We all stared at Willow wide eyed as she held the little gem in her palms. A grin danced its way across her face. I heard footsteps behind me and watched as Chase snatched it out of Willow's hands and held it up proudly. "I saw it first, I was just going to let one of you guys get it." Her voice obviously coated with lies. We all looked at each other, noticing each one of us was sweating as much as the next. "I think we should find a fountain or something.." Winter finally spoke. We all agreed and wandered around, looking for some sort of sound of water. We wandered through halls, going into halls, until we finally heard the trickling of a fountain. We emerged into a ceilingless gray room with cracked columns and ivy, with a huge fountain. There were some sort of doors that led out that faintly said "washroom" on the door, with an even more faint 'female' sign on the left door, and 'male' sign on the right one. Me, Chase, Willow, and Winter all pushed into the left one, while Zaire went alone into the right one, and I MADE SURE nobody would follow him.
~~~~~
Me and the rest of the girls finished bathing in about 5 minutes, ridding us of the sweat. I stayed behind to clean up our towels, while the rest went back to change. Once I finished hanging them on a small railing, I started to go back, yet what I didn't know was that I went to the wrong door.
~~~~~
I quietly walked in, trailing through the hall, but the air somehow didn't feel right. I clutched my towel to my body and I peeked around the corner and saw something very unexpected.
~~~~~
It was Zaire! Only he was wearing a sort of sports bra looking thing, I focused my eyes and realized it was a binder. Zaire had his bottom half wrapped in a towel so I whispered, "Why are you wearing a binder?"

~~~~~
Zaire whipped around and spoke a tad louder "Why are you in here?!", only his voice wasn't deep like I knew Zaire's was. It was a feminine voice. I saw the tensity in Zaire's muscles release as he finally said, "Listen, I know you'd find out eventually. Sit down." I quietly plonked down on the creaky wooden bench. "I haven't been a guy for long. I always felt like I was one, so.. I switched genders. I only had one surgery to replace my lower half, but we didn't have enough money to pay for my top half.." Zaire scratched his head. I was speechless.. I didn't know that Zaire had such a past. I quietly nodded my head as Zaire gave me a look saying "Please don't tell anyone."
~~~~~
I briskly walked out of the washroom, absorbed in my thoughts, I hit the other door and elbowed myself in. I saw Winter dressed and ready, waiting at the side of the door. I greeted her with a nod and went to go fully dry off and put on my own clothes. I bumped past Chase, and walked to Willow where she quickly dragged me into a shower stall.
~~~~~
Her face was nervous and she finally spoke, "Listen.. I know this isn't the greatest time to tell you. But my sensitivity is not my fault really, and I'm sorry if I get clingy. It's just that I have a dad, and a brother, and my brother isn't the best kid, and my father has a bad temper, and abuses only me, he and my brother seem to have a friendly connection.. that's how I ended up here, I ran from home and I'm hoping that with me gone he'll come around or something..."
~~~~~
I took this information in and processed it, only resulting in me giving Willow a hug and a whispered "it'll be okay." My arms grew tighter as I gave her one final squeeze and let go, and let her out of the stall. I listened to her footsteps as she joined Winter, leaving only Chase and me in the washroom. I grabbed my hoodie and jeans and disappeared into that stall only to come out a second later with my hair wrapped in an old towel. As my footsteps grew louder, Chase's head shot up. "Hey." I casually said. She paused for a moment, then walked up to me and wrapped her arm around my waist and pecked my cheek. "Hey." she replied back.