So...who is going to find that last chapter published first? And this one? This is my favorite part of posting midday haha.

Picking up pretty much where we left off.

Enjoy! :)

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They do in fact all go to school the next day.

As much fun as it would be to randomly skip four days of school, it's very unrealistic: they'd all fall behind academically too much.

Because school has too high of expectations and pretty much every day has something important that they'd miss if they skipped school.

And they can't rush into this.

They need to think this through.

Any rash act will get them in even more trouble, and that's another thing they can't afford.

The first thing Tony does when he wakes up Tuesday morning is text Sean, totally out of it and done with everything.

Two weeks of nothing made me forget how bad Tuesdays are

They say Monday is the worst

But no

Monday IS a headache

But Tuesday is worse

Sooooo mchu worse

*muhc

*MUCH

I SWEAR I CAN TYPE

I blame Tuesday

Tuesday is homophobic

Sean are you awake

You probably are, and you probably have you're phone off

Wait wrong your

At least I didn't use a wrong there haha

And leaving Sean to discover all of those, Tony stretches and groans and finally gets out of bed. Only ten minutes after he planned to get up.

After he gets dressed, he examines himself in the mirror, seeing if his binder actually works. And it does. Tony hasn't felt any euphoria and rightness like this in a really long time. And it's great.

Aw, it thinks it's valid!

The voice echoes in his head.

Tony's smile begins to change into a frown.

"I am valid," he tells his mirror. "I am."

Right?

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All of them show up to school a lot more tense, always looking over their shoulder. Like someone is going to call them out, or there's going to be homophobia and/or transphobia around every corner.

All their first classes explain to everyone that there are new rules about how everyone has to be in the commons for lunch. No one is really fazed; most of them sit there anyway, but there is some confusion about why this has happened all of a sudden. Then there are the kids who don't like sitting in the commons, whether they have clubs that prefer to meet during lunch rather than after school, or the kids that each lunch in the library.

Jack clenches his fists under his desk. David shrinks into his chair.

This is a direct attack at them.

They're just going to have to find a way to fight back.

Since there is no drama class after school today, they can all stay after class in Mr. Denton's classroom to talk about what they want to do next. Yesterday Jack ranted all about it to Ms. Larkin, and being the wonderful ally that she is, she's agreed to come after the last class as well to help them.

As if to spite them, the day moves slowly. And lunch...is more crowded.

No one truly realized just how many spend lunch outside of the commons until they're having to use up all the space at all the tables. The thing is that since it's January, the fifth month into the school year, everyone already had their rhythm of where they sit and who they sit with. Now that's all messed up with all the people coming in.

Tony tries tuning out as much as he can. The more he focuses on eating food, the better. Because if he doesn't, it will be conversation from our table-conversation over there-oh listen someone shouted-colors of the floor, the ceiling, the walls-everyone is talking at once without a care about anything else-the texture of the table- and so much more, and on top of that there's thinking about how GSA has been taken away from him, as well as his internalized transphobia mixed with his gender dysphoria and the transphobic words he heard yesterday. Just focus on eating food, and he won't get sensory overload.

Sean grabs his hand encouragingly and squeezes gently, having somehow picked up what Tony is going through. Tony is so grateful for Sean. He has no idea what he would do without him.

He glances at another table. He sees a kid, looks like a ninth grader, eyes large--signs of stress and fear; a survival instinct for seeing surroundings better and finding predators--and staring intensely at their table, hands over their ears, hunched over, rocking back and forth ever so slightly.

There are people who have sensory overload far worse than him.

Normally, he can tune out background noise and totally be fine. Normally, it helps keep him from being understimulated.

In the moment, it's overwhelming his senses because of everything going on in his life right now.

There are some people who aren't like that.

There are people who always get their senses overloaded by stuff like this.

And no one understands them.

Doesn't understand them, nor their need to be in a more quiet place.

It makes Tony want to cry in frustration.

Can't the principal see that he's hurting everyone with this decision?

The only pro to lunch ticking by slowly is that each slow second counts to a second more of time before he has to go to Spanish. Which he knows will probably pass by even slower.

And today, it's worse. He can't concentrate. He's mixing Spanish and English and Italian together, and the teacher is not happy with him. If Sean wasn't there always shooting him sympathetic glances and mouthing you can get through this, Tony would have just given up by now.

David hasn't realized how much he needs GSA. Finally, he has been surrounded by people who get him, who are like him. And now they don't have that space anymore.

David is determined to get it back. Sarah is too; she wanted to help immediately after he told her everything. She's stopping by Mr. Denton's classroom today too.

David is determined to stop this once and for all.

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Finally, finally, everyone starts leaving to go home for the day.

But not them.

They don't care how long they'll stay, nearly everyone can drive; and those who can't have a friend offering them a ride home.

And, because they want to, nearly everyone sits on top of the desks.

It's beginning to feel like GSA again already.

"Everyone has too many conflicts to come to GSA regularly after school," Jack starts. "Either with drama or sports or just can't do it; no one can make it regularly. So we need to figure out how we can present the idea of why we should have GSA during lunch again."

"We are not skipping school in protest," David adds in automatically. 

Jack sighs. "Right after I said those words I realized it was a bad idea. Okay? No, we won't skip school."

"If it's directly targeted at us, and it's because the principal is being homophobic, can't we bring this to the school board or something?" Sean brings up. "Because if this is purely based on discrimination and/or bias, I don't think he can do this."

"That's a good point," Mr. Denton adds. "But we also need ideas of how this is affecting everyone. The more people we include, the better our cause will sound."

"It is affecting everyone," Tony responds immediately. "We aren't the only people who meet up in classrooms during lunch for a club. And with all the official after school clubs and sports going on, it's nearly impossible to come up with a time and place that works for everyone. And just because most people can handle sitting in the commons, doesn't mean everyone can. There are introverts who prefer quiet spaces, and then there are those who are neurodivergent and their senses get overload, and it's not a fun experience to go through daily."

"We need to get you on a speech and debate team," Sean murmurs. "Or just public speaking."

"Those are all very valid ideas," Mr. Denton praises. "Do any of you mind if I write any of this down to present to other staff members later?"

They all look around. No one's objecting.

"I just want you to know that I'm here for all of you, okay?" Ms. Larkin tell them. "I don't know all of you, but know that you can come to me and tell me anything, alright? Whatever is bugging you. I'll help in any way I can."

"Thanks Ms. Larkin," everyone says, very appreciative.

Nearly everyone does have either her class or is in drama after school, or have at least seen her around. She's one of the people that helps all of them feel safe.

"Hey Kathryn, you wouldn't happen to have any sway over this, could you?" Jack asks suddenly. "Maybe since he's your dad, he'd listen to you?"

There's an idea.

Unfortunately, Kathryn shakes her head sadly. "No. He really doesn't like you, Jack. Not that he'd listen to me about something like this either." She pauses. "He refuses to acknowledge my preferred pronouns."

That gets Sarah mad. It gets all of them mad, but none of them like Sarah.

If Kathryn wants to go by she AND they pronouns, everyone should respect that.

This gets Sarah more determined than before to do something about this. Because no one disrespects her girlfriend or their pronouns.

"Sorry, though," Kathryn mumbles, wishing they could do more.

Everyone understands; but they are all still disappointed with this dead end.

Louis feels like he should be doing something. 

He feels like he should be the one coming up with ideas and should lead them storming into the principal's office demanding that this change.

But he's silent.

And he has no idea why.

Meanwhile, Nick is thinking up a lot of things.

Mainly, how much this mirrors the newsies strike.

This school is even rumored to be built on the grounds of the original New York World building; the one that burned down and had to be replaced by the one that was around in 1899.

What if...this was meant to be?

What if...they're continuing the newsies' legacy?

They continue talking, coming up with ideas. It's getting kind of late, so they agree to come back to this tomorrow after school; having a make shift Wednesday GSA (with plenty of snacks!)

When they walk out of the classroom, Nick can't hold it in anymore. He didn't want to say anything in front of the teachers; he barely stops to think about David and Sarah and Kathryn being there.

"What if this is like the newsies' strike?" he asks suddenly.

That has them all taken aback. "What?"

And leaving David, Sarah, and Kathryn confused as well.

"I mean, it's lining up," Nick continues. "Having something taken away from us, wanting to do something...heck, Jack and David even brought up the word strike yesterday."

"You may be right," Jack says, thinking about what Nick is saying.

Louis kisses Nick's cheek. "You're a genius!"

Nick beams.

"Okay, what's going on?" David asks Jack.

"Yeah," Sarah agrees.

"I feel like I'm missing something," Kathryn adds.

Sean looks at Jack. "You didn't tell him?"

Jack's face begins to heat up.

He was just procrastinating.

He's done that a lot in his life.

Never has it ever all come toppling down on top of him so fast as this is right now.

"Okay, everyone just stop for a second," Jack says. He turns to David. "You remember how on New Year's Day I brought up past lives?"

"Yeah?" 

Jack takes a deep breath in. "This is going to sound absolutely crazy, but I need you to listen, okay?"

"Okay..."

Jack gestures at his friends. "All of us..." Where should he start? "In the summer, we had...déjà vu. And I know that déjà vu isn't all that rare, but this felt...different. Like something more. We started doing research. We think we've had past lives. And the crazier thing is, we think we have some idea of who we were. You see, in New York in 1899, there were these newsboys--newsies--who went on strike against the newspaper man, Joseph Pulitzer. And we think that we were them. We're still doing a lot of research, but...this is something we're sure of."

David, Sarah, and Kathryn, stand there in silence for a few moments.

Tony wishes he had popcorn, because wow, is this something to watch. 

No one moves, all wondering who is going to speak or act next.

"That's crazy," is David's immediate response. He's not trying to be mean or turn the idea down. It's just...it's crazy.

"I know-" Jack starts speaking.

"But I felt something too."

Jack turns to Kathryn in surprise. "What?"

"Me too," Sarah chimes in.

"The first déjà vu wouldn't happen to have happened around July 18th, would it?" Kathryn asks, connecting dots. That's when she met David and Sarah at the bookstore. And they felt something. They all did.

"Yeah," Jack answers, amazed at what is happening.

"What if we all had past lives together?" Sarah asks. "What if this is all real?"

"We think it is," Tony tells her.

"We've been doing A LOT of research," Charlie adds. "Extra emphasis on the A LOT."

"Except we still have a lot to learn," Nick contributes.

There's more back and forth.

But the only one who Jack is concerned about is David.

"David?" he asks softly, gently. "What do you think about all this?"

David takes a moment. "I...don't know," he admits.

"I want in," Kathryn announces.

Jack raises his eyebrows. "Oh?"

Gaining confidence, she tells him, "I want in on this search for our past lives."

Sarah takes Kathryn's hand. "Me too."

They've never felt so sure of something.

This is new, exciting, and right.

"Cool I'll start sending you links to all the websites and articles we found," Tony says, and pulls out his phone. He stops and turns to David. "What about you?"

David has Jack's eyes, Tony's eyes, and everyone else's eyes on him.

Apparently, it's all down to him.

He looks into Jack's eyes. There's...openness, understanding if he doesn't want to do this, and a hint of longing for him to say yes.

It's crazy.

But there's only one way to find out if it's truly real.

"I'm in," David gives his answer.

Jack smiles.

"Welcome to the club," Tony tells him cheerfully. 

And so they all walk out of the building together.

Now, they have two journeys ahead of them.

For one, they'll bring back the freedom to sit wherever during lunch; giving them back their GSA.

And they'll also figure out who they were in their past lives and just what all happened during the newsies' strike of 1899.

It all begins now.

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Oooooo lowkey getting chillsssss

Wow, look at me! I've actually been able to advance the plot when I thought I was idealess! 

There are a few different ways that this can happen, and what will happen, but I can't wait to see where this goes.

I'm excited! :)

I needed that whole point about kids who get sensory overload in the commons because for two-three years I ate in the commons and it was all. So. So much. Sensory overload nearly daily. Now, I eat in the library, or in a quiet room with GSA on Mondays, and everything is great. People need to understand that there are those who get sensory overload. My parents think I shouldn't eat lunch alone in the library nearly every day, but that's the thing that makes me happy each day.

What happens next? We're about to find out! :)

Please, no homophobia or transphobia, profanities, hate etc in the comment section.

Best,

~Your Beloved Author (who only so-so knows what they're doing, but they will figure it all out in the end)