Guidance

Mr. Kirkling stood in the main hallway of Shermer High, coffee in hand, watching the tide of students sweep through the corridors. The first bell hadn't even rung yet, but the air already buzzed with the usual Monday chatter — locker doors clanging, sneakers squeaking, and the enough aerosol body spray to stun a small animal.

He smiled faintly. Another week, another thousand small dramas.

He'd been a guidance counsellor here for over ten years. Long enough to know the rhythm of the place — who to keep an eye on, who would land in his office by lunch, who would need a discreet phone call home. The familiar chaos was oddly comforting.

Then Wyatt Donnelly walked in.

Mr. Kirkling blinked.

Wyatt had always been one of those boys you could almost forget about — quiet, polite, perpetually in the background. Not flashy, always wearing the kind of clothes that said, please don't notice me. But that morning was different. Wyatt Donnelly strode through the doors like she was walking a runway.

Fishnet stockings, impossibly high heels, a tiny black leather skirt, and a shiny pink crop top that sparkled whenever it caught the light. Her hair was perfect, and her makeup — smoky eyes, glossy lips — was actually quite impressive for a boy her age. All of that was par-for-the-course, what you would expect from a boy like Wyatt. It wasn't what she was wearing, it was how she was wearing it.

She was carrying herself with an air of confidence that Mr. Kirkling had never seen before. Head held high. Shoulders squared back. Chest thrust out. Every movement radiated purpose and poise, a young man who knew who she was and how she wanted to show it.

Mr. Kirkling took a sip of his coffee and nodded approvingly. It was good to see Wyatt finally coming out of her shell. A lot of the boys could learn from that kind of self-assurance.

He made a mental note: Compliment Wyatt later. Positive reinforcement works wonders with self-esteem.

Then the crowd parted again, and Gary Wallace appeared.

Ah, there was the Gary he knew. Poor kid.

Gary looked miserable. The boy was wearing a yellow sundress with thin straps, a pair of modest heels, and a little pink lipstick that didn't quite match his complexion. His hair, at least, looked clean. But everything about his posture screamed defeat — hunched shoulders, eyes on the floor, hands clutching the hem of his skirt like it might save him from drowning.

Mr. Kirkling's heart went out to him.

Gary and Wyatt had always been targets — the oddballs, the science geeks, the quiet ones. It didn't help that they spent all their time together. The bullies never needed much of an excuse to zero in on someone different, and the pair of them were a two-for-one-deal.

Still, it was strange.

Wyatt seemed... elevated somehow. Radiant. Untouchable.

Gary, on the other hand, looked like he was about to shatter.

Mr. Kirkling frowned slightly. Maybe there'd been a falling out. Or maybe Gary was having trouble adjusting to something. Adolescence did strange things to young men.

He took another sip of his coffee and straightened his tie. Whatever the case, it wouldn't do to let either of them spiral. The staff had been briefed on how fragile some of the student body could be, and he prided himself on being proactive.

He watched as Wyatt leaned casually against her locker, crossing her long legs and chatting with a few of the other students. She laughed — an easy, musical sound that drew eyes without effort. Gary hurried past, pretending not to notice, pretending not to care.

Yes, Mr. Kirkling decided. He'd call them both into his office after lunch. Maybe he could help smooth things over.

After all, that was his job.

He finished his coffee, tossed the cup into the bin, and turned toward the staff room. Another Monday, another crisis waiting to be managed.

Whatever had happened to Wyatt overnight seemed to have been good for her. Maybe Gary could take a cue from his best friend. Maybe there was a subtle way to prod poor Mr. Wallace to start to act more like Mr. Donnelly, and if so, maybe the pair would be just a bit happier during their time at Shermer.