Unspoken

Chapter 1

- Two Years Earlier -

Mia adjusted her scarf as she stepped into the gallery off fourth street, shaking off the early autumn chill. The air inside was warm, filled with the faint aroma of paint and polish. Near the entrance, a small table hosted a modest spread of wine, cheese, and crackers. Soft lighting illuminated the walls, casting a golden glow over the art and patrons alike.

Jenna trailed behind her, unimpressed. She let out an exaggerated sigh, her hands already moving. "Really? This is how you want to spend your Tuesday night? An art exhibit?"

Mia glanced back with a grin, signing quickly. "Hey, free wine and cheese! And it's better than sitting in the living room doom scrolling through memes with the TV on in the background."

Jenna rolled her eyes dramatically. "Fine," she signed, her movements sharp with mock resignation. "But the wine had better be good."

Together, they made their way through the gallery, weaving between clusters of patrons. Mia's eyes roamed the walls, each piece drawing her in. Some paintings were bold and chaotic, while others were quiet and serene. The gallery buzzed with energy—muted conversations and soft laughter visible in the gestures of people talking.

Jenna drifted toward the refreshments, leaving Mia to wander. She paused in front of a central display: a large abstract painting that seemed alive with motion. The colors clashed and danced—vivid reds, blues, and yellows forming chaotic swirls that refused to settle.

As she tilted her head, lost in thought, she noticeed a man standing a few feet away.

He had his hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket, his posture relaxed as he studied the same painting. After a moment, he glanced at her, his curiosity piqued by her intense focus.

"What do you think it's supposed to mean?" he said aloud, his tone casual but directed at her.

Mia didn't respond.

Jake frowned slightly, glancing around as if checking whether someone else had overheard him. Then he grabbed a glass of the nearby table and took a sip of the wine. His face twisted in a grimace. "This is terrible," he muttered, his voice low.

The movement caught Mia's attention. She turned toward him, noticing his lips moving but not understanding the words. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she tried to piece together the moment.

Jake noticed her looking at him and straightened. "What? Wait did you pick the wine? Sorry I didn't mean to offend you!" he said, his tone shifting to something between amusement and apology. He realized she was flicking her eyes from his lips to his eyes and back down with a look of concentration when realization dawned. "Wait... you can't hear me, can you?"

Mia's confusion cleared, and she nodded.

Jake hesitated, then lifted his hands tentatively. "You sign?"

Mia blinked in surprise, her expression softening as she signed back. "Apparently, so do you." She gestured toward his ears, where the faint outline of his hearing aids was visible. "You hard of hearing?"

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Deaf," he signed.

Intrigued, Mia shifted her stance to face him fully. "Nice to meet you. I'm Mia."

"Jake," he signed in return. His movements grew more confident, his initial hesitation fading. "So, what do you think of this?" He gestured toward the painting.

Mia's attention flicked back to the canvas. "It's... interesting. Kind of feels like the artist threw paint at the canvas and hoped for the best."

Jake's shoulders shook with laughter. "That's exactly what I was thinking. My friend dragged me here, said I needed more 'culture.'" He made air quotes with his fingers, his grin teasing.

Mia smirked. "Funny. I'm the one doing the dragging tonight. My roommate Jenna wasn't thrilled about it."

Right on cue, Jenna appeared at Mia's side, holding a glass of wine in one hand and a small plate of cheese in the other. She glanced at Jake, her expression skeptical. Then she turned to Mia carefully balancing her refreshments. "Making friends already?"

Mia grinned. "This is Jake. Deaf. He signs."

Jenna's demeanor shifted as she turned to Jake, offering a smile. "Nice to meet you, Jake. So, what do you think of the exhibit so far?"

Jake pulled a face, his hands moving rapidly. "Art is OK but the wine, terrible! Tastes like regret."

Jenna burst out laughing, nearly spilling her wine. "Finally, someone who gets it! How am I supposed to enjoy the art if I'm not somewhat intoxicated?"

The three of them stood there, chatting easily as they moved from one piece of art to the next. The gallery, once intimidating, now felt smaller, cozier, as if the world had narrowed to just their little group.

Jake fell into step beside Mia as they approached another abstract piece. "So, college student?" he asked hesitantly.

She nodded. "I'm a senior studying art history. Hoping to work in a museum one day."

He raised an eyebrow. "That explains why you look like you belong here. Pretty impressive."

Her smile widened and her face blushed. "And you?"

"Marketing. Less impressive." he admitted with a charming smile.

As they lingered by the painting, Jake's friend waved to him from across the room and caught their eyes. He sighed, signing briefly. "Looks like my ride is ready to leave."

Mia felt a flicker of disappointment but kept her expression light. "Well, at least it's been an interesting night."

Jake tilted his head, his grin teasing. "Interesting? Is that a compliment or an insult?"

Mia laughed, the motion lighting up her face. "Compliment," she assured him. "Guess this is goodbye, then."

Jake hesitated, then smiled. "For now."

He offered a small wave before turning to leave, disappearing into the crowd. Jenna sidled up to Mia, watching him go. "So... that was something," her expression amused.

Mia shrugged, but her smile lingered. "Yeah, I guess it was."