After my gym class ended I went to talk to coach Smith.
"So, you are interested in my team you said?" he started the conversation, "um, yeah, I am." I said, "that's great and all but I don't wanna talk about that, I wanna get to know you, I've heard you got quite the reputation since walking through the doors, even my niece is fawning over you." he said, to which I had no idea how to respond. "That's um-that, who is she?" I asked, "Quinn, you've probably already meet her." he said, and things couldn't have gotten more weird, I mean what is up with this town.
"Anyways, tell me about yourself?" he asked, "I am from Maine, my dad works here, he teaches literature or something, I love basketball and I'm serious when it comes to it, but my dream is to become a music producer in LA, I also love to dance. I am 16 and am currently single, so there's no distractions in my life to throw me off my game and that's really it." I told him.
"You do drugs or drink alcohol?" he asked, "no sir, the only drug I take was given to me by medical professionals." I answered, and he looked like he was contemplating something, "alright, you're a trustable kid, a good one too, I'll see you around." he said before walking away, "wait!" I called out, "yeah?" he asked, "where's the dance studio, that's my next class?" I asked, "follow me."
We made our way through the school, and made it just before the bell. "John, what are you doing here?" the teacher, Mrs. Abernathy-Mckadden, asked coach Smith, "I'll have you know, I am helping this kid get to his class." coach said, "actually, helping someone other than yourself, let me guess, he wants to join the basketball team?" she asked and he nodded, "well I'm sure you have something important to do other than stand in my doorway, so," she said, using her hands to make a moving kind of signal, before moving so I could enter the classroom. I noticed that Chloe and the gang were in this class too so I sat with them.
"Alright, most of you look familiar, from last year, but their are some new faces, would you mind sharing your names." Mrs. Abernathy-Mckadden, said starting off the class, "well since no one has said anything, I'll just pick someone to start, you." she pointed to a kid sitting in a chair in front of me.
"Hi, my name is Jayden, I went here last year and didn't take dance, but to graduate I need credits, so I'm here." he said in the most noticeable displeasure one could have, we continued around the class to some new students until it was my turn. "I'm Beck, and I don't know, when I was filling out the forms and seen dance was an option for an elective I figured, 'hey why not, I like to dance' so signed up." I said.
"Great, well for the new kids, I'm Mrs. Abernathy-Mckadden, but you can call me Gail because my last name is a mouth full." she said. "I didn't know you danced." Chloe whispered as Gail continued to talk, "oh, yeah, I took some classes when I was younger, along with self-defense, swimming, singing, and cooking, that was one I regretted taking, but I did learn how to make a three tier cake, so yeah that's that." I told her, "wow, just a box of surprises aren't we?" Aubrey said, "you have no idea." I said chuckling.
Before soon class was ending as the last bell rung, "you guys, wanna go to Benny's?" Stacie asked, as we all got up to leave, "who's Benny?" I asked, confused, especially since no one has ever mentioned him. "Not 'who' 'what' actually." Aubrey said, as if that explains anything, "yeah, no that explained nothing." I said, hoping they'd elaborate, "Benny's is a diner, that kids hang out at, mostly during the school year, so they can do homework. Or so they can meet up after school and fight in the parking lot." Chloe explained, "oh, then, sure, let's hang." I said, as we made our way out of the classroom, and through the stampede of students in the halls.
"Yo, Beckett!" I heard and turned around, before a fist flew straight to my jaw, "fuck!" I grabbed my face, "Beck!" Chloe ran to my side, I definitely underestimated the pain of getting punched in the face, luckily I recovered quickly and went up to Chicago, while he and his friends laughed, kicking him in the shin, and when he fell to the ground punched him in the face, before attacking him on the ground, punch after punch.
"Beckett, stop!" I heard from behind me but it didn't matter, all I saw was red, and heard kids chanting my name, "son, stop!" my dad pulled me off of him, wait when did my dad get there? "Yeah, get your daddy to calm you down!" Chicago said as another teacher helped him up before I tried to punch him again, only to be restrained by my dad and the coach.
They took me to the office where the principal was waiting. She was a young blonde woman, maybe late thirties, in a very professional dress skirt and blazer. I sat in front of her desk-very neat and organized-my dad by the door, "thanks." I said to the nurse who gave me an ice pack for, well my face and hands. So much for a 'good first day' but I did make a name for myself I guess.
"Hello Beckett, you don't know me since we haven't formally met, but I'm Mrs. Posen-Conrad, the principal."
of course this well-dressed lady is my friends' mom, because of course all our parents work at the school, it would only make 'sense', this is like a well-decorated plot twist.
I hope you see the sarcasm here. I wonder why Aubrey and Stacie didn't tell me their mom worked here, it seems like something you would mention after knowing each other for two months.
"Nice to meet you, Aubrey and Stacie didn't mention you also worked here, much like my dad, and Chloe's mom." I said, "they don't like talking about it, unless it comes up, from someone else." that makes sense, "I could totally see you and Aubrey being related." I said, "yeah, but before I get distracted, the topic at hand. Read this sign?" she pointed to a sign with big red letters, "zero tolerance." I read it aloud, "exactly, and do you know what that means?" I nodded.
"It means-just so we are on the same page-zero tolerance towards abuse, physical, verbal, and drug. So by you punching Chicago, that broke that rule." she said, "sorry...but kid got what was coming for him, and he punched me first, just look at the cameras." I said, "so what you're saying is that it was self-defense?" my dad asked, after standing there for a while, "obviously, I mean, I'm not gonna just beat somebody up for no reason!" I scoffed, "in that case, here." Mrs. P-C (you get it, Posen-Conrad, it's just a lot to spell out) handed me a piece of paper, a minor referral, "two more of those then it's a major referral, and one major equals detention." she said and I nodded, she told me some other things before letting me go.
"What was that about anyways, I've never seen you so violent?" my dad asked as we left the office, "he was on my case all day, and when he punched me that was the last straw, not to mention I warned him earlier not to mess with me." I told him, "Beck, you have to learn how to control yourself." my dad said, "what, you wanted me to just walk away and look like a total puss, not in front of Sta-" I stopped myself before finishing that sentence, "oh I see, this is about a girl, isn't it?" he asked, "nope, not at all!" I said as we left the building, and I saw all three of the girls, "don't wait up dad, be home soon." I said, walking toward them, "alright, curfew is 10." he said, getting in his car.
"You guys waited for me?" I asked when I reached them, "I insisted we go to Benny's but these two are very persistent." Aubrey rolled her eyes, "whatever, you gave in, in three seconds," Stacie said.
"What happened?" Chloe asked, and I could see the concern in her eyes, "don't worry, red, I just got a minor referral, and had a sit-down, with, get this, Mrs. Posen-Conrad, hmm funny isn't it. I mean imagine my surprise when one and two's mom is introducing herself to me as the principal of our school." I said sarcastically, "isn't that a funny thing." Chloe laughed, "I swear we told you, didn't we tell him, Stace?" Aubrey looked at Stacie, "I'm pretty sure it came up in some conversation." Stacie shrugged. "I think I'd remember you saying, "guess what, mommy dearest is the principal of our school" because I would have said, "well that makes us the group of nepotism" because it would be appropriate to say such thing. But now I can't say that." I said, shaking my head because it would have been such a good joke I bet. "Well," Stacie cleared her throat, "our mom is the principal. There now, you can't say we didn't tell you." "yup, now can we go? At this point, we're just loitering." Aubrey asked, and everyone agreed.
"Wait," I said as we started making walking, the three turned back to look at me, "I don't know where Benny's is, I need the directions," I said, "oh right, um 1407 Poarch lane" Chloe supplied, "thanks, meet you guys there," I said, before walking towards my bike.
I made it to the place before the girls and decided to just go in, I opened the door and a bell above it rung, everyone turned and looked at me, "yo, that's the kid who beat up Chicago!" one kid said. "Hey, welcome to Benny's, would you like a table?" a waitress came up to me, "sure, make it for four, got some friends coming." I said, "alright, follow me," she said and I did as told. When I sat down, I pulled out my phone and waited, after about two minutes I looked up and saw at least five different girls looking at me, I waved at them and they giggled before turning around. I pulled up my messages to text the group chat.
Beckett(5:36): where you guys at, I've been here for the last five minutes and people keep staring at me, it's weird
Chloe(5:37): we are almost there, Aubrey's driving and she drives like an old person
Beckett(5:37): well who let her drive
Stacie(5:38): I would've but Bree says I drive like a hooligan
Chloe(5:39): and why drive when you have two very capable friends
Beckett(5:40): well tell Aubrey to drive faster, I'm leaving this place in ten minutes if you're not here
After about five minutes they all walked in and sat at the table, Aubrey, and Chloe on one side, me and Stacie on the other. We talked for a while before our food came and we ate, before two boys came up to us.
"So are you like gay or something?" the guy on the right asked me, I stared at them before I answered, "uh, no. Why?" I asked, "well it was gonna be, either you were gay or fucking every girl at this table. That's the only way you're hanging out with all of them, rather than a couple of dudes," the guy on the left said, "oh, well I'm not fucking them all either, they're just my friends," I told the two.
"I'm Kyle, and that's, Jordy," the guy on the right said, "yup, we go to Barden too and seen the fight, it's trending on the school's website." the guy on the left-Jordy said, "really, that's sweet." I said, and all the girls looked at me disappointedly, "I'm mean, that sucks." I said rolling my eyes. "Kid, you are the most talked about person since Chicago." Kyle said, "you should hang with us, and our gang, we meet here every day. We are also on the basketball team and practice at the gym three times a week, you should stop by." Jordy said, "cool, I'll think about it!" I said before they left.
"No." Chloe said, and Stacie and Aubrey nodded their heads too, "no, what?" I asked, "don't hang out with them, they are friends with Quinn, and she's bad news." Chloe said, and I rolled my eyes "well, if I'm gonna tryout for the team, I'll have to be cool with everyone, that's common knowledge." I said, "well you can "be cool" with them and still not hang with them." Stacie said, I just sighed and nodded. The girls seem like they know what they're talking about, so if they say someone's bad news, they must be.
We finished eating and left soon after, heading back to my house. We-mainly them-decided to come over to my place sense only Chloe had been, and the other two wanted to see, for whatever reason. I parked my motorcycle and hopped off, opening the garage door, "this is the in-home garage, where me and my dad work out." I said showing the three, well two because Chloe already knows where everything is.
I walked into the house through the door in the garage, that led you into the kitchen, "this is the kitchen, good for whatever you wanna do in the kitchen." I said walking through it, the girls close behind, "this is the living room." I went through the living room up the stairs, towards my room, "and this is my humble abode." I said walking into my room, "wow, for a boy this is a very clean room" Aubrey said, "of course, that's the thing you're looking at." I said, "I think it's very well decorated, dark blue walls, red and black bed covers. Seems like you honestly." Stacie complimented, "ha, that's what I said, he didn't believe me, but here we are," Chloe said smugly, "you helped decorate the room?" Aubrey asked Chloe, who nodded in return "I had no idea what to do with my room so Chloe helped and it turned out great." I said.
"So, apart from the whole dramatic fight at the end of the day, how was your first day at Barden?" Stacie asked, once everyone settled down, "um, it was pretty good I guess, I'm well known, got great friends, meet the principal and put a punk in his place. I'd say that's one hell of a first day." I said, "well that's gre-" Chloe started before a notification bell went off on all of our phones, I looked at my phone and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.
"Who's this and why is it such a big deal he's coming back?" I asked the others, motioning to the thing on my phone. It was on the school website and said that this kid named, Tom was coming back to Barden from his family vacation. The more I looked at the photo the more the kid's face became familiar, but I couldn't put a pin in whatever it was that made him familiar.
"That. Is Tom Kennedy, only one of Barden's most sought for boys. The reason it is 'such a big deal' is because he is gonna destroy you, after what you did to Chicago, I mean they're practically brothers. The last kid that messed with Chicago, ended up in the ICU." Stacie said, "why didn't Tom go to jail, I mean putting a kid in the ICU is serious business?" I asked, "because everyone was too scared to tell, and Tom's parents, like Chicago's, are super powerful." Aubrey said, "damn, that's fucked up." I said shaking my head, "it is. But that's not the problem right now. The problem right now is that your life is physically in danger." Chloe said, eyes wide to emphasize her point, I scoffed, "did you see what I did to Chicago, I'm sure I can handle whatever this jerk throws at me." I said, "ok, but watch your back tomorrow, and if you need a safe place to go, go to our mom's office." Aubrey said, and I nodded.
We called it a night, and the girls left to go home after they left I got ready for bed and laid down, I plugged my phone up on its charger, and closed my eyes. That's when it hit me, I sat upright thinking back to the old house and that's when I was sure.
The reason this Tom kid looks so familiar is because, that's Sheila's nephew, she had pictures of him up in the old place, this was bad, if he figured out my past, everyone would hate me, and that is not the reinventing I wanted. Me and Tom had only met once, at a family reunion I was dragged to, he tried hitting on me and soon realized it wasn't working so he left me alone, apart from when we had to take pictures and he groped me, this kid has serious problems, but he gets away with it because his dad, owns one of the best companies in the USA.
I needed someone to talk to, but the two people I had died, and I knew my dad wouldn't understand, his words would be along the lines of, "why can't you two just be friends, your past doesn't determine your future always." and I'd say, "well, the past does own a great deal of leverage on the future." and then he'd lecture me, and we'd never get to the point. So my dad was out of the question, and that's when I got an idea.
I laid back down and closed my eyes, tomorrow was gonna be a long day, I had a feeling.
I woke up before my alarm, and it was currently 4:52, so I decided to get dressed, I wasn't working out this morning because I was way too nervous. I wore a simple white t-shirt, some light blue ripped jeans, and some all white retro 4's, I threw on a black bomber jacket to finish off the look. I walked downstairs and into the kitchen, I grabbed a bowl and made some cereal, cereal first because I'm not a monster, and then milk, it was cinnamon toast crunch if that detail matters to you.
I finished eating and made my way to the front door, I slowly opened the door and walked across the street to Chloe's house, I knocked on the door, knowing she was up already and waited. A few minutes later Chloe opened the door, looking like she'd been up for about the same amount of time as me, "oh, hey Beckett. You're not in running clothes." Chloe said as she looked me up and down, "nope, not today. Um, can we talk?" I asked, breath becoming increasingly heavy, "sure. Are you ok?" Chloe asked, voice full of concern, "yeah, just...never mind." I said, following her up to her room.
"So, what did you wanna talk about?" Chloe asked, shutting her room door, "um, well there's something I wanna tell you. Because you are like my closest friend I have here, and well, I feel like my secret is safe with you." I started off, "ok, well whatever it is you can tell me, this is a judgment-free zone." Chloe smiled at me, which relaxed me a little,.
"Ok, well first we should start at the very reason I'm telling you such a big thing. So you know Tom, obviously you do, well I know him too, my dad use to date his aunt, back when we lived in Maine. I have only met him once, but I was very different back then, like, life-changingly different." I stopped talking to gather my thoughts, "I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I am-well was. No more like when I was born I- you see it's complicated." it's like telling my dad all over again, and the look on Chloe's face would be hilarious if I wasn't the reason for her looking like that, so here goes nothing, "TRANSGENDER!" just like old times, "I'm transgender, and I need someone to talk to about it and your the only person who I felt wouldn't judge me." I said, Chloe stared at me for like four seconds-which felt like an eternity-before standing up to hug me, I stiffened a little before relaxing into the hug.
"I'm glad you felt like you could share such a big thing with me, and I'm even happier that you told me because that means you like me enough and consider me a great friend." Chloe said, before releasing me, we stood there in silence for a bit, before I spoke up, "you can ask questions if you want." "I'll wait it out, I mean there's a more important matter at hand, and that is Tom." Chloe said, "right, well as you probably guessed, the first time we meet, I was a girl, and if he realizes that I'm the same person, he could expose me, and that's the last thing I want." I said, starting to pace the room, "well, who else knows?" Chloe asked, "um, obviously my dad, and the school, also a few doctors in the area. But that's really it." I said, forcing myself to sit down in a chair.
"Do you wanna tell, Bree and Stace? They are pretty close to you, and would never tell everyone." Chloe asked, "I, well, I don't know, it could ruin everything between us." I said, "what do you mean, they are pretty chill, and hey, I'm gay and they're still my friends." that does make me feel slightly better, except for, "what if Stacie doesn't like me anymore?" I asked quietly, I could see Chloe had to strain to hear what I said, before she realized, "oh, I see, you've got yourself a bad case of 'the feels' it makes things hard to talk about, in fear that the person you're attracted to wouldn't be attracted to you." Chloe said, "we should talk about this later, it's not important right now. I say we tell Aubrey, but not Stacie, I feel better with it that way." I said, deciding to completely ignore the comment Chloe made, "alright, this is your thing, not mine, but I'll be there for emotional support." Chloe said.
Fast forward a bit and all four of us are at school, waiting for the bell to ring, "is it just me, or does Beckett look really nervous?" Stacie asked as we all stood around, "is it about Tom, if it is, word around the halls is that he is supposed to be in the office all morning." Aubrey said, "no, it's not about Tom, but that is very settling to know." I said, the bell rung and we were about to 'head to class'.
"Chloe what are you doing, your class is on the other side of the school?" Aubrey asked as Chloe followed us towards our class, "don't worry Bree, it'll all make sense." Chloe said, opening a bathroom door, that was my cue, I shoved Aubrey into the bathroom-gently of course-and walked in behind her, Chloe behind me, "what are you to doing, we're gonna be late to class, and get detention. On the second day, might I add!" Aubrey complained, Chloe, locked the door and looked under each stall making sure the room was completely empty, after receiving a thumbs up I started.
"Aubrey, there's something I want to tell you, and when I do, you can never tell anyone else, not even Stacie. Promise?" I asked, "I promise." Aubrey confirmed, "well, basically, I am, what I'm trying to say is, that I," I looked at Chloe who nodded an encouraging nod, "Aubrey, I am..."
A/N: …the devil, I am the most evilest person in the world for leaving the chapter off on a cliffhanger like that. But we all know what comes next. Or a least you think you do, hehe. But hey, at least I know you'll come back to see what happens orrrrrrr, you won't come back just in spite of me for ending it like that. Either way, it's a win-lose for someone.
But for really though, bye.