Cold November

The transition of school periods prompts an unsettling crowd of female students who all heckled June as

she walked to her next period still dropped in pudding.

"Leave me alone."

June said as she struggled to escape their taunting.

"What's wrong, Freak?" Vic said as he joined them. Too much white on you? Then again, your goth

chicks like to be dark and depressing."

"Screw you, Vic."

Jone kept walking away until three his teammates blocked her path.

"Let me threw."

"No problem." Vic said but first, let us clean you off."

As he said those words, tow cheerleaders took out their water bottles and hurled the liquid contents at

June, soaking her clothes.

"Rob a dub dub, Goth girl." Vic laughed as he and his friends left June to suffer.

"I hate those jerks." June complains trying to wipe the water from her eyes.

"Here maybe this will help." Veronica said as she approached her with a dry towards.

"What are you doing here?"

"I stayed behind to get somethings from my desk. When I caught up to Vic, I saw what he did to you."

"Why should you care? I don't have any friends, remember?"

"Look. I'm sorry for what happened in the classroom. I was scared that he would hurt you if he knew

about us."

"Trust me, it could be worse." Veronica said.

"Whatever. Just leave me alone."

Before she could leave, Veronica Pulled June back and gave her a kiss on the lips.

"I want to be with you" Veronica said. "Really, I do."

"Then why can't you just be with me?" June asked.

"You don't hear the things Vic says about people like us. I have my whole life. Being gay is like having a

bull's eye on your back where I come from."

"What makes you think I haven't grown up with the same tripe of bigotry before my mom died and I was

brought here?"

"Because your dad didn't kill your mom when she came out gay like mine did." Veronica said.

"Of course not. My dad wasn't in the picture. So, you should know that when someone who says that

they love breaks my heart, I expect them not to sell me out."

"Vic was there for me since the day I got sent here. Before you and I ever met, Vic was the first person I

was ever comfortable with opening up too."

"Don't you think I want something like that?" June argued. "But I'm not going to keep doing these secret

girl fiend crap if it means being bullied."

"I promise. No more secrets. Just give me till the end of the week to work things out with Vic."

June smiled at Veronica and the two embarrassed in a kiss.

"The nurse has some clean uniforms in stock. You should go there."

"Okay." June said.

As June walked away, Veronica reached out to her.

"What is it?"

"Here."

Veronica slid a bracket with butterflies on its around June's wrist.

"Early birthday gift and an apology." Veronica said.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

June walked off as veronica looked away with a sigh of shame.

"Bravo, Babe." Vic approached her from behind the hallway.

"Do we have to do this?" Veronica asked.

"That lesbian's been turning you gay. It's time to teach her a lesson. Nobody steals my girls."

Veronica nodded at Vic's statement as she harbored an unsettling pit of regret.

The third bell rings throughout the halls of Sigmond Ross Institution as Madison walked to the looker

room after playing basketball.

While opening her locker the voices of her teammates could be heard taking the form of criticizing and

loathing.

Chan was terrible.

One voice said med to Madison's disgust.

I know. She shouldn't be on this team at all.

I hear she only got a spot on the team because she's sleeping with the coach.

As she heard the unsaddle whispers of her teammates, Madison grabbed her bag and shut her locker.

Choosing not to change in her uniform.

The other girls quickly stopped their conversation as she walked past them, not knowing that she heard

everything that was said about her.

About halfway across the gymnasium, coach Lockwood caught up to Madison.

"Ms. Chan. Might I have a word with you?" Coach Lockwood said.

"I really have to get to class." Madison said.

"I don't think your teacher will appreciate disturbing their class with that sweaty jersey."

The coach blocked of her exit.

"It will be. I promise."

Fearful of being in trouble, Madison agreed to coach Lockwood's request and followed him to his office.

"There she goes again." One of her teammates snickered as they made their way to their next class.

"Don't mind your teammates Madison. Girls your age tease each other all the time" said the coach.

Madison walked into the coach's office and took a seat across from his desk.

"I can't help bot notice that you've had a hard time making friends on the team."

"I don't think I have a problem with anyone personally Coach Lockwood" Madison replied.

"I wish I could believe that, Ms. Chan. But your performance during our past few games says otherwise.

No one is willing to throw you the ball because you never make a winning shot. Half of the time, you

stumble during the games and trip, over your teammates."

"I'm trying my best, Sir. I come to practice everyday and…"

"Maybe, this isn't the right team for you. I think you should consider a different hobby."

"No, sir. Please. Basketball is the only thing that helps me with…."

"Your depression?" said the coach.

"Yes, sir."

The coach stood up from his desk and pulled a chair next to Madison.

"I hope you know that students who have behavioral disadvantages aren't usually allowed to perform in sport teams."

Madison felt her chest tighten as she sat across from Coach Lockwood. The air seemed to grow thicker, and her vision blurred slightly as anxiety gnawed at her insides. Her hands trembled as she tried to clasp them together to hide her nervousness.

"Ms. Chan, I can't help but notice that you've had a hard time making friends on the team," Coach Lockwood said, his voice sounding distant and echoey to Madison's ears.

"I don't think I have a problem with anyone personally, Coach Lockwood," Madison replied, her voice barely a whisper.

"I wish I could believe that, Ms. Chan. But your performance during our past few games says otherwise. No one is willing to throw you the ball because you never make a winning shot. Half the time, you stumble during the games and trip over your teammates," he continued, his words feeling like daggers to Madison's fragile self-esteem.

"I'm trying my best, Sir. I come to practice every day and—" Madison's voice cracked, and she could feel the familiar, suffocating wave of panic rising.

"Maybe this isn't the right team for you. I think you should consider a different hobby," Coach Lockwood suggested.

"No, sir. Please. Basketball is the only thing that helps me with…"

"Your depression?" the coach finished for her.

Madison's heart raced, and she felt dizzy. The room seemed to close in on her, and she could hear her own thoughts screaming that she was worthless. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Sir, I… I can't…" she stammered, her breathing becoming erratic.

"Madison, I can see you're struggling. Please, get some help. Talk to the school counselor. You're not alone in this," Coach Lockwood said, his tone softening with genuine concern.

But Madison couldn't bear it any longer. She bolted from the office, her mind in turmoil, the thoughts of worthlessness and despair echoing louder with each step she took. She ran through the hallways, tears streaming down her face, feeling utterly lost and terrified of the darkness that seemed to engulf her.