A World Beside Our Own

First Day at a New School

Luna is right, a shower feels good, her body soap and shampoo leaves me smelling like lavender. I’ve never felt so feminine before. I wrap my body in the terry robe and still drying my hair as I come out of the bathroom.

“I’m going to apologize.” Luna says. “I don’t have male clothing, but I found the most unisex items that I have in my wardrobe. You are shorter than I am, so I hope they will fit.”

Luna leaves the bedroom for me to get dressed. I’m a little embarrassed putting on the pantie briefs, but they feel so nice once they’re on. The jeans are like nothing that I’ve ever experienced. Growing up, my thin frame and slightly bony hips meant that pants either fit my waist, or fit my hips, and never both. As I slide the pants on, they fit well, and comfortable, all in the right places. They are tight in the crotch though; I try something I read in the forums, and tuck my member under my body, and then they feel comfortable. They also don’t compress my backside. I pull on the t-shirt and mock-neck sweater, it’s cool this morning. The clothing is all black, making my pale skin and blond hair noticeable compared to the earth-tones I usually wear. The only clothing of mine that she left for me are my sneakers.

I walk downstairs and go into the kitchen. Ashanna is watching me with interest. “Simon, do you usually sway our hips when you walk? I seem to remember you having a bit of bounce to your gait yesterday.”

I blush. “Oh, sorry.” I say and change my walk.

“No, don’t change your walking stance on my say so. You are naturally quite feminine when you don’t think about it.” She smiles.

“Keven says it’s if we were born with our genders reversed.” I say as I sit at the kitchen island. “He should have been born a boy and I am a girl with the way we naturally behave.”

“This Kevin.” Luna asks as she munches on some blood fruit salad. “Have you known him long?”

I poke at the bowl of normal fruit salad that her mother hands me. “Since before he started his transition, he’s the only male friend I have. We’ve sort of have grown really close in supporting each other.”

“That’s so nice of you to be supportive of your friends.” Ashanna smiles.

“Well, Kevin’s always been a sort of tom-boy, way more masculine than I’ve ever been. We actually thought of dating before he started taking hormone blockers.” I say, scooping some fruit in my mouth.

“Why didn’t you?” Ashanna queries.

“Well, he’s cute and all, but I didn’t want to confuse people by thinking I was gay by dating someone who identifies as a boy.” I say with a frown.

“I can see how that would be a problem.” Ashanna smiles.

The doorbell rings as Ashanna hands me my backpack. Like she knew Rose was about to arrive.

“Good morning!” Rose smiles as Luna opens the door. “All ready for a new day of school?”

“Will make us run laps again in the gym?” Luna says wearily.

“Oh come on Luna, with your physique, you barely break a sweat.” Rose grins.

“Okay, so I can do 10 laps before I break a sweat, but I don’t think some of my other friends appreciate it as much.” She smiles.

“Mages are so soft.” Rose scoffs and puts her arm around me. I feel oddly comforted by her touch.

“Rose is an Empath and a bard, it’s natural to feel comfortable in her arms.” Luna says as if she knew what I was thinking.

I look around the neighbourhood I’m in. It’s the first time I’ve really looked outside. We’re in a gloomy subdivision of sorts. There is a central park with about a dozen Victorian style homes lining the north and south sides of a diamond-shaped square. It feels spooky, like an odd chill running down my spine. I don’t see any side streets or alleyways, just roads at either end of the park. The sound of running water is behind us, as if some sort of river or rapid-moving stream is behind the house. The road to the right leads up the hill to a very large manor house. Leaving the road to the left to be the only means out of this area.

“I don’t have the strength to carry all three of us. Care to do the honours?” Rose looks to Luna.

“Bards.” Luna sighs. “All you lot are good for is influencing people and illusions.”

Rose shrugs. “It works for me.” She grins.

Luna smiles, takes our hands and closes her eyes. “tentalmë parmanen”

The scenery changes and I recognize the sounds and smells of Hillcrest. Just how far did we travel to Luna’s home that it’s completely different from the place we arrive? We’re standing on the steps of a large building. Hillcrest School for the Gifted says the wooden sign in front of us. The children passing by us don’t seem to be alarmed at all from our suddenly appear out of nowhere. In fact, we’re in a sort of engraved circle, like some sort of landing zone. We step out of the circle as someone else appears behind us.

Rose frowns as the cloud cover is breaking, offering shafts of sunlight across the land. It looks pretty. “Looks like gym class will be indoors today.” She says as she takes my hand and brings me into the building.

“I’ll see you at lunch.” Luna smiles at me and waves.

We’re making our way towards the administration office. “So, have you decided what you want to do going forward?”

“It’s a big choice.” I say, trying to choose my words.

“It is. But is also can change how we register you here in class.” Rose says. “Either way, you don’t want to go by the name Simon here, do you?” I shake my head. “You want to transition, right?” I nod. “Then once we transfer your school credits, we’ll have to come up with a new, more feminine name for you. At least you have the major choice made. Whether you take my path or the option Ashanna believes is possible, you want to be a girl?”

“Yes.” I agree with her on that. “The Elf in my dream called me Simiathlas.” I say thoughtfully.

“New Leaf.” Rose smiles. “I like that.”

“You know what that means?” I say, suddenly surprised.

“I’m a huge geek.” Rose explains. “Learning Elvish became a passion of mine.” She grins.

“So… Ahim indóme ontuva míotye, means what?” I ask curiously.

“Change will be created inside of you,” Rose says thoughtfully. “During transition, your body slowly changes. From your muscle and fat deposits, to your hormonal balance, skin, pores, even your scent will change from what you are now.”

“I read about that as I was helping Kevin with his transition support.” I say with a smile.

“I had friends who cared for me and supported me in my transition as well.” Hopefully, we can reconnect you and Kevin some day, in the meantime, you want to distance yourself from your old life - or risk your parents finding you and ruining what you are working towards.”

“Is it really that much of a risk?” I ask, concerned.

“Without emancipation, as a minor, your parents have the legal right to manage your care and support. So yes, it is that much of a risk if they find you before we can make permanent changes.” Rose warns me.

We get into the school councillor’s office. I sit there quietly as Rose explains the situation as parental abandonment (her words, not mine), and my need to continue my studies until new legal guardianship rights can be established. The school administrator then asks me for all the information she would need: full name, date of birth, school name, address, and such. She takes about 20 minutes to find all of my school records, medical files, and ID. Rose asks that the councillor not put in a transfer request, but merely copies my school credentials over.

“What are you planning, Rose?” The woman asks as she prints out all the information.

“With transgender children, sometimes the parents will take offense of 3rd party support. I want to keep Simon here safe till emancipation orders can be filed in case the parents get vindictive.”

“So you’re bringing me another one of your saved trans-kids.” She smiles as she fills out the information for this school. She looks at me. “So, because you won’t be using your birth name, hun, what name do you want to use till it’s legally changed?”

“Simiathlas Rasmussen.” I reply without hesitation. I don’t know why I’ve chosen Luna’s family as my new legal guardians, I hope my choice will not upset Ashanna. She said I could stay with them as long as I liked.

“Rasmussen?” the woman quirks an eyebrow. Even Rose looks surprised. “Not fostering another into the Montgomery family, Rose?”

“Apparently not.” Rose studies me for a moment. “Though her choice is fitting, considering who’s she’s living with right now.”

“Okay, so recognized gender is female.” The woman continues putting the information into her computer. “For medical purposes, we will keep biological s*x male.” She looks over at me and I nod.

“You’ve done this before?” I ask Rose quietly as the woman works to fill out new ID for me.

“I’ve saved 7 transgender children in the past, ones that I found on the street, abandoned by family, no home, no friends. I foster them until I can find them a place to live on their own. Only, this time, Ashanna found you first.” She smiles, then her expression changes. “One of my cases, when we filed the school transfer papers, the parents came back and made the girl’s life miserable, claiming I kidn*pped her - even though they had thrown her out of the house. It was a messy court proceeding, dealing with an ‘a*******n case’ as I was trying to file emancipation papers. I rather not go through that again with your parents.”

“Oh. You think my parents would do that.” I say, worried.

“They were angry enough to want to track down your phone, then threaten to call the police. When they realized they couldn’t force you into the life they want, they would have made your life harder than you’ve had already. I’ve been in that situation, I don’t want you to live through the same pain that I did.”

“So, remove traces of this school’s enquiry, so that they can’t track it down.” The councillor says. “Got it.”

“You don’t want to go back to the life they’ll make you live, do you?” Rose asks. I shake my head violently.

“After the last conversation with my parents, I know that they’d never accept my transition.” I say sadly.

The councillor looks at me sadly. “I’m sorry to hear that. It’s hard enough growing up, even harder when your parents are the bullies. I’m Caroline. If you need anything here in the school, reach out to me.” She turns around. “Most students have use of a computer here in class or at home. As I doubt the Rasmussens have gotten you one yet and knowing Rose’s resources. This is yours - provided you keep your grades up.” She gets up and opens a closet, takes an item from it before turning around. She puts a laptop box on the desk and pushes it my way.

My eyes light up. “I’ll get a travel case for it for you later.” Rose smiles.

“I don’t know what to say!” I sit there, completely stunned.

“A thank you is a good start.” Rose winks.

I blink, silly me. “Yes, thank you, thank you both so much!”

They both smile. “So, your next class is Language Arts.” Caroline says. “Your first block on Mondays is usually French. I copied over your course list and curriculum from you last school, so the time slots shouldn’t be too different from what you are used to.” She hands me my class schedule. “We already configured the laptop to work with the school network, including all the software and tools you’ll need for your courses. Your ClassNet password and ID are on sheet two, along with what credentials you’ve already earned.”

She reaches in a drawer. “Now I’m going to want you to stand over there for your school photo ID.”

I do as I’m told. I can see the outline of where I should stand. She pulls out an odd-looking camera, like the one I saw the DMV use when my dad got his driver’s licensed renewed. “Just stand still and…” there’s a flash. “Done. I’ll have this ready by lunch. Come by my office before you go to your afternoon classes.”

We spend the rest of first period going over school rules, regulations, dress code. I’m handed my locker combination and location. She then summarizes what to expect from my teachers, my classes, and to not stare at any of my classmates. This is an inter-racial school, and she’s not just talking about humans. I’m going to have to get used to the fact that I now live in a fantasy world completely different from the one I left, where magic and paranormal creatures are considered ‘normal’ here.

I’m going over the school map while Rose and Caroline go over some last details on my documents.

“Okay. Simiathlas, we have you all set up. Before class starts, I want to you go down to the nurse’s office and get a physical done. According to your medical records, they did not do it yet this year.”

I look up, a bit confused. “I’ll bring her down.” Rose says.

I thank Caroline and walk through the quiet halls downstairs to the nurse’s office. This means I’m now going to miss my 2nd class.

“Rose, why can I see through illusions?” I ask quietly as we’re walking.

“That’s a good question.” Rose responds. “I’ll see if I can contact someone to give you a proper diagnosis. Ashanna warned me you could see through the veil - as we call it - and that you’ll see the true form of all the creatures in this school. Something about your aura is different, that’s all she’s been able to tell me.”

“Honestly, Luna’s true form is much more beautiful that the illusion that the charm makes.” I say candidly. “She showed me what others see through a mirror.”

“You fancy her, don’t ya?” Rose teases me. My blushing is all she needs as a response. “It’s okay, the Rasmussen women are exotically beautiful, it’s natural to be find yourself attracted to her.”

“Will that feeling ever go away?” I query.

“Considering how much of a natural flirt Luna is? I doubt it.” Rose smiles. “Just remember, she’s a good hundred years older than you are, don’t be fooled by the fact the looks like a teenager only a year older than yourself.”

“I’ll try to keep that in mind.” I say thoughtfully.

The nurse greets us and does a more thorough physical than I’ve ever experienced. Oh, sure, she started off with height, weight, reflexes, and all the regular things my family doctor did. But then she does blood tests, gives me some inoculations that she said I need, and passed some sort of scanner over my body.

“I’ll get the blood tests to the lab, and the scans to Dr. Silvester. She has the most interesting of auras. I’ve not experienced one like hers, it almost reminds me of the Rasmussen girl’s.”

“Fitting that she’s naming them as her legal guardians, then.” Rose smiles. “It’s likely her Elven bloodline, Ashanna, says it’s stronger now than we first met.”

I’m quiet, I’m not sure if I should admit that eating a thumb sized piece of blood fruit is changing my life. I wonder what would happen if I ate more? I’m not feeling any ill effects.

I hear the bell ring as she’s getting my records sorted.

“Better head on to your next class. We have advised the teachers there’s a new student, so expect to make introductions.” Rose says.

“I’m sort of shy…” I say with a worried look.

“You’ll be fine.” Rose smiles. “Luna knows how to reach me, contact me if you need anything.”

“What if I can’t find Luna?” I say in a worried tone.

Rose smiles. “You and Luna share some sort of connection, she’ll never be far.” Her tone of voice brings me comfort, but what does she mean by we share a connection?

Before I can ask any more questions, Rose gently nudges me out of the nurse’s office and tells me to hurry on to my class.