“Are you taking an art class?”

Ryan looked up from his work. Jake was watching him out of the corner of his eye. He shook his head, setting aside his sketchbook to pick up his phone instead. He was finding that he’d rather have a conversation with Jake than work on his comic, and not just because he had no clue how to do the next scene.

“Really?” Jake raised an eyebrow. “You look pretty dedicated to what you’re drawing there. I figured you’re either studying it, or it’s a passion of yours. If it is a passion, any reason you’re not studying it?”

Ryan shrugged. ‘Never thought about pursuing it.’

Jake hummed. “So, what are you studying?”

Ryan hesitated for just a moment. Most people either laughed or got mad when they found out what he was in school for.

‘Gender Studies and Human Sexuality.’

An impressed whistle came from Jake. Ryan looked up from his phone to gauge more of his reaction. He was smiling and nodding. “That’s the new program, right?”

Ryan nodded. He had put off going into post-secondary school for a year to wait for the university to start the program. He could have gone somewhere else, but he had wanted to go to the same school as Luna.

‘You?’

“Psychology.” Jake started to say more, but stopped. “I’d like to try something.” He said, turning his attention down to his phone.

Ryan watched as he typed something. He was surprised that Jake’s texting speed was as slow as it was. He had always thought that people with friends texted so much that they could type as fast as they could talk. He started to feel a little better about his own speed.

His phone buzzed and he looked down.

‘My mom’s a therapist, and I grew up reading the books she kept in her office.’

‘Why?’

‘I dunno. I thought they were interesting.’

A laugh escaped out of Ryan’s nose and he covered his face. His eyes darted up to look at Jake. What would he think of the sound?

Jake’s only reaction was to smile, so Ryan returned to his phone.

‘I meant, why did you text instead of speak?’

“Oh.” Jake rubbed the back of his neck and turned back to his computer. “I, uh, I wanted to see what it was like.” He mumbled. “Typing out what you want to say, I mean.”

He clicked the mouse a few times, but Ryan could see the screen and knew he wasn’t doing anything. Ryan watched him pretend to work, not sure what to make of what he was saying.

“I wanted to know what it was like… for you.” He glanced sideways at Ryan again. “Sorry if I offended you.”

Ryan shook his head. He was amazed. So many people gave him pitying looks every day, and many more just avoided him. He guessed that he made them feel uncomfortable, and it was easier on their mental state if they didn’t think about him not being able to talk. He was used to that, and accepted their decisions.

But Jake was putting himself in Ryan’s shoes.

He looked back at the text conversation. The back and forth made his heart rise. It looked so much better than the one-sided wall of texts from the other times they had been in the same room.

‘Nobody’s ever tried before.’

Jake looked at him and he smiled. Then added ‘Thank you’.

As happy as he was by Jake’s initiative, he felt a slight pang of guilt. He knew he could talk. Physically, he could have been speaking to Jake, to everyone, all this time. He felt like a fraud.

But… he couldn’t make himself do it.

He shut his eyes, memories surfacing from high school. He had spoken then. Everyone had stared at him when he introduced himself.

Then they laughed.

“Ryan?”

He opened his eyes. Jake was watching him. He pushed the memories down again and smiled. Jake was not his classmates from high school.

Jake looked down and typed something on his phone. Ryan looked at his own phone and waited for the text. After a while, when one didn’t arrive, he looked up to see if Jake was still texting.

Jake was looking at him. There was something nervous about his expression. Ryan gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

A hand reached out, and Ryan thought he was going to get another one of those pats on the head. He closed his eyes, looking forward to the contact.

But the hand cupped the back of his neck instead. A moment later, lips were being pressed against his own.

Ryan’s eyes shot open. Jake was kissing him!

A surprised gasp escaped his mouth and Jake sprang back.

Ryan covered his mouth. Had he given himself away? Jake had just taken a step to understand him, and he immediately let it slip that he wasn’t mute.

He didn’t know how he could explain things. He feared how Jake would react. Would it be like high school? He couldn’t deal with that.

Trying to keep tears out of his eyes, Ryan grabbed for his backpack and ran for the door.