the beginning.
Hai, im forest. Well not any old forest that's my name! I go to Grove highschool.
We just moved here from Westword in maine. We finished moving in this weekend though we haven't gotten a chance to meet anyone yet. But good new i guess we live by the school since my mom is a nurse and is basically never home and my dad is a long distance truck driver so he is only really home once a month at most. My dad is often at bars when he does come home so he is passed out on the couch drunk. He had lost his job so we had to move into a different house, he got a new job in the town though still doing what he always has done.
Anyways it's 7:30 am and I'm walking to school. Oh right! There's something you need to know about me as well. Im a enby. That's short for non binary, where I have no gender basically, I don't like being called she or he; I also don't like it. My last school always called me that since my ex best friend outed me to the whole school on social media when she found out i bumped into her ex. Not like I talked to him but bumped him in the halls since I was running through the crowd almost late for class. But that's in the past.
As I walk into the school there's a trophy case right at the front entrance, I guess to show it off. The cafetera is right next to the entrance as well which is nice to know. The office seems to be to the right. There's a bunch of kids going in and out of one of the rooms. I follow the crowd of kids, it's so busy there's still about 28 minutes until the first class starts. They all stare, I guess they have never seen someone with deep ocean blue hair with bright blue eyes. My skin is also different from theirs, they're all fair and pale. The definition of porcelain skin. Its unsettling how they stare, some look back as they pass me walking into the office. I keep my head down because that's what I have always done. The lights seem so much brighter in here, they cause a lot more sound too. It's distracting to say the least.
I walk up to the front desk. The lady there looks up expecting someone different I guess.
“Are you Yvette?” she asks
I nod in reply despite that not being the name I go by. I feel a spark of courage and reply with,
“I prefer forest but yes…” its weak and quiet.
She even takes a moment to respond which makes me think she didn't hear me.
“Okay YVETTE…”
I drown out her voice once she says THAT name. It's not my name it won't be my name ever. Before I know it, this tall man, dark brown hair brushed back though it's messy, and his curls at the end too, he has freckles and beautiful emerald eyes which glitter in the light. The strange man speaks to me,
“Forest, that's the name I heard you wanted to be called? Such a… wonderful name.”
He chooses his words carefully and they actually help. Though i only give a simple nod in reply
“Ill be showing you around the school. I got your schedule and a map with me so you can see. We can walk around the school or i can show you your classes which ever you wish”
His voice is gentle, you almost dont notice him wearing a small little trans flag pin.
I nod though once more
“Do you think… we can take a walk around the school then find my classes?”
He smiles softly, and leads the way clearly wanting me to follow.
Though the noise and lights are hurting my head. I follow behind trying to keep up. He is fast, almost too fast honestly. He talks so quickly.
We heard yelling and what I didn't think was possible was he speeds up!
I'm not out of shape either so it's surprising I can't keep up with him.
When we turn the corner I see a group of students in a huddle.
“I'm going to be right back here okay?”
He says in a quiet voice but urgent, he walks up swiftly but not too quick, calm but assertive he has this presence around him.
“What's going on?!”
He pulls two kids away from each other, the crowd runs all over fleeing incase they get caught. I notice a few cameras in the halls knowing they will. He talks sternly to the both of them and grabs the walkie talkie and security comes around a different corner. Seems like its a square or at least a loop around. The two guards drag the kids off scolding them more, he comes back and apologies though i only nod and look down.
I feel someone behind me....
authors note: sorry for the cliff hanger right away