Pretty Eyes & Bow Ties

Routine

After a few weeks of me dressing the way I do and Rye constantly using my correct pronouns, people began to catch on.

Students began to refer to me as them and they. The teacher's began to call me by just Haven or using the Mx. honorific if they wanted to be formal. Even the PE teacher stopped harassing me, just letting me stay on the boy's side with Eri.

But speaking of Eri. The small conversations I had with him the day I stuck up for his eyes seemed to be the only times I truly conversed with him all month. Every other talk seemed too short and unfulfilling.

Besides that, everything ran smoothly. Became almost routine.

Get dropped off. Go to classes. Hang out with Karma and the others during lunch.
Even the little stares Eri shot at me during lunch were routine, though I never spoke against them.

Things were working out. But sadly, every smooth road does get a crack in it eventually.

As I walked towards the groups usual lunch spot, I spotted Mary standing with her small group of followers chatting away.

"Hey Haven!" She called as I passed.
"Hello Mary." I greeted back, turning to smile back at her.
"I love your outfit today." She exclaimed.

I wore a flowing white skirt and dandelion yellow top, a white bowtie on my collar and in my hair.
"T-thanks." I stuttered, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. It's not often someone compliments my way of dressing. It's usually more whispers or stares.

Although Mary hardly talks to me, I can't help but feel that whenever she spoke to me she only uses niceties, never relaxed conversations like Karma.

"Oh my gosh. And your eyeliner is on point."
"Thank you."
"Oh. But-"
She walked closer and took hold of my bowtie, straightening it.
"Oh. I didn't notice that. Tha-" I started but stopped when she pulled me forewords by my bowtie and leaned closer.

"It's a good effort but you're not fooling anyone, freak."
Every muscle in my body tensed at the low hiss.
"Just because you're friends with the popular lesbian and her little group of weirdos doesn't make you cool. Stay in your lane. Pick a fucking gender. Stop trying to draw attention to yourself." She whispered before pulling back with that bullshit friendly smile on her lips.
"There. All fixed." She said before turning and walking back towards her group.

I swallowed the burning sensation in the back of my throat and kept walking towards the cafeteria.
"Hey, Haven." Benny greeted, fixing his beanie.
I simply waved and sat down.
"You feelin' alright, kid?" Karma asked, swallowing the bite of sandwich she had been chewing.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
The group exchanged glances before Karma shrugged and continued eating, everyone following.
"So how was class." I asked softly, trying to lighten the silent mood.
"Oh honey don't get me started!" Karma stated, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"This bitch-"
I zoned out halfway through her sentence when I looked over her shoulder to see Eri.
He was surrounded by Mary and her group, the wavy haired girl practically hanging off of the tall boy and nearly sitting in his lap. Eri had his eyes down casted, staring at his food.

His body language practically screamed discomfort, but the two faced bitch didn't seem to catch on.
Eri kept mumbling things to her but I was too far to hear.

I stood quickly with a milk carton in hand, walking around the table and making my way towards Eri.
"Haven where are you-"
I didn't stop to listen to any of the others as I got closer.

"Hey, Eri!" I greeted, slipping into the bench across from him.
"Oh. Hi, Mary. Girls." I nodded to the group who all shot glares at me.
I locked eyes with Eri and could see the slight relief twinkle in those pretty orbs of his.
"I got the milk you wanted." I lied, sliding it over to him.
"Th-thanks." He stuttered, pushing Mary away slightly to grab it.

The wavy haired girl gave me a tight lipped smile.
"Okay. You gave him his milk. You can go now."

'Oh. We're gonna play this game.'

"Nah. It's alright. I don't think Eri minds me staying. Right?"

Eri shook his head, batting Mary's hands away when she tried to run a hand over his chest.
"I-I don't mind."
His voice was so soft and timid. So much different then the last time I heard it.

At that I shot a smile at Mary, who in return glared at me even hotter.
"What did I just talk to you about, sweetheart?"
"You mean your petty little threat?"

Mary's smile fell.
"You don't want to make this any worse on yourself then you already have, freak." She hissed.
Eri's eyes widened at the use on the nickname she gave me.

"Oh. I'm trembling."

The girl's face reddened in anger.
"You better watch your mouth, you annoying little freak!" She shrieked, attracting the attention of the students around us.

"Freak? Again? Really? Got nothing better?"
She opened her mouth to retaliate but I beat her too it.
"And I might be 'annoying' but at least I'm not a rude prissy bitch."

Everyone who had been listening erupted into a series of 'oooooh's and laughter as the girl's angry flush shifted to one of embarrassment and she stood and left, her posse on her heels.

I watched her leave with a smile, everyone around us slowly settling back down to their usual murmur.

"I can't believe she thought that-"
I stopped as I watched Eri struggle to try to open the milk carton I brought him. His hands were trembling and his eyes were glazed over.

"Eri?"
He looked up at me and pursed his lips, his whole body seeming to follow the tremor in his hands.
"Are you alright?"

The boy seemed to force a smile and nodded.
"Y-yeah. I'm f-fine." He stuttered, pushing the carton towards me.
"Can...can you open this for me?"
I simply pushed the carton aside and took Eri's hand in mine.
His breath hitched and fingers twitched in my grasp.

His lower lip trembled and he bowed his head.
"It's al-"
I gasped as the boy suddenly stood, his grip on my hand turning vice. His face was stoic as he tugged me to a stand and pulled me out of the cafeteria into the empty hall.

"Eri. What are you-"
I didn't get to finish before the boy's stoic mask crumbled and he fell into my arms crying.

"Hey! Hey hey hey. It's okay." I soothed, wrapping my arms around the boy. He was so much taller then me yet somehow shrunk enough to bury his face in my shoulder and cry. After a few minutes of standing on my tip toes and mumbling soothing nothings, I eventually convinced him to sit with me against the wall; his face buried in the crook of my neck.

I held his hand and rubbed soothing circles on the back of it with my thumb.
"Better?"
He nodded.
"You wanna talk?"
He shook his head.
"Alright. I won't pry."
I glanced at my watch before I shifted and cupped his face with my free hand, using my thumb to wipe away a few stray tears. He stared at me as I did so, eyes shining with surprise.
"Class is gonna start soon." I mumbled as I wiped his cheek.
"There." I smiled. "Can't even tell you were crying." I finished with a whisper.
He nodded and laid against me once again.
"Haven." He whispered.
"Yes?"
"Can you do me a favor?"
"Depends what it is."
That elicited a soft imitation of a laugh from the boy in my arms.
"Don't tell anyone about...this."

I hummed in thought for a second before coming to a decision.
"On one condition."
I could feel the boy tense against me.
"You eat lunch with me and the others instead of sitting all by your lonesome."

The boy sighed in relief and smiled.
"I think I can manage that."