"Where is he?"

I couldn't find them. Normally they are here. Never missing school. But, it's been a few days. I wonder if they are okay.

"Hey! Dorin! Ready to play dodgeball!?" My classmates yelled for me in the gym as I stood outside the wooden double doors. I couldn't handle it though. They were never late. And something told me nothing was okay.

The rest of the day was neutral in the routine I started to notice. He wasn't lying about how routines go. Everything is the same, even if it is so small. From the slightest angle of the shoe, to how someone holds their books. Not to mention, appearance and body language.

So weird. But cool. How does someone like that notice things like this!?

"Can Dorin McGlenn come to the front office please. Dorin McGlenn to the front office."

I ran down the hall, my shoes slapping the tile flooring as it glided behind me the closer I got to my destination. In the glass windows, they stood at the front desk, hoodie pulled tightly over their arms and looking around with just their eyes like if they don't pay close enough attention, they will get hurt.

I grabbed their arm carefully once I got in, smiling and whispered, "Good servant with a bad master. Don't let it take over."

They looked up at me, I could tell they had been crying and something was far more wrong than just appearance.

"Mister McGlenn, can you take them to the nurses office? They refused to go unless you came.I will write you a pass."

"Okay."

Once the office lady gave us both one, we started down the hall. I noticed bandages wrapped around under the long sleeve they had under their hoodie.

"You did it again without thinking. Overload? What was the reason?"

They were quiet as they pressed to me almost as though they didn't believe I was there.

"Just something my parents said. I'll be fine. It just hurt because it was said during a stupid fight over something."

I nodded but held them close. Something pinned in me. And If I get a pinning feeling, something bad will happen.

Few days later, they were gone again. No one really noticed though but me and another friend. It worried us because they had only gotten worse. Their household had only gotten worse.

"My mom just texted me. They got checked into a hospital. Their parents made them do it in quote,"So we can figure out what is wrong with our child so we can fix them. What the hell man. Who says that?"

My friend shrugged and shook their head,"People who think the child is just being an ass I guess. Or just wants attention so the parent is giving in and letting the child have a way with whatever they want. Are the doctors gonna tell their parents or just yours since your mom went?"

I didn't know. And that worried me. Because what would happen if the doctors did, and then all of sudden everything changed again, it'll just make another mess. Or maybe the parents will be angry that they didn't tell them and just make it worse while letting them have their meds or while they stay at the hospital.

Ding.

I looked quickly to see it was mom again.

"Mom said that they weren't going to tell the parents. Because of certain things they told them, but their parents don't really want them there so they can watch and help them themselves. They are just gonna take them to therapy and a week check at the hospital since that's an option apparently."

My friend groaned annoyed, narrowing their eyes at me,"Not how it works. Are we sure these parents are just lesbian Karens? That the dad just isn't Karen in disguise?"

We laughed a bit at the smartass joke. Though, deep down, we really wish it was a joke.

The next day, they were back. Looking a bit better but now fully. Something still off but not too bad.

They talked to us at least. Still barely ate anything they packed, but okay.

"Hey, are you feeling okay?"

We were walking home now. They had almost a plastered bright look on their face as if they weren't allowed to be without it just a few feet away from their front step. The typical depression look. Strained smile and happy expression.

"I feel fine. The same if not a little better."

I bit into my cheek seeing that their hands messed with their hoodie sleeve as we approached their doorstep sooner.

Nervous stim. Not good.

"Can I use one of my questions today since I haven't been able to for the past two weeks?"

They nodded.

"Can I ask why you ask everyone to call you They and Them? I'mma use another question so, are you non-binary or gender fluid?"

Stopping in our tracks. They stared at the ground stopping with the nervous stim. A small smile broke on their face, a real one though?

"I like to be called They and them because it helps with the way I take on the world, how I speak, and now I think. It's also fun when you learn to use it correctly. Took me a few years. But no, I am not non-binary or gender fluid."

I smiled and laughed,"Okay! I thought it was just, you didn't want to have to find a name that went with your gender identity so using the pronouns worked better as a name substitute. Either way, I still think it's pretty cool. Speaking of which..."

"GET IN THIS HOUSE NOW!"

Their mom scream from the front porch step, face nearly all red in anger.

They flinched harder than I have even seen them do before. Something must've happened, and definitely I'll be able to hear it tonight and be able to come over when everyone in that house is asleep.

"I'll see you tomorrow then. Looks like I'm needed really badly."

"You be careful in there. I'll be over tonight so we can hangout once they are all asleep. How does that sound?"

They shrugged to my question. But I knew that in the end, they really wanted it.