Strangers, Friends and All the In Between

Chapter 1

It's funny, when you think about it, all the relationships you currently have, whether it be friendships, romantic relationships, or something more, all started as the two of you being strangers. The concept has been all too relevant in my life throughout the eighteen years I have to my name.

Speaking of, the name's Aaron. It was originally Aran because I was assigned the gender of female at birth. However, just because that's what sex I am, does not mean that is my gender, that's why I changed it. I am agender. I kept the same name my parents gave me because it's really gender neutral which suits me quite well.

My short dirty blonde hair and lack of breasts, thanks to years of competitive swimming, give me a more masculine look so I am often thought to be a guy. My deeper voice doesn't help with that either. I've been told that my blue eyes resemble if diamonds had a light blue tint to them. I have an above average height for girls, but a quite below average height for guys. I am 5'7" which isn't that bad of a height to be. I'm quite content with it, actually.

I often have girls all over me. The guys are often always jealous. It's quite laughable, to be frank. They do so many things to keep their girlfriends from flirting with me. The guys tend to blame me for their girlfriends finding some sort of interest in me. I mean, come on, it's not my fault that they find me intriguing. I don't even flirt back, so the fact that I get blamed just isn't right. Boys and their pettiness. Girls and their flirtatiousness. Both are ridiculous to me.

Being in my final year of high school, I'm not much like anyone else in my school. I've not taken advantage of the fact that I have countless girls pretty much lining up to date me. It sounds conceited, and I suppose it kind of is. Though, none of them actually know me. They pay attention to my looks and think that it would be enough to make a relationship last. I guess girls can be quite petty as well.

"Shit, Aaron. Did you even hear a thing I said?" asks a familiar feminine voice, breaking from me trance-induced state to have me realise I'm sitting in the lunchroom of my school.

"No...sorry. I guess I zoned out. I didn't sleep well last night," I respond to her honestly.

"When do you sleep well? I suppose it's all those girls you get," she jokes to me, winking. I roll my eyes at her silliness. Ryan's always joking with me about the girls who hit on me on a daily basis. Her hazel looking between me and the food that is placed in front of her. She moves the strand of long brunette hair from her face, grabbing her fork to take another bite.

"Ha ha, look at the comedian over who thinks she's just so damn funny," I remark in a sarcastic voice, taking my sandwich into my hands and digging my teeth into the soft bread and delectable assortment of ham, turkey, and different condiments.

"Why, thank you. Thank you very much," she responds, just as sarcastic. "When are you gonna actually take those sleeping meds your therapist gave you?"

"Uh, never. I will not rely on medicine to fix my fucked up head. Not to mention, you've seen what they do to me. It's like I'm not even myself. They numb everything about me. I'll deal with the loss of sleep over loss of personality any day," I inform her. I have had insomnia for about five years now as a side effect of depression that I've had for about seven years now. The anxiety attacks and PTSD don't exactly help either.

"You're right. It was hard to watch you go from, well, being you to being practically a zombie all the time. You need to find something that helps you get to sleep, though. It's not good for you to constantly be staying up all day," her voice comes through with a concerned tone.

"I don't stay up all day, I do take naps when I get home from school each day," I respond, hoping to ease her concern. It doesn't work.

"I know, but still. Two hours of sleep each day from a nap is not good for your body or your mind," she lets me know. I nod my head to show her that I understand. "Damn, who the hell is that?"