The miracle

What if...

Jack

I stared out at the night sky from the window on the plane. I was scared, nervous, and exited at the same time. We were getting away from everything that had happened to us in Ireland. I sighed and look down at my lap where my phone was laying. I plugged in my earbuds and turned on some music, hoping that it would lull me to sleep. Questions were constantly flying through my head and keeping me awake, I used music to distract myself from the nagging in the back of my head. What if they found out? Would they hate me? Bully me? Why couldn't I be like everyone else? I shook my head and closed my eyes, my ma already asleep next to me. I tapped my fingers to the beat of the music. 

Before I knew it, I was passed out, still listening to my music. "Jack, honey. We're about to land." Someone shook my shoulder slightly. "Mmm, five more minutes." I said. They laughed. "Jack, we're on a plane, we're about to land in L.A." I finally pinned the voice as my mothers. I opened my eyes and groggily looked around the plane. I was a little scared that I was just dreaming and I'd wake back up on the floor of my old room to yelling and things being broken downstairs. I stretched and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I made sure my buckle was fastened as we made our descent.

The landing was a little rough, but, I survived. Can't say the same for the arm rests though, I was sure I left permanent marks in them. I got my bag from the overhead carrier and followed my mom into the airport and to the baggage claim. I looked down at my watch that was still set for Ireland. It was now getting to around three in the afternoon there while it was only seven in the morning here. Jet lag was gonna be hell later. I yawned as we walked outside to get a cab to our new house. "Are you excited Jack?" My mom asked. "Yeah, but I'm also a little nervous." I said. "That's to be expected. We're starting a new life. Just you and me." She hugged me. I forced a smile even though I was still so scared of what the other kids at school would think of me if they found out. 

 I put my earbuds in and stared out at the city that was a hazy blur as we drove. After a few minutes of my deafening music we arrived at the house. "All of our stuff is already inside, all you have to do is unpack your stuff." My mom said as we got out. She paid the driver as I got out our bags and lugged them inside. It was a decent sized house. One story. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms. I found my room and set my bags down before putting my moms in her room. "Okay, you get started on your room and then we can work on the rest of it together." She said. I nodded and went to work on my own room which had few boxes.  

I hung up clothes and made my bed. Hung up posters and photos. Set up my computer and stuffed notebooks into their place in the desk. I put some of my other stuff in bins and put them in my closet. After I was done folding up the boxes I went out and helped my mom unpack the living room and the kitchen. When we were done we both flopped down on the couch, tired. "How about we go get some lunch and tomorrow I'll go shopping." She said. I nodded and went to my room to put on some clothes. "Hey mom." I said. "Yeah?" She called from her room. "Can we maybe shop for some clothes later too?" I asked. She was silent. "Are you scared of what the other kids will think?" She asked. I sighed. "Yeah. I  am." I said. "Yeah, we'll get you some jeans and shirts later." "Thanks mom!" I said. "You're welcome!" I opened my closet and looked for something to wear that wasn't too feminine. I wasn't genderfluid or transgender, I was, however, a little more on the feminine side when it came to clothes. 

I pulled out a long loose black shirt that went almost to my knees and my black leather-looking pants. I pulled on socks and put on my boots. I looked in the mirror and sighed. Let's just hope I don't run into anyone that I could be going to school with. That would be an absolute nightmare. My mom and I walked down the sidewalk, heading into town, which was conveniently close. The closer we got, the busier the sidewalk was. As we walked down the road I could hear music playing from somewhere. I looked around and noticed a small crowd forming. "Hey mom, can I go see what that is?" I asked. "Sure, meet me in there. I'll order you a sandwich." She said. "Thanks." I said walking over to the crowd. I managed to find a place where I could see and saw something amazing.

There was a kid around my age with a speaker and music playing. He was dancing his heart out. I smiled and watched his every move. Elegant and impressive. The song switched and he kept dancing. Though, this was just the instrumental part, I knew the words to it. I stepped forward and started to sing.

"Woah, I wish there was another way out. Voices won't go away, they say some awful things, ways to make you fade away..."

He stopped dancing and looked over at me. He was surprised at first but smiled and kept dancing to the song.  I sang the whole song and people clapped and he bowed. "Hey, take a bow." He smiled. I blushed and bowed with him. After the crowd dispersed and he turned off the music he walked over to me. "You've got a really good voice." He said. "And your dancing is really good." I replied. He smiled. God, he was hot as hell. "I'm Mark." He held out his hand. "I'm Jack." I said shaking his hand. "You new here?" He questioned. "Yeah, we just moved here today." I said shyly. "Cool, where are you from?" Mark raised an eyebrow. "Ireland." A few memories came back and I did my best to keep them out. 

"Wow." He said surprised. "Are you gonna be going to school here?" I nodded. "Yeah, I start tomorrow." He smiled again. Oh my god, I am already in love with him. No. Jack. You remember what happened the last time. "I'll show you around the school tomorrow and you can come sit with me and my friends at lunch." He said. My eyes widened. "Really?" I asked. "Yeah. We're not a typical group though. I'm the only dancer, a couple of them are comedians." He explained. "Okay. I uh, I should go. My mom is probably waiting for me." I said awkwardly. "Okay. Just look around for the flaming red hair tomorrow and you'll spot me." I nodded. "Look for the green beacon and you'll find me." I said. "Bye Jack, see you tomorrow." He said. "Bye Mark. Thank you!" I said walking off.

Maybe it wouldn't be that bad. No. He just doesn't know how much of a freak you are. I sighed at the internal voice. It was right, Mark didn't know about me yet. I walked into the shop and saw my mom sitting at a table. I walked over and joined her. I was still nervous and scared about tomorrow. "Jack, honey. You've been staring at the cookie for two minutes. What's wrong?" She asked. "I'm scared. What if they found out about me mom. I'm a freak." I said. "Jack. You are NOT a freak." She said sternly. "People are only supposed to do one thing mom. I can sing. Play drums. Piano. I dance and draw. I can't exactly pick one. Nor can I hide the fact that I do all of them." I fired back. "You may find someone else that does more than one as well." She snapped. I looked down at my lap. Angry, scared, and confused. I didn't know what I was supposed to do.