Atlas

1 - The Principal

"Do you know why you're here, Theresa?" I look over at the principal, Mr Coleson as he speaks. His expression screams professional, and I can't tell if he's called me here for a positive reason, or a negative reason.

"No sir, I don't," I answer honestly, and search his face for any hint of emotion, unsuccessfully. "Am I in trouble?" I add nervously, fidgeting with my fingers rather aggressively. A habit I've had since I was a child.

His eyes widen slightly in mild shock, "Oh no, no. You're not in trouble. I have a special job for you," he explains. I look up and see a sincere grin on his face. It's one I've seen often, but not one I've seen directed at me, ever. The smile is so warm, like sitting by a fire, and I don't even understand how that's possible. "We have a new student, see, and I thought I'd ask you. She's a young girl, around a year older than you, and she's in your class so you'll be seeing her most of the year anyways."

I let out a quiet relaxed sigh as he explains, my stiffened shoulders loosening as some of my anxiety calms down. At least I'm not in trouble.

Mr Coleson clasps his hands together and puts them on the desk. "Theresa..." He sighs, moving onto an obviously more serious matter. "I've been informed by your teachers that you don't have any friends, and that you insist on doing every single one of your tasks alone, even on group projects. What's up?"

I know he means well, but the question makes my shoulders stiffen up again. I look down at my feet and don't answer. I'd really rather not talk about it.

"Would you prefer it if I got you a counsellor?" I hear him ask, and the question makes me flinch slightly in surprise as my eyes widen a little bit. Where did that come from?

"Sir, I don't need a counsellor."–I look up from my feet and give him a smile that I pray doesn't look too forced–"I'm perfectly fine."

Clearly my prayer hasn't been answered, because Mr. Coleson looks less than convinced. He's sporting a sad look, staring at me like I'm a lost soul trying to find my way back and it feels patronising yet caring at the same time. "Theresa, I am aware of how you've been living without your parents in the picture."

I stare at him, my jaw nearly crashing onto the floor, my eyes widening drastically. All I was able to mutter out was a quiet "What..?" I don't even think he heard it. How does he know? How could he know? No one knows, not even Elin. And she's practically made it her life mission to learn everything about me so she can shove it in my face.

"I know it must be hard trying to live without the support of your parents," he continued, clearly unaware-or uncaring-of how he nearly made me unhinge my jaw in absolute shock.

He then waited, just... sitting there, as if waiting for me to reply to him.

So I did.

"I'm trans, and my parents weren't accepting, so they told me to leave. I had already gotten a stable enough job to stay at an apartment if I had a roommate, so I'm rooming with a college student," I say more quietly than I wanted to, trying to stop the quickly forming tears from rushing down my face as I pick at my nails again. Suddenly, Mr. Coleson's desk is the most interesting thing in the room.

I slowly shift my gaze toward him as I finish. Mr. Coleson looks at me, concern painting his face after I explained my situation, but he doesn't speak until I'm finished. "Trans boy, I'm assuming," he half asks, half states, raising his left eyebrow.

I hesitate for a second. It feels like too much effort to speak again, so I just nod and look back at the desk. It appears to be my new favourite hobby at this point in time.

His scattered, yet weirdly organised papers lie across it, which seem like anyone but Mr. Coleson would look at the piles and silently combust trying to figure out how they've been organised. A white iMac and keyboard sit on his right side, and one of those pen holders with all sorts of small stationery is situated on his left. The desk itself is a shiny mahogany, with lighter, clear lines from the wood etching across it, and I can't help but marvel at how well-crafted it looks.