Chapter Text
Zealand never expected his life to change. Living in the small town of Willow Creek where everyone knew each other. Zealand was known for being the son of the local drug addicted, alcoholic, dead-beat parents. Zealand grew up pretty quick, learning how to be independent. He thought he would always be this kid who cared only for himself, but everything changed when his parents were involved in a fatal car accident.
After the accident, Zealand moved in with his very catholic grandparents over in Del sol Valley. Now all eyes were on him constantly. He couldn't do anything by himself, his grandparents did everything for him. Cooked, did dishes, the laundry, and more. The only thing Zealand could do for himself was get ready in the morning, use the bathroom, and shower. If he wanted to be in his room, he had to have the door open unless he was sleeping.
From the ages of 12 to 14, he went to a Catholic school. But when he reached freshman year, his grandparents couldn't afford to send him to the Catholic school anymore, so they transferred him to the public high school in town. Zealand was terrified. He was so used to a smaller school where everyone knew each other. Now he was going to a new school where everyone already had their friend group. This was definitely a big change.
Zealand walked into the school and the first thing he noticed were the crowded hallways. He never knew a school could have so many people in it... How did they all fit in here? Zealand looked all around, trying to find something familiar. There was nothing... This just made him feel even worse...
Soon enough, he found his class. He went to the teacher, who directed him to a seat by the windows. Zealand sat down and put his head in his hand, his leg shaking. He felt so many eyes on him. He wasn't looking at anyone, but he could sense everyone staring.
Zealand reached for his bag to grab a pencil. He found one, but dropped it. He sighed and leaned over to grab it. He looked up and saw one person across the room staring at him. The guy had a strange look on his face Zealand couldn't figure out.
Zealand quickly looked away.
But Nathaniel didn't.
Nathaniel wasn't the type to stare at people, especially not a new student. He usually didn't even acknowledge anyone that wasn't his friends. But something was just... Off with Zealand. Maybe it was the way he tried to make himself smaller, less noticeable. Maybe it was how Zealand's entire body tensed as someone spoke. He seemed aware, even if he was just looking down at his pencil.
Nathaniel's brows pulled together. He couldn't figure out how he felt, or how Zealand felt. Zealand didn't seem shy, he seemed like someone who was on edge just waiting for something to happen.
Suddenly, Nathaniel felt a nudge on his arm. He looked over and saw his friend, Aimee. She had an eyebrow raised. "What the hell is wrong with you dude?"
"What are you talking about?" Nathaniel stared at Aimee, before looking back at Zealand. "I know what you mean now. I don't know, the new kid looks... Off."
"Wow, how nice." Aimee rolled her eyes.
Nathaniel quickly turned his head toward her, glaring. "I don't mean his looks, dumbass."
"I know, I was fucking with you," Aimee kicked his leg lightly under the table. "You're acting like you've never seen a stranger before."
"I mean, I've never seen him before..." Nathaniel sighed.
Out of nowhere, someone behind Nathaniel leaned their arm on his shoulder. "Who we starin' at?"
"Fuck, Teagan!" Nathaniel jumped, turning to Teagan and glaring. Teagan just laughed, Aimee held back laughter.
"Oh! Him," Teagan whispered the moment he laid his eyes on Zealand. "Church boy! I heard he came from that Catholic school across town."
Aimee made a face. "That makes sense. He looks like he's about to flip out on someone for sinning."
Nathaniel shot her a look immediately. "He doesn't look religious or anything. He looks..." He was searching for the right word. The only one he could think of felt too heavy... "Scared..."
Aimee and Teagan exchanged a look-not mocking now, just confusion and curiosity.
Nathaniel didn't notice though. He was looking at Zealand again.
Zealand was looking further down, his shoulders tensed more than before. His leg was still shaking, now tapping his pencil repeatedly on the desk. Everytime someone that wasn't the teacher made a noise, Zealand would jump a bit. This isn't how a normal person reacted to things...
Nathaniel felt a tight feeling in his chest.
He didn't know this kid.
He didn't know his story or anything about him.
He didn't know why he kept staring. But something in Nathaniel told him he needed to help this person somehow.
Something very clearly was wrong.
You could just tell by how his eyes never left his desk and he barely moved a muscle.
Aimee kicked Nathaniel's leg a little harder than before under the desk. "Come on dude, stop staring before you freak him out more."
"I think it's too late. That's probably why he keeps looking at his desk." Teagan whispered.
Maybe it was too late, because at that exact moment Zealand glanced over at them. Nathaniel and Zealand made wye contact for a second, and Nathan finally figured out what Zealand felt.
He wasn't just scared.
He looked like someone who hadn't felt safe once in their entire life.
Before Nathaniel could look away, Zealand dropped his gaze, his shoulders curling inward like he regretted lifting his head at all.
Nathaniel opened his mouth as if to whisper something-he didn't even know what-but the teacher's voice cut in.
"Nathaniel Paris, is there a problem or something outside that is more important than my class?" The teacher spoke, her hands crossed. Nathaniel looked at her and just slightly slumped in his seat.
"Ah, no. I'm sorry, I just got distracted-"
"I shouldn't have to close my blinds because you're getting distracted like a kindergartener."
"Wow, that's incredibly rude. This isn't the 90s anymore lady, you can't be rude like this unless you wanna lose your job!" Teagan interrupted. The teacher's eyes widened, along with her mouth. Her hand went against her chest.
"Ms. Stapleton, I'm gonna have to-"
Teagan's chair screeched and echoed through the room as he stood up, eyes wide with fury. "It's MISTER. I am not a girl anymore! I've corrected you MULTIPLE TIMES. All my other teachers get it now, you don't. If I have to correct you one more time, I'm reporting this." Teagan threatened. Nathaniel barely knew what was even going on at this point.
A wave of stunned silence filled the room, students looking at each other completely shocked. Zealand was trying to make himself even smaller now. All the arguing was making him more anxious as time went on...
A few students whispered to each other while Aimee fought a proud smile. Nathaniel's hand was on his forehead, his face heating up as he felt humiliated being near Teagan. Not for the reason you may think-it was simply just because Teagan was "making a scene". Nathaniel was surprised his friend was standing up for himself, too. He expected a snarky comment, not an angry correction. He felt proud of his friend.
The teacher straightened her back, as if to make herself feel more confident. "Mr. Stapleton," her voice cracked as she spoke. "This is neither the time, or the place-"
"It is the time and place though." Teagan crossed his arm and stood tall. Nathaniel saw no fear in this man's eyes. "You misgendered me in front of the whole class, AGAIN. Students know me as a man, not a woman."
While the two bickered, Nathaniel's gaze drifted-instinctively-back to Zealand.
He wasn't looking at his desk anymore.
He was looking at Teagan.
Wide-eyed.
Stunned.
Almost... confused.
It was as if he had never seen anyone speak to anybody like that. The idea of correcting somebody-especially a teacher-was unthinkable. He couldn't process that someone could yell at a teacher without being suspended on the spot.
Something in Nathaniel's chest twisted. He noticed Zealand didn't look offened, not even confused now. He looked startled. Startled in a way Nathaniel's stomach drop. It wasn't a "Woah, that was dramatic" kind of reaction. More like people aren't supposed to talk to adults like that, let alone a teacher.
Nathaniel didn't know exactly how Zealand felt. He definitely didn't understand it fully. But one thing he understood loud and clear was that Zealand was scared.
Not shy, not even overwhelmed. Just... Scared.
And that bothered Nathaniel in a way he couldn't explain.