Free Harder by Blue Ashcroft Page A

making you laugh. You have a pretty laugh.”
    “Thanks.” We’re at a light so I can meet her gaze. Her eyes are such a pretty shade of gray. When she blinks her ash blonde eyelashes I find myself totally distracted. For a moment the car is just silent, as we watch each other. I can feel my temperature rise a bit, just connecting with her like this. I want to touch her. I keep wanting to touch her more. I want to connect with her on the inside as well as the outside. I bite my lip and turn back to the road as a car behind us honks to let us know the light is green.
    “Sorry. Distracting you.”
    “I know. Calling my laugh pretty. I don’t know if I should be insulted.”
    “Says the boy with Pantene Pro-V hair.”
    “How did you know?” I flip my hair back with one hand. “That’s just what I use.”
    “You do?” Her eyes go wide.
    “No.” I laugh again, noticing for the first time that it really is a deep, pleasant sound. I’d never thought to listen to the sound of my voice and actually analyze how it sounded. Ally’s my first hearing friend that is more interested in helping me into hearing culture than me helping her into deaf culture.
    Sure, all the ASL junkies want to hang out with a CODA and meet my parents and other deaf people, but Ally isn’t about that. She just wants to get to know me. And I just want to get to know her.
    We pull up in front of a nice seafood restaurant that’s one of my favorites. She looks up at the sign and wrinkles her nose. “Fish?”
    “You ever had lobster?”
    “You mean those giant shrimp things?” She wrinkles her face further, till she looks like one of the wrinkly forehead Star Trek aliens.
    “Sort of. Just come try it. You’ve had a long day.”
    She growls and shoves the door open, but follows me in. I grab the door for her and she storms in. “Fine. I’ll try the gross shrimpy things. But if it’s gross I’mma shove it down your throat.”
    “It’s not gross. If it is, I’ll take you for burgers.” But I don’t want to give her burgers. I’ve already figured out that food and nice things are two of her weaknesses. I’m hoping to combine the two right now, and create another unforgettable memory with her.
    We sit and she looks around the restaurant self-consciously. She’s in a hat and shorts and the interior is nice. The owner comes out and says hi to me, and she warms when he extends a hand and tells her it’s a pleasure to meet her.
    My family has been coming here since I was little and they know us well. I can tell by the waiter’s smile as he comes to the table that he knows he’s getting a ludicrous tip.
    “So are you gonna order for me and everything? I’ve seen them do that in movies.”
    I nod. “If that’s okay with you. Do you want a drink?”
    “I don’t got an I.D.”
    “Non-alcoholic.” I smile.
    “Oh. Sure. Whatever you get.”
    I order us two virgin Pina Coladas, and enjoy the smile that spreads over her face when the frothy white drinks are delivered. “Enjoy.”
    “Now this, I can tell this will be effing delicious.” She yanks the paper off the tip of the straw and sucks loudly on the drink, then sits back with a loud, satisfied sigh that makes me feel warm inside.
    I sip my drink and Ally watches me while vacuuming hers up as fast as she can. She stares intently, like she’s trying to race me, but I simply put my drink aside to study the menu. She finishes the drink and sits back with a groan and a hand to her head.
    “Head freeze.”
    “No kidding.” I smirk, but wave to the waiter for another while she’s busy pounding on her head with her hand.
    “Just really freakin’ good. Do you have those a lot?”
    “I guess not. They’re pretty sweet.”
    “I wonder if I can buy another one, for myself.” She opens the menu, presumably to check prices. I grab it away.
    “I’m ordering remember?” I say, as the waiter sets another drink in front of her. Her eyes widen, but she pulls off the paper and drinks