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

VII

Nick found his own way to the dining hall, knowing they'd expect him there. Sure enough, when he walked in, he was waved over to a table.

Wes moved over to make room for him and he sat at the edge of the table. He liked not being sandwiched between two people.

"Guys, this is Nick. Nick, this is Jeff, Thad, Blaine, Kurt, Hunter, and Sebastian," Wes said, pointing to each person as he introduced them.

"Hi," Nick said, giving a small half-wave. He immediately regretting it, knowing it must have looked stupid.

"Okay." The blonde, Jeff, pointed his fork at him. "I'm going to ask you the most important question anyone's ever asked you."

I think my sister asking if I've ever felt like a girl is the most important, sorry. "Go ahead."

"Will you join us in movie night today?"

The hispanic boy- Thad- rolled his eyes. "Why are you so extra?"

I don't let myself watch movies anymore. "Um, I don't really watch movies."

"Well, today's the day to start. Come on, it's Rocky Horror."

I'll let myself enjoy something again the moment I go back in time and stop myself from screwing up my family. "What's Rocky Horror?"

The blonde's mouth fell open. Nick shifted uncomfortably.

"Technically Rocky Horror is a person. Well, fictional character. But The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a really good movie, and it's Jeff's personal favorite. Hence him looking at you like you just melted concrete," Sebastian explained, surprising Nick with his French accent.

"Okay, you have to watch it with us. Please?" Jeff asked.

"Um..." It'd make him happy if I watched it with them, and I'm not ruining another person's happiness. I just won't let myself enjoy it. "Sure, why not?"

"Yes!"

"So, Nick, why'd you transfer?" Thad asked.

Nick shrugged. "This school's just supposed to be a lot better than my old one. I brought the idea up to my mom and she liked it." It wasn't a lie, just not the whole truth.

They didn't seem to buy it.

"You can tell us, you know. I transferred because I used to go to an all-girls school, and I'm not a girl anymore," Thad said.

"Death threats and avoiding rape," Kurt said casually.

Blaine half-raised his hand. "Gay bashed at a school dance because my idiot father was too drunk to pick me up on time."

"Dropped out of military academy because my dad died and he was the only person keeping me in it," Hunter added.

"I... My family... died." Sebastian sounded like he was going to say something else, but he didn't.

Nick felt touched. He didn't deserve this. He looked down at his plate. "Um, my mom thought I got into a lot of fights at my old school. I found Dalton and brought it up, she liked the idea."

"Thought?"

He hoped they wouldn't catch that. "I didn't correct her. I couldn't walk to or from school without getting shoved or punched. I always tried to defend myself, but there was around six of them and one of me. You know the shop Teaful?" He looked up at them, and most of them nodded. "I was constantly on the roof of that place when I ran from them. They never found me."

They looked shocked.

"Nick, I'm so sorry," Jeff said. He set his hand on the table, as if wanting to take Nick's, but he didn't.

"I'm fine now," he said. He didn't deserve their sympathy.

"Why did they target you?"

Nick shrugged. "Probably because I always wore dark clothes and sweatshirts to avoid trouble. And... and they thought I was gay."

"They thought you were? So you aren't?"

"I mean, last I checked, no. I mean, all the boys at my old school are about as sexually attractive as rocks to even the sluttiest of straight girls."

They chuckled. "Well, two seconds at Dalton and you'll probably figure it out. I remember freshman Wes and David..." Jeff looked at the pair, who blushed. "The not-even-remotely-bi-curious turned into a gay and a bisexual."

"Excuse you, the 'not even remotely bi-curious' was my line," Hunter said.

"And you're bisexual, right?" Jeff asked superiorly.

"Yes," Hunter admitted. "But that's my line. I need to copyright it."

"Hunter Clarington Presents: Not Even Remotely Bi-Curious," Jeff said, as if he were a spokesperson for something.

Nick laughed. He didn't try to, he just did.

It felt amazing, after not laughing in so long.