Coming Out
Star and Margo are walking to school. Margo is looking off pensively, but Star is in a hyperactive bad mood, bouncing around the sidewalk as they make their way forward.
"Why do we go to school?"
"Star..."
"I mean I am a magical princess who fights evil across dimensions..."
"Star..."
"...and you are my karate sidekick..."
"Star..."
"Okay. Partner, just unequal partners. But isn't it pointless for us to learn math and science, AND ECONOMICS," she punctuates this final one waving her text book she spent the night cramming with "when all we need is magic and karate."
"Star..."
"Margo, it is rude to interrupt on any dimension, jeez."
"Star... I think I should just come out at school already."
"But why do we even bother going if we basically already have careers... Wait... What? Are you serious?"
"Yeah... I think it is about time."
"Yeah. Uh... why haven't you yet? I mean it is your decision, I get that, but... why? Am I allowed to ask that?"
"I don't know. I guess it just seemed easier this way. I get to be Margo, and not put up with the dumb stuff. I mean school sucks, why make it suck more."
"And, now?"
I am tired of being lazy. It sucks, even if it isn't hard. It would be nice to actually have my whole life fit together. To just be Margo."
Star's eyes are welling up, but she smiles. She suddenly grabs Margo and gives her a big hug.
"Thanks, Star."
"So what's first?"
"First we need to end this hug so we can get to school."
"How about another 10 secs?" They pass in silence.
Margo and Star pull away from each other, teary eyed still. Margo smiles. "And I guess next I should talk to the principal."
Cut to Margo in Principal's Skeeves office talking to him. "Good news for you, young lady. "The school's policy is officially to treat all students as their preferred gender. Doesn't matter what I or any of the staff think, you are a girl from here on out. At least until policy changes, then it all changes."
"Wait so my life is determined..."
"By a combination of bureaucracy and politics. Yes, Ms. Diaz."
"Man, even winning feels like a loss."
"I am very familiar." He gestures to his office. "You can tell people however you like, but please make it quick and comprehensive, otherwise things might get confusing." "Oh and you need to set up a regular meeting with Mr. Candle."
"Wait, I don't want counseling. I don't need counseling. I mean I'm already seeing somebody."
"Policy!"
"But he is a demon."
"Non-discrimination policy! Most of my life is policy."
"No way out of this, is there?"
"Not really. Now when will you be," he looks down at a cheat sheet. "Transitioning."
"Uhmm..." Margo had not thought this far ahead. "Tomorrow?"
"Great! All the resources specified in our transgender student policy," Skeeves passes Margo a packet of papers, "are open to you, beyond that everything gets messy and contradictory, so we are just gonna stick to those."
Margo grumbles and leaves. Star runs up to her frustrated friend. "I told you we needed bribe money. Magical Rainbow Bribery!" A chest brimming with gold suddenly appears.
"No Star, I won. This is what winning at bureaucracy looks like."
"So you don't need to bribe anyone?"
"No."
"Cool, I am going to get a bunch of hall passes!" Star floats her chest of gold into the principal's office. Margo begins reading the transgender policy
A mouth approaches Margo's face undetected, "Hi Margo." Jackie whispers
"Jackie!" Margo smiles and puts her hand behind her head... "Uhh..."
"What's that?"
"Yeah... So this is exciting... I am going to... Come out... here... at school."
"Oh wow that's amazing. What made you suddenly decide?"
"Nothing really, just seemed weird I was more at home running off to magical dimensions than hanging out at Echo Creek, my... uh... actual home."
"That's cute." Jackie gives Margo a peck on the cheek. "But still what's with the papers?"
"Oh. It's the school's transgender policy. Principal Skeeves gave it to me. He said they can only do what's in here, nothing more, nothing less."
"What? That's crazy. Well... is it enough."
"I don't know, I haven't read it yet, but Principal Skeeves assured me they would 'treat me as my preferred gender,'" Margo's impression is passable, not great though. "I think it will be fine, but it would be nice..."
"If they were validating you, not just following the rules?"
"Yeah," Margo looks genuinely happy, "That's it exactly. I got really lucky with you." Jackie smiles at Margo
"Well, you were mostly unlucky, fortunately for you I like a girl with some... gumption."
"Gumption?" Margo gives her a look: a teasing, where did that come from look
"It's my granddad's favorite quality. I guess it rubbed off."
"It is fewer and fewer every time. I think I might have flooded the market, debassing the value of my gold coins. Wait... I think I'm ready for this test? Oh! Hi Jackie." Star attempts a natural, bubbly greeting, but is waving and grinning too much.
"Hey." Jackie is exactly nice, no familiarity or ease like she brings to every relationship. Jackie gives Star a simple but meaningless smile, and then turns back to Margo, taking one of her hands. "If you need anything just ask, please." They hug and then Jackie skateboards off.
"Was Jackie... Is she mad at me?" Star seems a bit hurt.
"What?" Margo has to come out of her bliss. "Oh, yeah. Well you know how I have forgiven you for how you reacted to me coming out... I don't think Jackie has." Margo laughs awkwardly. "I actually think she may hate you now."
"Oh... Yeahhhh... she knows about all that. I mean I knew she did, but I do my best to ignore it. I am still soooooooooo," Star is super intense saying this, "sorry. I still can't believe..."
Margo interrupts her with a finger. "Star, we agreed, no more apologies." Star, who has held her mouth in the same position since Margo stopped her, looks down and then lets her face relax.
Star's super intense mood drops and she sighs. The two begin walking down the halls. "So Jackie hates me now?"
"You had it coming." Janna is reading Collected Poems by Christina Rossetti while leaning against the lockers. "You were pretty awful. Said it at the time." Janna looks up and winks at Star, who blushes, even more embarrassed. "Yeah if I picked Margo over Star, I would hate Star." Now Janna winks at Margo, who just looks confused and vaguely annoyed. "You know what I'm talking about."
Margo just opposing Janna, "No!"
"I think you do." Janna gives a knowing Cheshire Cat-ish smile... without disappearing.
"Okay, maybe I do." Margo is barely reconciled to agreeing.
Star looks much more embarrassed, she definitely understands. "But... doesn't it end."
Margo smiles weekly at her. Janna laughs at them both. "Ha! You guys are easy marks. Of course she is going to be fine.I have known Jackie... my whole life. She is gonna get over this, but first she is going to be super mad. Just until she sees something good. Which will take a little longer since she won't want to be around you. Yeah. It'll suck for you but... I mean it won't be forever."
"No." Star looks serious again. "I will fix it now! Margo, what do you need?" Star is standing with one hand on her hip the other pointing at Margo, ready to take on the world.
"Uhh, I sorta have to tell the whole school I am a girl today."
Star looks very excited at the prospect. Slowly raising her wand. "I can tell people? Finally?"
"STAR! No magic!"
"I can write it in the sky. With glitter! and rainbows! Please?" Star is ready to beg.
"That's exactly what I don't want."
"I could make it just rainbows."
"Star..."
"Okay, okay. So Margo style. We just... walk around telling people."
Margo shakes her head affirmatively.
Star stews a little, and then as a group of kids pass by, "Hey, Kids!"
"What? NO! Stop!"
"Nevermind." Star waves off the stopped students. "What? I was doing it 'Margo Style."
"No... First I have to tell certain people. Like Ferguson and Alfonso."
"Do they still go here?" Star looks around wondering if she can spot them.
"Of course they still do, I mean I haven't seen them recently... like at all. Do they?"
Janna is awestruck. "Of course they do. They are in most of our classes."
"Right." Margo seems to ponder this for a moment. "You know what, I think you're right Star. We should just tell people."
Janna walks off, and then back. "I told three people, everybody will know by tomorrow."
"What? I was gonna do that?" Star is very annoyed she doesn't get to save the day.
"How do you know?" Margo is suspicious.
"I told Brittany, Starfan13, and Chet."
"Oh, Chet will get the word out." Margo is satisfied by that.
"Yeah." Star is pouting, "He is a terrible gossip." Star looks over to see Chet talking in a group, pointing their way. "Why did you tell Brittany and Starfan13?"
"Oh, Brittany thinks it is a secret and hates you two, and..." Janna looks down at her phone, "Starbutterflyblog4 is already carrying the story.
"That was fast. I wonder how she never got 1?" Star wonders as she reads Janna's phone.
The bell rings and the three girls head to class. Ms. Skullnick is writing on the board. Everybody takes their seats and Ms. Skullnick begins taking attendance. "Margo Diaz!"
"Uhh... Here?" Ms. Skullnick winks at Margo before carrying on. Margo blushes and hides in her hoody, but she is smiling.