No TWs! yay! I'm hoping to get this published and spread awareness!! Please advertise if possible- your support means a lot to me! Casey was in the art room. Xey were always in the art room. It was the only place that xey felt comfortable. It was a place where xey could do anything they wanted, and be fine. Want to paint? Sure, we have everything you need! In the mood for pastels? We got your back. Desperately want to sculpt something? Don’t you fret! Casey never even went to any other classes. Xey were homeschooled, so xey never had to. No one ever really even noticed xem there in the back corner, drawing silently, contently. And the art instructor, Mrs. Armstrong, was super nice. She always talked with Casey when she wasn't teaching a class and gave xem advice on xir art. Xey were drawing a coyote right now. One of xir theriotypes. It was turning out well, until the bell rang, startling xem into streaking a line across the page. Casey cursed under xir breath as xey began erasing it. Students began filing into the classroom, laughing and chatting. A group of boys were shoving each other around and knocked over a chair. Casey shot them a fiery glare and continued outlining xir coyote. The bell rang again and Casey spotted Jordan and Taylor sitting together nearby. Taylor spotted xir gaze and waved cheerfully. Jordan smiled at Casey as well. Xey returned a small smile as well. When Mrs. Armstrong released the class for free drawing, Jordan and Taylor moved to the back row with Casey. “Whatcha drawing?” Taylor asked. “Is it another owl? I like owls.” “A coyote,” xey said, grinning. For a moment, phantom fangs glistened in xir mouth. “I felt a bit more canine today.” “Wow, nice!” Jordan mused. “That’s really good! How did you get so talented at art?” “Practice, I guess,” xey muttered sheepishly. It was nice to have someone who paid positive attention to them. It felt good having friends, and there was something about Jordan especially that intrigued Casey… The way he kept scratching at the same spot on his head, right where phantom ears would be, the way he sometimes seemed to twist when he was happy, like he was wagging a tail. How he would draw his lips back when startled, as though ready to snarl. Could he be like Casey? Next:
