Sixth hour passed without anything interesting for any of the four friends. Seventh hour started and Erin and Mae sat in their seats in the Home EC room. They sat in the back by the sewing machines. The teacher stood at the front and started talking about projects they would be starting soon. Erin actually listened in this class without zoning out, the projects would be making a pillow. It was simple enough, use any and all fabrics you wanted to make a pillow of your own design. It was a project that had room for a lot of creativity. Mae had immediately started drawing out her plans while Erin talked with her.

"So, what are you planning?" He asks running his hands through his hair.

"Definitely something odd."

"Of course, it's you. I've know you for two days and I could figure that out."

"I think I'll make a weird collection of scraps. You know, use random leftover pieces of fabric and things. I think It'll make it a normal shaped pillow though, as large as I can with any scraps I find. Old clothes and things would work perfectly."

"That sounds pretty cool. I think I'll just make a normal pillow, maybe with a hidden pocket or something. "

"A hidden pocket is a good idea. Got anything specific you're hiding?" Mae says, doodling on her planning paper.

"Just the normal teen stuff, ya know."

Mae looks up at him expectantly.

"My vape and things. I have enough reasons for my dad to hate me, I don't need another one." Erin mumbles staring at the floor during the second sentence.

"What reasons?"

Erin snapped his head up.

"Oh, nothing. It's nothing." Erin faltered and promptly put his earbuds in, effectively ignoring Mae. Mae wasn't convinced, but she would drop it for now.

"How was school Kye?" Jesse, a worker at Reúnanse y coman, asked as Kye walked into the kitchen. Kye tied an apron around his front and smiled at them

"It was good Jesse, thanks for asking."

"It's gonna be a pretty busy tonight, are you sure you can handle all the dishes yourself?"

"If I need help I'll ask Deri."

Erin left school and decided to head to the library to see if they had any LGBT+ books. In his haste to research for his own book he almost forgot that this wasn't Jaycen, he had no idea where the library is. Erin sighed and pulled out his phone, searching the location of the library.

Once he reached his destination he went through the doors of the large building. Rows upon rows of tall shelves filled the room, a few tables were scattered around and a couch area was on the far wall. There was a young woman sitting at the front desk, maybe late twenties, early thirties, her name tag said Kara.

The librarian glances up and smiles, she seemingly ignores the comment on her name.

"Is there anything I can help you with young lady."

Erin choked and froze he could feel the dysphoria and negative thoughts settle in the back of his mind, but he pushed them down and corrected her.

"I...I'm a guy. My name is Erin Laemar and I'm looking for some books"

"Oh, I'm so so sorry, I promise I will never make that mistake again Erin. If you want to search the inventory go to the computers on the far right, it'll tell you where any book is."

Erin looked to where to woman was pointing and saw a few computers set up.

"What about the computers on the left?"

"Those are for work and research, or kids playing games. You'll need a library card. Do you have a library card?"

"oh..uh..no" Erin admitted.

The lady sighs before speaking. "I'll set you up now."

"I'm really sorry, I completely forgot, I just moved to town about three days ago."

"It's alright Hon, plenty of people forget their cards weekly."

She slides a paper across the desk towards Erin. He fills it out and provides his driver's license as I.D. Once it's all set up and Erin has his picture taken for the card, Erin is told to wait for the card to be done. He went over to the computers on the right and scrolled through all the categories until he saw the one he was looking for. He clicked the LGBT+ label and scrolled through all the titles. He copied a few titles and the location of the books onto his phone notepad before closing it and searching the shelves.

Erin sat reading the books for inspiration. He didn't realize how long he sat there until the librarian shook his shoulder and offered him a water bottle.

"You've been sitting here for three hours. I suggest you take a drink and put that book that you finished back if you're not checking it out, you could use with a leg stretch."

"Oh, thank you so much. I hadn't even realized."

"That's alright hon, I make sure all of our patrons don't read for too long without small breaks. I like to make sure everyone is taken care of here. I know all the regulars by name, which ones may need a snack as they read or care packages to take home. I have fidget toys for people who need them to focus. If you need anything at all, you come to me. If there is a book not on my shelf you come to me."

"That is so kind, the librarian in Jaycen only noticed you if you had a book late or if you were too loud in the library. I think I will take a break, call my dad. I'll definitely become a new regular."

"I look forward to seeing your face more often"

Kara left Erin at his table and Erin stood to his feet, almost falling as he realized exactly how numb his lower limbs had become. Erin shook his legs until he gained feeling again. He made his way outside to call his father. He pulled his phone and called his father

"How is the library?"

"It's good, the librarian is really nice."

"That she is, just be home in about thirty minutes. Dinner is soon."

"Ok, dad."

"See you soon Callie."

Nathan hung up before Erin could protest. Erin cursed his father and shoved his phone in his pocket. One day, Erin thought to himself, one day he'll call me by my name. Erin went back inside to his table and collected his books, he put the finished one back on the shelf and went to the counter.

"Is my card done?"

"Yes it is Erin," She hands a small plastic card over to him.

"Can I check these out?"

"Yes you can, our book limit is ten, our movie limit is five."

"I might grab some more books then."

Kara chuckles and Erin heads over to scan the shelves for some books to read for fun. He picks out a couple of his favorites. Mostly Poppy Densley books, Two girls and a story was the first of her books that he ever found. It's a story of a christian girl realizing she's a lesbian and falling in love with her classmate, it was about religion and sexuality. His favorite book was, Joshua and Anna, it was the book that made him realize his gender identity. Erin had always felt wrong as a girl but he didn't know why until he read that book about a trans woman figuring out who she is. It went into detail about her gender dysphoria and it led Erin to do more research, and eventually coming out.

Erin carried the books to the counter and set them down. The librarian smiled up at the teen and started scanning his books.

"A big fan of Poppy Densley are you?"

"Of course, she is a wonderful writer, not only are the plot lines amazing she gives representation to people who typically don't. It's this book here-" he holds up the book- "Helped me realize who I was."

"Ah, yes that book. Did you know it was based off of her wife, Annabel."

"Yeah, Her wife is such a sweet person. She writes music and things for YouTube and draws all the cover art for Poppy's books."

Kara smiles at the young boy and flips to the back of the book, where a picture of the author and her wife sits on the page. The same person sat in front of Erin, behind the desk.

"I freaking knew it, I knew it was you as soon as I saw you. I wasn't going to bombard you though, I respect your personal space." Erin exclaims as Kara laughs.

"Thank you for that, I also thank you for what you said about my books. It's stories like yours that are the reason I wrote those stories. The reason I fought so hard for them to be published, it took me five years to finally get them onto shelves. My wife was only my girlfriend when Joshua and Anna was written, but she gave me permission to write it. She proposed at the book signing when I announced it."

Erin smiled as Kara handed Erin his stack of books.

"Have these back in about a month, you can renew them and extend the time within a week of deadline."

"Thank you so much, but may I ask why you're working here a library in New Rye?"

"I grew up near here, My father's bookstore was right down the street. Sadly by the time my books started earning me money it was too late to save the store from bankruptcy. My father is the reason I chose Poppy as my pen name."

Erin gave her a sad smile and left the library after putting his books in his backpack. Erin started his walk home, extremely happy with how his day had gone, despite the blatant misgendering from kara. Erin was smiling and bopping his head to the music as he walked the streets.