Chapter Text
Aspen Rhys Description
Aspen Rhys is an 18 year old closeted non binary person they have a love for alternative fashion, drawing, and anything creative really, they also love listening to glamrock, and Metal bands. their overall a really fun person to hang around but they do have very bad anger issues as a result of one of their ex friend's doing something terrible to them (not saying for plot and suspense)
Aspen was tired, both them and their mom got back from their 3 year long volunteer work in Las Angeles that their mom made them come to. but finally those dreaded heat drenched years were over they had finally come back to their home town. how they missed Kingsmont, all the tightly woven neighborhoods, The all the hiding places in the woods, the comforting feeling in the air when the sun would finally start to fade. and the most important part is that nothing bad ever happens in Kingsmont!
or at least that's what they thought...
their first day back at Jeanes high was interesting
right when they walked in everyone started staring at them, every look they would give the crowd would put shivers down their spine. they knew it was probably just the curiosity of having a "new student" but the way they were looking at them was off and then they realized "oh right this is a small town of course these people are confused I mean I would be aswell if I spotted an alternative person in the wild after eating a slightly inedible toasted cinnamon muffin for breakfast" they thought but things kept getting weirder every 5 minutes they would hear someone talk about what happened in the auditorium? they were so confused "who is Exer? and why is he so ...important? what is going on?"
after their fourth period they decided to get a drink at the vending machine and then they heard it a familiar voice
"shit" they thought
of course it was him who else would it be
they quickly tried to leave but he spotted them
" hey wait a minute? oh well if it isn't Aspen, I thought you moved away for good after Kevin outed you out to the whole school!" he boasted
"ah Jacob what a "fun" surprise" Aspen retorted "now that you mention it were is he? I'd like to pay my "old friend" a visit"
"Thats not important! what's important is you actually thought you would be welcome back at Jeanes high after what happened! after you told him who you really are, everyone else forgot but I didn't..."
he leaned in an whispered in their ear
"I will make them all remember how much of a freak you are Aspen Rhys everyone will know that your actually a tra-"
they knew exactly what he was going to say, they were tired of people saying that word to them without any remorse such a hateful, unneeded word formed in bigotry they wished, anger gathered in their chest like an over flowing cauldron and before they knew it Jacob was on the floor and their knuckles were slowly brusing with every hit. they were ashamed of their outburst they knew the only thing this would do was make the situation worse but in that moment they felt almost as if their self conscious had taken the wheel and started beating Jacob's face in. this had happened more times than they could count all through their time in California, it was like their only way to solve an issue was with their fists it pained them that the only reason they had this problem could have been avoided if they just never had opened up.
they were soon put in the principals office
"I can't believe it Miss Rhys not even a full day back and you're already picking fights with the other students we have no other option then to put you in detention" Principal Phil said
'Miss' a pit opened in their stomach as it did every time they knew this would always happen no matter what and that fact had already made them cry until thier eyes were red, they felt as if nothing would ever change anyones mind, this sorrow constantly squeezes at their chest as if it were a chain attached to a ball so big it could fill up a medium sized pool...
"put Principal Phil why don't you understand he-"
"ah ah ah missy it doesn't matter who started it you were the one that hit first you have to face the consequences for your actions" Wendy cut in
'Missy' the sadness squeezed harder they felt like they were going to suffocate
"but Wendy I-" they said as tears slowly started to form in their eyes they knew that no matter how hard they had punched that asshole for saying dehumanizing things they would still get in trouble because that's how the world works, but its not like they didn't understand that their actions had weight they tried every day to stop getting so mad but it never worked they were starting to lose hope never being normal
"no buts missy! you got to atone now let me walk you to detention and please for the love of god do not acknowledge the others this is supposed to be a learning opportunity not a bonding opportunity!.."
again. another round of thoughts and memories circled to the front of their head
"you will always be a girl no matter how hard you try"
"you should just stop trying no ones actually going to see you as you want them to"
and worse of all...
"YOUR A FREAK YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE ONE"
they went silent as Wendy trailed off about "stupid kids" and "Jackson not listening to her warning" they tried to pay attention but that line in their head kept blaring like a neon light, their head started to hurt as all their thoughts turned into a swirling pool of goo
when both Wendy and Aspen had made it to detention they heard laughter coming from inside the room
"KEN GET OFF THE DESK" Wendy squealed
"what if I said nooo" the black and green haired guy shot back with a very big smirk across his face
"what if I said you have to scrape the gum from under the desks for a week if you don't get off!" Wendy replied
"aww man okay finneee"
"Ken! I told you Wendy was gonna catch you but you just didn't wanna listen huh" the girl with nice earrings claimed
"come on Jolieee you have to admit it just sitting your desk is pretty boring~" Ken persuaded
"heh not if your being scolded by Wendy" the brown haired guy said
"please like I said Aspen do not engage with them their complete hooligans!" Wendy exclaimed
"aww you know you love us Wendyyy"
"shut up ken I don't love anyone"
"just sit down and do your work Aspen and like I said DO NOT ENGAGE" Wendy said while slowly walking out the door
Clank
the door shut leaving only them and the other 4 supposed hooligans
and that's when Aspen knew they had to engage
"soooooo are you a new kid or something I don't remember you from anywhere" ken asked
"oh uh I just go back from California this is actually my hometown" they stated while doodling a small cat on the side of their homework paper
"that's such a cool coincidence! Jack over here moved back here from Portland earlier this year!" ken said excitedly while gesturing towards the guy with the spiky brown hair
"yep this is also my home town" their swirling thoughts slowly disintegrated as the conversation cooled the tension in their muscles, they have always loved conversations like this were their was no gendering needed
"enough ken you didn't even ask the poor kids name" Jolie reminded
" oops sorry what's your name new old kid?"
"my name's Aspen and its okay I'm not good with introductions either"
"oh nice to meet you Aspen I'm Timothy" he said while seemingly jumping out from nowhere
"AHH oh uh hi Timothy"
"Tim! I would normally expect that from ken but now you!" Jolie exclaimed
"oh sorry! for scaring you I just dropped my headphones no need to panic" Timothy said
*sigh* "Tim its always you and your heavy metal" Jackson explained
"wait you listen to heavy metal!? that's so cool me too!!" Aspen celebrated
"ah shoot too much energy?"
"never!" they all said
they continued talking for a while and the conversation slowly shifted more to fashion and art (with the help of Jolie of course)
"no way!! you made all of that, it looks amazing!" Aspen exclaimed
"oh stop it, you flatter me" Jolie replied smiling and cupping her cheeks
"ya know I have a few extra beads I can make a necklace for you to match your outfit!" Aspen enthused
"ooooh that would be amazing!! I can make you some earrings too!!" Jolie celebrated
"uhh guys think we lost them" Jackson said with an arched eyebrow and a knowing smile