We start our attempts
at studying for the tests
that afternoon.
Of course, it's hard
to take things seriously when
it's just you
and your best friend
alone in the house, and
she is easily distracted, and
Wipeout happens to be on
when she turns on
your TV.
Finally, after nearly
two hours of wasted time,
we call it quits
for the evening
with a promise to
start studying for real
after school tomorrow.
Matty's just left
when my mother
bursts in through
the front door,
chattering loudly.
It takes me a moment
to realize
that she's not just
talking on the phone;
there's an audible answer
to all of her
laughing statements.
I can hear
the unfamiliar voice
clearly
from my bedroom.
When I emerge
into the front entryway,
I find her
at the door with
a lady that I
don't recognize.
She looks
nice enough, though,
politely laughing along
with whatever
my mother is saying.
"This is Stacey,"
she says when they
both catch sight of me
hovering near the door.
"She's the one who
almost came over
for Thanksgiving dinner,
remember?
She's in my department
at work.
Oh, and Stacey -
this is Cam,
my-"
"You never told me
that you had
a daughter!"
Stacey exclaims,
sounding a little too
excited
than the statement
should normally warrant,
especially in light of
her unfortunate mistake.
"I thought when you'd said
that you and your
ex-husband-"
"It's nice
to meet you,"
I interrupt
a little forcefully,
pushing aside
the infernal irritation that
her ignorant misgendering
has brought on
in order to
save my mother
from answering
one of many
hated questions
about the past.
She flashes me
a thankful
(and simultaneously
apologetic)
smile
in response.
"Oh,"
is all Stacey
can say for a beat -
but she soon recovers,
smiles,
and extends a hand
for me to shake.
"It's nice to
meet you, too,
Cam.
And, by the by,
is that
short for something?
Camille, maybe?
Or Camry-"
"Alright,"
my mother butts in,
surprisingly brusque,
"we're all introduced now.
Good.
Stacey is staying for dinner,
actually,
so I should probably
get started on that.
Play nice,
you two."
And with that,
she shucks off
her coat and
bustles away
to the kitchen,
leaving me alone
with her
obliviously smiling
coworker.
Oh, joy.
Just what
have you gotten me
into, mother?
×
This chapter is irritating, just like my day has been!! But the next one will be better, I swear. I don't like Stacey so much, but she's good for a laugh, I guess. Or at least, she will be, because misgendering obviously isn't funny. Yeah. Get out, Stacey.
If you guys liked this chapter, I would love if you would vote and leave me some feedback! It would be very much appreciated c:
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Misalignment | ✔
Novela Juvenil"There are a million shades of grey between their black and their white - but no one ever cares to see them." In a world with a limited view of gender, Cam Shills struggles to come to terms with their identity as neither male nor female, a shade of...
