Chapter Text
Alex hated this new school, and that was just an understatement. She never thought she would admit it, but she sort-of missed her old Christian school. Sort-of.
She’s had to correct at least 12 different people about her name, and about 15 about her pronouns, one of them being her sister, Samirah.
Sam’s reaction to Alex coming out wasn’t as bad as Alex had expected. Sam kinda shrugged, said ‘Okay, if it makes you happy,’ and went back to her math.
Alex was walking home now. Well, not to her home technically. But it was closer to home than her house would ever be.
Her dad ‘forgot’ about her. Again.
AKA, she was kicked out momentarily for God knows what. Probably for her outfit today or something. Maybe he found her trans flag. Alex wasn’t too worried about it, it just meant she didn’t have to see him today.
Alex finally arrived at her destination. The apartments on 53rd, where her best friend, Adrian Wagner lived. She didn’t need an invitation anymore, she was pretty sure the old lady that owned the building thought she lived there.
Alex skipped up the staircase to floor 2. She hopped up to door 237, knocking her same knock as always. The familiar shrill scream of Adrians mother came through : “Adrian! Get the damn door!”
A door shut, and pitter-patters of feet came towards the door. He opened the peep-hole–he always does, even if he knows it’s Alex–and swung open the door.
His curly brown hair was slightly disheveled and his eye bags were deeper.
“You look horrible.”
“Hush. Come in.”
Adrian led her through the dirty hallway of his apartment to his room. He shut the door and tackled Alex onto his bed, hugging her firmly around the waist.
Heat rose to Alex’s cheeks. “Hey, whats going on exactly–“ She started.
“My mom might send me back to the mental place.”
“Oh.” She sighed.
“She found out that I actually didn’t get fully better when I was in there.”
“Oh.” She rubbed his back and buried her face into his mess of hair.
Then Adrian started crying. He cried a lot.
“It’ll be okay, I don’t think she can even afford to make you go back, honestly.” Alex wasn’t great at comforting people, probably has something to do with the fact she wasn’t ever really comforted as a child.
They just laid there for hours, holding each other. Until Alex got a call from her father.
She sighed and sat up, answering the call.
“What–“
“Where the hell are you, young man?”
The word ‘man’ lingered in Alex’s mind more than he liked.
“Where am I whenever I’m not at our shit-show of a house?” That earned a giggle from Adrian.
“I am coming to pick you up, you ungrateful piece of shit.” And he hung up.
Alex threw her phone.
“Great. I didn’t watch my tone. Now I wonder what he’s gonna do today. Hit me or rape me.” Alex didn’t know when she started crying but the tears were making her eyes burn. Adrian wrapped his arms around her, squeezing softly.
“It’ll be okay.”
He planted a soft kiss to her temple, making Alex blush.
”Come over tomorrow and tell me about your new school, yeah? Sorry you couldn’t tell me today.” Adrian blushed, leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips.
Alex and Adrian weren’t really dating, she thinks.
They met 3 years ago, when they were both 13. They were roommates at a shitty mental institution, and started liking each other. They never made anything official, but they cuddle a lot, kiss sometimes and have made out with each other more times than they would like to admit.
A honk of a car outside the apartments startled Alex. She gave Adrian one more squeeze on his hand and walked outside to her doom.