Theo (Boyxboy)(Trans)

Chapter Three

*Lane above*

The next morning I find myself silently bouncing with anxiety in the passenger seat of my father's SUV. I have to face Reed today, and on top of that, I have this new found sense of identity weighing on me. So, am I really lying to Reed? I mean, physically I guess I did, but in another sense, am I wrong to let him think I'm a boy if that's what I perceive myself as?

I groan, squeezing my eyes shut as my head begins to throb. I just don't know.

"You feeling alright, hun?" My father asks as he stops at a red light.

I shrug and turn to look out the window, "Just a bit of a headache, I'm fine."

He doesn't say anything for a bit as he presses on the gas again, until finally he sighs, "I heard your mom freak on you last night. I hope you know she doesn't mean to be so short with you, she's just... really stressed out lately. You know, with work, and your aunt being so ill, and let's face it, you do give her a hard time sometimes even if she's a bit strict."

I sigh in defeat, hating how much of a peace keeper he could be, "Yeah, yeah, I know. I just wish she'd stop being so damn judgemental. Not everything has to come back to religion. She looks at everyone who is slightly out of the norm and sticks all these awful labels on them, as if they're below her. I hate it."

"Language, Theresa," My father reprimands, before shaking his head. "I wish you two could find a way to get along. Sometimes I worry you guys will push each other too far. Just... try to be a little easier on her, for me?"

I feel guilty now, knowing that no matter how much I hate it, it's the right thing to do. My dad doesn't deserve to listen to my mother and I fighting, and yeah my mom can be a raging bitch some days, but she does have a lot on her plate right now. My aunt had to be hospitalized again and I'd be lying if I said I didn't see how much it affected my mom, because if I was concerned for my aunt, I can only imagine what it must be like when it's your own sister.

"I'll try," I give in, pulling my knees up and to my chest, hugging them as I turn my body away from him to signal the discussion was over.

I hop out, waving goodbye to my dad before walking briskly towards the front entrance. First day is always pretty typical. I get inside, get my new locker number and lock from the office, drop my stuff off at my locker, meet up with my friend Lane, talk about what we did over the summer and then walk to class together, seeing as we normally tried to set up our schedules to be the same.

"Morning Ms. Aker," I mumble, stepping up to the office desk, slipping ten dollars over for one of the locks in the box in front of her.

"Good morning, Theresa. Have a good day," She says with her usual cheerful smile.

I nod and turn to leave, but accidentally run face first into someone, "Crap, sorry!"

I wince, stepping back and feel my eyes widen as I see none other than Reed, "I-It's okay."

Only then do I notice his hands on my shoulders, steadying me before awkwardly dropping them back to his sides as he chuckles quietly, "No, no. I was in a rush and didn't even pay attention to where I was going, I've got a bad habit of being hazardous to people around me. Is your face okay?"

I smirk, remembering how the first time I'd met him was only because he'd lost control of his soccer ball and tripped me up with it. So, apparently this is a common occurrence for him. It's only then do I realize that he doesn't recognize me, or else wouldn't he have said the name he knows me by? Or even asked me why I've been ignoring his texts?