I've Got You

Chapter 13

TW**
Homophobia

I shamefully walk back with Wanda to our cabin in silence. We shiver in the chilly air and our shoes squelch with cold lake water.

I feel like crying but I try to hold back.

The events of the past 24 hours wash over me. I feel a lump form in the back of my throat but I push it down. I'm not going to let it get to me.

I never really was aware of homophobia until I first met wicked, old Mrs Grey. Up until her first snarky remark, it had only been a world of gay sunshine and rainbows. Although this was back in year eight, when I was only just figuring out I was queer.

Maybe I only started taking notice of the hate around me because it began to affect me personally.

After that, it was all I could hear fly out of people's mouths. "That's so gay," became the #1 phrase heard in the halls. But maybe it was already like that?

That first snarky remark made me dread going to English. She had made me feel ashamed of who I was. It's funny though; what I've realised, is that the more homophobic you are the more you talk about gay people. Well, at least in Mrs Grey's case.

She somehow finds a way to make you uncomfortable in every class of hers you're in. It's a talent really. I don't know how she does it, or why she cares so much?

But nothing- not her stinging comments nor hateful looks- has ever quite topped the events of last night.

Nor the events of today.

Honestly, I don't know why I was even surprised.

~

I was half-dosed in that quiet, sleepy state when the light hit us.

The door was thrown open so quickly that we didn't even have time to react before the harsh beam of light blinded us, slicing through the dark like a knife.

The silhouette in the doorway was unmistakable—Mrs. Grey.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Her voice rang out through the room, sharp and furious. Her tone was full of so much venom it felt like it could burn me alive.

I was frozen, my blood running cold. Wanda moved beside me, her body stiffening, every muscle taut as she tried to process what was happening.

"What the hell is this?" Mrs. Grey repeated, taking another step inside the room. "You think this is okay?" Her voice cracked, her eyes narrowed with disgust as they darted over us.

By then Molly and Sammie were awake and watching the events unfold.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. I didn't know what to say, how to explain that we hadn't been doing anything wrong.

We hadn't been.

But she didn't care about that.

She took another step forward, closer now, and I felt a shiver run through me. Her eyes scanned us, lingering just a moment too long on the way we were sitting, too close, too intimate.

"Get up," she snapped. "Both of you. Right now."

I started to stand, my legs shaky, the feeling of dread settling like a weight in my chest. Wanda was already up beside me, her hand clutching mine tightly. I could feel her heartbeat, fast and hard against her chest.

"Do you really think this is the way to behave?" Mrs. Grey hissed, stepping toward us again. She was so close now, towering over us both, her voice thick with contempt. "Disgusting," she muttered under her breath, the word like a slap. "What you're doing... it's *not* okay. Do you understand me?"

I swallowed, but no words came. Wanda stepped in front of me, her fists clenched at her sides, her jaw set in a firm line.

"What's your problem?" Wanda's voice was low but filled with an anger I hadn't heard before, a protective edge that made the air crackle.

But Mrs. Grey wasn't intimidated. She leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing. "You're disgusting, both of you. *This*—" she gestured to us, "—is not what we tolerate here. You think you can just... do whatever you want? Act like this is normal? It's not. You should be ashamed of yourselves."

My heart was hammering in my chest now. I could feel the tears threatening to come, but I wasn't going to let her see that. I wouldn't let her break me like this. Not now. Not over something that was *ours*.

I opened my mouth again, but Wanda was faster this time.

"You don't get to say that," she said, stepping forward, her voice trembling with a quiet fury. "You don't get to treat us like this."

Mrs. Grey wasn't backing down, though. "Come with me," She growled.

All eyes in the cabin were on us.

Before we could say anything, she grabbed my arm with surprising force and yanked me toward the door. Wanda immediately stepped in between, trying to break free, but Mrs. Grey was already pulling us out into the cold, night air.

I barely registered the chill as we were dragged through the camp, past the darkened cabins, past the quiet of the fire pit where no one else was awake.

The moonlight was the only thing that illuminated our path, casting long, jagged shadows as Mrs. Grey led us to the middle of the camp, where there was no escape, no hiding.

"Stand here," Mrs. Grey growled, her fingers tight around our arms as she shoved us into the center of the campgrounds.

The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the distant chirp of insects, the quiet of everyone else asleep, unaware of what was happening.

Mrs. Grey stood tall, glaring down at us both, like she was daring anyone to challenge her. "You think this is okay? You think you can hide this?" Her voice rising now, sharper, louder, venomous. "This is exactly what happens when we let people like you into this camp. Ending up like a couple of dykes."

I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight back. But I couldn't. All I could do was stand there, frozen in place, feeling the sting of her words like they were branding me.

Wanda stepped forward, her voice low but determined, "You don't get to treat us like this. You don't know us."

But Mrs. Grey didn't care.

She pushed us apart, making sure we stood on either side, her voice cold as she barked, "You should both be ashamed. Disgusting. I should report you. I should have you both sent home."

I could feel my heart shattering, each word cutting deeper than the last. The humiliation was overwhelming, but I couldn't let her see how much she was hurting me.

Wanda was breathing heavily now, her face flushed with anger, but I saw the hurt in her eyes, too.

We stood there in silence for a long moment, under the weight of her accusations, and I wanted so badly for it all to stop. For her to go away and leave us in peace. But she didn't.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, she turned on her heel, leaving us standing there in the middle of the camp, exposed. Alone.

I could feel the tears threatening to spill over, but I wasn't going to let them fall. Not here. Not now.

Wanda didn't let go of my hand. Instead, she squeezed it tighter.

"Let's go," she whispered. "We don't need to stay here."

And without a word, we turned, walking away from the judgment, from the hate, from everything else. Just the two of us, under the moonlight.

~~

A/N

Hey guys sorry it's been so long but I hope you like this chapter!!

Lmk what you think!