then we wouldn't have gotten lost. If we had stayed put, I'm sure someone would have come to get us. And if I can't get directions right and I'm always getting lost, I'll never get anywhere in this school." She pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. "I've worked far too hard to get here to get kicked out for being late all the time." She looked around the room and saw that people were already eating. Great. They were late too? "Do you want to get something to eat?"

Aiden smiled as he watched Isis sign to him. Ah, finally, someone else who enjoys such things... He thought to himself. When he saw the sign for a familiar book title, he perked up even more. He was getting a bit excited, liking that this girl was like him as well. "I've read Impulse. An Ellen Hopkins book. I've also read Crank, Burned, and Tricks. All very good books. I do believe I brought some of them, if you would like to borrow some. Ellen Hopkins has been the only author that I've read that writes in verse. She is really good at her writing. As for whether or not I prefer the books written in verse... Well, I'm finding that I actually do. I write my own poetry as well, but it's a bit... Dark." He finished up and slightly chuckled, shrugging his shoulders a bit.

Aiden looked around and noticed that everyone was getting food. "I assume you are hungry. I'll go get us both food. What do you want?" He asks her. "And no, You don't need to go and get it I'll get it for you. I don't mind, really. I want to." He gives her another small smile. "And we can continue our book discussion when I get back. I just need to know what you want."



Adele had gotten up when Nikolas did without a word. She seemed to have scared him away a bit. She chewed her lower lip a bit, fidgeting with her fingers a bit. She follows him to the line where they were serving food. She grabbed a plate and put a small amount of salad on there and a small bowl of fruits and vegetables (celery, grapes, raisins, and carrots) then a water bottle. She waited for Nikolas to finish filling his plate and then sheepishly followed him to the table again.

She had just been about to eat when she saw Nikolas trying to get her attention, then signing to her. She shrugged at his words, not really sure what to say. She couldn't just turn off her stress. It was just always there. When she saw him smile, though, she couldn't help but smile back. He had a nice smile. "Thank you Nikolas..." She signed to him. "You're really nice. And you have a nice smile too." She smiled back at him again and started eating her food, sitting up straight as she ate out of habit.