AJ Meets World

Prologue

Hey guys this is just a short chapter so you can kinda see what the story's about

AJ POV (Italics are Aj's thoughts)

I was currently in my van, hacking a school so I could fake transcripts and enroll without a parent. I've never stayed at a school long enough to learn anything, but I educate myself in the NYC Public Library. Even though, I'm definitely smarter than anyone at that middle school, a library can't get me a high school diploma. I need to make money and nowadays you kinda need a diploma for a good job. Once I'm done I pull out some nicer clothes I stole from a store earlier today and change into them. It's nothing nice just some black jeans, a white tank top, and flannel which I tied around my waist. I also have my old converse and my beanie. I exit my van and start walking to the school. Here we go

At the School

I arrive at the class and make sure to put on my flannel. I open the door and the entire class stares at me.

"Who are you? I don't know you" the teacher says

"My name's Aj, I'm new" I say as I hand him my fake transcripts

"Okay Aj, my name's Mr. Matthews. Got a last name, it doesn't say on your transcripts" Matthews says

"Nope just Aj" I say as I sit down next to a blonde girl who gives a small smile

"Okay then... back to the lesson" Matthews says and continues the lesson which I don't pay attention to. I can't believe I have to sit through these classes for a whole school year

After class

The blonde I sat next to comes up to me after to class is over

"Hey, my name's Maya, you're Aj right?" Maya says

"Yeah, that's me" I say

"Hi! Do you wanna come over to my place? I'm Riley" a very enthusiastic brunette says

"Don't we still have classes?" I ask

"That was last class of the day silly" Riley says

"Oh, right. Well sorry I can't come over I have to help my parents unpack, we just moved here" I said. I guess I got here in the last period, don't judge I don't really go to school how was I supposed to know it started early?

"Ok maybe some other time" Maya says. I nod and start walking out of the school

Maya POV

"I like her, she's mysterious and cool" Riley says to me

"Yeah, we should try to talk to her. She keeps to herself a lot" I say

"That sound great! She can be a part of the gang" Riley says in her usually cheery tone

"Sure, Riles" I say as we head out of school and to her apartment

AJ POV (italics are Aj's thoughts)

I decided to go to the park to take some pictures. I enjoy photography, it calms me and I'm getting really nervous about school. I get my old camera that I stole from one of my foster homes and walk towards the park. I arrive and see a bird standing on a tree right in front of the sunlight. I take off the camera lens and take a photo but then I see something that distracts me. A man in a coat that has a star pin, reading a book. I recognize him instantly and my blood runs cold. It's one of my past foster fathers. I need to run. There's a reason I ran away from the system and it isn't because my foster parents were too nice. I shudder at the thoughts of my past homes and start running as fast as I can back to my van. I get in and close the door, instantly feeling safer. Suddenly, I feel more trapped than safe and my breathing gets quicker. Calm yourself think about that girl Maya, she seemed nice. I soon calm down and start breathing normally. Tomorrow's gonna be a long day

At school the next day

"LGBTQ+, who knows what this is? Yes, Farkle" Matthews says. Isn't this History class?

"It is an acronym for the community, there are several versions of it but lgbtq+ is the most common term. It means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer" Farkle says. So we're just gonna go with it? Okay.

"Yes, that is correct. Today we will be learning about this community" Matthews says. Like yesterday, I drift off into my own world and don't pay attention until I hear Matthews says my name

"Maya, turn to Aj and get her attention before she falls asleep in my class" Matthews says

That got my attention "They" I say, correcting him

"Excuse me?" He says in confusion, not understanding. At this point everyone had their attention on me which I didn't like at all

"I go by they/them" I explain as quickly as possible

"Oh okay, sorry about that, I didn't know. Anyway, today's homework is to write an essay about your sexuality and gender identity. If you're not certain, use this opportunity to explore labels. No one besides me will read these and I will not tell anyone, but I do encourage you to tell your friends and family" Matthews says

With that, the bell rings and class is over