PRIDE SERIES: The Closet Is My Home

3

Next morning (August 21)

I began getting ready, but then I realized that I wasn't able to give Kenneth my address. I grabbed his clothes and stuffed it into my bag. After I was done getting dressed, I ran outside and caught up with Kenneth. His eyes were red, and he was wearing feminine clothes.

"What happened?" I asked.

"They grounded me from everything. They even grounded me from unisex clothing, and they made me wear this," he mumbled.

He was wearing a purple hoodie with a pair of jeans that had a lot of bling.

"Hey, once we get to school, you can change out of it. I brought one of your outfits," I informed.

He smiled a little bit, and nodded. We finally got to school, and he changed. He looked much more comfortable. The bell rang, and we all went to our first hour. I sat down by Skye.

"So, you're a lesbian?" I asked.

"Yes. I've been one for all of my life, and I've never been ashamed. Why should I be ashamed now if I've never been before?" She said energetically.

"Yeah, good point," I said.

She continued talking for the rest of the hour, just talking about whatever came to her mind, but I zoned out. After what seemed to be forever, the bell rang. I ran out and caught up with Kenneth.

"I really don't want to go to choir today," he said.

"What? I thought you loved choir," I responded.

"I do, I just don't want to go to it today," he answered.

We finally got to the classroom and sat down in a seat. We're going to get assigned seats today, and I probably won't be able to sit by Kenneth because I'm a bass. Our choir teacher, Mr.Smith, started telling us where our assigned seats were.

"Okay, Kenley, you go right there," he said.

"I prefer to go by Ken," he informed.

"Oh yeah, sorry. Okay, Kyon, you sit to the right of her," he said.

I was at the end of the bass section, and he was at the end of the alto section.

"Hey," I started. "Do you want to hang out after school?"

"I can't. I'm grounded. Sorry," Kenneth answered.

"Oh yeah. Don't be sorry. It's not your fault that your parents don't accept you."

Lunch

We quickly ate lunch then went outside.

"I might get in trouble for this, but I'm going to sneak out tonight," Ken informed.

"Why? Isn't that a bit risky?"

"Nah, I know what I'm doing. I've snuck out multiple times and my parents never notice. I'll only get in trouble if I get caught," he said.

"Okay, just be safe."

"My back is sore. I guess I slept on it wrong or something."

I started rubbing his back, until I realized that's not what a binder should feel like.

"Ken!" I yelled. "Are you wearing ace bandages?" I said quieter, and a bit too harsh.

He looked down at the ground.

"Yes. They found my binder," he paused. "They threw it away," he softly said.

I realized how harsh I said that, and instantly felt bad.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so harsh," I apologized.

"It's okay."

We walked to the restrooms and he took the bandages off. He had to go into the girls' restroom because of Trump's law. I waited patiently for him to get out.

"Oh, fuck it," I said. I walked in there, and we were the o my people in there. I blocked the door with the trashcan. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it just hurts. Isn't it illegal for you to be in here?"

"Yeah, slightly," I chuckled. "How much longer will it take you?"

He walked out of the stall.

"C'mon, let's get out before you get in trouble."

We both got out of there quickly without being caught, but as soon as we walked out a teacher turned the corner. It was my mom. I froze.

"Hey mom," I said, trying to act normal. What is normal though?

"Call me Mrs Chase while we're at school," she corrected.

"Oops."

"Could you boys help me real quick?" She asked. I turned to Kenneth and smiled.

"Yeah," he said, grinning.

We followed her into her classroom.

"I can't believe I was sick yesterday. Like, who gets sick on the first day of school?" She said. She continued, but we were focused on sorting these papers. After we were finished, the bell rang, and people started coming inside. She picked up a newspaper and read it. "It's about time Trump made the bathroom laws. I don't want a man to walk into one while I'm using it."

Kenneth and I looked each other. I could tell what he was thinking: transphobe alert.

"Next thing to on the list to make illegal: fag marriage," she continued. "I'm starting to sound like that one church... What's it called?"

"Westboro Baptist Church?" I said.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm starting to sound like them, but I'm not as bad. I don't say that God hates everyone. He does hate faggots though."

I decided to change the subject, seeing that it made Kenneth uncomfortable. "So if it's okay with Ken's parents, can he stay after school and hang out with me while you work?" I asked.

"Sure. Ken, if you'd like, you can call you parents. Just make it fast because more students are about to come in."

Kenneth called his parents. While he was talking to them, I realized something... I called Kenneth a he while talking to my mom, and he's not out to her...

"Hey, my parents said it's okay, but only because it's not anywhere fun like the park or mall," he said.

"Who said school can't be fun?" I mischievously smiled. People started walking in.

"You can sit wherever you'd like today," my mom said. Naturally, Kenneth and I sat by each other. That one lesbian came and sat by us.

"I don't have any friends in here, but I kind know you. Is it okay if I sit here?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"My name's Ken," he introduced.

"My name's Skye."

"Oh, and just to let you know, I wouldn't say anything about being queer. My mom's a lgbtphobe," I said.

"Well, there went my profession," she joked. "Also, I have a question for you two."

We both looked at each other fearfully, but looked back at her.

"Okay, shoot."

~1073 words~