I rolled my eyes so hard they almost disappeared into the back of my head.

WHY HE CARE? I signed. I knew with his limited knowledge of ASL Beau wouldn’t be able to understand what I was signing, but I made it a point to sign quickly just in case. HE NOT BUSY WITH HIS FRIENDS RIGHT NOW? SCHOOL?

For one second Kathleen looked like she was about to smile, but her face remained impassive as she replied, SIGNING NOT THAT BAD, nodding toward Beau.

DOESN’T MATTER, I signed back. I NEVER ASK HIM LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE. WE GO CLASS NOW.

OK, Kathleen signed, and turned to Beau to say, “See you later,” signing as she spoke.

I shot off down the hallway without waiting for Kathleen, but she was at my side again once I rounded the corner. We were seated for the final class of the day, chemistry with Mr. Burke, when Kathleen decided to sign, B-E-A-U NICE BOY, RIGHT?

I dug my pencil into my paper, deepening the lines of the doodle I was making in the margins. My answer was an indifferent shrug.

Kathleen tread carefully as she signed next, WHY NOT SIGN WITH HIM MORE? HE LOOK EXCITED.

DON’T CARE, I signed back. I SIGN WITH N-I-N-A, THAT ENOUGH.

TRUE, Kathleen signed with a nod. BUT MAKE NEW FRIEND NOT HURT.

DON’T WANT NEW FRIEND, I told her firmly. HERE FOR SCHOOL, NOT BOY.

Kathleen looked like she wanted to keep this conversation going, but she went palms up in defeat when Mr. Burke flashed the lights, his new way of calling class to attention. I was happy to put this topic to rest, and I was hoping it was one we would not ever resume.

The day after my run-in with Beau, Nina and I were carrying on one of our half lip-reading, half signing conversations during lunch.

“Do you want . . . over this . . . ?” she asked me as she popped the top off the salad she bought for lunch and dug in.

“What?” I said aloud, confused. I couldn’t fill in the blanks I’d missed.

Beau leaned over, waving his hand to sign HEY to get my attention. He started to sign what Nina said slowly, struggling a little to come up with the right words.

SHE ASK IF YOU . . . Beau frowned, biting his lip as he concentrated. I noticed there was that same determined look in his green eyes whenever he was trying to sign. WANT MEET . . . ?

“You want to hang out this weekend?” I guessed, and Beau signed, RIGHT.

“For . . . Mr . . . midterm,” Nina said.

I seemed to be off my lip-reading game, so I turned to Beau and signed, HOMEWORK?

He nodded, adding, FOR W-E-L-L-S. M-I-D-T-E-R-M.