Chapter Text
It was a mostly cloudy day in Elmore & the sun, which was peaking through the clouds, was beginning to set, however as winter was nearing its end, the sun was setting later than it had done previously. Two friends sat in their school's stadium staring in opposite directions while chatting.
"My cardigan has a hole in the sleeve," Clare Cooper complained, holding her left arm stretched out in front of her.
"Nooo, you love that cardigan!" Wilson Bilson replied in an apologetic tone.
"I'll have to get someone to sew it for me, I dunno how to," Clare sighed, "maybe Jodie knows how."
There was silence for a moment before Wilson said, "hey, Clare.. how do you know when you're interested in someone?"
"I dunno, you don't hate talking to them? Most people aren't that interesting."
"No like romantically."
Clare turned her head enough to see her best friend in her peripheral vision. "You like someone? Who?"
"I'm asking because I don't know if I do, Clare," he replied.
"Well, when I started liking Jared, anytime I was around him it felt like the world stopped moving, & I saw hearts whenever I gazed into his eyes, & it felt like there was a knot in my stomach."
"I'm made of paper so I don't really have a stomach."
"Touché."
Wilson hesitated, "um.. Clare?"
She silently prompted him to continue.
"I.. think I might like a boy."
"Do you think you're gay?"
"I don't know. I don't know what I am."
"Hmm.. you could always talk to Mr. Corneille. Whenever I have a problem I go to him & he's pretty good at helping me out. He gives great advice," Clare suggested.
"That's true, you do go to him for a lot of problems," Wilson replied.
Clare placed a sleeve-covered hand on her friend's shoulder, "hey, thank you for trusting me enough to begin to open up about this to me."
Wilson smiled warmly. He knew he could trust his best friend with anything.
***
The paper boy headed into the building as a few students belonging to various after school clubs began making their ways home. He knew the teachers wouldn't be staying behind for much longer, so he had to be fast. He headed straight for the geography classroom on the second floor where he knew he'd find Mr. Corneille.
"Ah, Wilson B., I was just about to leave. What brings you here?" The teacher asked in an overtly casual tone.
"Uh, I uh.." Wilson all of a sudden began to panic. Why was he talking to his geography teacher about this, & right as he was about to head home as well. "Actually, never mind it's alright."
"Nonsense. Come, sit," Mr. Corneille gestured to an empty chair.
Wilson hesitantly made his way over.
"So what's troubling you, young man?"
"I feel like this isn't something I should be talking to a teacher about, but Clare suggested I come see you because she likes your advice & I thought it was a good idea.."
Mr. Corneille waited silently for a continuation.
"I'm.. not sure how I feel about this boy.." Wilson said, nervously, "he's my best friend aside from Clare, but lately I've been feeling differently about him & I think it might be a crush, but I've never felt this way about a boy before & I'm not actually sure what I'm feeling."
"So you're having trouble in the love department?"
Wilson hesitantly nodded, clearly unsure of his answer.
"Well this is the social studies department, love department's that way." Mr. Corneille pointed at nothing.
"What?"
"If romance is what's on your mind, that is unfortunately not my area of expertise. I can give you general life advice or teach you geography. If it's your identity that you need help with, Mr. Small is just down the hall, he can help you with anything you need. & Edinburgh's the capital of Scotland."
"Oh. Yeah I guess this isn't something you're qualified for. Sorry for wasting your time, sir," Wilson apologised, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Don't be, my door is always open & students are always welcome for a chat, whatever that chat may be," Mr. Corneille replied, "I'm just redirecting you to someone who can help you more than I can. Also Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe."
"Thank you sir," Wilson said as he stood up & left the room.
Clare was waiting outside the room, leaning mysteriously against the wall, her green sparkly hair covering just one eye.
"Well, do you feel better?" She asked.
"He said it was really more of a conversation to have with Mr. Small than with him," Wilson replied, "I'm gonna head to his office & hope he's still here."
Clare narrowed her eyes slightly, "okay.. but I should warn you, that guy is an absolute nut. I'm glad you're talking to someone about this though instead of bottling up how you feel."
"Yeah, I've definitely heard strange things about Mr. Small. I think Josh likes him a lot though, so he can't be that bad."
"Yeah but Josh is weird," said Clare, "so.. mind if I ask who you may or may not have your eye on?"
Wilson blushed slightly & looked away, "I'd really rather figure out how I feel about him before I say anything out loud."
"It's okay, I get that."
The two waved goodbye to each other before heading in opposite directions. Clare headed back out of the building while Wilson made his way to the guidance councillor's office.
As he approached the office, Wilson got a whiff of something through the cracks of the door. It was definitely some kind of candle or incense but he couldn't quite place it. Good thing was, that meant Mr. Small hadn't left yet, & would still be around to chat. The paper boy turned the doorknob & entered the room to see the guidance councillor sat cross legged on the floor with multiple lit scented candles around him.
Mr. Small gestured to his own chair. "Have a seat, I sensed you'd come here."
"You did?" Wilson asked with a genuinely perplexed situation.
"With my sixth sense!" He replied, then muttered under his breath, "& because I saw you through the little window on the door."
Wilson nervously took a seat at Mr. Small's desk. He felt like he was doing something he shouldn't by sitting there.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Mr. Corneille told me to come, he thought it'd be better if I spoke to you rather than to him," Wilson started, "lately I've been having some feelings that I've never had before.. about a boy."
The guidance councillor silently prompted him to continue speaking.
"The boy in question is one of my best friends & I'm really scared that what I'm feeling is gonna ruin our friendship!" Wilson paused before admitting, "I think I have romantic feelings for him."
Steve smiled & nodded, "ah yes, this part. Don't worry, lots of kids your age feel this way! I know I did."
Wilson was momentarily taken aback, "wait, are you gay?"
"Well, I don't like to label it, but yeah I'm queer," Mr. Small smiled.
Feeling a small amount of pressure lift off his chest, Wilson looked down half smiling & said "oh, okay."
"Listen Wilson, I have a yoga class I'm teaching in about 20 minutes, but if you want to come back to see me tomorrow or at any other point, my door is always open!" Mr. Small said kindly, standing up & heading around to where the student was sitting.
"I think I will, thank you sir."
"Oh you don't have to call me that! Just Mr. Small is fine," Steve smiled as he began rummaging through his desk drawer.
"Uhh.. what are you doing?" Wilson asked.
A few seconds later, Mr. Small stood back up with a tiny paper bag, "have these stickers!"
"Thanks, but I'm not a five year old at the dentist."
"Correct! You're a thirteen year old in the councillors office!" He beamed as he opened the bag & showed the contents to Wilson, "these are rainbow pride stickers!"
"Why are you giving these to me?"
"Because I have like 200 of them & I stick them everywhere," Mr. Small gestured to the side of his filing cabinet, then to the base of his monitor, then to his water bottle, all of which had a minimum of two rainbow stickers, "& to remind you that you're not alone & you've always got at least one ally: me!"
"Oh. Thank you," Wilson replied, genuinely.
"Alright, I'm gonna head out now. I suggest you do the same."
They both left the office & made their own ways out of the building.
As he walked, Wilson's eyes darted around a little, trying to process his thoughts. He wasn't used to talking about this kind of thing out loud, it was the kind of thing he'd always felt he had to keep to himself, but with his newfound feelings for his friend, he knew he couldn't bottle it up anymore. He sighed rather loudly, truly feeling like just by briefly talking about it with someone who'd experienced a similar thing that a huge burden was being lifted from him. Perhaps tonight, for the first time in a long time, he'd finally get a good night's sleep.