~The "Misfits"~

They ~Cherry~

I had somehow miraculously managed to make my way to my second hour class without getting completely lost. As I walked into the room I noticed that everyone else seemed to already be in the class.

Looking around the class for an empty desk, I noticed the only empty spot was next to someone with large headphones on.

I walked over and sat down next to her. She side eyed me and went back to looking twords the window next to her. Taking out my things, I watched as the teacher stood up from her desk and walked in front of it to supposedly address the class.

"Hello class! I'm Miss Patrick and I am going to be your English teacher this year." She smiled as she wrote her name on the white board and continued to speak. "Before I explain what we're going to do today I would like you all to raise your hand when I call your name for attendance. "

She began calling out different names. Thankfully none of their names were called, yet a few sounded like the names of some friends of my brothers.

"Cherry Ann" Miss Patrick called out dragging me out of my thoughts. I raised my hand and smiled. She nodded and checked of my name on her clipboard.

I was a tad bit confused as why she was using a clipboard and marking us off on paper but I decided its probably for the best I don't question it.

She went on calling out names when the girl next to me raised a hand.
"Quill" Was the name Miss Patrick called.

"Good everyone's here. Now onto what were going to be doing in this class!" She said setting the clipboard down and clapping her hands together. She then went on to explain the basic rules of her class and the objectives for the quarter.

"As for today," She gestured to a few stacks of books sitting on a table near the door. "All I need y'all to do is collect the vocabulary book with your name on it and check to make sure I assigned you the correct level. After that your all free to mingle with classmates or read a book of some kind. "

She sat back down at her desk and looked back up to all of us after a second. "You can head up there now."
As she said that everyone started heading twords the table to get their book talking to others while waiting.

I stood up to go up there with everyone else when I noticed that Quill was still sitting down with no intention to leave her desk. "You coming?"

She looked up at me for a moment before speaking. "Uh, yeah I guess." She stood up as she spoke and started to head over to the table with me. We both found our correct books and sat back down to look through them.

My vocabulary book seemed to be at a good level as some words I knew, others seemed familiar but the definition eluded me, and some I just didn't know. I looked over to Quill to see how she was doing. She looked on edge as if debating something.

"Is it the right level?" I asked poking her in the arm. Quill shook her head. "No, it feels kind of easy but I don't want to make a big deal out of it."

"Oh you won't, " I tried to reassure her, "and if you want I'll tell Miss Patrick." I received a nod that seemed to say 'go ahead' and raised my hand grabbing Miss Patrick's attention.

She walked over to our desks and looked to me. "Yes?"

"Quill said her book was too easy can she get a level higher please?"

"Of course they can. I'll be right back with one for you. " She smiled and walked away, however; her emphasis on the word they caught my attention.

"They?" I turned to Quill and raised an eyebrow.

After a moment Quill spoke. "That's my preferred pronoun. I'm non-binary." They said tentatively.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I assumed your gender without even asking you first. That was wrong of me." I let my head hang for a minute until Quill placed a hand on my shoulder.

"It's okay, I'm just glad you took that well. People haven't always in the past. Miss Patrick only knows because she's known as one of the more excepting teachers." Their words brightened my spirits a bit and I picked my head back up.

"Well that's good! I would feel awful if I offended you." I'm smiled.

"She/Her pronouns for you right?"

'Yup!" I smiled and they nodded their head a bit.

Miss. Patrick headed back over to our seats and set the book on Quill's desk. "There you go my dear," She smiled. "Let me know if you need anything else! " She exclaimed as she walked over to another student's desk.

As the book was set on the desk, Quill opened it and began looking through the words in the book. "Yeah this one's better.. " They mumbled to theirself.

I smiled and put my own vocab book into my bag. When I turned back around Quill had their headphones on and seemed to be writing or doodling something in a book.
Deciding it be best to leave them alone for the moment, I pulled out a book of my own and began to read.