So this picture is of me while on a long bus ride to Oregon for my Drill Team competition. I know the quality probably sucks because the bus shakes so much, but I think I actually look good. I need to lose the long hair, it makes me feel too girly. (In case anyone didn't know, I'm trans.) But leave your opinion in the comments on wether or not I should cut my hair short!

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It was about an hour after the show before the adrenaline finally wore off.

"Hey, Aliyah, you ready to head to your old house to get your stuff?" Emerson's voice snapped me out of whatever fantasy I had been having.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Totally." I forced a smile onto my face before turning to look towards Remington, who had just gotten out of the shower.

"Hey...you okay, Lee...?" He probably saw how forced my smile was or the pain in my eyes. I just nodded.

"Just nervous... I don't want them to hurt you ..." I say softly, referring to my parents.

"Hey, no...they won't hurt me...and they won't hurt you either. My brothers and I, along with Andy are gonna go in there and get your things. We'll all protect you, no matter what." He leans down and kisses my head. "I promise."

I nodded. "Okay... thank you, this means a lot..."

"Don't thank me...its what I'm here for, Ma Cherie." He sits and pulls me into his lap. "Now...rest. We have a little bit before we have to head out. Everything will be okay, I swear to you."

I nod and lay my head on his chest, relaxing when I feel and hear his heartbeat. "I love you, Rem..." I say before drifting off.

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I know I know! It's short. I've been so stressed. I'm almost done with my sophomore year of highschool, and it's crazy. So many of my friends and I are shocked because some are seniors this year, and some of us are gonna be juniors. One of the amazing teachers at my school is retiring, and so many people are sad because she's worked there for well over sixty years. She runs our GSA  (gay straight alliance) and has gone above and beyond to make kids of the LGBTQ community  feel safe and comfortable in our school. Our school gets a lot of crap because we're in the bad part of town and we didn't have the highest graduation rate, but in truth, we're the most ethnically diverse, and the most extraordinary school in all of Spokane. I'm happy to be a pirate, and I could never be happier than when I am at my school. Thanks to GSA I've established my identity as a transgender  teen. I was born female but I found out that I identify as male.