Genderfluid (A Cinderella Story)

6: Afraid

Darkness.

That's all there was. Nothing else.

For a long time I was just... existing. I couldn't feel, couldn't speak. I couldn't move...

One day, I began to regain my senses. I could hear voices in the background. Many of them. Some faded in and out, as if walking away from where I was, others talking in whispers. There would be silence for a long time before the voices started up again. Many a time I heard them say my name, Elizabeth, a name I hadn't heard in a very long time...

"How is she?" A semi-deep voice asked.

"She should be waking up any day now," An unfamiliar, female voice replied. Heels clacked away, almost masking her last sentence. "You and your friends should stay; I'm sure she'd be glad to see you all when she wakes up." There was a sigh, the sound of a moving chair, and then a lighter, more gentle version of the voice spoke.

"Ellie... Oh Ellie, I'm so sorry..." The person said, grabbing a hold of my hand. "Please wake up..."

A knock sounded.

"Can we come in?" Someone asked lowly.

"Yeah, come on." Several pairs of feet shuffled in, and several chairs were moved.

"How is she, Silver?" The grip on my hand tightened.

"The nurse said she should wake up any day now..."

"That's it?" Another male voice, who I assumed to be Darian, said with a squeak. "That's all she said?"

"Yeah..."

"There isn't anything they can do?"

"No, Darian..." A female voice said, "She's in a coma."

"But that doesn't make sense, Leelah!"

"Of course it makes sense, stupid!" A different female voice, who I assumed to be Adrianna, said loudly. "Her body couldn't handle the shock! She got punched by that asshole pretty hard, and when she hit her head on the locker--"

"Will you guys stop bickering?" Silver hissed. "There are other things we need to talk about!"

"Like what?" Leelah asked.

"Like, how we're going to talk to her about the bullying."

"What do we even start with?" Darian asked with a hint of sadness in his voice. "The things these people do..."

"Well, we've all been there." Leelah said, "I think the only thing we really can say is that we'll be there for her. She needs to know she has a safe place, with us, so she has less to worry about."

"I don't want to just tell her everything will be okay!" Silver half shouted. I felt his fingers lace with mine, and there was silence.

"Silver...?"

"I want to fix the problem."

"How do you figure accomplishing that?" Leelah asked. "Are you going to fight everyone that hates on her for being gender fluid?"

"Maybe."

"That's stupid!" Leelah shouted, "Do you even hear yourself right now?"

"All I hear right now is the excuses you're giving me to not fix the issue."

"You're suggesting we go around and beat people up!"

"I didn't suggest you help." Silver said in a low voice.

"Then what? You're going to do it by yourself again?"

"Leelah..." Darian warned.

"You spent an entire week doing that, and you worried her to death! She thought you weren't coming around because of her! Do you have any idea how selfish you're being?"

"How is that being selfish?" His hand was gone from mine, and a chair fell back. "I want to protect her!"

"Fighting everyone who makes fun of her is only going to start more problems!" Leelah shouted back, "Sit the fuck down and think of something that is actually going to help!" Silver growled, sounding like a dog. Footsteps began to walk away from where I was.

"Silver!" Leelah exclaimed.

"Don't leave!" Darian called, "Silver!" The door slammed and there was silence.

"Nice job, Leelah." Darian said, picking the chair up.

"Hey, don't blame this on me." She shot back, "He's going out of his freaking mind."

"You know he used to have a problem with fighting... It's resurfacing because someone he cares about is in trouble." Adrianna said, "You have to realize that."

"I.. ugh... I'm sorry guys..."

"Don't apologize to us; go tell him."

"Now?"

"Yes, now." Adrianna said. A chair shifted back, footsteps leading out. The door shut with a light tap and Adrianna sighed.

"What do you think we should do about all of this?"

"I don't know," Darian replied. "I just want us all to be safe... And I want this crap to stop. Nobody deserves to be treated like that."

"I still can't believe that creep punched her..."

"Yeah, well, he won't be using that arm for a while."

"Why not?" Adrianna asked cautiously.

"Silver broke it. The guy could've told his parents and gotten him sued, but he's afraid to. Said it was because he punched a locker on accident." Adrianna let out a light laugh, and then stopped herself, apologizing for being a "horrible person."

"I admit, I laughed when I heard about the damage too," Darian said, brushing her comments away. There was some more silence, before a small voice cut in.

"Dree?"

"Maya?" Adrianna asked, "Oh crap, I forgot to text you! Sorry! Come in." The girl walked in and sat, probably next to her girlfriend.

"How is she...?" her light, mouse-like voice asked.

"She's going to be okay. She's in a coma though, and they don't know for how long." I felt a cold hand touch my arm.

"I think..." Maya took a breath. "I think she can hear us."

"What?" Darian asked with excitement.

"That's ridiculous, Maya." Adrianna said, "She's in a coma!"

"I feel like she can..."

The three left a little while after that. When they did, I tried moving. I felt my fingers wiggle, but I couldn't move most of my body yet. I tried opening my eyes, but I couldn't. My mouth was still not opening either, and with a mental sigh I stopped.

Silver's touch lingered on my hand, and though I was probably dreaming, later that night I felt him plant a kiss on my lips.

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Hey guys! It's mee~ I was just thinking I should say some stuff. I love writing for you guys, so if you want more chapters for this story, like or comment please <3 I'd love to hear your feedback! Thanks so much!!

-Luna