At lunch I had sat with Feliks and Toris. They were interesting people, in a sad sort of way. Feliks had been thrown out of his house when his parents had found out he was a cross dresser. Toris had moved out of his house when his parents tried to get him to "pray the gay away" at his local church. They did that when they saw him kiss Feliks. Even though Toris was 14, and Feliks was 13, they lived with Toris's cousins, Ravis and Eduard. It made me greatful that my father didn't care how I dressed, or wouldn't care if I had a preference for guys.

XxX

I heard the last bell ring. Shit. I hadn't written anything in Mr. Roma's world history class. I would have to ask Alfred for the homework. He had been in all of my classes, yet I hadn't spoken a word to him other then "hello". I opened my locker, and Alfred opened the one to my left. It's now or never! I told myself in regard to asking him to sum up the entire lesson. However, before I could open my mouth, he noticed me and yelled "Hey, Mattie!" I swear half the school could have heard him call me that ridiculous name. I felt my eye twitch. Alfred quieted down. I hadn't even known he could be so quiet.

"I saw what you did today, and I want to saw that was really great."

He must have been talking about the drawing somebody had passed during math.

"Oh, thanks, I guess." I replied suspiciously. I didn't think that was the only reason he came to talk to me. He seemed a little nervous, too. He rocked back on his heels, rocked forward, and back, over and over.

He cleared his throat. "So, do you want to like, hang out or something? I mean you don't have to if you want to, but I was-"

"Sure." I replied. He seemed to relax. He slung his backpack on one shoulder, and grabbed my hand as I close my own locker. Then he literally dragged me out of the school.