#nicelle

There was light knocking on Nicelle's door. She looked up from her paperwork, seeing two shy and sheepish boys through the window by her door. 

She waved them in, setting down her pen and standing up to greet them. "Hey Ray, hey Gabe. What can I do for you?" 

Gabe winced, stepping between the rows of student desks until he was almost at the front of the room, resting his fists on the desks beside him. Ray had plopped himself on top of a desk a few rows over, a little behind Gabe.

Gabe hesitated, taking a shaky breath that drew Nicelle's attention back to him."Mrs M, you.. you have a wife, right?" Her brow furrowed, but she nodded and hummed an affirmation, not wanting to interrupt. "So youre.. you accept LGBT students, right?" The inflection was subtle, and Nicelle shrugged it off easily. 

"Of course, I'll support you no matter what. You dont have to come out until you're ready though." She looked between the two boys, but tried not to assume anything. She saw Gabe nod, not looking away from the desk at the end of his fist. 

"I just.." he inhaled sharply, his eyes shutting tight, "I want to go by Savannah this next class, if you dont mind?" Nicelle felt her eyes widen a little before she smiled gently.

"Of course, Savannah. Do you want to change your pronouns too?" 

The person in front of her nodded, their eyes still closed and their voice quieter than Nicelle had heard before, "She, please?"Nicelle nodded, reaching aside to grab her roll sheet. She drew a single line through "Gabriel J." and wrote "Savannah J." next to it in purple pen that stood out to her. 

Ga-- Savannah spoke up again, her voice quiet but stronger now, "Thank you, Mrs M. Could you like.. not tell the other students about it? Like, dont point it out? If anyone asks I'll tell them, but.." She trailed off, finally meeting Nicelle's eyes with a pleading expression in her eyes. 

"Of course, that's your decision. Do you want me to tell your other teachers though?"

"No! I mean, sorry I.. i havent told my parents yet, and i.. i dont wanna risk this getting back to them.. I'd rather tell them myself, you know?"

"Alright, that's okay. If you're afraid they wont accept you, you dont have to tell them?" Nicelle was concerned, but knew her wife would want a heads up before she offered their house as a safehaven. 

"Its not- they-.. My mom said she would accept me no matter what, and my dad seemed to agree, but this is.. this is more than just liking girls.." 

Nicelle nodded in understanding, stepping forward and resting her hand near Savannah's on the desk. "You're a remarkable young lady, Savannah. You have such a bright future in front of you, and I sincerely hope your parents support you." Savannah teared up, her lips trembling. 

Her voice was quiet again, "C-can I hug y-ou?" Nicelle gently put her arms around Savannah first, and the girl wrapped her arms tight around Nicelle's waist, crying into her shirt. Ray slid off of his perch, standing on the other side of the desk and resting a hand on Savannah's shoulder.

Savannah pulled away, wiping her eyes and sniffing hard. Nicelle backed up to her desk, holding out her box of tissues. She glanced to Ray, hoping to help Savannah feel less judged. "You just here for support, Ray?" 

 The boy shrugged, hopping onto the desk behind him, "Yeah! Well, I'm gay, but everyone knows that!" He smirks, and Nicelle laughs a little. 

"I dont like to assume, so I didnt know. But thank you," she looks at Savannah who had walked over to the trashcan to throw away her used tissues. She wiped under her eyes with her sleeve, exhaling loudly.

"Thank you, Mrs M. You're the best." 

Nicelle smiled and shook her head. "I'm just doing my best. I'm glad I can support you though."

"Can.. can we hug again?" Nicelle nodded and circled around her desk, meeting Savannah halfway. After a moment, Savannah releases one arm, gesturing Ray over. Nicelle hugged both of them gently, not minding Ray's almost too-tight grip or Savannah's lingering tears.