I'm Not A Girl, I Swear [Discontinued]

IV

There was definitely a bright side to a uniform school. Nobody could mock him for his dark clothing and sweatshirts.

Nick knocked on the door of someone called Mr. Hanes. It was supposed to be his homeroom class, they told him just to head over.

His last homeroom class was not a good class. He hoped this was better.

He'd covered the bruise on his jaw with makeup, not wanting them to mark him as trouble immediately.

The door opened, a man that couldn't be a day over 26 smiling at him. "You must be Nicholas!"

He nodded softly, shaking the man's hand. "I go by Nick."

"Welcome, Nick. We don't have assigned seats, so sit anywhere. Preferably in a desk, not on one," he said rather loudly, directing his voice at a blonde. "Mr. Sterling."

The boy gave him a sheepish smile and hopped off the desk.

"That boy is so gay I've surprised he can even walk straight," Hanes mumbled, shaking his head. He didn't seem to disapprove, he actually looked amused.

Nick picked a spot in the front of the class, taking out his schedule. He meant to try to memorize it but ended up sketching a fox in the margins.

"Nick Duval, right? I'm Wes."

Nick looked over, shaking the boy's outstretched hand. "Oh, hi."

"Our parents are friends, I'm supposed to show you around," he explained.

Nick nodded, his question of who-the-hell-is-this fading.

"Nice fox."

Nick jumped, the voice having come from his other side. The boy chuckled. "I'm David, Wes's b-" there was a pause, in which Nick could tell Wes had shot him a look, "-best friend."

"I'm not homophobic, that's just my mom," Nick reassured, mainly to Wes.

David sighed. "Oh, thank god."

Nick almost laughed, but found he couldn't.

"My parents are, though, so if we could just..." Wes trailed off.

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. I mean, I'd hate it if I had a girlfriend and my mom knew, much less a boyfriend."

"What about your dad?"

Again, Nick could tell Wes had shot David a look. Nick just shrugged. "He's really accepting. I wouldn't mind anyone meeting him."