Work Text:
“Hey Hailey what’s up?”
Hailey, one of his 7th grade students, had stayed after class. This wasn’t uncommon. Their period was right before lunch so a lot of students would either hurry out of class or linger. Some days he even let students eat in his classroom. You would be promoted to a cool teacher if you let students eat in your class. Grace would be damned if he wasn’t considered a cool teacher. He had his limits of middle school drama, so he usually didn’t allow students on Wednesdays.
“I’m sorry Mr. Grace, I know you don’t let people stay and eat on Wednesdays but… I… I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Of course you can tell me anything.”
Grace has come to learn it’s hard to be a teenager. Especially a middle schooler. So many new emotions come in and groups start to form. It’s a confusing time for everyone… and everyone stinks.
“There have been some other kids…bullying me… it’s not that big of a deal I just ignore them- “
“I’m going to stop you right there. Bullying is a big deal and a serious offense. If someone is bullying you, I can help you report them.” Grace interrupted her. He’s seen what bullying can lead to. He hates seeing the light slowly leave his bright students.
“But Mr. Grace reporting them always does nothing.”
He hates that it’s true. The school will sometimes investigate, and it sometimes leads to disciplinary actions, but it hardly does anything. He always suggests it he is a teacher after all.
“Is there something you want me to do?”
“I just want to stay here… they always bother me at lunch.”
“Of course! Join me.”
Hailey smiled and sat down at her desk and pulled out her lunch. Grace felt bad. This girl was sitting alone in the corner of his classroom all because some middle schoolers thought they were better than her. He got up and sat near her.
“So, tell me about these bullies. What could they possibly be making fun of you for?”
“I…I don’t…” She looked at me sadly.
“Hey it’s ok. Whatever they’ve been saying to you is not true. Middle school is a wild time. They don’t know anything yet. I know it’s hard now but don’t let this ruin you.”
He could see tears form in her eyes. Oh boy, time to be the adult.
“I’m…they keep calling me names and saying horrible things…I… there’s a rumor…but it’s true…and I don’t know what to do anymore.”
At this point she was full on sobbing. Children were so cruel. He never really knew what to do in these scenarios, but he knows he has to comfort her.
“Whatever it is, I'm sure it’s not that bad. You’re a great kid; nothing could change that.”
“I…I think I’m gay.
She pauses for a moment but continues quickly like she was trying to defend herself from a horrible crime.
“I know I’m young and probably don’t know anything…but when I look at Alana…I feel something…you know?”
“It’s ok, Hailey. How ever you feel is how you feel. If it’s true to you then it’s true. Love however you want…I’m sorry other kids are being rude to you. One day hopefully they will mature enough to understand it doesn’t matter and is none of their business. But if they don’t guess what? You get to choose who is in your life. Hang in there Hailey you’ll be just fine.”
She smiles and starts crying harder. She throws herself up to hug him. It caught him off guard for a moment, but he hugged her back. He pulled away and smiled at her.
“Now enjoy your lunch. I'm going back to my lunch.”
Grace got up to go back to his desk.
“Wait Mr. Grace I have a question”
“Ask away”
“Well…some students have been saying stuff about you…I was wondering if you might…you know…you know forget I asked.”
“Oh”
She was asking him about his relationships? He’s had a girlfriend in the past. He had a good time with her. They weren’t really a good match and…well she broke up with him. He just had terrible luck with relationships. He was content teaching his class. He liked his dinner dates with his friend Melissa. He didn’t like her like that. She was more like a sister at this point. He… experimented with guys and he felt the same way he does with girls so maybe he was bisexual. But he put a pin in that a while ago.
“I’m not a big relationship guy. Ha at this point I don’t think there’s anyone on this planet who’s right for me.”
That earned him a small giggle from her.
—————————
“Good morning, friend Grace! Did you have a good dream?”
Grace groans. How early is it? Why is Rocky here?
“Hey pal, why are you here?”
“I missed my friend.”
He missed Rocky too. That's nice of him…wait a minute this is Rocky we are talking about that can’t be the only thing. Wait, he almost forgot.
“Wait a moment, isn't today supposed to be your first day back at work?”
“No”
“It totally is. What’s wrong Rock? Don’t want to go to work?”
“I haven’t worked a normal job in over 50 years. Other Eridians... seem so different now. I don’t fit in.”
Grace can’t believe Rocky’s, well for a lack of a better word, so blind. Those engineers that he met were so impressed by Rocky. They were so nice as well and so curious. Rocky would fit right in. Curse that stupid mission that hurt his friend. He doesn't care if that's how they met he still wishes that Rocky was never hurt.
“What are you talking about? Those other engineers admire you so much. I’m sure you’ll do great.”
“Thanks….can we still talk…I don’t want to go yet.”
Grace hates to admit it but he misses waking up to Rocky at his side. He could tell he was still nervous so maybe he could help him relax.
“Of course, what do you want to talk about?”
“Tell me about your dream”
Rocky climbed up into Grace’s bed and laid down next to him. Grace, who was quite frankly still tired from being asleep just moments ago, laid back down in his bed.
“Oh well it was actually a memory.”
“Amaze amaze amaze!”
“Yeah, it was about me teaching.”
“I love Grace’s teaching stories!”
“Yeah, well I wasn’t really teaching in this story I was comforting a student.”
“Was the student sad and leaking?”
“Yeah, she was…see you understand that humans have two sexes?”
“Yes, you explained it on the Hail Mary a long time ago.”
“Well, those are the two most common sexes. There are actually more. Then there’s the difference between gender and sex.”
“Don’t understand”
“Basically sex can be what you are physically, it can also be what you present as…it’s complicated. But gender is more mental orientated. It’s about what makes you feel like you. You can be masculine, feminine, neither, or even both. However, humans created… standards about what is normal so it’s not all socially acceptable. It used to be really bad in the past, but humans have come a long way from then. However, the world is still full of hate. Some people still don’t find it acceptable. See the most acceptable thing socially is to be cis and straight, which means you stick with your sex assigned at birth and you date…or find a mate of the opposite sex. I’m sorry this is probably confusing for you.”
“Rocky understands. Humans think something is not normal but other humans are just being themselves.”
“Yeah! Is there something similar here on Erid?”
“Yes, it is not normal to have one mate. Most Eridians have multiple, usually 3 to 4.”
“So, you and Adrian…”
“Yes, we are not normal. Other Eridian can be bothersome.”
“Yeah, this is similar to my human thing. But on Earth we have something called pride. Humans formed a community to support each other. So, everyone who is considered not normal can be there for one another.”
“Very nice, Erid is similar. Many people support Rocky and Adrian.”
“That’s good you guys are the sweetest couple I know.”
Rocky hummed a pleased noise from his compliment. He loved Rocky and Adrian’s relationship. They are very gentle with each other. It’s the time of thing that makes you want to jump out a window. He’s never thought like this before. He honestly didn’t care about other people’s relationships. He used to. It's not like he’s never dated anyone. Every time he tried it didn’t work out. They were usually so… forward.
“Tell me about your dream now.”
“Oh, right yeah… I had a student. See I taught middle school. It’s a very common time to figure yourself out. So, a lot of students find out that they might not be “normal.” It’s a hard time. They’re so young yet feel like they have to have it all figured out. So, one of my students, Hailey, found out she was attracted to the same sex. She confided this information with me. I, to be honest, don't know why she told me. I’m honored she trusts me but… I don’t know.”
It really doesn’t make sense. He supported his lgbtq+ students so maybe they just told each other about him. Hailey said something about other students talking about him…oh my god they all thought he was gay. He thought maybe only Hailey was alluding to it but oh god she meant…he’s so stupid. He almost forgot what they were talking about until Rocky spoke up.
“Grace is really easy to talk to.”
“You think?”
“I know so.”
“Thanks Rock.”
Rocky had his moments of being really sweet.
“Will you explain more human mating rituals?”
Well, it couldn’t last forever.
“Woah there buddy this is not mating rituals. This is human sexuality, meaning who someone is attracted to.”
“What does Grace like?”
“Oh umm… I don’t know…that’s kind of private.”
“Grace said he had a female mate in the past.”
“Yes, I did…I’m…I’m not a big relationship person. I don’t know, it’s confusing.”
“Then Grace explains it.”
“I’m sorry Rock I don’t think I can explain it…I never thought about it if I’m being honest.”
“That’s ok, will you explain other human sexualities.”
“Oh, right well it’s called homosexuality if you’re into the same sex. It’s called bisexuality if you’re into multiple sexes. It’s called asexuality if you’re not into sex…um… sorry there’s a lot more. I’m trying to remember the ones my students told me about. There was one called pansexual that meant you don’t consider gender when…um picking a mate. I think that’s all I remember. You’ll have to look it up on your thinking machine later. It's very interesting.”
“It is very complicated. Humans like their labels.”
“Sometimes those labels help people find a community full of support.”
“Rocky will definitely learn more.”
Grace knows he shouldn’t feel bad, but he does. Rocky wanted to know more about him and he dodged the question.
“Umm Rocky…I think I might be bisexual…you know since you asked.”
“I thought you said you didn’t like relationships, is that not asexual?”
“I…”
No, he doesn't think he is. he didn’t mind doing…it. He's had sex before. He feels pleasure. It’s just not a big deal. So, what if he didn’t have the biggest sex drive. Shouldn’t that be more desirable? So many men are so forward, and don’t even get him started on the mushy love songs. It’s just not that big of a deal…right? Relationships were hard work and he was…busy. Some things were just higher on his list. Education is important. Everyone knows that. He couldn’t be distracted when he was getting his bachelors…or masters…or doctorate…. Ok maybe he was but, it’s not like that matters. He’s the only human on an alien planet.
“Rocky make Grace freak out apologize apologize apologize.”
“Oh no its ok buddy…I just never thought about it…. Maybe I will also spend some time researching the thinking machine too.”
Grace chuckles at his joke. And his kids thought they had to understand everything at 13 when he’s still learning about himself at 37…or whatever age he was now. Stupid time dilation. This has been a revealing conversation but Rocky has stalled for long enough.
"Now I think it's time you went to work."
Rocky did what Grace could only describe as a groan and got up slowly.
"Goodbye friend Grace see you later"
"Yeah, I'll see you later, Rock,"
He has a lot to think about.