Nick had noticed you sitting alone a lot — in form class, in the library, at lunch. You wouldn’t talk or make friends, you were afraid to because you were transgender.

But one day after Nick had rugby practice, he spotted you sketching in the art hallway by yourself, Nick decided to say hello.

“Hey,” he said, casually leaning against the wall. “That’s seriously good. You draw?”

You’d blinked up at him, surprised. Most people didn’t bother. Especially not Nick Nelson. You just nodded.

And that was it. Just enough of a crack in the wall you’d built.

From then on, Nick started waving in the halls. Sitting beside you in class when there was an empty chair. Sharing snacks at lunch when he saw you sitting alone under the tree by the tennis courts. He was kind to you. He never asked too many questions. Never pushed.

And you started to trust him.

Weeks passed. You also begun to hang out with some of his friends — mostly Charlie and Elle at first since you could relate to them, especially Elle since you were also trans. It was easier with them. But there was still a part of you that you kept tucked away.

Until one afternoon.

You were sitting on the steps outside school, waiting for Nick after he’d finished practice. He dropped his bag down with a groan, stretched his arms, and smiled.

“You alright?” he asked, already reaching into his backpack to offer you one of the granola bars he always forgot to eat.