"Are you ready for your first day back as your true self?" Luke sat on his bed. Ryan was admiring himself with his binder on in the mirror. They had to leave to get to the bus stop in only a few minutes. The previous day, Luke had kept Ryan's new binder at his house just to be safe. Just to make sure Ryan's parents didn't find out right away. This morning Ryan woke up and walked to Luke's house. His backpack was lying downstairs, ready to return to school.

"I'm nervous."

"That's understandable. I'm here to protect you against ignorant people."

"I know." Ryan brushed a hand over his flattened chest and couldn't help but smile.

"That's me." He whispered, looking at himself in the mirror. Luke smiled and got up. He walked over behind Ryan and wrapped his arms around him, kissing the back of his head softly.

"I'm glad your happy." Ryan leaned back in Luke's arms.

"I'm so glad I met you. You've helped me so much."

"That means a lot to me." Luke closed his eyes, smiling as their heads touched gently.

"Are you two ready?" The door burst open and Luke and Ryan split from each other in surprise.

"Oh... um..." Luke's Mom looked awkwardly away.

"Mom! Um... yea we're... almost ready." Luke bit his lip and Ryan hid awkwardly behind a dresser.

"Well. Um. Hurry. Don't want to be late." His mom left in a hurry, not wanting to be standing there any longer. They could hear her footsteps clicking swiftly down the stairs.

"Ouch." Ryan laughed as soon as she was out of earshot. He came out from behind the dresser, grabbing his Mcr shirt and slipping it on.

"Sorry about that." Luke made an awkward face. Ryan pulled on his Motionless In White hoodie and walked to the door.

"It's fine. Ready?" Ryan glanced to the side, noticing something out of the corner of his eye.

"Common." He said to Luke and turned around, snatching Luke's sunglasses as he walked out of the door.

"Hey!" Luke rushed after him, pushing the door closed as he chased him down the stairs. By the time he caught up with him, Ryan was picking up his backpack.

"Damn. You look hot in those." Luke smirked at Ryan.

"I know." Ryan smirked back and spun around, walking backwards toward the door as he was facing Luke.

"I'm keeping em." He spun back around and opened the door as Luke slung his own backpack over his shoulder.

"Bye, mom." Luke called as he closed the door. The two walked down the sidewalk, joking and pushing each other back and forth. Eventually they reached Luke's bus stop.

"You sure your ready?" Luke asked, watching as the bus pulled up.

"To be completely honest, I don't know." He pulled up his hood as the bus came puffing to a stop. The doors swung open. Luke smiled at Ryan as he walked up to the bus and Ryan nervously pushed his sunglasses up his nose.

"New?" The bus driver greeted him.

"Yup." He mumbled self consciously.

"Welcome to hell." The bus driver leaned over to tell Ryan and chuckled. Ryan laughed back, appreciating his sense of humor, and followed Luke.

"Hey, Luke! Hey, Ryan!" Matt called.

"Scoot over, loser." Luke said and sat close to Matt. He looked back up at Ryan and patted the seat next to him. Ryan shrugged and sat.

"Ahh! Guys what... no this was not a good idea." Matt complained, his face squished against the window.

"You'll Have to deal for the rest of the year." Luke teased, throwing his arms around Ryan and Matt's shoulders.

Luke stopped walking when Ryan turned to his classroom.

"This is me. I'll see you at lunch."

"Ok. Should we meet somewhere?"

"Sure. Meet me outside my classroom." He gave Luke the room number and began to walk inside.

"Hey, good luck." Luke kissed Ryan on the forehead, not caring about anyone else walking by.

"See ya." He called and Ryan waved to him as he stepped inside the room. When he was gone, Luke turned back to Matt, who was smiling a huge stupid grin.

"What?" Luke asked in annoyance as they continued to walk to their class.

"I just find it funny how I make such a big deal about coming out to you and then it turns out you've got a boyfriend."

"I'm not gay."

"So your not dating?"

"Well- no we are. But... I mean I like girls to."

"So your bi?"

"Man I don't really care. I don't find the purpose in labels. I just- I guess I like whoever I like."

"Pan?"

"Labels, dude."

"Right. Sorry. Fair enough." Suddenly Luke remembered something and was just about to ask Matt when they arrived at their class.

"Great. I'm totally excited to see all these losers." Matt joked, looking around at the people sitting and goofing off with each other.

"Can't wait for lunch." Matt couldn't help but smile at the familiar faces they hadn't seen in so long. Before Luke could say anything else to Matt, the teacher arrived and everyone fell silent as class began.

"Hey would you be mad if I made a slight detour?" Matt asked Luke as the bell rang for lunch.

"No. Why? Should I come?"

"Oh no. It's fine. I'll see you in a minute!" Matt waved Luke off as he hurried out the classroom.

"This better not be some sort of revenge!" Luke called after him. He grabbed his backpack and left the room as well, finding the room number Ryan had given him. He found it easily and as he walked up, he saw Ryan leaning just outside of it against the wall, sunglasses on.

"Well look who's a bad boy." Luke grinned at Ryan who sat up.

"Hey." He took off his sunglasses and hung them from the pocket of his skinny jeans.

"Matt's going to who knows where." Luke explained and smiled but couldn't help but wonder where he had "taken a slight detour" to. He wondered if it had anything to do with what Luke was going to ask him about earlier.

"Fun. Shall we proceed?" Ryan didn't wait for an answer as he started walking through the sea of students all heading for lunch.

"So? How was it?" Luke poked Ryan on the shoulder.

"It was... interesting. It was annoying hearing the teachers call me by my birth name and wrong pronouns but besides that the most I've gotten was people looking at me. Some mentioned that I cut my hair."

"Like...?"

"Just stuff like 'I like your hair' or 'you got a haircut?' Nothing more."

"Ok. Well that's good. Do you want to take a short binder break?"

"I don't think I can face that right now. Maybe after lunch."

"Ok. Just be careful. Nothing hurts?"

"Nope. Snug as a bug." Ryan gave Luke a smile that made his heart flutter.

"Ok good." He hugged Ryan and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Ha... fag." Luke whipped around to see who said that, half expecting Hunter but it was instead some asswhole with short, messy brown hair. He didn't seem like the type to mess with people considering his obvious scrawniness and height.

"First a tranny and then a fa..."

"Oh fuck off, shit head." Ryan rolled his eyes and continued to walk but the kid stepped in front of them.

"So what are you then?"

"Do you know this kid?" Luke whispered to Ryan.

"Just some dick in my class who thinks he's a great comedian." Ryan growled bitterly.

"What are you?" The kid repeated.

"What?" Ryan hissed in confusion.

"Are you a girl or a boy?"

"I'm a boy." Ryan said evenly.

"No your not! Your just some sort of weird dy..."

"He is what he fucking says he is, dick." Ryan turned around in confusion at the familiar voice.

"Hunter?" Ryan whispered and Luke turned around to, puzzled.

"Ah. Someone who'll back me up." The prick said.

"I'm here to back someone up and it's NOT you." Hunter stood up tall, staring threateningly down at the kid. Luke stared up at him, his mind going blank in thought, only to be more baffled when he noticed Matt standing awkwardly behind Hunter.

"What do you m..." Hunter pushed the kid before he could finish, causing him to fall over, barely catching himself on his hands.

"Hey! The hell man!" The kid sprung back up instantly.

"You some sort of queer to now?" Hunter threw a swift punch to the kid's face and he fell over in agony, clutching his jaw. Hunter glanced awkwardly at Ryan, who stared at him in utter disbelief, then turned and grabbed Matt's shoulder, pulling him up next to him.

"In fact, I am." Matt blushed, a smile tugging at his lips as the kid got up, dazed, and ran off.

"What the... the hell? The hell was that?" Luke sputtered, not even in anger. Hunter ignored him.

"Ryan?" He avoided eye contact, guiltily.

"I'm sorry for everything I've done to you. I was just scared and I guess I took that out on the most vulnerable person." Matt nodded, subtly. Luke gave him a questioning look.

"I? What?" Ryan stuttered, at a loss for words.

"I don't understand." Hunter whispered something into Matt's ear and he nodded.

"Turns out I'm very much in love with someone." He mumbled awkwardly hugging Matt close to him. Luke looked confused for a second. Then his eyes went wide in realization.

"That's what... you two are... ohhhh." Everything snapped into place.

"So that's why... ohhhhhh." Luke repeated.

"Yea. Luke, we're... together." Matt glanced away, slightly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry about how he treated you." Matt glanced angrily at Hunter for a second. He seemed to still not forgive him for all that he had done.

"But he was scared and he's going to be better. I promise." Hunter was staring at the floor, ashamed.

"I really am sorry. You were right that day. I was being an ass whole to people to cover up my own insecurities." He chocked out. It was obviously hard for him to admit his wrong-doings and Luke couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"It's ok. I mean. It's not ok but I understand. It was difficult going through whatever you were and coming to terms with who you are. I think. I don't know what you were going through but I know it must've been hard." Luke replied, awkwardly, struggling with words.

"I just thought it made me the little guy I guess. I felt less... tough because of it and I guess I just had something to prove. It wasn't the right thing to do, though. I know." Hunter paused, whispering to Matt again, who took the wheal.

"I was falling for him and I didn't think I should have because I knew he was kind of a dick. But I guess he liked me to. And we... we started um. Seeing... each other. In secret." Matt looked down blushing, and Luke couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"Oh? Seeing... each other?"

"Shut up." Matt blushed hard and Hunter looked away. Luke laughed.

"Well that at least explains the dance. Where were you, anyway?"

"We were there." Matt told him.

"Just not in the gym."

"What were you doing?" Luke smirked again and Matt gave him a warning glance. He laughed again.

"So... we're good then?" He turned from them to Ryan, wanting to be sure everyone agreed. Ryan stared skeptically at Hunter but caved.

"I'll give you a chance. But I don't forgive you for anything and I never will." He said in a cold, stern voice.

"That's understandable." Hunter sighed, still not able to make eye contact.

"But thanks for defending us back there. And I'm sorry for what you were struggling with." Ryan's voice grew softer, not aiming to hurt Hunter in any way.

"So we're cool." Hunter looked up at Ryan, who's arm was out stretched. He paused before taking his hand.

"We're cool."