Chapter Text
Adam squinted as he read the instructions on the side of the box. He’d never dyed his naturally ginger hair before, and deciding to do it the day before the end of his senior year was no coincidence. It was meant to be a statement, as was the uncharacteristically edgy outfit he had bought for the occasion. Tomorrow he was going to walk into that school for the last time, no longer the timid theater geek that got pushed around (despite his size) and called names by every jock in the school. This time he would be a dark and confident force with a “don’t fuck with me” attitude to match. He was going to leave that school as Adam…the real Adam…and he was scared shitless.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
He got up early to get ready for school. The last day of senior year, most people would have just said ‘fuck it’, slept in, and then thrown on some sweat pants at the last minute. But Adam had other plans for the day, and his appearance was a key factor, so he began the beauty routine he had practiced the night before.
Looking in the mirror, he gave his hair a once over. His ginger hair was now stained a permanent shade of blue/black. Adam was pleased with the results of the dye job. The black suited him. He pulled out a wide barrel brush and began pulling his hair up and through the brush as he sprayed it with hairspray. Once he was satisfied with its gravity--defying height, he moved on to his face.
Adam had worn makeup before, but never outside of the theater. He had always enjoyed the look of dark rimmed eyes, but he had gotten ridiculed enough the past four years to never do anything to add to the torment. Thanks to the years of theater however, Adam had no problem lining and smudging his eyes into perfectly smokey blue pools. Not stopping there, he added a small amount of shimmering iridescent eyeshadow to the mix. It didn’t add any color, but it made his lids sparkle in the light. He finished his look with a thin layer of lip gloss.
Adam gave himself a wink of approval in the vanity mirror before padding over to the bed to get dressed. The outfit he had bought was simple , yet edgy: black skinny jeans with a gray tee. The gray tee had an artsy tribal--meets--Ed Hardy design on the chest in black, and he also had a jacket to go over it.
Once dressed, he put on his boots and looked in the mirror again. He didn’t even recognize himself. Yesterday he was a nerdy redhead in a sweater vest, but today he looked like a rock god straight off the stage. As for the look…mission accomplished. Only time would tell if his nerves would keep up and allow him to drive home his brand new persona as well.
Adam took a deep breath and sighed. “Here goes nothing” he said to his reflection. He then turned and grabbed his book bag, heading for the door.
~ ~ ~ ~
The bullying began immediately. Adam was on his way to first period English when James Johnson, resident asshole jock, stopped him. He was surrounded by his group of lemmings Denny and Eddie¸ two equally jerky jocks, and Susan, his slutty head cheerleader girlfriend.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” James said, the condescending smug tone in his voice thick. “Is the theater fairy playing dress up off stage?”
Adam turned his head to face away from James and his lemmings, but his efforts were in vain. Eddie came up alongside Adam’s other side and with his back against the lockers, he had nowhere to go. He was forced to stand there and listen to James’ biting words.
“Or is it something else?” James was now inches away from Adam’s face taunting him. Adam just rolled his eyes irritatedly and looked up at the ceiling. “I bet I know. Last day of school, why not pull out all the stops? New look to start a new life. I get it. Gotta look good for all the other little faggoty cocksuckers.”
Adam bit his tongue. As much of an asshole as James was, it was only first period. It was too early for an altercation, not to mention doing anything to risk staying in this hellhole any longer than necessary. Instead he just stared at James, giving his most convincing “I’m not intimidated by you” look, and hoping it was working.
“That’s it isn’t it?” James said inching up into Adam’s personal space so closely that Adam could smell the stale coffee on his breath. “You are a fag?”
Adam cocked his eyebrow as if to say, “So what’s it to you?”
James pushed back off of the locker and out of Adam’s space. “ I thought I smelled dick on your breath.” James’ lemmings all began to laugh.
Every intelligent voice in Adam’s head was screaming at him to let it go. It was just James. Tomorrow James would no longer exist in Adam’s world, and neither would situations just like this one, but the one voice telling him to be reckless and ballsy was louder than all the others combined.
“You’re just jealous because it’s not your dick,” Adam retorted in a smooth, seductively snarky voice.
James’ jaw dropped. He was not expecting Adam to speak, let alone bite back. He quickly recovered. “Your fag ass wishes. My dick’s got a sweet little home right here,” James said as he took Susan’s chin and pulled her into a sloppy kiss.
“So does everyone else’s,” Adam said looking at his watch as if he were bored.
James let go of Susan and turned back to face Adam. The look in his eyes made Adam instinctively tighten his abdomen in preparation for the blow he knew all too well was coming.
It didn’t. Instead James just gave Adam an angry chuckle and began to walk away. After he had retreated about ten feet with his lemmings in tow, James turned back to Adam and said, “You’re lucky it’s the last day of school, Princess.”
Once James had turned the corner into Mrs. Perry’s room, Adam let out a large breath. “What the fuck?” Yes, today was supposed to be different, but up until the moment the words actually came out of his mouth, he wasn’t quite sure he would have the balls to go through with it. Telling yourself you’re going to be this new improved version of yourself is one thing. Actually doing it was scary and totally amazing.
Adam gave himself an inward smile as he entered English, and mentally patted himself on the back throughout the day each time he heard the faint whisper of his name on his classmates’ lips and saw the look of shock in their eyes.
~ ~ ~ ~
Thirty minutes before the final bell of high school, Adam was called to the office. Not sure why he was there, he sat quietly in the chair next to Mr. Carpenter’s office. He hadn’t had any run-ins with James, so he was sure he wasn’t in trouble, but he still felt apprehensive being there. In the four years he’d been in high school, he had never been summoned to the office. Whatever it was must be important.
He had only waited about five minutes before the door to Mr. Carpenter’s office opened, and he was summoned in by the small, thin man. Mr. Carpenter had been Adam’s guidance counselor since freshman year, and Adam had always felt he resembled a student more than a teacher.
“Come in, Adam. Sit down,” Mr. Carpenter said, as he walked around his desk to seat himself. He opened the folder on his desk that Adam immediately recognized as his records. “How are you today, Adam?”
“Well,” Adam said softly, nerves creeping up his spine. “What did you want to see me for?”
Mr. Carpenter looked at Adam with a genuine and caring smile. It was strange to see. Most of the teachers in the school couldn’t cover up the fact that their smiles were forced, but not Mr. Carpenter. His smile was warm and Adam could see in it that Mr. Carpenter actually cared. “Well Adam, your records were brought to my attention today by Miss Grey, as she was finalizing senior transcripts. It appears we have a small problem with yours.”
“What kind of problem?” Adam asked curiously. His grades were all above average. He didn’t see where there could be a problem.
Mr. Carpenter turned a page and fingered his way down the page until he found what he was looking for. “As you know, to graduate high school, there is a minimum number of credits you have to complete. Miss Grey discovered today that you are missing one of those credits.”
Adam thought for a moment before what Mr. Carpenter had said sunk in. With a desperate tone in his voice Adam asked, “Does that mean I don’t get to graduate tomorrow?”
“Yes and no,” Mr. Carpenter said, with a smile that Adam assumed was supposed to come across as reassuring.
“Umm?”
“Yes, you will be able to participate in the graduation ceremony tomorrow,” Mr. Carpenter began to explain. “But you will have to attend summer school and earn the missing credit before you will be given your diploma.”
Adam slumped back in his chair with his arms crossed. The last thing he wanted to do was spend one more second in the very bane of his existence when he could smell freedom a mere five minutes away. He tilted his head back staring up at the ceiling as his thoughts swam. It sucked, yes, but it was only one credit. How hard could it be? Not to mention, summer classes were only half a day, which meant if he only had one class he would be out by 10:00 each morning . It wouldn't be that bad at all.
Adam brought his head back down so he was facing Mr. Carpenter. Feeling better about the situation, Adam said, “Ok, one class a day for half a morning for twelve weeks.”
“Well that went better than expected!” Mr. Carpenter said, pulling a packet out of a desk drawer and giving it to Adam. “Now about the schedule. Your class is actually on an accelerated schedule. It’s only six weeks, but you’re in class for six hours a day.”
Adam didn’t like the idea of six hour days, but figured it more than made up the time difference. “What class?”
“Shop.”
Adam cringed.
“It’s got three other people in the class, so one--on--one will be easier.”
“I’ll need it,” Adam said with a self deprecating chuckle.
Mr. Carpenter smiled his reassurance at Adam and said, “Shop’s not for everyone, I know. I struggled through it myself when I was your age. But don’t worry. It’s usually easier in the summer, and they bring in a Grad student to teach, so you won’t have to deal with grouchy Mr. Pittman.”
Adam relaxed a bit. Not having to deal with Mr. Pittman was a plus. Rumor around school was that Mr. Pittman kept a finger in formaldehyde on his desk to remind the students what happens when you don’t pay attention around a saw. Adam did not want to deal with that.
With a sigh, Adam stood up from his chair and threw his book bag over his shoulder. “Okay. It is what it is. I guess I’ll make the best of it.”
He smiled at Mr. Carpenter and turned to exit the office just as the final bell rang.
~ ~ ~ ~
Graduation was a typical graduation. Parents lined the bleachers of the gym, and the graduating seniors marched down the aisles toward their seats while the band played Pomp and Circumstance. Adam was squished between Amanda Lacey, a quiet girl with curly brown hair and Evan Larry, the scary goth kid that despite his appearance had always been very nice.
The ceremony dragged on in the typical fashion- the principal’s speech, guest speakers, class president, class representative, and finally the valedictorian. The valedictorian’s speech was again typical, all the this--and--that about embracing tomorrow and leaving their childhoods behind.
Adam thought about that. His life was supposed to start now, start new leaving this place behind. But for another six weeks, he was stuck here, due to another person’s mistake. He was planning on spending his summer perfecting his new image and maybe squeezing in a visit to his BFF Dani who had graduated mid term and was already taking classes at the university. She and Adam had plans to find a cheap apartment on campus to both avoid the travesty of dorm living.
The progression came and went. While the other students received their diplomas, Adam received an empty case. The progression filed back to their seats as the band played, and then was followed by the vice principle’s speech.
Finally the class was announced. Adam almost missed it. He was so bored during the final speech he nodded off a bit and didn’t come to until he heard the crowd erupt, and noticed everyone on their feet. He pretended to throw his cap in the air (because gross who wants to get someone else’s sweaty cap), and hugged a few people as he made his way to his parents.
After many tears (from his mother) and pictures, Adam made it home in one piece. Alone in his room, he took a deep breath enjoying the silence. He had done it. He made it through graduation. No problems. Maybe summer school would breeze by just as easily?
That thought continued to run through his head as he drifted off to sleep.