Rock Bottom (MLM)

ONE

A/N: This chapter is a little slow, but I promise this'll get good :)

-'✮'-

ORION

Monday, July 1, 2024. 3:30 PM

My whole life I've been on top. A gifted kid. Back in preschool, my teacher called my mother to mention how high my reading level was. How she didn't have books challenging enough for me. My mom ended up having to buy higher-level books to send me to school with.

I've been in AP and Honors classes since my Freshman year. I completed Algebra 1 in seventh grade. I've very rarely gotten anything below an A grade.

I am smart. That is something I know. That is something I can be proud of. That is something I can own. That is something that will not change. It's not allowed to change.

I find ease in the familiar—and the best part? For sixteen years nothing had changed. Sure, I grew up and developed, but in a comfortable way.

That was all until June 4th.

And now I'm anxiously standing in Portland International Jetport. I've never flown in a plane before, so it was especially nerve-wracking to fly alone. Even worse that I was quite literally traveling across the country. I suppose being in first class made it better though...

I was born and raised in Red, California, and now I'm in Maine, being forced to live with a man I haven't seen since I was eight when he and my mom divorced.

Their divorce wasn't messy. My dad just wanted to pursue his career. I know he's not a bad guy—at least according to my mom's stories—but that still doesn't seem to ease my nerves. I honestly don't even know if he was told he has a son now. Chances are, he's looking for a Samantha Graves. And that hasn't been me for four years.

I spoke to him once on the phone—just before taking off—and I've texted him that we've landed, and that I'm currently waiting by this mini Lobster restaurant in the middle of the airport? I don't know much about Maine, but this seems a little too on-the-nose.

The longer I'm waiting here the more anxious I'm becoming. He couldn't just forget me. He's legally not allowed to. But what if really no one told him that I'm Orion now? And what if he's not supportive? Because in that case I'm basically fucked. I turn eighteen in January, but that would still be way too long to live with a transphobe. Oh god, please tell me he's not transphobic. Someone has to have told him? Right? Fuck, fuck, fuck.

"Uh, Orion..?"

My head snaps up from my phone as I hear my name. A man stands before me now, and I can be sure it's my father. Same face as all the old photos. His hearing aids are another good defining feature.

"That's me." The awkwardness in my voice is a little too prominent. At least it looks like someone told him.

"Uh..." He seems to be debating whether to offer a handshake or a hug (if he goes for a hug, I'm running) or nothing. He thankfully chooses that third option. I'm not too big on touching people... "Nice to see you again, kid. I know these circumstances aren't ideal..." The way he says circumstances is a little too light considering the content. I wonder if he's upset his ex-wife is dead. I know I am. It really fucking sucks, actually.

Dammit.

And now I'm thinking about it again.

"Orion?" Fuck, I zoned out. Fuck, fuck, fuckity fuck. I say that word a lot—or think it, I guess.

"Sorry. Just spaced out."

"Right. Let me take your bag." He takes the suitcase from my hand "All your other stuff got delivered a couple of days ago. It's all in the guest—your room, I mean."