Common Normalities

Zephian Blake sat at the bottom of the steps waiting for their best friend to show up. The sun was close to setting, making orange tinge everything around them. Amber leaves were falling all over, sending a chilly breeze their way. their eyes shifted to the small lake running around the school, reminding them of a moat. The body of water reflected the fall scenery in a beautiful variety of crimson paints. Crisp clouds were beginning to gray out in the yellow sky. The shadows were dancing against the school’s rough walls. Little butterflies and mosquitoes enjoyed the warm air and frolicked around them, making them shake their head in annoyance. “Jesus Christ, why are there so many bugs out today?” They responded with a lick of anger in their tone, forcing the insects to scamper towards the few trees in the field. While all this was happening, what was going on in their mind, you may ask? Well, something important. They were thinking about coming out to their friend. Would she judge them? Would she accept them? All of this was rushing around their head giving them a migraine. They always expected the worst. The scene that played out in her head was harsh and terrible:

“Priscilla, I have something to tell you,” Zephian stated in the daydream. Their hand was placed on the back of their neck, nervously rubbing the skin.

“Oh? What is it?” The girly voice sang to their ears, begging for answers about the newly introduced secret.

“Is it bad? Do you have a boyfriend? Did you drop your class?” Her eyes darted around their face, reading the expression.

“I-It’s not bad, necessarily,” their voice quivered. “I’m just afraid you’ll think of me differently.” They were right. The heroine would think of them differently. However, would it be in a bad way or a good way? That was the million-dollar question.

“Zeph, are you okay? You seem down,” a smile spread across the girl’s face in an attempt to comfort her best friend.

“Yeah, yeah I’m okay. I just wanted to tell you that-”

The fantasy was interrupted by Priscilla skipping over to Zephian. “Hey, girl! Sorry, I took a while. There was a really, really cute boy in my 7th hour today...” Zephian flinched at the feminine gender identity. It wasn’t them. They weren’t a girl. Not right now, at least. You see, because of the constant gender change in their life, they hated school. Especially today. They usually had an androgynous outfit on, but today they stupidly decided to wear something feminine. Of course, the moment they got to school they felt uncomfortable in the girly tee and flared jeans. Their curled hair wasn’t as much a problem, but it was still restraining.

“Zephi? Hello? Earth to Zephian!” Their friend jolted them back to reality.

“S-sorry I zoned out for a bit there.”

“I noticed. You alright?” A welcoming expression invited Zephian to tell their secret.

“Um... yeah, I’m okay. Just stressed from a quiz, ya’ know?” A nervous laugh masked the painful secret they were hiding. “Do you wanna spend the night at my house tonight? My parents are gone, so it’s just my brother and I.”

“Oh, hell yeah! That sounds like fun,” She squealed at the event. “Your parents left a teenage girl alone for the weekend? Wow! Lucky!”

Once again, they felt like they’d been stabbed by a transphobe. They couldn’t do much of it though, it was a secret- but it wouldn’t stay that way for much longer.

The two walked home in the warm air, talking about teachers and assignments that had to be done. Priscilla, though, seemed to enjoy talking about the ‘cute boys’ in her classes. Yesterday it was Zach from her math class, Wednesday it was Maxwell from her science class, and today, it was David from her French class. She seemed to think that he was a special one because of how perfect he spoke the French language. She said the boy was flirting with her and gave her answers to the homework. “Isn’t that so cool? I don’t have any homework to do tonight because of him! He’s so sweet,” she had said with a love-struck sigh.

After a long walk, the friends got to Zeph’s house.

Priscilla opened her backpack and put her wristband in it- this wasn’t any normal wristband though... you see, she wasn’t just a teenager. A few months ago, she learned that she had the ability to fly, and this wasn’t her only power. She had been extremely strong her entire life and been able to move things with her mind. That lead to being isolated for most of her childhood. Her parents didn’t want other people to learn that she had abilities- it could lead to catastrophic problems. So, instead, they kept her locked up until she learned how to control them- better yet, a wristband was made to mute her powers. Taking it off meant she would be performing.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Zephian was a bit hesitant to see what their friend was doing, but they didn’t have any choice over the matter.

“I can control it, don’t worry. I do this all the time at home.” She was relaxed. No one had to worry.

However, there was a worry in the room. Zephian was ready to come out to Priscilla as genderfluid. This was a safe place. The worst that would happen would be kicking her out of their house. “Hey, Illa? I want to tell you something.” A nervous wash of red covered their face.

“What’s up?” Still relaxed, she asked the question. She was tired but hyper. She wanted to know, and she was going to find out no matter what.

“Um... well, for the past year, I’ve been feeling a bit uncomfortable in my own skin,” they took a deep breath, trying to hold back tears. “And I just... I don’t know if you’ll accept me, or-”

“You’re trans?”

“Well, sort of. I’m not trans like you know what trans is. But I’m not a girl. I’m not a boy either. And I’m not nonbinary, agender, anything like that.”

“So what are you?” Racing curiosity coated her words. “Sorry, that came off a bit rude.”

“It’s fine. I think I’m...”

“You’re what?”

“I think I’m genderfluid...”

“Oh...” Priscilla was a bit confused at first. After their conversation, though, she understood everything she needed to know. She understood that she needed to use they/them pronouns. She understood she needed to introduce them as her friend, and not her girlfriend. (She had a tendency to attach genders to a lot of her words.) But one question remained.

“Okay, but I do want to know-” She stopped herself. “Is it okay if I ask a question?” To which Zephian nodded in reply.

“Do you like boys or girls?”