In Miss Elliot’s office, the decoration was warm, lights were lower, and scattered around were photos and artworks from students. She appeared to be in her fifties, at least, her hair dyed a dusty blonde and kept in a short bob, from her glasses hung a jeweled chain, which she often relied on as she removed her glasses frequently only to have to put them back on. The only thing that bothered Em was how much she looked like his grandmother, but somehow her smile was softer, more sincere.

“Ok, Marceau,” she started as she looked over his file on her laptop.

“Just ‘Em’ please. Everyone calls me Em.”

“Em? Ok,” she made a note in her file, “well your previous history of being bullied has saved you today. Mr. Ferguson and I discussed at length about it because normally violence is an automatic suspension. So for detention, you will meet with Mr. Ferguson in room 103 directly after class for the next five days of school. If you’ve joined a club that meets in the mornings you may participate. I suggest bringing your homework otherwise work will be found to keep you busy. No phone use, and laptop use will be closely monitored. DI student staff meets Monday and Wednesday mornings, but you don’t have to attend until next week, ok?”

“Uh, yeh. I got it. Oh, this doesn’t affect my leave on weekends?” Em worried for a bit, more about trying to find work than his date with Michael.

“No, you’re legally emancipated, which means you can sign yourself, or even Ciel, out the same way a parent could,” she folded her hands on the desk and smiled at him. “I hope to see you back here for better reasons next time.”

“Of course, I don’t intend to get mixed up with Trevor again. Thank you, Miss Elliot.” Em ducked out of the office and breathed a sigh of relief. He thought of how hard he’d worked to get the scholarships to attend with Ciel. Suspension would have put that at risk. He checked his phone to find a message from Ciel.

Ciel: Oh. Guess I’ll see you at dinner?

Em: Yeh I had to take care of something.

Ciel: k

In Noa’s room Ciel was wrapped up in a towel as Noa applied bleach to their hair. Noa was uncommonly quiet, but had insisted that fixing Ciel’s roots would make them feel better. Ciel and Em were both blonde, but Ciel dyed their hair a brighter blonde, closer to what they had as a small child. So far while getting their hair done Ciel had been a lone chatterbox, filling the silence left by Noa.

“I was so excited that we got to come to this school! Last year and the year before I was in cyber school. I haven’t had friends since like sixth grade?” Ciel took a deep breath, “But it’s ok! I wasn’t me then. I was someone they told me I was. Now I can be me, the friends I make will see the real me.” They felt the tears pooling in their eyes, but didn’t fidget to wipe them. Noa stopped to look at Ciel’s face, concerned as the tears started rolling. “They’re not sad tears, Noa. I’m happy. I am happy I am here and I am me,” Ciel sniffed a little but otherwise smiled brightly. “And you’re my friend!”

“I am,” Noa’s voice was quiet and low as they used the hem of their shirt to wipe away Ciel’s tears. Just as quietly they returned to separating and brushing the bleach onto Ciel’s roots.

Ciel watched Noa. When they knocked Noa had been fresh from a shower, but their face was swollen and red, their hazel eyes dark and sad. Their hands had been shaking when they accepted their bag and asked Ciel to come in. Once they latched onto the idea of fixing Ciel’s roots though, the heavy weight of emotions seemed to slide away. Noa’s eyes lightened up and their hands moved confidently, and it was like whatever was wrong went away.

“Em’s going to be happy he doesn’t have to do my roots for me. He always grumbles when I drag him into it.” Ciel giggled a little seeing their reflection briefly in the mirror as Noa moved around them. “Over the summer it was really hard to do anything about it though, so thank you!”

“Done! Now a 20 minute timer.” Noa looked at their bowl of bleach, hating to dump it all. “Uh… wanna do mine?” They raised an eyebrow looking at Ciel in the mirror.

“Sure!” Ciel bounced out of the chair and pulled the towel from around their shoulders in a fluid spinning motion. Noa nodded and sat obediently for their turn. Ciel waited for Noa to give them the plastic gloves and then wrapped them up in the towel super snug. “I never get to do this part, Em’s hair is so boring.” Ciel pulled the gloves on with all the excitement of a mad scientist, “Just the long stuff, yeh?”

“Yes, just that,” Noa nodded with hope they hadn’t made a mistake. Ciel’s green eyes were lit up as bright as their smile though, so Noa didn’t dare change their mind.

Ciel’s timer went off just as they finished painting the bleach onto Noa’s hair. They went to their own room to shower when Noa set their own timer.

Alone in their room again Noa decided to call Iris rather than waiting. They picked up their phone to call and found they’d missed a text from Michael. They weren’t too worried about Michael, but opened the message right away.

Michael: Let me know when you do have time for me.

Noa: I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.

Michael: Well there you are.

Noa: Yes. So please, explain?

Michael: You’ve been really mean, not just to me, but Em, Iris, even Tani. What gives?

Noa: Excuse me?

Michael: You don’t even notice?

Noa: No, I know damn well what I’ve done and how I’ve been behaving, but you don’t have the right to come to me about them. Just you, Michael.

Michael: Fine then. What’s up being nasty to me?

Noa: I’m just really stressed right now. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you.

Michael: You’re still not going to be nice to Em are you?

Noa: Not your business.

Michael: :/

Noa skipped dinner again, and instead of waiting for Iris’ call they went to her room instead. Ciel was invited when they were done eating as well. Noa was dancing around with Iris to some old jazz music when Ciel knocked. Tani took Ciel by the hand and demanded they dance too. There was a lot of fumbling and stepping on feet, all accompanied by laughter. When a slow song came on, Noa pulled Iris close and swayed with her head resting on their chest. Tani and Ciel mimicked it but with similar heights they ended up resting their heads on the other’s shoulder.

“Noa,” Iris broke the silence, “stop skipping meals, you’re too bony.”

Noa feigned offense, “Yeh well, have you ever thought about getting taller?” Noa pushed lightly on Iris, who dramatically fell onto her bed like some soap opera actress.

“Now you just cast me off!” Iris accused.

“Like an old shoe,” Noa teased. They hopped on the bed too, and patted the leftover space, inviting Ciel and Tani. They climbed up and soon all four were happily cuddled around a laptop balanced between Ciel and Noa.

They started watching the baking show again. Ciel tried to pay attention but found it hard with Tani’s arm tangled with theirs and her head on their shoulder. They looked over and saw that Iris had fallen asleep leaning on Noa in the same way. At first glance Noa seemed to be watching the show, but to Ciel they just seemed to be staring. Noa turned to them for a moment and used one hand to push Ciel’s head back onto their shoulder and quietly told them to just watch and let Iris and Tani sleep.