Saving a School (boyxboy)

We Haven't Changed 5

Ashton POV

The second week of school. The first one had been... intense. We'd come to a new school, made friends, faked coming out, lost friends and won them back, gone to our first party in a new city, gotten grounded. Kissed more times than I cared to count now and had a make out session so intense that Dan of all people gave me a boner.

Now, Monday seemed weird. For one, people were quite friendly again. As I changed classes with Kim by my side, every other person smiled at me or commented on a 'great party'. Kim had thrown it, but they almost ignored her.

But it was worse at the same time. Last week, we'd been greeted with equal amounts of disbelief from almost everyone. This time, as we'd apparently convinced them, reactions were divided into equal amounts of support and disgust. The lunch was the best example. No one at the table ignored us, but at the same time, Jackson and quite a lot of his friends just walked past our table. They spooked a loose group of misfits away from a table furthest away from us and sat there.

Me and Dan were already sitting, watching half of our friends walk past while giving us the stink-eye. Kim flipped them off. Every member of our group that entered the cafeteria after that were left staring at the two tables, realising they had to make some stupid choice.

Like always, we left in the middle of lunch, looking for Seth. For once, when we found him on the rooftop, he wasn't alone. He was joined by the girl I had met English, Jade, and the two seemed to be getting along well.

She blushed when she noticed us approaching. Before I could say anything, Seth stood to introduce her. "This is Jude. They asked to join me here, hope it's okay with you guys."

Okay, sorry, stood to introduce them. To be fair, when I met her last week, she had used a female name and presented as a girl. I guess this school is turning more interesting, and I was happy Seth was ready to tell at least someone that he knew us.

Seth sent a pointed look, that probably meant that Jude didn't know about the act. I smiled and sat as I normally would, in Dan's arms. They blushed a little, seeming as shy as before, and continued their chat with Seth.

Apparently they were discussing whether they should get a pixie cut and colour their hair green, blushing and stammering when I commented it would suit them. There was the excitement of coming out the the first person in their eyes, hope of being accepted. It was beautiful. On one hand I wanted to take some credit, for changing this school a tiny bit, for at least starting the conversation. At the same time, I felt ashamed for even thinking that, like me trying on gay was even close the the courage they had and they needed just to live their life.

Apparently it wasn't just them. After lunch, I started to notice the difference. I had been too concentrated on the boring jocks I called my friends, but it was the rest of the school that was changing. There was more conflict in the hallways, even fights, but I could tell it was some people, for the first time, standing up for themselves and others. There was more colour in clothing, more variety in styles. Not only LGBTQIA kids, everyone else were also being more... themselves - not that I could tell them apart all that well. Again, while I wanted to feel proud, I knew at best we had given a final push to everything that had been boiling under the surface for a while now.

Of course, there was pushback as well. Quite a lot of guys were moping around the halls, pushing around anyone who wasn't dressed in just black and grey. The English teacher straight on ignored Jude stuttering out their new name. The entire team got yelled at by the coach in practice, as our passes were too strong on purpose and teamwork was terrible. Vincent still didn't come.

But me and Dan hadn't changed. I felt so natural around him, in this new atmosphere, that I had no need to act. I was just stuck to him like bad reputation, holding hands, hanging on his shoulders, kissing his forehead, eyes and hands. It felt closer, even sweet, and I didn't even care if he knew that wasn't acting anymore. With how close we were, had always been, I had no doubt that once our act was over, he would not deny me those small acts of skinship should I still want it.