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

XXVIII

"Nick?"

The boy looked up, seeing Thad in the doorway. "Yeah?"

Thad's tone was gentle, speaking as he sat next to Nick on the couch. "How's that friend of yours doing?"

Nick felt a pang of guilt. He felt like he owed it to Thad to at least be honest with him at this point.

He marked his page, closing his book. "They're... better. Still really lost."

"You're not scared they'll...?" Thad trailed off, but Nick knew what he was talking about.

"I mean, who really knows at this point? The days come and go, each one drastically different. Some harder to get through than others."

Thad was quiet for a minute. "I know the feeling. You keep telling yourself to make it through this day, just this one. But what's after that? Another, harder day. And they don't end, not until you die." He paused, voice even quieter. "Then I came here. I found my people. The people who didn't call me an asshole for my honesty. The people who didn't mock me for just retreating out of the world and reading sometimes. The people who didn't call me a freak for not experiencing attraction, a freak for not assigning with my birth gender... I live with my aunt. Last I checked, my parents said they needed time to process."

There was something about Thad's tone, something that told Nick not to apologize. The boy didn't want sympathy.

"Have they found their people?"

There was something easier about being honest when he wasn't talking about himself. "They're not quite sure yet."

Thad nodded. "Well, I guarantee you, if I knew them I would help them through all this and support them no matter what. No judgement. So would Kurt. So would Jeff. So would Blaine, Wes, David, Sebastian, and Hunter." Thad laughed. "I know that for a fact. When I came here, I was an absolute wreck. I still wanted to die. Hundreds of plans, all carefully thought out. But they took me under their wing. I resisted, but they didn't give up. Now... Well, now I'm this. And I like this."

Nick's heart felt lighter. "I like this too," he said, causing them both to chuckle.

"You know that little scar on Sebastian's jawline? Right here?" Thad pointed to the spot on his face.

He nodded.

Thad held up his hand, showing the glistening silver ring on his last finger. Nick hadn't ever noticed it before. "I did quite a bit of resisting. That's how determined they are."

He followed Nick's gaze to the ring. "It was my uncle's. He passed a while ago, but I only have the fondest memories of him. 'Más de un tipo de amor te puede dar un anillo,' my aunt said when she gave it to me. 'More than one type of love can give you a ring.'"

Nick smiled, looking at the ring. It was sterling silver, a small band of seashells. "That's very sweet. And true." He looked back up at Thad. "And... thank you."

Thad smiled. "Anything to help."