Being Different {OS}

Long version

DRIIIIIIIIIIING !

"Ugh ! Math class," Tobias groans. He winks at me and whispers, "However... we'll be able to see Mr. Sneeze again."

"Shut up !" But I'm half-laughing as we enter the room.

Mr.Thomson is famous for his sneezes- well, at least in my friend group. They're high-pitched and adorable- and sound like they come from a tiny kitten, not a six feet, two hundred pound man.

"Attention ! Attention, kids !"

He starts droning on about geometry and triangles. Tobias makes eye contact with me and pretends to yawn in an over-exaggerated way. I allow myself a small smile before focusing once again on the class, when-

"Atchi !"

And the whole table errupts into laughter.

"Gentlemen ! Young ladies ! I do not see what is making you laugh ! Atchi !"

Which only makes us laugh harder.

"This behavious is most unacceptable ! Tobias and Arie, don't make me send you to                     the Principal !"

That got us silent quickly. We both don't like her-and the feeling is mutual. Here's the thing: Toby and I are a bit... different, compared to other normal, boring Midbury High students, and our Principal would win hands down at a Miss Conservative pageant.

****

Toby is gay, and I'm a lesbian. We've kinda always known, for ourselves and for each other. But nobody else knew, until we decided to tell our parents, way back in 7th grade. We planned it out for months, mapping out every single eventuality and every single outcome, how they would react, and how we would re-react. Of course, the day had to be perfect, which meant it happen on Pride Parade day. Needless of what our parents said, we would go, and tell each other how it went.

But those months of preparation were useless as I stood before them, my mouth dry.

"I have something to tell you."

My mom didn't say anything, whilst my dad errupted in a explosion of worry, firing questions like hot spurts of lava.

"You have a boyfriend ? No, you're pregnant !"

"No, nothing like that," I interrupted quickly, almost smiling at the irony of it. "I'm lesbian, and I'm going to Pride, no matter what you say." Without a word, they got up, put on their shoes and went with me.

Yeah, my parents are cool like that.

Turns out Toby also got a postivie reaction, as his parents admitted to him they had figured out years ago, whilst entering his room and finding drag accessories hidden in a closet.

***

Needless to say the Principal hates us with the most profound loathing you could ever imagine. Most of the school is accepting-lots of people actually said they supported me when I came out to the world, way back in 7th grade. But some never will, including the Prinicpal and some popular butt-holes (I was told to keep this PG-13) who seem to think we're a personal insult to their existence, and go out of their way to pin us down.

DRIIIIIIIIIIIIIING !

"Aww ! The highlight of my day is over !" pouted Toby. Terrible joke, but it made me laugh anyways, at least until I'm thrown to the ground, all the breath knocked out of me. I look up; the butt-holes have struck again. I just sigh and pick myself up. I have to ignore these things and bottle it up, ignoring the fact that one day, I will burst.

Dusting myself off, I notice a pair of white shoes. I would recognise them anywhere. Customised, hand-drawn swirls cover them from heel to toe, a rainbow of vivid colors. I look up, slowly, and my gaze slides up a pair of jet-black jeans, a turtle-green sweater, and a silver locket. Strawberry blond hair flows down her back, framed by two birds trying to escape a perfect golden cage hanging from her golden earlobes. Beautiful, like her.