Silent Sanctuaries(Shane)(finished)

[Shane Williams]

Shane smiled and took a seat resuming writing on her pad of paper It is why I like books so much, you don't need speak or hearing to enjoy them, although it can be challenging at times to understand when a sound is described like 'the sounds of waves crashing around her' I don't know what that is but I know the spray of sea salt and the rushing of wind along the shore. Shane blushed a little as he nudged it towards her.

Shane thought about her suggestion of him teaching her ASL and cringed a little. I'm sorry, perhaps eventually but I recently had a bad experience trying to teach someone. I'm afraid I'm not a good teacher. But maybe I'll feel comfortable trying again some day Shane didn't want to develop the awkwardness between him and Avery between him and another friend. Especially since he liked her so much. For all he knew this girl could set things on fire and then the books would all be gone. But some how he doubted that was her gift considering she was so at peace in here. If he had the gift of fire he would be very nervous to touch the papers.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat sat down and waited for him to reply, this time on her notebook. She read his part of the conversation and smiled. Writing back, Cat replied, That’s right, you don’t need to speak when reading, you don’t need to hear when reading, all you need is the mind of you and the author. Well in my case it’s a little more then the average bear. My power is that I can tell what someone was thinking and when they wrote something. For Instance, if I read a paper about golden retrievers and the person who had wrote it was cramming the night before, I could tell that he was cramming, that he was feeling rushed. As my friend described it, an empath for authors. When she read about how he could not imagine the sounds of the things he was reading she wrote, That is a shame, but I bet all of your other senses are heightened because of it. Do you smell most things really well? And can you see things down to the minute detail? I personally admire you for being able to live your life as a “normal” person. Here I am, born with no disabilities and I am completely awkward socially.

Cat saw him cringe a bit when she suggested he teach her the language. She smiled as she read the paper. Don’t worry about it, and frankly I don’t see how you could be a bad teacher but that is my opinion. And hey if worse comes to worse I can just teach myself, im sure the library has books on it, no in fact I am positive of it. Cat smiled at him, Want to tell me what happened that so surely turned you off from teaching? She wrote, It is ok if you don’t want to.

[Shane Williams]

Shane grinned wide, That is such a cool power. I'm sure it's not so much fun with the negative emotions or even contradictory emotions but for the right scenes and events that's got to be a great gift. Shane watched as she kept talking and shrugged.

When you loose a sense you just learn to focus more on the other ones. It would be like loosing an arm, you learn to compensate with the one you have left. He motioned to his face, I don't have above normal smelling or taste because they don't really help me, but I can notice details and vibrations better than the average person. When I mentioned the sirens earlier, when emergency vehicles get close enough they actually put off a vibration that is stronger than other cars and car horns. When someone approaches me I can sense the walk or even notice in my peripheral better than most.

Shane smiled and thought about telling her but he didn't really want to embarrass his room mate. I was teaching someone guitar and they let an attraction to me get in the way of a developing friendship. I think I have to personal method of teaching because of the methods that were used with me to actually teach someone. I couldn't hear so at first people had to manipulate my body to teach me anything... and it's not always wise to manipulate anther's body even if they give you permission Shane sighed reading over the words, he was ashamed of what had happened even if he had no control over it, he was afraid of loosing friends in that way, he was worried about Avery and her getting hurt. All in all he'd rather forget that afternoon, but he would still try to learn from it.

Shane forced a smile and thought it only fair to tell her his gift. I'm afraid and excited to control my gift eventually, but to explain needs some back ground. I was born deaf and mute, I've gone my whole life this way. A few weeks ago I suddenly got hearing, and it's painful but beautiful. I can't always hear though which can be irritating when I want to hear something new. Other times it's like there is no volume control, I have special headphones to help block the noise but they don't always work.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat in return shrugged when he pushed the notebook back for the first time, writing it’s not that cool, just a bit different from the normal powers. When he finished writing for a second time she laughed slightly, writing, I’ve heard about that. Sort of like a human bat right? Well on the receiving end. Like the pulse of a person or the pulse of music, even if you can’t hear the music you can hear the pulse, the heartbeat of it. And if someone is walking towards you, you might recognize the way they walk, their gait so to speak. That is pretty awesome I have to say. To know who’s coming up behind you? No one would ever be able to sneak up on you. Cat gave a grin. She thought that even If he wasn’t at hammel he would have a sort of superpower.

When Shane started writing about the situation with his roommate Cat looked at him in all seriousness and waited before she replied. Giving careful consideration to what he wrote cat nodded. That is not the best is it. That put you in an extremely awkward position right? Frankly I am kind of glad I don’t have any roommates. No one is there to bug me and I have started putting all of my books into another room. It is quite nice but don’t tell Hammel, they might make me move them. Cat laughed.

When Shane started writing about his gift Cat sat at attention wait to know what it was. When he passed over the notebook again she carefully read it before commenting/writing. What she wrote Cat hoped would at least bring him some solace and peace. That is awesome. And a bit confusing I imagine. The volume control thing would really bug me. Can your urn the power on and off or is it just random? And the headphones thing is cool, frankly I think that it must be exciting for you to be able to get your hearing back, even if it is somewhat…. Shifty.

Cat realized she had yet to draw him a map. Trying to do it on a sheet of paper, quite neatly was hard for cat. Once she was done she wrote the manual directions underneath it. If he couldn’t figure out the map then the manual directions would at least be a bit helpful. Cat silently handed the paper over and at the top of the sheet wrote, for Shane from Cat, a map of all the tales untold~

[Shane Williams]

Shane nodded, I've never thought about it that way. People are still able to sneak up on me if they come directly behind, but in general ya I can feel beats, rhythms, vibrations. I play guitar by reading and vibrations. That's one thing I'm excited to hear. Right now no one is quite sure, it's very random both when it comes and the volume it comes by. Thank fully I have a great trainer, he helped me out the other day when it was out of control. It's is nice to be able to hear when my hearing plays nice I suppose. Mostly I just want to reach a point where it doesn't cause me pain. How to describe it... Shane bit his lip a moment and though When you've had hearing your whole life you learn to drown certain things out, like someone shuffling papers, or moving in a classroom. You can focus on the voice of the teacher. I can't do that. When I hear I hear everything at once and can't separate out the sounds. It's really hard with words, I know what a word looks like and the motion the words make in the mouth.. but I don't know their sounds so it's just noisy when I hear around talkers. But I'm excited to control all of that

Shane laughed about her books. Won't tell promise. I rather enjoy having room mates, I mean I come from a very close family so it would be weird not having people around me. I'm still getting use to everything though. I miss my family. Shane thought it was cool she had her own space, but thought she must be rather lonely. She was all alone here in the library, in her 'home', but some people like to be alone perhaps she was just one of those.

Smiling he took the map from her. Thank you for this Carefully folding it up he put it with his other map. He would defiantly end up using them or just going and finding Cat.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat waited for the notebook back with Shane’s reply. Its way cool, who would not want to be able to feel the rhythm of things? It’s something about feeling the rhythm of the world that would make a good story, and of course starring The Rhythm Master as the hero, being able to manipulate the rhythms and the beats of the earth to his will. Cat Laughed, and of course the rhythm master would be you. With the Guitar as a weapon stringing the beats of the world, it would make either a really hilarious story or a really serious one depending on how it was written.

When Cat read about the trainer part she wrote, I don’t actually have a trainer at the moment, I guess hammel forgot or did not find it important enough. I’m just sort of learning about it all on my own, the fact that it comes and goes makes it hard for me to read some things, but it is also quite amazing being able to know some of the thoughts that were eon the authors mind. From my experience, I have found that I can’t read overly personal things, Poems, Journals, and Diaries, that sort of thing. I am learning to deal with it slowly.

In response to the part about all of the people an the sounds being over bearing cat wrote, hmm, I get that sometimes, most certainty not at your level, but enough to be the complete overwhelmed of sorts. I mean, how do I put this, umm, ok, Take a crowded room. Everyone is talking at once and no one realizes how much noise that they are making, I sit in this room with my eyes closed, trying to focus one thing one tiny thing. Lets say I’m reading, I focus on the sounds of the page being turned, Within the mass of noise and confusion I try to focus on that one thing that one specific thing. I think that is what you are going to have to do eventually. When everyone else is making so much noise, so much confusion, all you can do is take a breath and focus. I may not experience it like you do, but I experience it every time I read a book and my power kicks in, I experience it every time I go into a crowded place and he people are all going, going, going. No one slows down. I think it will be extremely good for you when you finally learn to control it, When you finally gain the sense of sound.

Cat smiled at the next thing he wrote. Good, you promised! I only had my grandmother form back home, and my family was books, I would go visit my aunt Romance and my uncle Biographies all the time, playing with my cousins, the fantasy, the science fiction and the fairy tales became a happy joy. I would make friends with the Reals and the Sports, I guess that to me, my family was my books. That’s why I don’t feel alone, why I constantly surround myself within these walls. What was your family like? Mines full of all sorts.

Cat wondered if he would get it. She smiled, maybe just maybe he would. Passing the notebook back to Shane Cat just nodded when he wrote about the map. Don’t worry about it, and if you can’t use the map come find me. I’m always wandering around here.

[Shane Williams]

Shane silently laughed. If I had to guess I'd say your a writer, you have a very flowy way with words it's nice to get. He'd love to read her work if she did write anywhere like she could speak. I'm no superhero, just an average person given a unique path, I'm sure your own story if you let someone see it He smiled and thought about her lack of trainer. I guess since I still struggle so much with control and it's so painful I got one right away. But he's great I really enjoy working with him. Jack's his name and his room is full of all sorts of cool things like a surf board, a flamingo, a seat from a car. Does your power work on your own journals, I mean if you found something you wrote 5 years ago, that would be a more accurate diary then anyone else.

He thought carefully about what she said about focusing on a single sound. That was the same thing he's been told before and he'd have to work to get there. I understand, I need to work towards that but it's still too overwhelming right now. But when I do get there I have a feeling I'll be making up for all the years of no sound. Shane smiled and pulled out some water taking a quick sip before putting it back.

Shane wasn't sure how to respond to her explanation of her family, it certainly explained a bit about her being by herself. He did smile though and nod, it was very humorous to him. I'm sorry you only had your grandmother growing up. Books really did become your family. For me books were easier to experience than tv or video games. Otherwise I had a small family, there's my father he's a music teacher, my mom whose a seamstress, and my little sister. She's the noise maker of the two of us. Oh and there's Dusty Shane pulled out his phone and handed it to her showing the picture of his doggy. She's my aide dog. When I would go out on my own she would help me in emergency situations. She could bark and get someones attention or get my attention if something was going on. I miss her the most Shane exhaled and shrugged, My parents are bringing her at the end of the month when they come to check on me. I'm excited

[Catherine Novella]

Cat shrugged at the writer comment. Me? I’m no writer. I just think up stories in my head, and I read them. I don’t put them down on paper. I have experienced too many different writing styles and writing ways that I think there is no chance that I could ever be as great as them. I may suck at writing stories, but I am excellent at retelling stories. No, I’m not a writer. Cat immediately replied to his next comment, with But the average people are the superhero’s, think about it they live life day to day, through all of the troubles, the pains that are being caused to the them, and I find it incredible that they are able to survive and live their lives, almost joyfully. So in fact, you are a superhero. Whether you agree or not.

When Cat heard the comment about her life being her own story, then she wrote, my story is my story, but I think that it dulls in comparison to others; I don’t think it deserves to even be mentioned to tell you the truth.

Thinking about the trainer comment Cat wrote true, I am not in great pain when my powers decide to kick in; in fact I think that I am one of the relatively harmless people here. And your trainer sounds fun at least. That is an odd assortment of things to collect and put in a room though I have to say, but who am I to judge, my room is filled with books. Cat looked at Shane with a smile. As I said I am not a writer, I never had the perseverance to write a journal or a diary. And I have no idea if it works on something that I have written. In theory it would, but I honestly have no idea.

Cat made sure that Shane knew she was paying attention when he passed the notebook over with his comment abut how it was overwhelming. She smiled. Hun that’s what hammel is for, learning to control your power, and the thing is, you can stay here as long as it is needed. And you have to promise me that I get to be one of the first people to hear you speak. Hey you might even sing along to that guitar of yours.

Cat read what Shane wrote about next, about how he experienced books as an outlet for his creativity. Don’t worry about my grandmother she’s one badass person. She was both my mom and by dad and my grandmother, she used to ride a motorcycle with me on the backseat for the day, then she would go home and bake cookies. We had fun. Your family sounds fun. It must be interesting to have a music teacher as a father, he is the one who taught you to play guitar huh. I’m guessing that your little sister is adorable and cute, just because she your little sister. Don’t argue, you know it’s true. When Cat heard about the doggy she went “awwwwwwwww” I have a cat named Lilly. Pulling out her wallet there was a picture of both her grandmother and her cat that was taken on the day she had left. Cat offered it to him. Writing, the kitty’s is Lilly, and that my Grammy Sera Paige. I miss my kitty too, but she’s not a therapy dog like Dusty, I don’t think the school would allow her to be brought here. cat laughed. Though, I would not deny the thought has not crossed my mind about sneaking her in. but then my reasonable rational self kicks in and I tell myself “No catherine, Lilly has to stay home” Its cool that Dusty does that. If Dusty does decide to stay and become a permanent resident here I am sure that she would love to come visit me, or the other way around, I would love to come visit her. Heh, I am not going to deny she’s cute.

[Shane Williams]

Shane shrugged, I don't think any writers start out great, its a process of learning and trial. Besides if you think about it, there is very few stories these days that when broken down to the core have not been told somewhere else. Think about Romeo and Juliet the concept of two individuals from rival families that try to over comes the bounds of the war for the bounds of their love has been rewritten again and again. Its the authors voice that makes all the difference.

Every story deserves to be told in some way. Shane smiled, he hadn't really thought about the idea that every person was their own super hero. That made a lot of sense and was a great way to look at life.

Shane looked at her comment about speaking and shook his head. I am mute always have been and always will be. I have no vocal cords... it's a birth defect. The deafness was a curiosity, there was no biological bases for it growing up. So I'm not holding my breath about ever getting it back. But it would be amazing if I could sing. My mother can sing, everyone in my family is pretty well gifted. My father plays most instruments, my mother sings and play piano, my sister plays piano, flute, and guitar and I play guitar and some piano. The guitar gives more feedback than the piano does even if the piano was easier to learn... it was boring to learn.

Your grandmother sounds like a blast, May I ask what happened to your parents? please don't feel obligated to tell me. Shane paused then continued on letting her decide but finishing off his thought too I'd love to learn how to ride a motorcycle they put off so much vibration and they look cool. I mean no male is complete without craving a motorcycle. Shane's eyes lite up a little. We had a neighbor growing up that was in a biker gang, I use to sneak out and sit on the roof just to 'feel' them start their engines.

Shane smiled and took the pictures waiting for his turn with the papers. Your cat is so cute. I think you could pull off sneaking her here, I'd have Dusty here but it was agreed that I needed to learn to use my gift and not rely on her. Besides the dorms are rather small for a dog like her. When she's off her harness she's a real lover, but when she has her harness on it's all work.

Shane looked over the page they'd been passing back and forth and grinned. please don't take this the wrong way but you have really pretty hand writing. Just wanted to compliment you and let you know.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat nodded when he mentioned the comment about starting out and things. Ahh but I have no desire to “start out” I think that I should focus more on the joy of reading and experiencing my others labors then the labor of my own. The story has been told a lot yes, but that is because it is timeless. Every generation has to read Romeo and Juliet by law, at least most states do. And every generation experiences it someplace somewhere. I think that each retelling, each new addition to the anthologies of Shakespeare and his legacies are able to help us further our understanding. I rather read them all then tell them all any day. The stories of our lives are important yes, but they are never the ones to be truly amazing unless we make it so.

Cat looked down, she had thought he just did not know how to use his vocal cords, she had known that deaf people sometimes just did not know how to use them. Cat never imagined that he would not be able to talk, ever. She looked down embarrassed. I’m so sorry. I can not imagine not being able to talk, to sing, to laugh. If I lost my voice I don’t know how I would ever be able to make my point across, though you seem to do it very well. Your family sounds nice. I am sure if you were able to sing it would be awesome. I myself am not the best of singers, I just kind of hum along. Cat laughed. Still it’s amazing that you were able to learn to play an instrument. I don’t have that kind of talent.

Cat considered what Shane had said about her grandmother and agreed with a nod Oh she’s something all right. I never knew my dad, and my mom was… well she was not there after age seven. Please don’t ask me to go too much into detail there. I don’t even know where she is. When Cat heard about Shane sneaking out to listen to his neighbor’s motorcycle she laughed, well aren’t you the bad boy, sneaking out to listen, though, I can’t really blame you. My Grammy used to take me on drives and the hum of the engine would lull me to sleep. Especially after my mom was gone.

Cat smiled when she heard Shane talk about dusty, he really loved her didn’t he. I don’t think my conscious would allow me to keep her here. It sucks about dusty though. She seems like a lot of fun. Even when she has her harness on. Think of her as your bodyguard, she’s always going to be the girl that’s there for you.

Cat watched him look over the page of writing that they had assembled. When she read what he had written down at the bottom Cat just shrugged it off. I honestly don’t think it is that pretty. My grandmother has beautiful penmanship and I would love to have her handwriting, but alas, I never had the time to learn it. Oh here I have an example for you. Cat reached down in her bag and pulled out one of the letters that her grandmother had written to her. Be careful with this, it is one of my treasures. With that she handed it to Shane and hoped that he really would be careful with it.

[Shane Williams]

Shane nodded with a smile You have a wonderful way of putting it and looking at life. Very optimistic it's refreshing. It's not often you can find that sort of acceptance to other peoples life and views. Shane hoped she'd accept the compliment as he meant it. He couldn't describe fully what it was about her statement that made him feel that way. But he felt she was right in her view.

Shane shook his head and wrote quickly Do not apologize or put yourself down. Everyone has their own talents and challenges. These are the cards I was dealt, just as you were dealt your own with what ever pain you have in your own history. Shane wasn't pushing only acknowledging that he understood something in her past effected her strongly. Shane reached over a moment setting his hand on hers and squeezing before taking the paper back.

Shane grinned sheepishly Ok a bit of a bad boy, I have an aunt that said I'd be the trouble maker, but I think everyone has a trouble streak at some point.

Shane very carefully took the letter and looked at it without reading it. Handing it back he smiled. That's where you get your beautiful writing. She's just had more practice at it. I'm sure you're will be just as nice as hers when you get to her age if not better.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat just nodded at what was written on the notebook. She was not all that good at accepting compliments, but he was sure giving a lot. She smiled at him as she wrote, I think I have to have my view on life, If I didn’t then I would actually be really bitter. Cat looked down at the writing, it was already there. There was no way of erasing it. She passed the notebook back to him as she read the next thing he had written.

Cat saw what Shane wrote and immediately replied I still feel bad, Cat nodded writing again, Those may be the cards that you were dealt. But I have to say that that hand sucked. It is true we all deal with things in our own way, but whatever happened, happened… I can’t change time and neither can you, At least you have a chance of regaining something that you thought you were never going to have. That’s more then I do.
Cat smiled and read what he had written, Ahh, I have actually managed to elude my trouble streak as you have put it, though there was that one incident, ahh lets not go there. Cat looked up at him with a glitter in her eyes. Writing I wont tell if you wont.

Cat smiled when he looked but didn’t read the letter. He was polite that was for sure, hey it won him a favor in her book. She looked down smiling about what he had written next, My grandmother doesn’t really get technology. So all of her and mine communications are handwritten, we use snail mail. And thanks for saying that about the penmanship. That was the one thing my teachers always commented on was how beautiful handwriting I had. And I would tell them the same thing I told you. It’s nothing like my grandmothers. I hope I don’t live to be as old as my Grammy sure I love her to death, but that’s old. I am not the most how do you say it? Patient of people. And yours is good too. Trust me after my old math’s teachers handwriting I can decipher anything. Trust me its pretty good. Oh wait stay here a minute, I have a surprise for you.

Cat got up and walked around the library finding what she needed. She quickly returned to the table, with the book in hand, Taking back the notebook she wrote, Here I think this might be interesting pertaining to our “conversation”. Silently Cat passed the book over, its title, Handwriting, A Guide To The Personality. She smiled. Writing on the notebook, Want to see how we wager? We take a quiz in the beginning of the book and it lets us know our personality based on our handwriting.

[Shane Williams]

Shane smiled and waited patiently for her to return with what ever she was after. Intriguing, a book that reads into your personality with only the hand writing. Shane grinned alright he was game to try. Ok, let see how this goes Shane wasn't a huge fan of quizzes but it wasn't like there was a passing grade for this. So the pressure was off a little bit.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat quickly skimmed the book’s introduction smiling she wrote on the Notebook, Have any papers that have cursive one them? I can just use the notebook that we’ve been using, there’s some stuff in here that has cursive on it. Cat looked down and started to answer the questions flipping back and forth through the pages and referencing the notebook.Once done she waited and let Shane have a turn writing, This should be interesting

[Shane Williams]

Shane let her go first and smiled waiting patiently. He'd never taken a personality test before and hoped it would be easy and interesting. When she finished flipping the book a bunch Shane took a turn. Some of it was a little confusing and had to get Cat to help him out but in the end he had his results. Ready to read them? He grinned and looked over his results.

Lets see 'I am moderately outgoing. My emotions are stirred by sympathy and heart rendering stories. In fact, I can be kind, friendly, affectionate and considerate of others. I have the ability to put myself into the other person's shoes'...I think that's not to far off of the truth Shane turned to the page to the next part 'I am a "middle-of-the-roader," politically as well as logically. I weigh both sides of an issue, sits on the fence, and then will decide when I finally have to. I basically doesn't relate to any far out ideas and usually won't go to the extreme on any issue'...I'm not sure about this one but I guess I do tend to try to be rather neutral in things. How does yours look?