Into the Phantasm Part 1: The Silver Mirror

Through the Mirror Part 2: Beyond the Reflection

The next day, Sarah and Maya's bus managed to be as late as a dead person, and one impatient ride later, they tore along the college halls and stumbled into the classroom. Only a few minutes late. Acceptable, but still annoying.
Sarah tried not to breathe too heavily, pretending she was fit as a fiddle. She'd been judged enough by her classmates yesterday. She would walk to her desk like a normal person who had arrived at a perfectly reasonable time and wasn't dead out of breath.
Good, no one's looking at me, she mused. Just keep your head down. Nothing can possibly go wro— Sarah tripped over a cable.
"Dang it!" she squeaked. "Rolled a 1..."
Maya helped Sarah up and they plodded to their seats as sniggers trickled around the room.
    The day's lesson was a little more boring than the previous one, focusing on essay writing rather than anything actually interesting. I have it under good authority that not one single person likes essay writing. If you think you do, you probably aren't very happy with your life and frankly you deserve it, ya boring piece of—
    Sarah and Maya found a way to make a dull lesson marginally more fun by seasoning it with a delicious conversation about sharks, and what things would be like if they were the dominant species on Earth. Riveting to be sure.
    "Look, I'm just saying that shark golf would be ten times better than human golf," Maya began.
    "Maya, for the last time, sharks can't play golf," Sarah interrupted. "They can't hold a club with their flippers. In shark Earth, golf wouldn't even exist."
    "And wouldn't that make the world a happier place?"
    "Ah, I see your point."
    Martin then gave the call for lunch break.
    Sarah planned to try and speak with the mystery girl from the previous day, but again, she slipped out before Sarah got the chance. She felt a pang of disappointment. There was something about that girl. She'd never felt such a drive to befriend a person before. This girl just seemed so enticing.
For now, Sarah followed Maya back to the lunch hall to meet with Lillian. Since their bus had shown up late, they didn't get the chance to see her earlier. She was a little overexcited when they moseyed into the canteen.
    "OH THANK GOODNESS, I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T COMING TODAY!" Lillian tackled Sarah and Maya with a hug and knocked them to the floor.
    "Sorry, sorry, our bus was just super duper late because the bus system in this place is fundamentally flawed in almost every way, and I will find a way to get my revenge..." Sarah explained, clenching her fist.
    "All this because of bus trouble? I was so worried I'd be completely alone today."
    "Do you really think we'd skive without you?" Maya asked.
    "I dunno." Lillian shut her eyes; tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Even so, I'm relieved to see you both."
    "That's all well and good but please could you get off of us?" Maya said. "Everyone is staring."
    Lillian stood up and looked around at the rest of the people in the canteen. Every single one of them was looking at the trio as if they had nothing better to do. It was like someone had paused the whole room.
    "Oh not again..." Sarah squeaked. She covered her face with her hoodie sleeve.
    Lillian noticed Sarah's visible discomfort and turned to the crowd, hands firm at her hips. A flame lit in her eyes. "And just what exactly are you all looking at!?"
    Everyone in the room snapped back to what they were doing. Normal chatter resumed.
    Lillian picked Sarah and Maya up from the floor and dusted them off, leading them to the table she had picked out.
    "Thanks for the save," Sarah mumbled.
    "No probs," Lillian said. "You know I'll do anything to protect you two."
    "Hey, I don't need protecting!" Maya exclaimed. "I'm a strong, independent woman."
    "There's a spider on your shoulder."
    "WHERE!?" Maya frantically clawed at her shoulders to remove the deadly beast.
    Lillian reached over, picked the minuscule arachnid up, placed it on the floor and smiled smugly at Maya.
    Maya tied her arms in an exaggerated fold. "Oh shut up."

~~~

Once back in their digital art class, Sarah and Maya got invested in another conversation, tuning out everything else going on. The session went by in a flash. When the end of the day came, they blanked on their peers standing up and leaving the room, continuing their blind nattering.
Martin clapped his hands to get their attention. "Hey girls, you kind of need to leave the classroom now. I know my lessons are absolutely fantastic, but unfortunately you do have to go home."
"Oh, uh... right!" Sarah stuttered. She and Maya gathered their things and scurried out of the room before Martin could lock them in.
"Wow, today went quick." Sarah made her way through the corridor. "Do you remember anything we just learned or—" She noticed Maya was still standing by the door. She hadn't moved an inch. "You alright back there?"
"Did that actually happen?" Maya muttered.
"Did what happen?"
"Martin called us girls. He called me a girl and he doesn't even know!"
"Oh shoot, you're right. He did say that."
Maya leaned her head back against the wall. "Wow... wow wow WOW! That felt amazing!" She jumped on top of a nearby bench and posed, gender euphoria sparking in her eyes. "I feel powerful... like I can take on the world! Maybe two worlds! Heck, I could eat a cactus! Or come out to my parents! Or even challenge God to a chess match and WIN!"
"Wait, what?" Sarah spluttered.
"You heard me!" Maya cried. "I'M GONNA CHECKMATE GOD!"
"No, not that. You haven't told your parents you're trans yet?"
    Maya raised an eyebrow, hopping off the bench. "Of course I haven't told them. Didn't you realise?"
"I had no idea! I thought they'd have been the people you told first."
Maya frowned, breaking eye contact and looking out the nearby window. "You don't know what they're like, do you? I guess you've only ever met them a few times."
"I think it was actually only one time." Sarah tapped the side of her head. "We usually meet at my house. Lillian's if her grandma is away."
"It's probably for the best." Maya folded her arms and clenched her teeth. "My parents do not understand people like us. Especially my mother. I still want to tell them, but I'm not sure how they'd react... what they'd do... I've always felt much closer to you and Lillian. That's why I told you first."
Sarah sucked a breath through her teeth. "Okay, yikes. They do sound difficult to talk to. It's best to approach things carefully then. Wait until you're ready."
    "I don't think I'll ever be ready. But I dunno, I guess today has potential thanks to Martin."
"Well, you know where to find me and Lillian if they do turn out to be completely worthless human beings." Sarah clenched her fist above her heart and put on a heroic voice. "I will grant you shelter from the vicious beasts if need be, young warrior!"
Maya burst out laughing. "Sure thing. Thank you for your service, o' gracious tavern keeper."
    "Mmm, I was thinking more along the lines of a kind old witch with a hut enchanted to keep monsters out, but tavern keeper is fine too," Sarah said.
    Maya smiled and rolled her eyes.