The Hidden World of Changers - A New Age (#1)

Chapter 1

My name is Dremonte.  I hope a time comes where I can tell you more than that, but that time is not now.  It would be too dangerous to reveal my surname or where I live.  We're still fighting a war for our freedom.

This all started on the first day of school.  For privacy purposes, I won't tell you what grade or year I was and am in.  I was putting in my contacts when I noticed my eyes were yellow.  Blinking, I looked back in the mirror.  They were back to their regular colour.  That's weird.  Maybe I just didn't get enough sleep.  I checked the time.  I would have to leave soon to not be late.

Swinging on my backpack, I jumped on my bike and started pedalling.  I didn't want to be late on the first day of school.

"Okay Google," I said, "what's on my schedule today?"

"Today your first event is English, followed by P.E. Co-Op."

Whatever that was.  I had never heard of that class before.  Would any of my friends have it? I repeated the wake word.

"Text Friends," I said.

"What would you like to text to Friends?"

"Do any of you have P.E. Co-Op?"

"Message sent."

Now to wait for the responses as I biked.  I entered the more rural area of my route, still suburban, but trees were everywhere.  The houses were sparse, but large.  I always felt comfortable around these places.  Rain clouds were on the horizon, and the wind looked like it was going to drag them to me.  That wasn't a problem.  I wouldn't mind a light sprinkle.

Almost as if on cue, rain started slightly falling.  I didn't think much of it.  Just a coincidence.  Beep.  Notification.  Was it one of my friends responding?

"Okay Google," I said again.  "Read my messages."

"You have one new message.  Cole said, 'Never heard of that course before.  I just have regular P.E.'"

Strange, I thought.  Well, I'd just figure it when I get there.  I turned onto the school's road, not thinking to respond.  There wasn't a response to give.  Turning into the school grounds, I saw my friends.  Getting off my bike, I walked up to them.

"You mentioned P.E. Co-Op," Cole said.  "You sure you have it?"

"I'm sure," I went to the website with our schedules and showed it to my friends.  "Here."

"That is definitely strange," Lysytsya agreed.  Her hair was still short from how it used to be, but was growing.  Oh, how I wish I had her confidence.  "I've got English and regular P.E."

"Same here," I replied.  "Who's your teacher?"

Lysytsya took out her schedule and showed it to us.  Mrs. Simmons.  Same teacher I had.  A group of kids walking past made me hear what would happen before it even did.  Lysytsya must've seen them as well, as I saw her brace herself.

"Tr*nny!" one of them called.  "Stop pretending to be a girl, Viktor!"

"Cross-dressing doesn't make you a girl!"

"Stay out of our bathroom, boy!"

I wrapped my fingers around hers.  Cole just gave the group a death glare.  His was special.  It could shut down anyone, and he could probably kill someone with it.

"Remind me not to get on his bad side," Lysytsya tried to joke, but I could hear the tension in her voice.

"Are you okay?" Cole asked.

"Yeah," Lysytsya responded.  "It's just...you get used to it.  Let's head to class."

We walked into the classroom of our English class.  Names were on the board, along with spots.  I was sitting next to someone named Azure.  I looked over the map, trying to overlay it on top of the room.  There.  They were sitting down, writing on a piece of paper.  I sat down beside her.  She looked at me.

"Hi," I said.  No response.  I did see her index finger move from her ear to her mouth.  I had seen that gesture somewhere before.  Couldn't quite remember it.  She wrote something on her paper.  Deaf.  She repeated the gesture.  Right.  Sign language.  I had attempted to learn some before.  It ended with me only knowing basic words, but maybe I could try to learn again.

I wrote Hi.  On the paper and passed it back to her.  She did what I assumed was the sign for it.  A wave from head outwards.  I repeated it, and she nodded.  I signed, "Thank you."

She moved her hand in a circular motion, from in front of her chest to below it, then wrote You're welcome.  Our teacher walked in.  She was dressed casually, like most teachers at the school.

"Welcome, class," she said, then did attendance, leaving out Azure.  When she got to Lysytsya at the end of the list, she looked at her.  "You're Lysytsya?"

"Yep," Lysytsya responded.

"I was expecting..." Mrs. Simmons started, but then trailed off, realizing what she was saying.  "Well, anyway.  I'll hand out some sheets to let you introduce yourselves."

She then took out a group of sheets from her bag and started handing them out.  She stopped at us, took the piece of paper we were writing on and wrote Where's your interpreter?

Azure shook her head, then wrote, I don't know.

"Can you help her with what we need to do?" Mrs. Simmons asked me.  I nodded.  I'd been meaning to continue learning sign language anyway.

Azure turned to me and waved her hands in what appeared to be a no motion before putting her hand to her head.  She then pointed to the I don't know on the paper.  She repeated the gesture, then crossed out the 'don't'.  I nodded.  'I don't know' and 'I know'.  I nodded, then signed "I know."

"I know," she signed, then pointed to the paper.  She knew how to do the sheet.  We then started to work in silence.

It was a general introduction sheet, name, birthdate, etc.  Until I got to the fourth question.  What are your pronouns?  That was a difficult question.  I knew the answer.  But would it be safe?  I'd only ever told Lysytsya.  She was nice about it, accepting.  But would the teacher be?  I put my pencil to the page, started an s, but changed it to an h.  He/him.  I couldn't do it.  I'd talk to Lysytsya about it later.

It was a long sheet, taking up all of the classtime.  The bell rang, and I don't think anybody was finished it.

"No homework for tonight!" the teacher called as we left.  "Finish it tomorrow!"

I walked out and waved bye to Azure before walking up to Lysystsya.  We had a little bit before our next classes started.

"I couldn't do it," I told her.  "I tried."

"It took a while for me to figure it out as well," Lysytsya assured.  She touched her hair.  "What colour do you think would work best?"

She always wanted to dye her hair, but her parents had never agreed to it.  They still didn't 'agree' with her being a girl, but they tolerated it.

"Your parents are letting you dye it?" I asked.

"I wish," Lysytsya replied.  "I'm just hoping they'll let me once it gets long.  What colour?"

"Blue or pink would go nice with your blonde," I answered.

"Thanks.  We should probably head to class now."

I nodded.