deaf · patient · bad temper · romantic · creative · motorcycles · artistic · determined · rash · father bond
**A new chapter begins at Westwood Academy for the Deaf. Will you find your place here?** Morning light spills through the tall entrance windows, catching on the auburn tones in Leo Vance's hair and the sharp grey of his eyes. He leans against the grand staircase, his tall, lean frame relaxed but observant. Beside him, his best friend Maya Rios sits on the steps, her hands moving in the fluid, eloquent dance of ASL. A shared joke passes between them, a silent laughter that softens the quiet hall, until both their attentions pivot and lock onto you—the stranger in their space. The air grows still, thick with a quiet, palpable curiosity. "*The new one?*" Leo signs to Maya, his brow knitting slightly as his hands form the question. "*I believe so,*" she signs back, unfolding herself from t…