The soft melody of my arm sounds in my ear, and I shoot straight up. Anxiety and joy flood into my brain as I remember what today is. I smile as I climb out of bed and head straight to the bathroom.

  My shower is nice and rexing, if a little short. You could have taken a longer shower if you had gone to bed at a decent time, Emmy. After quickly washing my face, throwing on my makeup, and drying and brushing my hair, I head back to my room, towel wrapped around my body.

  My clothes are hanging exactly where I left them st night. I throw on the tights and pid dress, before doing up my shoes and throwing on a thin sweater. In case it’s cold this morning. I admire myself for a moment, enjoying the way my hair shimmers like the night sky. I look so hot!

  “Emmy! Breakfast!” My mom shouts from elsewhere in the house.

  I gleefully skip out to the dining room, and sit at the table next to my mom. A smile alights onto my face as I recognize the curry ftbread thing that started my becoming a vegetarian. I happily sit and munch on it while my mom eats hers.

  Once I’m done eating, I smile at her. “What do you think of my outfit?”

  “Looks good.” She says with a grin. “That’s clearly your favorite dress.”

  “Yeah…” I say softly. “It just looks so good.”

  “It does.” She replies. “I like your makeup today too. Did you do something new?”

  “Yeah!” I respond happily. “I found a tutorial the other day, and I’ve been trying to get it to work. I like it a lot.”

  “It looks great.” She says. “What’s it called?”

  “It’s like an e-girl doll style,” I say, remembering the title of the video. “I think.”

  “I guess that makes sense.” She replies. “You ready to go?”“Yup!” I say. “It’s funny.”

  “What’s funny?” She asks.

  “Last year I had barely anyone to talk to.” I say. “This year, I’ve got two people wanting to drive me to school.”

  “And yet you chose me.” My mom says with a smile.

  “I didn’t want to make either of them pick up Caleb too.” I expin. “They both would’ve, Tyler for sure, but I’d rather just keep tradition.”

  “At least until you start dating one of them.” My mom says with a grin.

  “Yeah, until then…” I say softly. “I’m giving myself a time limit on that. I will ask one of them out by Friday.”

  “I don’t know if that’s necessarily a good idea…” My mom says slowly. “But if it’s what helps you, then so be it.”

  “I think it will help.” I admit. “I need to make a decision.”

  Mom smiles at me. “Either way, let’s go.”

  I grab my backpack, which is surprisingly girly for being the same bag I used st year. Or unsurprisingly, I suppose. The drive to Caleb’s is quick, and I grin at him as he hops in the back seat.

  “Hey, Emmy!” He says as he does up his seat belt. “Good morning, Ev.”

  “Good morning, Caleb.” Mom responds. “You excited for today?”

  “Very.” He says with a smile. “A little worried though.”

  “About what?” I ask.

  “You.” He replies. “After what you said at that airsoft game, I started doing research. So now I’m gonna be shadowing you to make sure no one fucks with you.” He lets out a short cough. “Pardon my nguage, Ev.”

  “You’re good.” She replies with a smile in the rearview mirror. “I’m gd Emmy has someone like you to look out for her.”

  “Don’t gotta tell me twice.” He says happily. “I’ll always protect my lil sis.”

  “Little?!” I shout indignantly. “I’m younger by half a month.”

  “Which means you’re my little sister.” He replies firmly. “I’d protect you either way though. Older or younger.”

  “Thanks, Brother.” I respond with a soft smile. “It genuinely does mean a lot.”

  He reached forward and taps his knuckles against my shoulder. “Any time, Sis.”

  The rest of the drive is spent in retive silence, and I happily lean against the seatbelt. Before long we’re pulling up to the line of cars waiting to drop people off. My mom drives past them, and stops near the entrance we used st time.

  “Have a wonderful day, you two.” My mom says with a smile.

  “We will.” Caleb and I chorus.

  “And Emmy,” She says, and gives me a look. “You call me if something happens, okay?”

  “I will.” I say, while holding her gaze. “I promise.”

  With that, Caleb and I hop out, and my mom drives away. He and I walk in companionable silence through the gss doors, and into the foyer. There are plenty of people milling about, and I scan the space for Paige or Tyler, but don’t see either of them.

  “What’s your first css?” Caleb asks.

  “Sociology.” I reply.

  “Here, lemme see your schedule.” He says. I pull up the photo on my phone and hand it to him. “Wow.” He says, looking it over. “We only have one css together, and it’s tomorrow.”

  “Dang.” I reply softly. “Too bad.”

  We walk together up the stairs and to the second floor. I continue not seeing either of my other friends as I amble to my first css of the day. We stop outside the door, and I lean against the cool brick wall.

  “Caleb, I just wanna say thanks, again.” I say with a soft sigh. “It really means a lot to me how well you’ve taken everything.”

  “Of course, Sis.” He says with a grin. “I’ll see you at lunch, yea?”

  “Yeah.” I reply. “Wanna meet in the library?”

  “You got it.” He says, and walks away.

  I head into the cssroom where a few students are sitting. I blink as I see my friend standing next to the teacher. “Paige?!” I excim in surprise.

  “Oh,” She says, and turns to give me a bright smile. “Hey, Emmy!”

  We walk towards each other and she envelopes me in a tight hug. “I missed you.” I murmur into her shoulder.

  She pulls back slightly, but keeps her hands on my shoulders. “I missed you too, hon.” She says with a smile, and then turns back. “Right, Ms. Thomas, this is my best friend, Emmy!”

  “Hello, Emmy.” She says with a smile. “I assume you being here means you’re in my css?”

  “It does.” I reply awkwardly. “Um, is there a seating chart?”

  She ughs softly and waves her hand. “No, just sit wherever.”

  “Thank you.” I reply softly.

  She reaches for a piece of paper. “Valera, right?”

  “Yes.” I reply.

  “Got an email about you recently.” She responds. “If you ever need anything, my door is always open.”

  “Thank you.” I repeat.

  “I should probably get to css.” Paige says with a smile. “Ms. Thomas is a great teacher, you’ll love her.”

  “You were an easy student to teach.” Ms. Thomas replies.

  “Thank you.” Paige says, and then turns back to me. “See you ter, yea?”

  “Yeah.” I reply. “I’ll be in the library at lunch if you want to come hangout with my brother and I.”

  “Sounds great.” She says. “I’ll bring Faye and Rachel.”

  “Yay!” I respond, a bit too loudly.

  She reaches forward and taps her finger on my nose. “You’re just too cute, Emmy.”

  I smile nervously as she pulls me into another hug, pnts a chaste kiss on my cheek, and then walks out the door. I immediately make my way to a seat near the back and against the wall, before pulling a book out of my bag to pass the time.

  After a few more minutes, the bell rings. I look up to see that the css is almost entirely full now. Ms. Thomas steps up to the front and smiles brightly at everyone. After a few moments of looking over the room, she speaks up.

  “Ho a todas, y bienvenidos al espa?ol uno!” She says with a big smile.

  I immediately pull out my phone and check my schedule, along with apparently most of the css. ‘Sociology - Ms. Thomas - Rm 215’ I look back up at the teacher. This is the right css, maybe she forgot?

  A small giggle erupts from her lips. “Got ya!” She shouts. “Hello everyone, and welcome to sociology!”

  The css lets out a relieved ugh, and I smile at the teacher. I think I’m going to like this css.

  “Alright, I’m going to quickly make sure everyone is here, and then we will get started.” She says, as she holds up a piece of paper on a clipboard. “Juliet Adams?”

  “Here!” A tall girl right in front of me says, and raises her hand.

  “Jonah Ats?”

  “Litty titty!” A man with a slightly off center mohawk replies.

  “Don’t do that.” Ms. Thomas says with a ugh, and then continues through the rest of the many names, with each person responding with a variant of ‘here’. “Emmy Valera?”

  “Here!” I say excitedly, and raise my hand.

  “Looks like that’s everyone.” She responds brightly. “Gd to see no one is skipping the first day.” She starts passing piles of papers to the first in each row. “Take one and pass it back.” She says. “This is your course sylbus. On this is every assignment we will do, as well as its grade value. I need you to get your parents to sign off at the bottom, and no I will not be accepting them back until Wednesday, so no one turn these in at the end of css.”

  I let out a soft chuckle at this. I guarantee she’s had people do exactly that before. She spends the next bit of css going through the sylbus, expining a few of the assignments, and talking about the css.

  “And now,” She says, as she pulls down the rge screen for the projector. “We’re going to watch a video.”

  The video ends up being a short documentary on the effects of Bavid Dowie’s music on society. I gnce around the room, and see that most people aren’t even paying attention. Come on, we could be doing something boring. The least you can do is watch! I blink in surprise at the thought. Who knew that all it took to make me like school was realizing I was a girl.

  The rest of css goes by quickly, and near the end, I watch Paige slip into the room and stand by the door. Ms. Thomas gives her a look, and she returns a wink, before grinning at me. Ms. Thomas follows her gaze, and nods nearly imperceptibly.

  “Well, that’s it for today!” The teacher says brightly. “I hope all your csses are as easy as this one.”

  “Thank you.” I reply, along with a couple of other people.

  The bell rings, and I happily approach Paige. “How was it?” She asks, as she gives me a hug.

  “Good.” I respond. “She scared me at first by speaking in spanish. I thought I was in the wrong pce.”

  “She likes to do that.” Paige says with a smile. “Can I walk you to your next css?”

  “Please.” I say happily.

  She takes my hand, and pulls me out of the room. “Where to?”

  I check my phone and look ahead. “Math. Room three twelve.”

  “Off we go!” Paige says, and strokes my knuckles while we walk.

  “How was your first css?” I ask casually.

  “Good.” She responds. “I had anatomy one with Mrs. Stott.” She says with a low voice.

  “Is something wrong with that css?” I ask.

  “The teacher is just kind of an ass.” Paige responds lightly. “Vaguely queerphobic.”

  “Ah, I’m sorry.” I say.

  “No biggie.” She responds.

  We walk into my next css, and I see on the whiteboard a seating chart drawn in marker. At least I’m by the wall. I walk over to my desk, and set my stuff down. I take my seat, and Paige sits on my desk.

  “So, what’s Mr. Lewis like?” I ask.

  “He’s young.” She replies. “Kinda nerdy, and will ramble if you let him, but is also a bit more strict. Chip on his shoulder, ya know.”

  “I get it.” I respond happily.

  Paige strokes my hair lovingly. “I should get going. Can I meet you here after css?”

  “Of course!” I say brightly, and smile at her.

  She blushes and shakes her head. “You’re gonna be the death of me, cutie.”

  “What did I do?” I ask, confused.

  “You’re just too c-”

  She is cut off by a loud feminine voice. “Danny!?”Panic floods my system, and I freeze. May stands there in the doorway, also frozen. I can do nothing but stare at her like a deer in the headlights, before Paige pulls me close to her, and tilts my head back to look at her.

  “So, anyway, lunch at the library with your brother, yea?” She says, steadfastly ignoring May.

  “Yeah.” I reply softly, as I feel my panic lessening. Thank you so fucking much Paige. Maybe nobody will pick up that she’s talking to me.

  My hopes are dashed as May storms straight up to me, and is met with a palm to the chest, courtesy of Paige. “What the fuck, Danny?!” She shouts.

  “Back off, Sail.” Paige says authoritatively, and then lowers her voice so that only us three can hear it. “Emmy is mine.”

  I blush at the possessiveness in her words, and ignore the pang of guilt as Tyler steps into my mind.

  Someone clears their throat loudly. “What is going on here?!”

  I turn to see a small balding man, who looks to be in his te twenties.

  “Nothing.” May says quickly.

  Paige stares daggers at May, but doesn’t add anything to the expnation.

  “Then,” He says sternly. “Would you kindly move to your seats, and keep quiet?”

  May doesn’t respond, and just walks towards a seat. Paige smiles gently at me, and gives me a peck on the forehead, before saying loudly. “See you ter, Emmy.”

  “Later…” I say softly, and then look down at my desk.

  A small murmur of voices ripple through the room, before someone speaks louder. “Um, teacher, there’s someone in my seat.”

  I look up, and see a rger polynesian looking boy standing at the front of the room. The teacher looks at him, and sighs. “Name?”

  “Jackson Kent.” He replies evenly.

  “Jackson…” The teacher says, and looks over the diagram, before turning to look at the students. “You, blonde girl, what’s your name?”

  “May Sail.” She replies nervously.

  “You’re supposed to be over there, behind the girl with the dyed hair.” He says, and points at me.

  Of fucking course.