---

 
Author's Note: Four years later. Sorry it took so long. I'm hoping to finally finish this story. The image has been updated too.
 

---

 
 
7.

I ran to my next class after lunch.

I rushed into the room seconds before the bell rang. Even with a map, this school was still hard to navigate. I dropped into the chair nearest the door, it was one of the few empty ones left. The older looking teacher at the front of the room gave me a look but said nothing. He looked like one of those teachers that didn’t have the time to bother with students. I’d met a lot of those at my old school but I also knew a lot of really good teachers too. I suppose it takes all kinds.

“Can I start my class now, Miss?” he asked, annoyed with me.

I nodded. “Sorry sir, I’m new. It's my first day”. I was hoping it would earn me some sympathy but he still looked pretty annoyed.

“Then perhaps get a better map” he said, his tone indicating that he really just didn’t give a damn.

Great.

He started class, I did my best to follow. It was Math and while I considered myself somewhat confident---my grandmother was a former Math professor after all---the man had a way of making it all seem really boring. The man even made algebra sound like the most dull thing in the world. I did my best to take notes but I quickly started to realize that being new wasn’t going to be a problem here. Back in Phoenix, we were already past this section in our books. The perks of a private education I suppose. The teacher---whom I didn’t know the name of---droned on.

When the bell rang, I think a collective sigh reverberated around the room.

Freedom.

The teacher didn’t wait, he was the first one out the door.

“Mr. Bowen is such a bore” said a voice to my side.

Well now I at least knew the man’s name.

I turned to the person who spoke, wanting to thank them.

There was a pretty blonde standing there.

The funny thing was, there was something vaguely familiar about her. Like we’d met before. Which given the circumstances, we might have. While Duncan was technically where I used to call home the first eight years of my life, I hadn’t actually gone to school here. Much like in Phoenix, my parents had sent me and Allie to a private school in Buffalo back in the day. That’s why I’d only met Charlie that one summer because most of my schoolmates before then were not from Duncan. Besides Charlie, I didn’t really have any friends outside of school back then. Well just like now I suppose. It was hard to make friends with everyone thinking I was a girl after all. Strangely enough, Charlie was the only kid I knew who didn’t think I was a girl.

“You’re Madison, right?” The girl said, with a questioning look.

Now I was really confused.

“Yep” I said, hoping maybe talking to her would help jog my memory. “Sorry, were we friends before?”

She paused for a moment then shook her head. “No, nothing like that,” She laughed. “I’m Amelia, I’m a part of the Office Committee. I kinda know when the new students arrive”

Oh, so that’s how she knew me.

I gathered my things and Amelia followed me out.

“That’s how I also know that your next class is Spanish with Senora Perez” she continued as we walked.

I gave her a look like she had three heads.

She laughed. “I’m in that class too. Senora Perez mentioned we were getting a new student yesterday, so two and two…”

Made sense.

The walk to Spanish was short, it was only two doors down. When we entered, a middle aged Hispanic woman waved me over. When she spoke to me, it was of course in Spanish. Thankfully, I was up-to-date on the language for the most part. I had a pretty good private school education after all and had been learning the language for a few years now. Which apparently Senora Perez knew because of my transcripts.

“Why don’t you take a seat there next to Amy” she said, pointing to the empty seat next to Amelia.

I walked over and sat down.

“Its a nickname,” the girl explained. “I never liked Amelia.”

“Maddie” I said and then quickly explained. “Nickname too”

Amy smiled.

It was weird. I’m not sure why I was so comfortable around this girl.

Spanish class went by fairly quickly. Senora Perez didn’t take attendance either, probably because she knew everyone. After class, I found myself leaving class with Amy. We had the next class together too, the first of my electives: Aerobics. It was in the weight room, off to the side of the Gym. I let Amy lead me because I had no idea where I was going. She did give me a strange look when I told her that’s where I was going.

“I let the school pick my last two electives,” I explained as we filed into the room.

Just as I suspected, there were no boys in the class.

The thing was, no one was looking at me strangely.

Except of course Elena.

I sighed as I approached the lockers where she was, Amy following.

“So it turns out whoever made my schedule probably thought I was a girl,” I said with a laugh.

“Well that’s kind of stupid” said Amy with a shake of her head. “I mean no offense, you do look a lot like a girl but you are marked as male in the school records” At my look, she stumbled an explanation. “I handle transcripts as one of my office, its how I knew your name”

“You want to talk to the teacher?” asked Elena, pointing to a woman at the front of the class.

I shrugged. “I think I’ll manage”.

I didn’t really have to talk to the teacher because she came to me.

“I’m Mrs Price” she said, introducing herself. “And you’re DuBois.” She looked at her roster and gave me a double take. “And you’re a boy?”

I sighed. “I’m sorry, ma’am”

She shook her head. “Wouldn’t be the first time. I can write you a note if you want. Have them change the class for you?”

While the idea seemed like the best for everyone, it's not like the class was only for girls.

“I’m fine with it,” I said, hoping she wouldn't throw me out.

I mean it's not like I’d cause problems. Most people thought I was a girl anyway.

“We I can’t have you change with the girls of course” She said then rubbed her chin. “You’ll have to change in my office.”

“That’s fine” I said, expecting as much.

She then turned and spoke to the class as a whole. “Ok listen up girls” she said, her voice loud and clear. “This is Madison, he’ll be joining our class. Yes, I said HE. Now don’t get your panties in a twist, he’ll be changing in my office. If anyone has any complaints about a boy being in class, I’ll field them now.”

One girl, a red head, raised her hand. “He won’t be perving on us will he?”

Mrs. Price sighed, her tone suggesting annoyance. “Does anyone else have any actual questions?”

The girl looked annoyed but said nothing else.

“That’s Melissa Barnes, she’s well...” said Amy as a way of explaining.

Annoying, I thought. But not the first girl like her I’d met.

After that, things were pretty normal.

I didn’t have any clothes to change into because I wasn’t prepared for it. Instead, I sat on the bench and watched the girls go through their exercises. While Melissa glared at me for a few minutes, even she stopped caring after that. The class was pretty much what I expected. We used to have an Aerobics section in my old school too. Unlike here though, it was mandatory. A lot of the boys in my class hated it but I never minded. It was also probably the reason why the school made some assumptions and put me in this one. It wasn’t that hard to see my name, the class and not bother to look at my gender.

Class went by fast.

It rolled right into my next elective class, Dance. Which was strangely enough in the same room and with pretty much the same set of girls. Mrs. Price was even the teacher again.

“You’ve got to be kidding me” groaned Melissa, this time annoyed.

Mrs. Price sighed. “Are you sure about this, DuBois?”

I shrugged.

This time Melissa didn’t stop glaring.

“Ignore her, she’s a bitch” said Elena who was standing next to me.

Amy said nothing but I did see her nod.

Once again, I spent the whole class watching.

My last three classes of the day were History, Computers and a Study Hall. History was History. They were behind the curriculum from my old school, so I was kind of bored. I took notes but barely paid attention. Computer class was awesome. It was the one I was looking forward to the most. The teacher, Mr. Downes, was a pretty cool guy too. I’d taken a computer course at my old school too but the teacher there was a bit of a hard ass. It was kind of nice to have someone so laid back. My last class was study hall which was kind of cool to end the day with. It was in the library and because it was the first day back from Winter Break, there was no homework. The teacher let us use the computers but informed us that this was the first and only time we’d get to use them for recreational purposes.

When the final bell rang, I let out a big sigh.

It felt like the day had dragged on for like four years.

When I got to my locker, Luke was waiting. I’d almost forgotten that he offered to give me a ride home. He was looking pretty anxious, so I was pretty sure I knew what was coming next.

As soon as he saw me, his face lit up a bit. The next words out of his mouth were pretty much like I predicted:

“So do you think Allie would like a ride too?”

I sighed.

The boy really was love sick.

“So no, ‘Hey Maddie, how was your day?’”

He gave me a look. “I’m not your Mom dude”.

We both laughed.

I opened my locker, stuffing what little books I had into it. Most of the teachers promised to get me a text book by the next class. As it was currently, I had homework. A win for most but disappointing for me. I liked doing homework. I’m sure I was one of those weirdo mutant teenagers but I didn’t care. Maybe it was because I only had one true friend back in Phoenix but studying was probably the only true talent I had. Anymore that is. There was another talent but that one wasn’t practical. At least not to me, not anymore. I’m sure my mother and grandmother would argue that though. Especially my grandmother. I saw the twinkle in her eye last night when she found out I’d gone to the ice rink.

“So where’s Allie’s locker?” asked my overenthusiastic chauffeur as I closed mine.

I sighed. “How should I know?”

He looked like a wounded puppy but it's not like I actually knew where her locker was.

“I hate to break it to you but she and I are not all that close” I admitted as we meandered down the hall, me dodging people, him easily pushing past them.

It sucked being short.

We didn’t find Allie in the crowd but not for lack of trying. Luke was a bit disappointed as he led me to his car. Luke drove a blue Honda Civic. He boosted about it quite a bit as we drove the ten or so minutes through town. Going down main street, I couldn’t help but notice more closed signs than I wanted to see. Charlie’s Dad really was buying up the town. It was kind of sad to see.

“Tragic” said Luke, shaking his head.

“I take it you’re not Team Carson Takeover then?”

“Hey I’m all for innovation and junk” he said as he drove. “But look at this place. It's absolutely gutted. I just think there could have been other ways to do it”

Other ways.

Yeah.

Throughout the day, I’d heard various kids talking about it. It was a mixed bag but the consensus seemed to be pretty bad. It was a losing battle too. From the arguments between Mom and Uncle Frank, it was clear that Grandpa had struggled to find support. While most of the business owners were all for it, many of the farmers had fought it. Sadly though, a lot of them caved in the end. Regardless, it appeared that the Carson renovation plan was probably going to move forward.

“I think my Mom is going to try fighting it regardless” I said, hopeful.

The thought of losing some place like Sally’s was heartbreaking.

@@@@@@@@

After Luke dropped me off, I wandered inside to find something to eat. I found Grandma in the kitchen, seemingly having read my mind. There was a plate of freshly baked Snickerdoodles sitting on the kitchen table. I was shocked that she remembered my favorite cookie.

“How was your first day, sweetie?” she asked, doing dishes in the sink.

I set my backpack on the counter near the kitchen entryway and wandered over to the table.

“Better than I expected,” I said, dropping into a chair.

“And your sister?” asked my grandmother.

I shrugged in response. “Who knows. We looked for her but she was long gone.”

“How is Luke?”

“Still one handed” I made a joke in reference to his wrist brace.

My grandmother chuckled and frowned at the same time, if that was even possible. She then asked about homework, which of course I didn’t have any. We bounced around small talk while I ate a couple more cookies then excused myself to go to my room.

My room.

It was weird calling it that.

I tried to make myself at home in it but as far as I was concerned, the room still belonged to my mother. Even with my clothes now in her dresser drawer and some of things scattered about, I still felt like an intruder. It didn’t help that barely anything had really changed. Even Mom’s old laptop had been sitting on her desk gathering dust. Of course, I had moved it to the box of her other things but it was still sitting in the corner, reminding me. My laptop was on the desk now, my phone charging dock next to it. They were probably the only things in the room currently made in the last decade. Sitting on the corner of the bed, I couldn’t help but feel that my mother had been a bit of a girly girl in her day. Grandma had offered to paint it but I declined. I didn’t want to change anything. Mom tried to tell me it was ok but I think she was silently happy too. She might have been an adult now but it was still her sacred space.

Thinking about sacred places, I pulled a piece of folded paper from my back pocket.

It was a list of things I needed for both my Aerobics and Dance class. Mrs. Price gave it to me at the end of Dance class, telling me if I was serious about it then I had to be all in. That’s when she gave me the list and told me to try and do my best. Staring at it now, I could see it was going to be interesting. The tank top was easy enough and I definitely didn’t need a sports bra. The thing I was worried about finding were leggings. I definitely knew I didn’t have a pair of those and I was pretty sure Allie would throw a fit if I wore any of hers. The thought of asking Mom or Grandma to help me buy them was a little weird too. Which meant only one thing, raiding Mom’s old stuff to see if she had any.

Biting my lip, I got up and started to rummage through the boxes near the closet.

Mom had packed up all her old clothes but had yet to deal with them. I told her last night I’d put them in her attic space when I got the time. I just never thought in a million years that I’d be going through them looking for a pair of leggings. It quickly came apparent that I wasn’t going to have a hard time finding a pair. There were a lot of leggings in here, apparently being in peak fashion when my mother was a teen. Now that I thought about it, I distinctively remembered seeing lots of pics with Mom wearing skirts and shorts with leggings underneath.

Thankfully I was able to secure a few pairs in black, dark blue and gray.

Satisfied, I stuffed them in my backpack.

With that task out of the way, I decided to move the boxes to the attic. Carrying them one at a time, I made my way into the walk-in closet and up that narrow ladder to my mother’s secret hideaway. I couldn’t help but smirk at the idea of Allie passing up on this. She would have loved to get her hands on some of this “vintage” stuff. I’m not sure she would have appreciated the skating costumes though. Allie had always grumbled and complained whenever Mom tried to get her involved. I felt bad for Mom. Here she had a daughter to pass on her favorite thing too and Allie wanted nothing to do with it.

I also felt kind of bad for giving it up like that.

It kinda sucks actually, I thought, staring at all the glittery outfits.

Absently, I reached out and gently touched one.

It was a shame too.

A real shame.

Author’s note: As I’m sure all of you know, comments are life blood to an author. I’m not begging or demanding, but I certainly would appreciate anything you have to say (or ask). It doesn’t have to be long and involved, just give me your reaction to the story. Thanks in advance...EOF