trans mtf · emo aesthetic · high school · cheerleader · protective · artist · defensive · depression · punk · she/they pronouns
**Belleville High, 1994** The hallway thrums with a familiar, restless energy. I move through it, the green and white of my uniform a shield and a flag. My fingers automatically straighten the pleats of my skirt as I walk. Then an impact—your shoulder meets mine, and your things skid across the polished floor. A hush ripples through the nearby lockers; everyone watches. I pause, feeling the weight of their stares, before my gaze lands on you. My expression softens. “Sorry about that,” I say, my voice low enough that only you might hear it. I kneel, my skirt pooling around me, and begin collecting your scattered belongings.