Chapter 1
Nyle
Today is moving day. I’m excited and nervous all at once. It’s time for me to move on, finally. I have lived with my ex Christine for the past ten years. We broke up five years ago. I don’t know why I stayed so long, but I was comfortable in my home. Wait, I’m lying to myself; she is one of the people I have from my past who still treats me like me. I guess I have led her on by sometimes being intimate with her. I should have never done that. She’s angry with me. She was hoping that we’d get back together one day. I feel bad because she has been there for me even before I became famous, but we don’t have a future together. I will always love her but not in the way that she wants me to.
Gilbert is coming over today to help me, and he’s my best friend and sign language interpreter. Christine hates him. She thinks he has a thing for me, but I know I’m not his type. I will stay with him until all the renovations to my new house are finished. He has a roommate whom I’ve never met. He’s always at work when I go and visit with him. All I know about his roommate, whoever he is sure, knows his way around the kitchen because he is a fantastic cook. I always eat the leftovers with Gilbert, which gets me extra time in the gym, but it’s worth it.
My bedroom lights flicker on and off, indicating someone at my door. I get up and stumble back a bit, feeling very strange. It passes, and I go and answer the door. It’s Christine, and she’s looking at me strangely.
“Are you okay?” She signs.
“Yeah, why?” I sign back
“Your face is red.”
“I’m just tired. Too much going on. What’s up?”
“Gilbert is here.” I notice that she rolls her eyes.
I go into the living room to find Gilbert. He is sitting on the couch. He looks up from his phone and smiles at me brightly, and it fades away quickly.
“Nyle, you look like shit.” He signs I don’t need to be able to hear to know that he is laughing. I flip him off, prompting him to grab his stomach to let me know he is cracking up.
“I’m okay. Feeling off today. I’m stretched too thin right now.”
“You need a break Nyle.”
“I know, but that is still far off. I have auditions and interviews for my foundation. They want me to tour with Dancing with the Stars.”
“You can’t. It is too much.”
“I know. Let’s get the rest of the stuff out.” I sign quickly without looking at him. Gilbert shakes his head at me. He gets worried that I’m doing too much all the time.
We take my bed, clothing, and dressers to my rented truck. We put all of the rest in storage yesterday. I’m feeling drained all of a sudden, but I push through.
“Wanna grab food before we go to the house?” Gilbert signs from the back of the truck.
“Yeah. Let me go and say goodbye to Christine.” I sign. I get an eye roll from Gilbert.
I head up the steps and go into the apartment and find Christine. She is sitting on the couch, and she is crying. It makes me feel like crap. I wrap her in my arms in a hug.
“Sorry, Christine, we need to do this to save what is left of our friendship.”
“I don’t want a friendship. I want you, Nyle. All of you.” She signs with tears in her eyes.
“I can’t. We are toxic together. We are better as friends.”
“I guess it’s better than nothing. Goodbye, Nyle.”
“Goodbye, Christine.” I sign. I walk out and take a deep breath. I am free.
I get into the driver’s seat, and Gilbert is staring at me in the passenger seat.
“What are you looking at, Gilbert?”
“Just checking that she didn’t claw your eyes out.” He signs with a smile
“I’m fine. She’ll be fine too.”
“She hates me fiercely.”
“No, she is just moody.”
“NO, Sean told me she thinks I want you badly.” Gilbert signs. He makes a disgusted face.
“Wow, thanks. I told her that she was crazy for thinking that. We got into a huge fight. Today was the first time she interacted with me for over a few minutes.”
“Damn, sorry. Does she know that I am seeing Sean’s interpreter?”
“None of her concern. What do you want to eat?”
“Sandwich Shoppe”
“Ok.”
I park near the Sandwich Shoppe and head in. I ask Gilbert to order for me and head to the bathroom. I am starting to feel worse than I did before. I splash water on my face. I feel hot. I head back out, and Gilbert sits at a table near the open window. His face is startled when he looks at me.
“Nyle, you look sick.”
“I feel weird, but I’m okay; really, I am.” I sign as I begin to sit down. He reaches over and touches my forehead.
“You are burning up, Nyle. Eat your sandwich. I’ll be right back.” He runs across the way to CVS.
I sit, picking at my sandwich. I mostly drink my soda; it feels cool in my throat. I see Gilbert running back with a few things in his hands. It’s Tylenol and a thermometer. He opens the thermometer box and puts it under my tongue. I stare at him, annoyed but too sick to fight back. He removes the thermometer, and his eyes bug out. He shows it to me. The screen says 104.2
“I’m taking you to the hospital,” He signs, looking very concerned.
“No! I’m fine.” I sign, annoyed. I stand up, and the next thing I know, I’m face down on the floor. I guess I’m going to the hospital.
