Saved By The Bell

We walked into homeroom together. Cindy was talking about classes and how some of the teachers are, but I felt her voice fade away as my eyes were drawn towards the back of the room to the cocky guy in the back with his legs up and lounging back, our eyes meet and gave me a small wink, I made sure to eye roll extra hard at him. I do not know what it was about him, but that smug face made me want to punch him. Cindy must have noticed who had my attention as we sat next to each other in the front row. 

       "I know he seems like a jerk, but he is actually a good guy to the people he cares about," Cindy whispered.     

       "Well, I am not one of those people I guess because is a pompous jerk," I replied. 

      A hand full of more students file into the room. About five minutes later the bell rang. The door opened to a tall fit man who was clearly the teacher. His green eyes swept over us but seemed to stop on me for a moment. Before continuing the sweep of the room. 

      “All rightt hope everyone is here, or else it is detention after school. For those who are new or have not met me yet in LOTLAS, I am Mr. Griffen, and I do not tolerate being late. That is all.” He grounded out.

       He began roll call and he had a no-nonsense attitude about him. He got to my name. 

      “Here,” I said.

       He paused for a moment looking at me funny. Weird, he moved on with the rest of the list without pausing on anyone else. 

      “All right now that everyone is here if you have not got their schedule go pick it up at the front office then head to your first period,” he said. Some people began shuffling their things getting ready for the first period, a couple of kids left to get schedules and Mr. Griffen wrote something down in his notebook. We still had a couple of minutes before the bell rang to release us. I continue to listen to Cindy talk about anything and everything she thought of. This girl could seriously talk, she did not seem to mind the fact I’m not very social and just kept talking before yelling out.

      “Oh, why don't I get your number so we can text and maybe hang out after school or something sometime.” She said with such a smile I felt bad, but I had to tell her the truth. 

       “I do not have a phone or any type of social media,” I said feeling a little embarrassed. I knew that was very strange. 

       “Really? If you do not mind me asking... is it because of your parents?” She asked trying to hide her shock. 

       “Yeah... You could do that... They used to care but it does not matter so much anymore... I have never had use for one, so I never got around to getting one.” I said trying to hide my shame. 

       “Probably because little miss waitress is too poor for one and too poor for real friends, so she has settled for you” Luke laughed as he smacked my books and things off my desks. 

        “At least I have an original personality and I just did not Copy and paste from classic Jock Douce bag from the dictionary,” I yelled back at him.  

        “Luke, you have detention on the first day of school. Congratulations.” Mr. Griffen called out. 

        “What the actual hell Mr. Griffen” Luke yelled back in complete shock. Even some of the other students were mumbling in frustration that he actually put a student in the dentition. It is probably because Luke is built and so is Mr. Griffen. So, he’s probably one of those teachers that looks the other way when it comes to jocks, but I guess not today? I wonder why. Mr. Griffen looked over my way and locked eyes again with me, but no emotion I could read showed on his face, except he was looking at me like he was looking for something. What he could be looking for I had no idea. He almost looked like a male version of me before I changed my looks and went into hiding. 

          “I do not tolerate unnecessary bullying Luke, so you better grow up.” Mr. Griffen said. 

          “What a grade-A jerk right Cindy? Guess Mr. Griffen seems decent.” I muttered, but when my gaze met with hers, something did not sit right with me.             "Cindy are you alright?" I asked. Cindy looked at me with wild fear in her eyes. I was worried for this girl, what was her deal? was it something I said? probably. I did not the first thing about friends and being a teen. I probably mess this whole thing up somehow.

          "Cindy I am sorry if I did or said something that offended you. I am not great with making friends." I admitted. she was looking down at her hands that were balled into fists. her blonde hair covered her face so I could not try and read what was on her face. 

          "There is something you do not know about me..." she got out weakly. 

           "So? we just meet, there are things about me you do not know about, but that does not mean anything," I said, assuming whatever she was not saying was important, I did not what her to think I would expect her to tell me right away or at all if he did not want to tell me. There are things about me I could never share with her, for her safety and mine.

     “I know... but this is huge, and I want to be the one who tells you before someone else does in this school...” she stumbled her words and began to shake. 

          "Okay..." I was confused trying to think of what could be so scary that she had to tell me before someone else did.

          "Whatever you have to tell me it is okay. tell me when you are ready. I will not judge you" I said trying to give her a bit of confidence so she could tell me. 

          "Okay... here goes..." she said but then...

   

           DING DONG 

          The bell rang and everyone got to their feet and walked out the door, Including Mr. Griffen. I sat there waiting for her to tell me as she stood up. I wonder if she was going to say it or just leave and go to class. 

         "Elizabeth... I am trans," she whispered it like she did not want a single person to hear, even though we were the only people in the room. "Okay? that is it?" I asked wondering why that was such a big deal. 

         "Wait... what? you're not going to freak out and call me gross and a freak?" she asked shocked about how calm I was. she was who she was. Whether she was born male or female, should not matter especially if it is not hurting anyone. 

         "No, why would I do that? you are you. what else matters?" I said calmly. she began to cry and hug me. 

         "THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! OH MY GOD, WE HAVE TO GET TO FIRST PERIOD!!" she ran out the door tugging on my arm to follow.