Chapter 1
Reggie didn’t want to start at a new school. Especially not a couple months into the year. Their sister would be with them, and that helped Reggie feel grounded. Especially since they were the same age, so they had a lot of the same classes. But Reggie still felt anxious, gripping their flannel sleeves tied around their waist. They were worried about the same thing they always worried about. What would people think when they found out Reggie was gender fluid? A voice cut through their thoughts as they stood in the door of their music class, “Thank you for joining us, Reg-“
“Reggie. It’s just Reggie.” Reggie shifted from one foot to the other.
“Okay, Reggie, welcome to my music performance class. You can pick whatever seat you want that’s open, all your classmates are present today with the exception of Flynn, who sits to the left of Julie. Would you like to tell the class about yourself?”
“Not really, no.” Reggie muttered, moving quickly to a seat in the corner on Julie’s right.
The teacher blinked for a second, “Okay then. Everyone, please do your best to make Reggie feel welcome.”
Throughout class, Reggie felt everyone turning their direction, for a few seconds at a time, clearly trying to get a peg on them. Reggie figured they stuck out here. Ripped skinny jeans that had pan pride colored fish nets peeking through, motorcycle boots, the flannel tied around their waist, and a leather jacket fitting snugly around their shoulder blades. Julie had cut their hair the night before class today, so it was longer on top but shorter on the sides. Reggie wondered what the others thought they were. Reggie pushed that thought out of their mind. Julie was beside them, rubbing their shoulder and whispering it would be okay.
Reggie had come out to Julie and her dad, Ray, as pansexual and gender fluid when they were fourteen. Now, they were seventeen and Reggie had just moved in with Julie’s family after Ray realized what their parents were like at home. Ray referred to Reggie as his child, never putting emphasis on the male and female transitions they make, and Reggie is grateful for that. They all thought it would’ve been harder to explain it to Carlos, but as a child raised in the technology era, he knew more about it than Ray did, and quickly took to calling Reggie his sibling.
But right now, Reggie wished they were normal. Seeing the same people every day, they would make assumptions. Julie was essentially a saving grace, always accepting Reggie, no matter what happened. When the bell rang, the teacher reminded the class they would be having a presentation the next day, and Reggie was expected to have something as part of being accepted into the program so late. Julie hooked her arm through Reggie’s, leading them to their locker once they could leave.
“So, who’s this freak?” A voice snapped as soon as Reggie’s locker was open.
“Leave my sibling alone, Carrie.” Julie bit back, standing between the two of them. Reggie was always thankful for Julie’s protective side.
“You just have another brother out of nowhere? Oh, please.” Reggie felt themself grinding their teeth when Carrie said brother.
“Like it’s any of your business.” Reggie knew that voice, they turned to see Flynn barreling down on the scene. Flynn stopped beside Julie, hands on her hips, “Get back to your own shit life, Barbie.”
Carrie narrowed her eyes at the two of them before scoffing, “Whatever, I have better things to do.” She spun on her heel and walked away.
“Hey, Reg.” Flynn said softly, “Sorry I wasn’t here sooner, dentist check up this morning.”
“‘S’okay.” Reggie muttered, staring off in the direction Carrie had disappeared. “I know not everyone is gonna be okay with who I am.”
“Maybe not.” Julie said honestly, “But we love who you are.” Julie smiled, glancing at her girlfriend and back at Reggie. “And we always will.”
Reggie managed a small smile, “I love you guys, too.” A blonde boy came around the corner a second later, and Reggie felt like their heart stopped. “Who is that?”