The school nurse was obviously not a good choice for the job. The minute she saw me, she flew into a panic. She was in such hysterics, that she couldn't even treat me. She just got on the phone and called Chris, explaining that there had been an accident at the school, and he should come down to get me.

The hockey guy just rolled his eyes, and started bandaging me up himself. He finally introduces himself as Colin, an as he tries to lift the front of my shirt up to check to see if I have any broken ribs, I push him away, "Uh, nah man."

He raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"Uh… um, I'm trans." I mumbled.

He snorted, "Yeah, Mikey called us to tell us you were coming. Whatever. Yer a boy, and we're cool with it."

When the hell did the world become this way?

He put his hands over my ribs, putting pressure over them, "Anything hurt?"

"Everything hurts, but nothing feels broken." I groaned.

He laughed, "well, ya got stomped by six football players, varsity I think. Should be proud."

The door to the nurses officer swung open, and Chris stood there. His eyes bulged at the sight of me, one hand going over his mouth. "Oh my god… Andy?"

"It looks worse than it feels." I lied. Or maybe it was the truth. I couldn't really see myself, so I didn't know.

He rushed forward, hands tracing over the gauze wrapped around my forehead, then over the scrapes and bruises on my arms. "What the hell happened?"

"I would like to know as well." The principle walked through the door, a glare on his features. "Tell me, Andy, what provoked this attack?"

"Now hold on a minute." Chris said firmly. "Why do you think it was provoked?"

"Your foster child has more than a substantial reputation in the police department." He explained.

Chris crossed his arms, glaring at him, "All the charges against Andy were dropped."

"I didn't even start the fight!" I snapped. "They did."

He took his glasses of, rubbing them against the edge of his sleeve. "I've known Trevor Smalls for three years. He's always been an upstanding student, first to volunteer for community service, and-"

"And a rich daddy who donates to the school whenever Trevor's position as Quarterback is threatened." Colin finished.

Chris' eyes snapped to me, "Andy, what happened? Start from the beginning."

"I ditched gym class to take a nap behind the bleachers. Next thing I know, these guys are shoving me, and then when I tried to get away, they used their cleats." I explained. "Doesn't seem to matter, he's got a rich dad, and that'll make sure that the ring leader doesn't get in trouble, and by extension, none of them will."

Chris whirled around, shoving his finger in my principle's face. "You call yourself a principle?! We put our son in this school so he would be safe and learn, and on his first day he get's jumped!? And then you come in here and immediately accuse him of instigating it? Look at him! He's fifteen! He's half their height and a third of their weight!"

Did… did he just call me his son? Damn. Well, I didn't plan on calling him dad anytime soon. Nothing personal, just uh… only known him for like two days.

The principle nodded, "Mr. Bennett, I apologize. I was a bit hasty to judge, and that's on me. I am going to speak with their parents, and see what I can do."

Chris' eyes narrowed, "What you will do, is have those boys arrested. They. Attacked. My. Son. Look at him, he looks like he went through a wood chipper!"

None of my foster parents had raised such a fit because of me. Most of them didn't seem to care much. As long as I stayed out of their way, they treated me decently.

"I understand that you are upset, and you have every right to be. However, this is something boys do, I'm sure you understand that. Those other boys are children too-"

"Pretty sure most of them are eighteen." Collin sassed. "They're all at least seventeen. Law considers them adults in situations like this."

"Arrest them, or I'm calling the police myself." Chris fumed.

"A suspension seems more in order, Mr. Bennett. Children make mistakes, no reason to ruin the lives of six other kids over a fight." He rationalized.

"I don't want them to go to jail." I said.

Chris put a hand on my shoulder, gently, as if afraid the slightest pressure would hurt me, "Andy, they can't get away with this."

"I'm not becoming a poster child for trans victimization." I said firmly. I turned to the principle. "But I want mandatory therapy and some kind of equality class for those jack asses. Maybe the whole damn team."

"I'm sure we could manage something like that." He said, "I'll call the other boys parents, and get this taken care of."

He walked out, and Chris turned to me, looking me up and down, then sighed. "Let's get you to the hospital."

Collin gave my skull a gentle rap with his knuckles. "Yeah, make sure yer head isn't to jacked up. Can't have a concussion when you try out for the team."

I raised an eyebrow, "Try out?"

"Tryouts are this Friday, after school. You should come." He explained.

Chris gently guided me off the bed and out the door, "We'll talk about this later, I just really want to get him looked at."

It wasn't until we were in the car that I turned to Chris. "Did Mikey tell him to ask me to join?"

Chris shrugged, "I called Mikey and told him about you. I'm not surprised that he called his old hockey friends about you. He always had a habit or looking out for Cody, Oscar, and Patrick. Oscar and Patrick used to play hockey on that team too; Cody tried one practice and never put on blades again. I think it's just his way of welcoming you to the family."

I was silent for almost the rest of the day. Chris was already referring to me as his son. Arnold had welcomed me to the family. Cody was packing my lunches. Mikey was inviting me to take up the family tradition.

This was moving really fast, and I couldn't tell if it was all a temporary phase that would blow up the minute they got tired of me, or if it was a legitimate heartfelt offer.

Thanks for reading! Review please!