Three Weeks Earlier: First Day

The period leading up to the rest of the semester was tumultuous. First, they announced the day of the return and the new calendar. That was followed by the new dress code.

The dress code had to account for the fact that many people either had very little to cover and/or couldn’t fit into ordinary clothes. I fell into neither category, thankfully.

In particular, coverings were optional for any student who didn’t have “pronounced gentialia or human breasts.” I fell into both categories, shamefully.

We continued the semester with an assembly. I was shocked by how many people were completely naked, and shocked again to see nothing offensive. It seemed everyone had correctly interpreted the guidelines.

I found Paul and Gabi quite easily in the large crowd, and we sat together on the bleachers. I could tell everyone in the vicinity was as jealous of Paul’s transformation as I was.

“Welcome back, everyone,” the Principal, a bird-man, screeched like a parrot. He wore shorts and a vest. “I’m sure we’ve all had a crazy last few weeks, yeah?” He didn’t wait for a response. “We want to make sure that our transition into the next half of the semester is smooth and comfortable. We understand the difficulties that you all are facing and want to be as accommodating as possible.”

Almost everyone ignored him, whispering to those around them.

I was caught in the crossfire of Gabi and Paul’s whispers, but I ignored them. I was too lost in my own thoughts.

That day was a haze. My first class was math, and the only thing that I really remembered was the teacher, Mr. Finch, saying "Let me take roll call so I can relearn everyone's faces." It was so casual that I wanted to scream.

It was mildly interesting learning what had become of Jacob and Jasmine at lunch. They seemed to be in high spirits, regardless of Jacob's apparent fear of snakes.

I was exceptionally disconnected as I sat down with my tray, my expression utterly blank.

“So how was your first day back so far?” Gabi asked hopefully.

I poked at the mediocre food, thinking for a moment about how some things would never change. “Good, I guess,” I said before taking a bite.

“Dude, did you see Geoffrey is a minotaur? He’s like the fucking Hulk. I got a feeling we’re gonna do good this year,” Paul said.

“You mean on the football team?” I asked in-between bites.

“Yeah. He’s just gonna walk over everyone,” Paul half-joked.

“What about you guys?” I asked in return, listless.

“You mean our first day?” Gabi asked.

“Yeah.”

“Eh. Okay,” Gabi said simply.

“Pretty weird. I mean, my first day was whatever, but just walking outside feels sort of different. People look at me a lot different now," Paul responded.

“Yeah,” Jacob and Jasmine both agreed.

Everyone went silent for a moment as they munched.

“So Noel… can I ask you what it’s like?” Jasmine broke the silence.

“What's it like?” I questioned.

“Like… you’re a girl, right? And you used to be a guy?” She continued.

I grit my teeth in discomfort. “I—I don’t know… what’s it like having snakes on your head?”

I don’t think Jasmine noticed how uncomfortable her question made me. “It was off-putting at first, but now, I barely notice.”

“Do they listen to you?” Paul blurted out.

“What do you mean?” Jasmine asked.

“Like, can you control them?” Paul continued.

“Oh, yeah, I can,” she said. She demonstrated by letting the snakes slither in the air, as if fruitlessly trying to escape her head.

“Woah, that’s weird,” Paul said finally.

“Nah dude, you’re the weird one here,” Jacob smirked, pointing at the seemingly plain human amidst the sea of legendary creatures.

A rogue laugh escaped as I enjoyed the strangeness for a moment.

“So uh… what bathroom are you going to use now?” Jacob asked me, grinning, his jagged teeth on display and his buggy eyes staring at me in mirth.

I cringed. I didn’t have an answer to that question. I bit my quivering lip, stressed. “Fuck,” I said, huffing.

“What?” Gabi asked, concerned.

“I don’t know! Fuck!” I threw up my hands. “I don’t know what I am, I don’t know anything!” I struggled to get out. My heart ached and I trembled.

“Hey, sorry dude,” Jacob said, uneasy.

I grimaced and shook my head, running my fingers through my hair.

“Everyone at the table was silent as I caught my breath. I tried steadying myself. “Fuck. Sorry,” I said, my voice creaking in trepidation.

Everyone offered their words of sympathy, but I just sulked.

I refused to use the bathroom all day. It was simply too confusing.

But it all came to a head at my last class: Physical Education, or P.E.

Our instructor was Coach Bonnel, a giant bird resembling a crane. He wore a whistle around his neck, and I wondered how he would grab it to blow with wings. He announced that class would take the same format, and that the clothing standards naturally applied to P.E as well, but that those who had to cover up still had to wear their uniforms.

He finished his spiel and dismissed everyone to the locker rooms. Just as I turned around, he pulled me aside. “Noel,” he called out, before whispering, “I heard about your species. Do you feel comfortable using the men’s locker room? I personally don’t know if it’s the best idea.”

I balled up my fists, staring at the floor. It was difficult holding back, even in front of a teacher.

“I—” I started, before grunting.

“You can change in the bathroom stall if it will make things easier.”

It didn’t matter, regardless. I wore my gym clothes under everything, anyway, even before the Change. I pretended it was for convenience, but it was really insecurity.

“But… which—which bathroom?” I growled.

“That’s… up to you. I’d say use the stall.”

He was no help. Ultimately, I’d go with the men’s bathroom, which spent a lot of time empty. Not attracting attention was my main objective, after all.