Genderfluid (A Cinderella Story)

17: Danger

The room was filled with people, our side filled with my family and friends, the other side with their family and friends.

"Miss Turmeck," the judge said softly. "Please come to the stand."

I gulped, my dad's hand retracting from mine as I stood up. This was it. This was when my dad and the rest found out about what happened... About that night.

About the pain, the tears, the blood...

The fear.

They would find out about my current state; my depression, newly instilled fear of men, my addiction to cutting and thoughts of suicide.

Once I stepped up to that stand, I knew everyone in that room would find out about the monster inside. The one struggling to get free. The one drowning my former self in my blood.

I took a breath and walked slowly up to the seat, feeling dozens of sets of eyes on my back. Some of them burned, some of them felt afraid, others were curious. Of course, they hadn't announced what this case was about yet.

"We will begin now." The judge said, shuffling out papers from a minila folder. The Baliff came up to where she sat and took a paper from her hand, reading it aloud.

"Case 3429, Miss Elizabeth Turmeck versus Regal Cheblowski; Mr. Cheblowski, have you been informed of your charges?" The boy sat in his seat, unresponsive, staring at the ground. "I suppose not." The man paused, reading over the paper before speaking again. "You are being charged with battery, drug possession and rape in the first degree." I could see my father jump in his seat.

"Mr. Turmeck, please sit down."

"Did you say rape?"

"Yes, sir, I did. Now please-"

"He..." His eyes went to the boy, then to me. Rage lit in his eyes as he turned toward Regal. My step mother jumped up and hung onto his arm, calling his name in an attempt to stop him. " YOU SICK LITTLE BASTARD! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

~~~~~~

I wove my fingers through Silver's, keeping my eyes glued to his face. The fighting around us grew quickly from the few involved at first to the entire table of my friends screaming at the four boys in front of us.

"Silver.."

"Let go."

"Look at me." His eyes dropped peripherally to mine.

"Now."

"I don't want you to fight."

"ELLIE!" My head snapped up in time for me to dodge a beer mug that had come flying in my direction. It smashed into the seat space between Silver and I, glass shards showering over our laps. He sprung up at that moment as soon as I dropped his hand.

"Is there a problem?" A pair of voices asked. Everyone stopped arguing as the twins pushed the men away from eachother, my friends on one side and the unwanted visitors on the other.

"I think there is," Silver hissed. "And they started it."

"You faggots started it when you started coming to school." Broken arm yelled.

"Now that isn't very nice." Myles said, looking at Jimmy. "I think we'll have to escort them out, unless they give a valid reason as to why we shouldn't."

"I agree, brother." They smiled at eachother, then to the four guys. "Well?"

"We're listening."

"I just came to finish what my brother started at the party." He said in a tone as sweet as caramel, looking at me. Chills rolled through me. My skin felt like ice, my breath caught in my throat. "Maybe I'll take you out somewhere, doll." Myles grabbed him and started shoving him out the door. "And this time, nobody will be able to find you!"

I felt myself begin to shake. My nails were digging into the raw flesh of my healing self harm wounds, but I felt no pain. Tears flowed down my face like a waterfall, and I could do nothing to stop them.

"Ellie..." Silver asked, looking down to me. "Ellie?" His voice shot up an octave. My chest began to heave uncontrollably, and I couldn't catch my breath. "Guys! Guys I need a paper bag! I think she's having an anxiety attack!"