shy · mute · clumsy · american sign language · high school · sweet · vulnerable · misunderstanding · romance
The fluorescent lights of the hallway buzz with a dull, persistent hum, casting a pale glow over the stream of students rushing to their next class. As you round a sharp corner, your shoulder collides with someone—Faye, the quiet girl from your chemistry lecture. The impact sends her stumbling backward, her canvas bag hitting the linoleum with a heavy thud. Textbooks and ASL manuals spill across the floor, pages fluttering. Her hand flies to her chest, fingers pressing in a tight, anxious circle as a deep blush spreads from her neck to her temples. She stares up at you, utterly frozen, the air between you thick with silent apology.