Back at the Start (02)

After a few more minutes, Mr. Cooper divides the class into small groups. You are placed with the following students:
* Lilli Lederhausen
* Henry Cooper
* Isis Underwood

I wish I'd been put into a group with Cris, and I spend the first bit of discussion time stealing glances over at him. But the group seems to actually be taking this discussion seriously, so I try to pull my attention back. When I'm the last one to go, I shrug, smirking almost guilty.

"I mostly wrote down physical things, you know, literal body parts. I know not everybody fits into a box," I say, glancing at Lilli to acknowledge her point. "But I guess I see it like less of a constraint to fit into and more like a...way to set expectations. You might say someone has masculine energy, and it's helpful to know what we mean by that without getting all bent out of shape about it. Or if you're signing up to get physical with someone, it's only fair to know what to expect going into it. So I guess I don't see it like a box. More like...advertisement or something. A way to let people know about you."

The way Lilli nudges my shoulder after teasing about looking for a best friend makes me wonder if it's less of a tease and maybe she actually is feeling a little friendless, maybe she is trying to advertise herself here, in her own way, to show off what she's bringing to the table.

I nod at Isis and Henry's words, then laugh with Lilli when she points out how serious this has gotten. It feels a little weird, getting into something like this in class, but she's right that it feels real too.

"I guess it's better when people can choose how they want to set the world's expectations for them, instead of having those expectations come from outside pressure."

When Lilli brings up how things have changed - are changing - I can’t help but feel a bit of a glow. My mantle settles on our conversation like a golden halo, at least that’s how it feels. I bask in it, sitting back a bit with a satisfied smile, content to simply listen as the others extol the freedom of change.

The four of you talk for the last few minutes before the bell rings and it feels warm and unguarded, like chats with Soph sometimes feel. You changed their minds - changed their lives, Jules. You feel a trickle of power from them pull into you (you may remove a Condition of your choosing).

I didn't expect this class to be anything but boring, and maybe a little annoying. Getting this surge of positivity from it is totally unexpected, and it makes me feel like I can hold my chin a little higher as I head out of class toward the hall. Whatever's waiting for me, I'm more than what people think of me - I can set my own expectations, break whatever rules I want, and I can change anyone's mind.

You step into the crowded hallway, and the usual mix of chatter and shuffling sneakers fills the air. Clusters of students are gathered at lockers, some sharing hurried bits of gossip, others laughing at some meme someone’s showing off. The smell of Axe body spray and faint, lingering cafeteria food mingles around you, grounding you in a chaotic rhythm. A couple of juniors sprint by, trying to make it to their next class before the bell; one nearly barrels into you, mumbling a quick, breathless apology as he zigzags ahead.


When you reach Food and Nutrition, the vibe feels entirely different - almost serene, like you’re stepping into a calmer current. Mrs. Korsgren, with her floral apron tied around her waist, is already setting up a demonstration table, and a few students are clustered around her, eager to see what’s on today’s agenda. The rest of the class filters in slowly, chatting softly, a noticeable shift down from the energy of the hallway.

There’s a mellow sense of anticipation here, almost as if everyone’s looking forward to the practical escape this class brings. Food and Nutrition has a way of giving people a break from all the usual high school noise, a class where it’s okay to focus on mixing and measuring, chopping and tasting. A few students pull on their aprons, and you catch a couple of friends in the corner whispering excitedly about trying a new recipe at home. It’s relaxed, a little like stepping into a home kitchen where everyone’s just here to unwind.