Kori's phone pinged just as they were finishing their prayers. It was from Victor.

Remember to check your clothes, guys. Don't need anyone getting bullied today.

Kori sighed. Some people were so sensitive. They looked over their skirt again and snapped a picture.

Is this yellow?

I'd wear a different one, yea

But it is small!

They won't care.

Kori folded up the skirt and put it away. It wasn't even really yellow, more of a golden orange flower stitched into the seam. They examined their drawer and found a long, plain black skirt. They sighed again. It was so basic and lifeless, but all the others either had yellow decorations or didn't match her required top.

They dressed, covered the bean-shaped birthmark on their collarbone with makeup, and pulled their hair back with a headband. They pulled the tufts by their ears down to hang loose. It felt oddly validating and freeing to them, though the reason couldn't be put into words, really.

Again, their phone pinged. Confused, they opened the picture from Raven and gasped. A flowing, thin skirt wrapped around black leggings, covering the left leg completely. Blue and purple butterflies swarmed the lacy fabric on top.

I love it!

I can bring it today.

Did Victor ask?

Maybe.

I want them. Yes!

"Kori, time to go!"

Kori's heart dropped. They hadn't told Uncle yet about this.

They descended the stairs slowly as Uncle watched and handed them a cup of coffee.

"What's the matter, my child?" he asked.

Kori hummed. "My friends showed me some… progressive ideas."

"Oh?"

"Uncle, if one is not a girl or a boy, what should they wear?"

"They should wear what reflects them. Allah made them who they are. It is our job to support them, not to judge," he told them.

"You believe this completely?"

"As completely as your parents."

Kori wiped their eyes and took a drink then said, "I wish to wear pants, Uncle."

He stared at them a second. "Skirts do not reflect you?"

"I am neither, Uncle. Not a boy or girl. Look," they said, pulling out their phone to show him the picture.

"I see. This is in-between clothes?"

"An anyone clothes. And girls here wear pants, too, so-."

"You will be happy in this, yes?"

Kori nodded. "I will. I think so, anyway."

Skylar handed the phone back. "Your parents wanted you all happy, whatever that means to you. If pants make you happy, and you are true to Allah, you may pursue this."

Kori smiled and hugged him. Skylar froze, laughed, and hugged them back. When they broke apart, he pat their shoulder.

"You have grown so much, Kori. Your parents would be proud to see you this bright again."

Kori continued to beam at him until he left to head to work. They continued towards the school, nearly running to the courtyard. Victor, Garfield, and Raven huddled under a tree by the pavement, chatting quietly. As usual, Kori smashed into Victor's side to hug him.

"Oof! Morning, Kori," he said with a chuckle.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," they squealed. "Raven has made the most wonderful of pants for me!"

Raven shrugged. "Not really? I kinda just slapped it together."

"She's lying," said Garfield. "Mom says she's been working on them since we got her sewing mach- Ow!"

Garfield gripped his sides and glared at Raven. She pulled her elbow out of his rib with an insincere "oops." She slid her bag off her shoulder and opened it.

"Here," she said, holding out a bundle of cloth. "Go get changed. Actually, let's go together. I need to pick my new schedule up."

"I'm not gonna keep protecting you if you're gonna keep beating me up," growled Garfield.

Raven rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's why I'm asking Kori instead."

Kori nodded, and the two started towards the building. They glanced at their shorter companion.

"You changed your schedule?" they asked.

Raven nodded. "It's no big deal. I just don't know what might set me off right now, so I want to make sure I have friends around me."

"Mm. Garfield mentioned the incident of the doughnuts yesterday. Are you alright?"

"Do I look alright?"

Kori shook their head. Dark shadows made Raven's gray eyes appear sunken in her skull, and her skin was paler than ever. She sighed and tucked some hair behind her ear.

"It's not all bad. Marie is great. And don't tell Garfield, but he's been my rock the last week. He's my walking, talking distraction."

"Distraction is… taking the thoughts off of the focus, yes?" Raven nodded again, and Kori said, "You can only buy so many sweets before you turn up dead."

Raven gawked. "The fuck?"

Kori rubbed their neck, saying, "I always knew when my parents had the bad days. They would bring home treats and gifts for us. It did not protect us from their loss. You cannot bury this forever."

"Can't I bury it for a little while, at least?"

"Of course. You will join us for the movies tonight, yes? Robin has found some 'so bad, they are good.'"

Raven shrugged again. "I'm gonna try. Everyone says having friends and a routine is important. I tried meditating yesterday, and… I think it helped? Garfield is making me run with him, so I'm too tired for any nightmares. It probably won't last, but- hey. I'll take it."

"And when it does not last, we will be here with you."

"Thanks… I guess," Raven said, opening the bathroom door.

POP!

Kori screamed as yellow smoke billowed out of the bathroom. Raven covered her face and grabbed their hand, pulling them away. Kori stumbled over their feet. They shrieked again as an alarm sounded, and they pulled away from Raven to cover their ears.

Fire and smoke. Dust and ash. Whole buildings reduced to rubble. Friends they never saw again…

"Kori, come on!"

Hands wrapped around Kori's arm and guided them blindly to fresh air. They reached up to wipe their eyes, but someone grabbed them.

"Don't!" Raven warned. "You're covered in dye. It'll get in your eyes."

"What happened?" they heard Victor ask.

"Yellow jackets," Raven snarled. "They put smoke bombs in the bathroom. Probably all the bathrooms."

Something soft pressed against Kori's face, and they flinched.

"It's okay," Robin said calmly. "It's just me. I just washed my gym clothes, so… You'll be okay."

Kori grabbed the shirt from him and wiped their face, sobbing into the fabric. One of their friends helped them sit down.

"I'm sorry," they said, still crying. "I'm sorry."

"We got you, Kori," Garfield said.

"You didn't do anything."

"Rob's right," Victor said. "It ain't your fault."

"We're right here with you," promised Raven.