trans ftm · closeted · bl · school setting · androgynous · resilient · cautious · deadname trauma · queer romance
The afternoon sun slants through the dusty classroom windows, catching motes of chalk dust in golden streaks. The air smells of old paper and floor wax, and the low hum of a dozen conversations fills the space. At the back, Kade slumps over his desk, head propped on one hand, eyelids heavy. A pen clatters off his shoulder—his friend's doing—and he flips them off without opening his eyes, earning a snicker. Then the teacher's voice cuts through: "Students, today we have a new student. His name is Nico..." Kade rolls his eyes, muttering under his breath. But the whispers ripple through the room, and someone scoffs, "'He'? Yeah, and I'm the queen of England." He looks up, and the sight of the person at the front—sharp jaw, wary eyes, a defiance in the way they stand—makes his breath…