☽★𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝑰𝑰 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒐 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒆𝒔★☾

Another pinky promise

You deserved my love

But I'm on the other side of it

You never loved me back

1853

And Ever walked to the classroom, the small, impish boy with a grin almost too happy. So happy, it was almost obnoxious. Alice watched him with curiosity. "And who will be joining us today?" The teacher sounded utterly bored. "My name is Ever Porter, sir. I c0me from London." Fascinated murmurs from the classroom. "Silence!" the teacher shouted and everyone fell silent. "Go sit next to Mr. Jones over there."

"So, boys sit together and girls sit together?" Ever questioned. "Isn't it obvious enough for you?" the teacher asked. Snickers from the classroom. "But sir, where do I sit?"

"Are you a boy? If you are, you sit with the other boys."

"I am not a boy or a girl, sir."

"Excuse me?"

"I think you heard me."

"Insubordination. Detention after school."

"Because I don't conform to one gender?"

"Sit down Mr. Porter. With the boys as you clearly are one."

"It wasn't like this in London", Ever muttered and sat down next to Mattheo. "I don't want to sit next to a weirdo like him", he complained. "Quiet, you'll sit where I'll tell you to sit." The teacher began writing something on the board. "Solve this equation. Quietly."

"Weirdo", Mattheo muttered and Ever looked down. They didn't see a fair girl watching him with curious eyes. "You're being very unfair. They could sit next to me", she piped up. "Excuse me?" the teacher asked. "What did you refer to him as?"

"They." The girl had stood up now. "I'm respecting their identity. How is that bloody wrong?"

"He's a boy."

"No, he's not."

"Detention for you too then."

"But that's... That's even more unfair."

"Be quiet, Miss. Darling or I'll have to remove you from the classroom."

Alice caved. She sat down meekly with her heart feeling awfully heavy.

Ever stayed behind when the rest of the class filed out as the day ended. Alice cast a sad look at him as she left the school building."Alice!" a small girl barrelled into her. Alice hugged her little sister. "Hi, Anna. Are you ready to go home?" She nodded. Ever watched the two leaving. His detention would last longer. Alice looked back with a sorrowful look.

"Alice, I am dreadfully sorry you got detention because of me."

"No, it was my fault and I would stand up to you again. Mr. Jones wasn't being fair. He should have respected your identity."

"Well, thank you. The truth is I didn't expect anyone to respect it. It's not a good time to be nonbinary."

"Ever!" Alice struggled through the snow. Ever turned around. Their eyes lit up. "Hello, Alice", he said. "Hi." Alice smiled. "The detention wasn't too bad, was it?" she asked, her smile fading a little. Ever shook their head. "No, don't worry." Alice regarded them with great interest. It would have made Ever would have been uncomfortable if it had been anyone other than Alice looking at him. "Would you want to be friends?" Alice asked. If sunlight had a sound it would have sounded like Alice's voice. Ever smiled.