Today was the day my brother was coming home from University to pick me up, and take me back to the University for a weekend. I was so excited, I hardly slept last night. I may have only gotten three whole hours.

I woke up, and at an orange, and some almond milk. I brushed my teeth, and got dressed in some skinny jeans and the hoodie my brother got me. I was in the car, waiting for the rest of my family to get in so school would be over. I honked a couple of times, and my mother shook her head, and gave me the stink face.

"Why are in such a rush this morning?" She climbed into the drivers seat.

"I’m excited that it’s Friday, and the weekend is coming up."

" You didn’t make plans to spend the night without giving me a notice."

"No mom. I didn’t. Can’t I just enjoy that the weekend is here."

"Okay." She said very matter-of-factly, as she drove Tai to his school first, which was odd because she usually dropped me off first. I didn’t think too much of it though. I was concentrating on what to do with my brother this weekend. I was going to look up some sushi restaurants, and if he wanted to go to the mall or some places like that. I began visualizing a list in my head. I kissed my mother on the cheek, since there was no one around to see. I hopped, literally, and shut the car door. I walked in with a big smile on my face.

I walked to my locker, and organized my locker, and put my textbooks for my first two classes in my backpack. Then I heard this whimper. It was this guy crouching down with is knees in his chest, and his bleach blonde hair that came down to his thighs. He was upset. It was not the social norm to comfort guys when they were upset, but I nipped that thought in the bud.

I crouched down, and looked at him." Hey, are you okay."

He looked up at me, his eyes, puffy and red. "Yeah, I’m fine."

I looked at him, and I must have scrunched up my face at his words because he snapped at me." Really! I’m fine."

" You don’t look fine. I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new here." I said, being extra chatty, and a little out of touch with social norm for when someone says they are fine. Usually means they are not fine, especially when they have puffy red eyes.

"Well... My parents hate me."

"Why? I’m sure they don’t mean that."

"They said they were going to kick me out if I don’t stop dressing like a guy, and binding."

"Wait, what? You’re a girl" I said a bit surprised. 

"No, I’m a guy. But I was born in a female’s body. "

"What’s your name."

"Chase. but all the teachers here know me as Cassie. I hate that. They acknowledge me as who I am. No one will. My friends left me when I told them I was transgender, and my parents want to disown me. I want to run away, or jump off the building."

"Well, I’m Jeong. Nice to meet you Chase." I held out my hand smiling.

Chase looked at me. "You don’t have to do this. "

"But I want to." I reiterated my hand for a shake.

We shook hands.

"You’re a pretty cool guy Jeong. "

"Not really. I’m quite invisible with no extraordinary talents. I just blend in well with the surroundings."

That made him chuckle.

"let’s program our numbers into each other’s phone." I say, unlocking my phone.

Chase nodded, and we exchanged numbers.

Next Chapter: Chapter 8