"Oh, my dad got transferred here for his job. He does statistics and risks and stuff, and it's got better opportunities in this area, so I told him I didn't mind moving."

"Statistics on how everyone dies a lot here?"

"Hm? Yeah, he deals with life insurance stuff too," Theo says, a bit disinterestedly.

He takes another bite of pasta.

...okay.

"Where are you from?"

"Portland. In Oregon."

"I see." Pick at food. Eat some.

Mm. Food.

"So. What's up with Brad calling you a freak?" he asks, very tactfully.

"Well, his semantics are wrong. I can decide whether I'm a boy or a girl. It just so happens that decision changes from one day to another."

"Oh. That's... interesting. I'm pretty sure I don't get that."

"Most people don't. So sometimes I'm a boy, sometimes I'm a girl."

"I mean, it's different, sure, but it's stupid for him to just start insulting you for it. I mean, you already know that, but I'm just saying."

"Yeah, I know that, but I mean. He-she, freak, faggot, I'm used to all of it since pretty much always."

Well that's pretty sad.

Theo continues eating his pasta, not really knowing what to say.

"You gonna join the soccer team?"

"Yeah, probably. You know, assuming they're not all terrible people. D'you play any sports?"

"They're not all terrible people. They're—teenagers. And I don't, really."

"Okay. Assuming they're not all heartless dicks. What hobbies do you have, then?"

"Books, mostly." That's technically true. "You?"

"Books are pretty good. Movies, too. Fiction or nonfiction?"

"Bit o' both. Don't really go out to movies much. Don't have many people to go with."

"Usually I watch them on DVD anyway. I only really read fiction, though. Non-fiction if I'm doing a research project, but that's only ever for homework, so it doesn't really count as what I do in my spare time."

"I'm a huge nerd."

"About any particular topics?"

"Oh, you know, math, physics," magic, "those things."

"Oh, cool. I'm not really into physics."