A Racer's Heart

2: Hella Gay

Mattie's POV:

Most people would object to an all-girls school.
Most people aren't me.
I'm Mattie, and I'm hella gay.
The school I was in before coming to this one had expelled me for "fraternizing with students", "disrupting the peace", and "being gay." Seriously, the principal was super homophobic.
I stepped out of my mother's dark blue Land Rover and waved goodbye, slinging my black and blue checkered bag onto a shoulder.
"Goodbye, sweetheart! I'll be back in an hour!"
Yeah, my mom doesn't know I'm gay. If she did, she would not have sent me here. I told her I wanted to leave the last school because I was getting bullied, which was somewhat true.
She had decided to keep me home and bring me here when school ended to meet the principal and such. We had just moved nearby and she didn't want me to feel uncomfortable or not know my way around on the first day.
As I went through the double doors, the bell rang officially ending the day and students poured out of the classrooms. I had to basically throw myself into my office to avoid the stampede.
Oh god.
The office was painted pale pink and a hideous shade of cream was painted on the hardwood floor. Looking up over the main desk, a long portrait of the headmistress hung from floor to ceiling. She was an uptight-looking woman with a tight brown bun and a no-nonsense dark blue suit.
Shuddering, I went to the desk and asked to speak with her. The student helper sent me back to her office.
After a quiet knock, someone said, "Come in," and I entered.
A woman with short, soft brown hair and bright green eyes smiled at me from across the desk. Miss Helinger was etched into a wooden plaque not five inches away from the phone she was using.
"Yes, I am aware- no, I'm sorry. I cannot accept such fowl accusations. Goodbye." She hung up and sighed, taking a drink out of her water bottle before smiling at me again.
"Sorry, someone's parent was complaining that we party too much."
I gaped at her.
"Um, ma'am, are you the... headmistress?"
She blinked and erupted into laughter.
"Oh, my dear, don't let the portait or gossip frighten you. They're simply for the student's entertainment- and to scare them so they don't misbehave. You must be Mattie Oswald, our transfer student. Let me show you around."

After a great tour with the extremely kind Miss Helinger, we were back in the office.
"Well, thank you ma'am."
She waved her hand dismissively. "Just call me Miss H., if you would."
I thanked her again and handed her my application for track. She grinned.
"I was hoping you would join. I saw the report from your last school on your behavior and, well, extracurricular activities, and I mean other than track."
I awkwardly cleared my throat.
"Well, you see-"
"That's perfectly fine, Mattie. We accept every girl here, whether they weren't born with the same anatomy or like them."
Grinning with newfound confidence and calmness, I waved and headed into the main office.
Taking out a book and sitting in one of the chairs, I waited for my mom to arrive.
After reading for a bit, I left the office, just heading for the parking lot when a girl runs into me. My heart skips a beat and I find myself falling after the impact. Catching myself, I stand and run a hand through my hair. Trying to clear my throat, I find it dry and simply smile at her.
Damn. She's adorable.
She goes around me and, after making sure she couldn't see me, I look back at her.
Oh god, I'm hopeless.
Looking at myself using my phone as a mirror, I sigh.
Why am I stuck in such a gross body?
Pulling my jacket sleeves up and looking disdainfully at the cuts on my wrist, I curse myself. Stupid depression...