Just Call Me MatPat {Natepat}

5

His first day back at school went okay. I spent majority of it glaring at the people who gave him dirty looks and trying to help him get back into the swing of things. 

Overall most people seemed to be okay with it, if anybody was being disrespectful we didn't hear it. Rumours spread fast so I couldn't tell who knew what happened and who didn't. Either way I think people were to scared of getting in trouble to actually say anything. 

Nate didn't seem to be bothered, he was just pleased at the mention of his own name. We'd been using Nathan over Nate, around the house, he hadn't said anything about it but I could tell he was pleased. 

"What a fucking asshole." Mark said angrily, Nate decided he wanted to tell the guys about what happened, we sat around one of the benches outside at lunch. There was barely anybody outside, the weather was getting better, but it was still cold. We sat all in coats, Nate felt bad about dragging them out here, but they're all gluttons for gossip so they didn't mind too much. 

I sat beside Nate, bouncing my knee under the table. I'd heard the story before but it still made my blood boil, and I wholeheartedly agreed with Mark. 

"I guess I just thought, he'd been so supportive of everything else, so naturally he'd be supportive of this." Nate explained, less teary than when he'd told me the first time. 

"We have your back, mate." Jack replied, and PJ and Felix nodded, both looking concerned but lost for something to say. I didn't blame them, what is there to say after something like that. 

"I don't understand who could do that to their own child." PJ finally responded, pulling his scarf down from his face. 

Felix nodded, resting his face on his fist. "A shit parent, no offence, Nathan."

"None taken, he-" Nate paused. "He is a fucking asshole." That was the first time I'd heard him speak badly about his dad, usually he was dismissive of it. I could tell he was getting upset, so I took his hand gently, some form of comfort. "Thank you, though. I'm glad you guys understand."

I nodded along with what he was saying. 

"You're our friend, not to be gay but we do care about you." Jack replied with a grin and Nate rolled his eyes. 

"Oh fuck off you're the gayest here." Nate laughed, challenging him. 

Mark slammed his hands down on the table, pointing at me, and I raised a brow. "Matt literally does musical theatre!" 

"Doesn't mean I'm gay!" I replied, slamming my hands down and standing up, I was trying so hard to contain my laughter and keep on a serious face. 

"Look at your boyfriend." Jack deadpanned, and I glanced down at Nate sitting laughing to himself at us yelling at each other. "You're gay." He added and I sighed, sitting back down in defeat. 

"Not to be gay but I'd go gay for anybody here." Felix spoke up, he'd been watching in amusement, leaning back where he was sitting, I couldn't help but grin as a few people sitting at the table went bright red. 

"That's kinda gay, bro." PJ replied.

Nate sighed, placing his head in his hands. "You're all idiots." 

At the end of the day, Nate and I walked home together. "That wasn't so bad was it?" I asked him and he shrugged. 

"It could have been worse. I thought, y'know, that they'd have moved on with me not here. It was nice to know that uh, that they're still my friends." He replied, shoving his hands in his pockets, not bothering to push his hair out of his eyes. 

I looked at him, confused. "Of course they are, we care about you Nate." I stated simply, did he really think they'd just leave him like that? 

"It's just that-" He sighed. "It's hard to explain- I feel like sometimes, you all cared about Natalie, and now that isn't me." He pieced the sentences together eventually, not looking at me as we walked together. "So I didn't know where that would leave us."

"No, it's not you." I replied simply, not sure of what else to say, or how else I could comfort him. I didn't really know what I could do, I didn't want to say anything wrong. Back when I was friends with Steph, I messed up all the time but she was so used to it that she shrugged it off every time, only correcting me and moving on. 

I felt so bad after she left. I still do think that if I had've been more careful she wouldn't have. 

It wasn't a good way to think but I couldn't stop myself. 

But I knew this was so much more sensitive for Nathan, new and terrifying, so all I could do was nod and agree. I wanted him to be happy with this decision. I needed him to know I supported him. 

"But I- I'm so scared that this is all I'll ever be." He continued. "A transgender. I know I'm more than that, that I can be more than that, but I don't know if other people will see it." 

"You're an excellent musician, a total nerd, and incredibly handsome. I'd say you've got a couple things going for you." I replied, and he shoved me. "Hey! I'm telling the truth!" I laughed. 

"Thanks, Matt." He rolled his eyes but I could see the blush on his cheeks.

I grinned at him. "You're very welcome."