Summary

In Chapter Nine, Charlie’s dad dropped her off at school. She met her new roommate, Kayla, who could sign perfectly.

In Chapter Ten, Austin’s family dropped him off. He went to his dorm and found his new roommate, Eliot, who was a year older. Eliot lit a cigarette and smoked by the window.

In Chapter 11, Charlie started classes and met Austin, who was assigned to be her mentor. He gave her a short-hand sign for her sign-name. She felt frustrated that she could not communicate with him or her classmates.

In Chapter 12, February came home after work and got into a fight with her wife, Mel, because she had hired an old colleague, Wanda Sybeck, without telling Mel they had once had a brief affair.

In Chapter 13, Austin decided he liked Charlie, but he did not want to sit next to...