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Elle and Charlie have been best friends for a while. They met when hiding in the art room from bullies with Mr Ajayi. Elle Argent has been bullied a lot recently since she came out as trans and Charlie Spring has been bullied since he was accidentally outed as gay by his friend Tao Xu.
Elle is in the year above Charlie so they don’t see each other a lot apart from at lunchtimes. Elle is in the same year as Nick Nelson the rugby hero of the school. He’s probably one of the only boys in her year that hasn’t said anything transphobic to her.
Today Elle and Charlie are painting landscapes in the art room. Elle has noticed that Charlie hasn’t eaten anything. However when she asks he just says he isn’t feeling well. Sometimes she worries about Charlie he seems so sad and withdrawn a lot of the time. The only people he talks to at school are Elle, Tao and Aled.
“Tao has invited us and Aled to come watch movies at his house this weekend.”
”I hope he picks something fun this time. I’m tired of all of the serious movies.”
”Yeah I want to watch a comedy or something. I need a laugh.”
“Should I bring some home baked cookies?”
“Oh yes, Tao loves the chocolate chip cookies.”
Elle smiles quietly to herself. She’s recently been developing a bit of a crush on Tao but she doesn’t think he’ll ever feel the same way and she can’t lose him. He’s one of her closest friends now and she trusts him with her life.
“I think Tao likes you Elle. I noticed him looking at you when you were last over.”
“Shut up Charlie. No he doesn’t, I heard he fancies some girl at Higgs.”
”Nonsense Tao never talks to anyone from Higgs and he didn’t dance with any of the girls there when we had that dance in year 8.”
They argue back and forth for a while until Mr Ajayi threatens to kick them out of the room. That soon shuts them up.
“I’m actually starting at Higgs in September. I’m looking forward to a fresh start but I’m also scared because I don’t know anyone and I’ll miss you, Tao and Aled.”
”Don’t worry about Elle. You’ll fit in really well and you’ll make new friends in no time and plus you can still hang out with me, Tao and Aled after school.”
“Yeah that’s true.”
They both finish their landscapes by the time the school bell rings for class. Mr Ajayi says he’ll hang up the pictures in the classroom.