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A Flashback - Chapter 6

3 Years ago

"Alzight class, vat iz all ver today." Mr. Zimmerman spoke his last words for the day and began to pack up his things.

Lumina rushed to get her things together and get to her next class. Her disorganized nature didn't go too well when it came to school, but she tried her hardest. She moved towards the doorway crashing straight into a small framed boy.

"Oof." The noise came out of Lumina's mouth upon impact and she fell to the floor, "Man you're small, but you sure pack a punch." She chuckled, grabbing at her scattered papers.

"S-sorry." The voice that came out of the boy's mouth was higher pitched than most, making Lumina second-guess her initial judgment.

She leaned over, trying to get a better look at their face, "Don't be sorry, I was just joking...." She trailed off, trying to get them to say their name.

"Oh, uh, I'm Christopher. But I prefer Chris."

"Hi Chris. I'm Lumina." Male. She decided in her mind as she stood up, her papers disheveled in her arms.

"N-nice to meet you."

"Dude. Why are you so nervous? I don't bite. At least not the new people I meet." Lumina winked, hoping to lighten the mood and get him to ease up.

Chris flinched, "I'm just a nervous type." He seemed tenser now, more closed off, as if something had gone drastically wrong.

Lumina gave him a confused look and then shrugged it off, "Okay man...see you."

*** (present day)

Lumina sped down the street, hoping that there weren't any cops. She blew through stop signs, pushed the boundaries on what was considered 'yellow' lights, and passed any car that was hovering too close to the speed limit. The phone call she received from Kris was worrisome, and she wanted to get there as fast as she could. Her brain wandered through their memories of when they first met, thinking about how much Kris had changed in the past few years. Both physically and mentally. She was stronger now, but Lumina wasn't sure she was strong enough to be 'out.'

She whipped into the parking lot, causing her tires to squeal and she pulled up next to the sidewalk where a small framed girl sat, hunched over.

"Kris!!" She yelled, jumping out of the still running car. Lumina walked over to her friend and pulled her into a hug, "Let's get you out of here."

Kris just nodded, barely lifting her head, and allowed Lumina to guide her into the car. Once the door was firmly shut behind her, Lumina made her way to her own side and got back in, beginning to drive back the way she came.

Not long into the drive, Kris perked up, "Where are we going?"

"Back to my apartment."

"I have school in the morning. You should take me back to my dorm."

"I'm not leaving your side until I know you're okay. I can take you to your dorm if you want, but then I'm staying there with you."

Kris slumped back over, knowing the fight was useless, "Your apartment is fine, as long as I can borrow some clothes."

"Always." Lumina nodded, smiling a little to herself at the thought of being able to dress Kris in whatever she wanted, "So whose phone did you use to call me?"

Kris shrugged, "Just someone who was in the same theatre and I guess they understood what I was going through. They said their brother had a similar experience. But he's fully transitioned now, she asked me if I needed anything and let me use her cell phone to call you."

"Well that was nice of her. Why didn't she wait with you until I got there?"

"Umm.. because she doesn't know me and paid to see a movie?"

Lumina scowled, "Well, duh, but if she was willing to leave the movie to help you, why wouldn't she be willing to stick with you until she knew you were okay?"

Kris bit her lip, "Maybe I'm a good actress?"

"Yeah, okay." Lumina rolled her eyes, "What really happened?"

"I told her to go back in, and when she refused I started yelling at her to leave me alone."

"Kristine!"

"Ewe. Don't call me that."

"Why would you..?"

"Because I was embarrassed," Kris cut her off, "and I felt exposed, and I didn't like it. I wanted to be alone. And I feel really bad about it."

Lumina parked the car, reaching the apartment complex, "It's okay... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

"No.. it's okay." Kris looked up to the building in front of them, "Wait. Isn't Eve living with you right now? Is there going to be enough room for all of us?"

"Umm.. actually... Eve moved out last night."

"What happened?"

***

2 years and 358 days ago (1 week later )

"Now, remember, all cultures are fery important. Do not dissvespect anyvone and their believs. Now you may go."

Lumina chuckled a little to herself. Mr. Zimmerman always ended his lectures eccentrically. She made her way towards the front of the class, getting cut off by a familiar face, "Dude. Do you like getting run into or something?"

Chris turned around, and mumbled something inaudible under his breath.

"You gotta speak up, man."

"Look. Would you quit calling me that?"

"Calling you what?"

"Stop calling me man, dude, boy, guy, etcetera."

Lumina looked at him like he was crazy, "I call everyone dude, why does it bother you?"

"Don't you think there could be something going on that you can't see?"

"What does that even mean?"

The boy went running out of the classroom, tears streaming down his face, "What'd I say?" Lumina mumbled to herself, feeling guilty. She sighed and walked down the way Chris ran, wanting to make sure he was okay.

She turned right down the hallway, seeming the classroom was at the end of the hall and walked slowly, inspecting nearby classrooms for the small dingo, "Chris?" She called out every few steps, hoping he would reappear. Once Lumina had met the main hallway, she was going to give up, but that's exactly when she found her answer. Chris stood, staring up at the bathroom signs, looking back and forth between them.

"Chris?" Lumina raised her eyebrows, trying to figure out what was going on.

"Would you leave me alone?"

"I wanted to apologize."

"Okay. I forgive you. Now can you go away?"

"Uh, yeah, but are you okay?"

Chris looked to Lumina, "No. But it's not your concern."

"Can I help?"

"N-" Chris stopped her sentence, thinking carefully before finishing, "Actually, yes." She looked around, "Can you go in there and see if there's anyone else?"

"Sure." Lumina walked into the restroom, completely confused by the situation and looked around. When she walked back out, she said, "All clear. Now you gonna tell me why?"

"Nope." Chris walked into the girls restroom, clearly not thinking about the fact that Lumina could follow.

"So you are a girl." Lumina said, only a few steps behind, "I'm really sorry that I mis gendered you..."

"Why is everything about gender to you? Can't you just call a person by their name? Is it really important to say man, dude, girl, chick?"

"I don't know, why are you so goddamn touchy?"

Chris rolled her eyes, entering a stall, "Would you just go make sure no one else comes in here and leave me alone?"

"Not until you tell me what the fuck is going on."

"Why do you even care?"

Lumina thought for a moment, "You know? You're right. I don't." She walked towards the exit, only to be stopped by a small hand on her arm.

"No. Don't go. Please. Just keep other people from coming in for a minute and then I'll tell you what's going on." Chris sounded desperate, her eyes tearing up a little.

"Okay."

*** (present day)

"Wow, I didn't know Evelynn was in an abusive relationship."

"Well. When you met her, she wasn't" Lumina plopped down on the couch next to her friend, and handed her a bowl of popcorn "Want to watch a movie or something?"

"Sure. You pick."

"Okay." Lumina began scrolling through the list of movies on her stream stick, talking aimlessly as she did so, "Evelynn has been on and off with Eric forever. You know, I think he was her first. And at this rate, he might be her last."

Kris winced, thinking about Eve being beaten to death, and Lumina looked over, "Oh god. Not like that." Her hand flew over her mouth, "I meant if they get married."

"There is such a thing as divorce, you know." Kris laughed, the morbidity too much for her.

"Yeah, but I don't think Eve will have the strength to get a divorce if she doesn't even have the strength to stay away from him for a day."

Kris shrugged, "I guess so."

"You know he got her pregnant?"

"What?" Kris sat up, spilling popcorn on the floor, "Eve has a kid?"

"Oh, no. She miscarried."

*** (2 years ago)

"You were right when you called me a guy." Chris said, walking down the quiet hall with Lumina at her side, "But, I don't feel like a guy. I feel like a girl. I always have."

"Ouch. That must be hard."

Chris scoffed, "You have no idea. I want to start hormone treatment, but my dad..." she took a deep breath, keeping the tears at bay, "My dad won't approve."

Lumina bit her lip, "Wouldn't you be happier if you started the treatment?"

"I mean. Yeah." Chris considered the question, "I would definitely feel more comfortable in my body if I started the treatment."

"Isn't that good enough?"

"It should be. But I don't want to lose my dad."

"What about your mom?"

"She wants me to do it."

Lumina blew air out her mouth, "I'm going to say something. I'd say it's because we're friends and I'm honest with friends, but that's not exactly the case..."

"Okay rambly pants, just say it."

"If your dad doesn't approve of who you feel like you're supposed to be, doesn't that mean you've already lost him?"

Chris went to speak, but stopped, it took a few quiet moments before she finally realized, "You know what? You're right."

***

"Kris?" Lumina shook her awake, "Kris. I'm headed to bed. Do you need anything?" The movie's ending credits were scrolling on the screen behind her, the music playing loudly through the speakers.

"Ngh." Kris stretched, trying to shake her grogginess, "No. I just need up for class before you leave for work."

"Okay."

"Hey loomy?" Kris said quietly, her eyes struggling to stay open.

"Yeah?" The raccoon struggled to speak at the sound of her nickname.

"Thank you for today."

"Anytime." Lumina turned just as tears began to roll down her face. Eve why'd you have to go back to him? I miss you. And I hope you're safe.