Chapter Text
Will is utterly confused. Just a week ago he didn’t even know who his dad was, and now he finds out his dad is a famous musician and has enrolled him in Azolla Academy, the most prestigious, private boarding school for the rich.
He’s in the back of his dad’s white Lexus while Dan, Apollo’s chauffeur, quietly drives. Will can hear the faint sound of the jazz station from the backseat. The stiff white seats he’s sitting on scare Will; they are a little too clean for a car that’s used as often as Will would assume. (If you’re going to pay $50,000 for a car, you are going to use it often, right?)
Will misses his Mama and his best friends and he misses the horses and barbecue and- yeah, Will just misses Texas. Though he’s glad to get away from all the transphobia that seemed to be present everywhere in a Texas Small Town.
Is it that hard to just accept that Will is a boy and it’s not going to fucking change? Why do we have to be upset at people just living their damn lives? Will’ll never know.
Maybe Azolla will be different.
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Pulling into Azolla’s front road is something Will will never forget. Will can barely see from where he is, but he can tell the school is giant. It’s made of three buildings, the biggest of them centered in the back of the lot. If you stare straight at the biggest building, to your left is the smallest, which seems square-ish and is two floors tall. To your right is a three story, L-shaped living quarters.
Each of the buildings are connected with a surprisingly clean marble path, the marble was broken into fragments and pasted together in what Will thinks is called ‘crazy paving.’ There was a big marble fountain surrounded by a long bench and flowers.
There are patches of grass for recreation, many arrangements of chairs, benches, and other things to sit on. Big oak trees are planted in a line, framing the road that leads from the front gate to the school. Many students are seen chatting under the weeping willows scattered around the grass recreational areas. Other students are seen leaning against walls, lying in the grass, playing games on the turf, and many other things teens will find themselves doing on a weekend.
As Dan pulls up to the gate, Will notices a woman. She had a dark red skirt and a white blouse. Her grey hair was professionally curled and her face appeared cakey with makeup. She smacks her lipstick-red lips together as she approaches the car. Dan rolls down the window.
The lady peers into the car, staring Will down. “Are you Winifred Solace?”
Will’s breath catches; he would assume that his father would make the school aware of his transition, but that was hopeful thinking. His dad didn’t even know what he looked like.
“Um, yes. But ma’am, I go-”
“Excellent! Alright young lady, have your driver get your bag and we can walk to the main office.” Then she winks, “I hope you brought something other than makeup.”
~~~~~~
Will walks down this marble path, the lady, who introduced herself as Edith, is constantly talking in Will’s ear. Edith’s heels click against the stone; Will wants to cover his ears with how annoying it is.
“So Winifred, you’ll be having a fellow student give you a tour, and since there’s no classes on Sundays you will be allowed your own time to settle after. We’re almost to the office, is there any more questions you have while we’re on the way?”
Nodding, Will opens his mouth to respond, “Can you call me Will? That’s what I go by, and it’s just that my dad doesn’t know so he didn’t request it when he enrolled me.”
Pursing her lips, Edith sighs like Will just asked her to clean a fast food chain’s bathroom. “Dear, you have to go by your real name here. If you seriously need to go by,” Edith sneers, and her tone disgusted, like the name is poisonous, “Will, then you have to have your parents make a formal request. Even that will take a couple months. We are very busy here, Winifred.” They approach an area where the path curves around a beautifully carved fountain. The fountain is surrounded by a jungle of flowers and perfectly pruned shrubs. Edith takes Will’s shocked silence as agreement and continues, “We encourage you to be your real selves here at Azolla. You can’t just pretend to be something you’re not. I understand how that can be difficult, but we can work together on it alright?” They enter the big double doors that lead to the main lobby of the school, Edith holding the door for Will even though she is also carrying his duffle bag and backpack. Will’s just glad the rest of his things are coming in the mail, because Edith would probably insist she carry it. And Will does not need anything to make him feel bad about this transphobic, sexist, old woman.
Edith brings Will to the main office, leading him inside and into a waiting room. She sets the bags down and turns to Will, pointing to one of the many doors in the long hallway. “I’ll be in that room if you ever want to talk, I’m here for every student.” She turns to the plush couches in the waiting room, “You may sit here and wait for your student guide. Lucy, the secretary, can help if you need anything. Goodbye!”
Edith walks off into her office and all Will can think is: fuck, this is going to be terrible.