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Chapter 2
What. The. Hell?
I stare at the principle, my blood running cold. “What… What did you just say?”
“The Triton Charter High School won’t be having a GSA Club unit at this time.” Mr. Wazowski repeats. “I’m sorry. But, this was out of my control.”
My eyes drop to my feet, my heart sinking. They declined it. They DECLINED it. “I… I don’t understand. They… They can’t do that!”
Mr. Wazowski offers a sympathetic smile, “Technically, they can.” He sets the file on his desk. “I know this was important to you. But maybe it’ll be better this way.”
I can’t meet his gaze. “No,” I say, “It won’t.”
“Now, now. Let’s look at this with an open mind-!”
“Don’t tell me what’s open minded and what isn’t!” I snap. I look up at him, my eyes stinging with angry tears. “There are kids here who are hidden from our eyes. Kids who are frightened about showing their real selves because they’re afraid of being hurt. There isn’t a place for them to belong here! Name one place on campus that will accept them. Name one god damn place! I dare you!”
Mr. Wazowski bites his lip, looking away. “I know that you’re upset. But there’s no need to make a scene.”
“This isn’t just about me!” I shout. “This is more than just me, sir. This…” I clench my hands into fists, then sigh, shakily, “How would you feel if everywhere you went, you had to wear a mask? And if you didn’t wear that mask, you’d face mockery and ridicule? That is what these kids go through.” I blink back my tears, looking at him with pleading eyes, “It isn’t just me. It never is. So, please, sir. I’m begging you. Please reconsider.”
The principal stays silent, his hands clasped together. Then he sighs. “I’m sorry, Ms. Peter. It’s not up to me.”
I close my eyes, blinking a couple of times. “Then… Then I guess this meeting is over.” I say, getting up from my seat.
“Robin. Please. If you’d wait just a moment-!” Mr. Wazowski opens his mouth to say something, but I’m not listening.
“Good day, Mr. Wazowski.” The door slams shut behind me.
Spider is sitting down on the bench outside the office, looking at something on her phone. When she sees that I’ve returned, she slides it into her pocket and looks up at me, seeming to read my expression. “You’re scowling at me. That can’t be a good sign.”
I close my eyes, then sit next to her on the bench, huffing. “Our principal’s a dingbat.”
“‘Dingbat’.” Spider echoes, then snorts, “That’s a new one.”
I roll my eyes, resting my head on her shoulder. I’m not quick to tears, especially around Spider. But, I feel like I should be crying right now. My throat burns with a sob, but it doesn’t release. Instead, I speak quietly. “There isn’t going to be a GSA Club at Triton.”
Spider blinks, though she doesn’t seem surprised. Just… Disappointed. “Oh…”
I nod, “The school board declined it. It’s not happening.” My face must’ve looked really bitter, because Spider wraps an arm around me, pulling me closer. I relax into her embrace, sighing a bit. “What are we going to do?”
Spider shakes her head. “I don’t know.”
“There are so many other queer students out there. Some are more lost than others…” I look at her, “We have to do something.”
Spider shakes her head, “I don’t know, Tweety. I don’t think there’s anything we can do.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.” I say, a bit more harshly than I mean to. I wince, then continue, my tone lighter. “You should know more than anyone how tedious being closeted can be.”
Spider opens her mouth to object, but nods reluctantly. “Yes, I know… But, Robin, we can’t be responsible for everyone at this school. You know that as well as I do.” She looks away from me. “It’s already hard as it is.”
I place a hand on her cheek, turning her head so she’s looking at me, “But, that’s exactly the reason why we need to help, Sye. Those people out there, they have no other place to go. We have to help them!”
Spider sighs, “OK… OK. Let’s say that we WERE able to help. How are we going to do that? You said it yourself, the school board denied us a GSA Club unit. How the hell do we work around that?”
I look away from her, my eyes glancing around. I spot a bulletin board near the entrance to the library. I get up and start walking towards it.
Spider blinks, going after me. “Hey!” she says, “Are you not going to answer my question? How-?”
“Shh!” I say, “Just give me a moment.”
Spider rolls her eyes, but follows me to the bulletin board. There are hundreds of flyers here; Most of them are for school events or potential scholarship applications. “Great,” Spider says, “It’s a big pile of crap. Come on don’t tell me that this holds the answers you seek.”
I ignore her comment. My eyes scan the board, looking for something. Then I spot it. An orange flyer with big text reading:
After School Programs
Spots Open!
Check in with Ms. Conberry in the library to !
An idea starts to form in my mind. I grab the flyer, holding it up for Spider to see.
She looks at me, incredulous. “I don’t get it.”
I face palm, rubbing my forehead, “Oh my lord.” I mutter, then look at her, “This could be our way in, Spider. Don’t you see?”
“Our way into what? Robin, what are you talking about?”
I look at the flyer. The After School Program is more than just a place to finish up school work. There are extra-curricular activities there too. A wide smile spreads across my lips.
Spider places a hesitant hand on my shoulder, her eyes looking a bit worried. “Hey, Robin… Are you OK?” She waves a hand in front of my face. “Hello?”
I slap her hand away, looking at her. “I know what we can do.”
“About what?” Spider crosses her arms, “Robin, I thought we went over this. We can’t have a GSA Club! The school won’t allow it.”
I smirk, “That’s where this comes in.” I say, holding up the flyer. “They can’t stop us if it’s after school.”
Spider looks at the flyer, then to me. “OK… So, what is your plan exactly, Einstein?”
I point at the flyer, grinning. “If the school is against the GSA Club, then we won’t have a GSA Club during school.” I smile. “We’ll make our own club for the After School Program.”
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