The New Kid

Part 6 {unedited}

I walk to my locker to grab my text books.
The locks are always jammed. It takes a special talent to get the dam things unlocked.
I'm just about to give up all hope of opening my locker in time to make it to class when someone walks up behind me.
"Need some help?" Someone says.
"Yeah that'd be great" I say still struggling to open my locker.
Instead of asking me to move they reach over my shoulders and start to move the key around in the lock.
I feel their breath on my neck and instantly get goosebumps.

*what is happening to me?* i mutter to myself.
"Mm what'd you say?" The person helping me with my locker asks.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it." I reply.
"Hey so what's your name?" They ask.
"Elizabeth. But most people call me Lizzie"
" well 'Lizzie' I'm Ash it's nice to meet you. "
" it's nice to meet you too." I reply.
"So you're the new chick at school hey?" I ask.
" uh I'd prefer if you didn't refer to me as "chick"." They say.
"Huh?. Why not?." I ask confused.
"Because A) I'm not a baby chicken, and b) I identify as genderfluid and use they/them pronouns instead of she/her." They reply.
"Oh. Sorry i didn't know. I'm sorry if i offended you." I say apologetically.
"Nah, it's fine. You didn't know." They reply.
The lock finally clicks open.
"Thanks for that Ash"
"No worries lizzie. Catch you around hey?"
"I sure hope so" i reply under my breath.

I look up to see Ash walking away.
"Dam." I mutter to myself.
"Get it together lizzie. You barely even know them."
I turn around to see Sam walking up behind me.
"So what happened this time?" Sam asks.
"Nothing" I reply. "They were just helping me open my locker."
"Mm sure. Looked like she was flirting with you if I'm not mistaken. "
"They." I say trying to correct Sam.
"Huh?" she says confused.
"They. Ash goes by they/them pronouns." I tell her.
"Oh." Sam says. " well still. They were totally flirting with you."
"Ha yeah no. Sam stop living in your fantasy world. They were definitely not flirting with me."

To silence Sam before she can say anything else. I grab my textbooks and start to drag her towards our math class..