Work Text:
𝙳𝚊𝚢 𝚃𝚠𝚘:
𝙶𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎
Emery felt as if most girls were prepared for their entire life whether by the media, hear-say or personal accounts being retold by loved ones, that once you reach a certain age, move up in the world of education, you will have to face the elusive high school ‘mean girl’. However, in Emery’s case, they were and hace never been like ‘most girls’ considering they don'y even and have never identified as such.
But it was easy to see how Christie Mukus might make the assumption that’s what Emery was going for. Showing up to school after spring break freshman year, notes sent out to every teacher that Eugene, the tall, lanky blonde guy who keeps to himself and doesn’t have many friends, but, isn’t offensive or too ugly or weird to blend into the background, Gets introduced to the class as Emery, dress-code appropriate length skirt and cropped top draped over themselves without shame.
Emery had thought they picked out the perfect outfit for their ‘fuck you gender’ debut as them and their dad has been referring to it. It took them a while to realize they really showed up to school that day with a giant target on their back instead of a graphic cropped t-shirt from SHEIN that they cut the tag out of because—high school sucks.
Emery didn’t know a day of peace since coming out, or more so, just coming to school as themself. Nobody really asked them their pronounce or how they identify, not really. A few people who Emery coined as queer congratulated them and Emery offered up their pronouns in response. Most people besides teachers who would lose their job if they didn’t, still called them by their dead name.
An odd phenomenon for Em because Half the people who find Their dead name in their mouths, never even spoke the word ‘Eugene’ before Emery killed him. They never spoke a single word to them at all before.
The same goes for Christie Mukus. They like to think the feisty bottle blonde is simply jealous. Possibly over the fact that Emery themselves will never have to deal with hot roots as bad as she herself does, or possibly the fact that while the teachers instantly all started calling them by their new name, most teachers still refer to Christie as Ms.Mucus, even after having been corrected on the pronunciation by the teen multiple times.
Christie is different. She doesn’t just laugh when a substitute stumbles on the right gendered terms to use for them, or call them rude names in the hallway. Christie has on many occasion become physical with her distaste for Emery.
Having grown up in a male identity, Emery was told high school would lead to their first fist fight, being ‘roughed up’ by older guys, growing a thick skin and learning what becoming a man with your fellow men is like. They weren’t prepared when Christie and her friends aggressively pulled them behind the row of buses after school and cut both the straps on their backpack. However,They were more prepared for stuff like that afterwards, switching to carrying their bag on the front of their body, because social status be dammed, carrying all those books home that day was worse then being laughed at. Emery learned quickly that first instance should have been classified as child’s play.
It didn’t get too bad at first. Nothing Emery couldn’t simply shake off once back in the solitude and sanctity of their room at the end of the day. They tried to find ways to make friends at school, if only to have someone around to bear witness to the childish behavior of the infamous Christie Mukus.
Emery didn’t think they needed to check if Christie was in the G.S.A before going to a meeting after school a few weeks after they came out. Turns out Christie has a gay older brother. the ‘At first” ended after that one singular meeting. Emery didn’t make any friends, but they did make an enemy.
Christie had a problem with them simply just existing after that. It became clear after a few pointed pranks that the girl and her friends mainly had an issue with Emery ‘trying to be a girl’ or ‘invading girls' space.’ Which…Yes. Emery had gotten permission from the principal to use the girls bathroom and locker room, but not by her own desire, It truly didn’t matter to them where they took a piss and got dressed to play dodgeball. Their dad however, was worried about how high school guys would react to the change. The principal agreed, High school boys were more of a threat to them, then they were to any of the girls.
Emery could deal with the teasing. The name calling. Their things mysteriously going missing and then turned up defaced or sopping wet with what they could only guess was usually toilet water. They even managed to keep their head high when their clothes after gym class were replaced with a football uniform, it was hard and made their skin crawl, but they preserved. Only a week later however, was the turning point.
The growing discomfort of being around Christie and in turn, most girls in their years was hard to ignore. Most everyone was slightly afraid of the girl and so if Christie disliked someone, everyone else did too. Even if they weren’t transphobic, like Christie was being so clearly to Emery. Nobody thought that was why the bottle blonde showed her distaste, She had a gay brother after all and was in a G.S.A. That being said, Even if Christie wasn't in the bathroom when Emery went inside or they waited for her and her possy to leave before changing for gym, there was always someone watching, judging, making their skin crawl.
The nurses office became a second home. Changing and peeing only in the privacy of the latex scented room became a routine. The nurse didn’t seem to care as long as nobody was actually in the nurse's office when they came by. It worked to keep Emery away from Christie and others while still maintaining a level of comfort at school—until one day when things just kept going wrong.
Emery walks to school now. The bus became too crowded. Too confined. They couldn’t escape if they needed too however it had never snowed since they started walking. They ended up being forty-five minutes late for school Because of all the ice and slush they had to traverse through in very, very soggy Ugg boots, and got lunch detention. A problem because lunch time was typically the time they would excuse themself to the nurses office to pee. It was far, across campus by the front office and going all the way there during class would just cause people to make up…shit…literally to laugh at them about. They didn’t think much of it, they just always went at lunch because they knew they could, not because they absolutely needed to pee right then.
Detention was actually nice. Nobody else was in the room besides the teacher who didn’t really seem to care what Emery did, so they just worked on some homework, ate their lunch and enjoyed not having trash thrown at them for once. The day seemed to be looking up, until sixth period.
If it had been seventh or for sure, eight period. Emery would have tufed it out. Made a mad dash out of the front gates at the final bell and hoped and prayed their dad was home to unlock the door, or well…they could still utilize a good tree easily even if they didn’t like to be reminded of that. But, it was only sixth period, and the beginning of it at that. over three hours until they would be home and they didn’t think even they could wait that long. Maybe if they didn’t drink so much water at lunch…
They thought they were lucky. Christie wasn’t in this class, and their teacher was cool. Mr.Sachbur was an old man who didn’t really know what was up with Emery’s whole gender-fuckery but just took it in strides, ‘the joys of youth’ and all that jazz. It was farthest from the nurses office so Emery knew they were gonna risk having an uncomfortable run-in in the bathroom, but it was better then sitting in class with the agony of their full bladder weighing down on them, not to mention, they don’t have the strongest bladder to begin with.
As it turns out, Christie not being in their class was actually not a good thing. Because if Christie was in their class they would have known exactly where she was, and the situation of them both reaching the bathroom door in the hallway at the exact. Same. Time. Wouldn't have been possible because only one person per class was allowed out at once.
“Oh, Hey, Eug—Emery.” Emery simply purses their lips and smiled. If it was any other moment they would have turned away and found another bathroom but, they knew the chances of them making it there, dry, were low. They really hated using the bathroom at school recently, so they really waited until the last possible minutes to go. ”Wait, hold on, I’m talking to you.”
“Christie, I have to get back to class.” Emery didn’t want to entertain another session of Christie pretending to be her friend, while making fun of her subtitly during their entire exhange.
“Okay, nobody is stopping you from going back to class.” Christie's body was half blocking the bathroom door. Emery looked down at her, then back down the hall the way they came….they can’t.
”Can you please move?” Emery knew they couldn’t let the other know how much they needed to be inside that room, past that door and in a stall, it would be like throwing chum in shark infested waters.
“Why would I do that? Nobody else needs to be in here right now.” Christie is shorter, much shorter and smaller…She is a cis girl after all. Emery isn’t on hormones or anything, and their dad is a very tall man. They could easily push past her, physically move her out of the way but…a part of them knows it wouldn’t be the same if another cis girl did it. If they so much as laid a hand on this girl, pretty much inside of the restroom of all places…They have heard the stories. They have seen what happens to people like them, its never their word over the pretty, petite cis girl.
Standing still has gotten considerably harder. They look both ways down the hall. For once, wishing a teacher or someone would walk by and help them. But the only thing their eyes fall on is the boys room door just beside them. The quick glance doesn’t go unnoticed by Christie.
”There you go. You found it. See, nobody needs to be inside this room right here, because this is the girls room, got it? Go on.” If Christie wasn’t here…Emery would. They would barge right past the blue door and waltz right up to the urinal, unzip their pants and let out the last seven hours worth of urine like that had in the first few month of the school year, before everything.
Thinking about it was a bad idea, because now their facade is cracking. Relief is right beyond that door, but Christie would never let them forget it. Emery crosses their legs, knowing it won't go un-missed, but not trusting their body to be able to hold it much longer without the help of an outside pressure. They decide it's better to have the upper hand in one spot in this awkward situation.
“Christie, I just want to use the bathroom. It’s weird you are so obsessed with making me not be able to do that.”
“I’m not stopping you from going to the bathroom, I’m stopping you from going in the women’s bathroom. I’m about to go in there and I don’t feel comfortable going with a boy in there.”
“Okay, so go. I’ll wait till you leave.” It was a lie, they would run into the men’s room and pee and be gone before Christie ever came out, a perk of their current parts, peeing is ten times faster.
“Yeah right, Like you wouldn’t…I don’t know? Press your ear against the door and listen to me. I’m staying right here.” Emery has to roll their eyes,
“I don’t want to hear you pee! What is wrong with you?” Emery uncrosses and re-crosses their legs. Thinking about pee, the sound of pee—They need to hold themselves, but they can’t. Not now.
“Why else would you parade around like this? You want to spy on us girls, watch us get dressed and go to the bathroom. I’ve seen it on the news.”
“I—You do know I’m not into girls, right? I don’t want to see any of you do anything but leave me alone, you specifically, I want to see you step to the side so I can do my business and then leave.”
“No. If you need to do your business so badly, do it. The boys room is right here.” Emery can’t take it. They can’t. It’s been so long, they would have had an easier time holding it and waiting for the break between classes, or, at this point they could have walked to the freakin nurses office and peed already.
“Christie, please—-“ Emery is done trying to be the bigger person. They just need to pee. Their hand slowly sneaks between their legs. It’s an emergency, and if they have to put aside a small bit of their pride to not wet themselves they will. “I really have to pee, can you just, I don’t know, do all this after?”
“Oh my god! Are you touching yourself!? I knew you were a creep! Someone help!” Emery jumped at the sudden shout. Their other hand having to join between their legs to keep the flood at bay. Their palms are already damp, seconds away from dripping to the floor.
“I’m not! I’m—-I just really have to pee!” Have to in an understatement, peeing is happening, it’s just slow and painful.
“You lie about everything, don’t you!? Are you so much of a creep that being this close to me made you have to—ugh, I can’t even say it! You're disgusting, I thought I was safe from creepy trannies at school.”
Emery’s eyes widen. That word. It’s one thing for Christie to play pranks and be a bully. Every high school has a bully, but—-They are just trying to go to the bathroom, they shouldn’t have to be called...that... just trying to pee. They hate that word and they hate this girl and they hate this school and—-
“What are you doing? Hey—Somebody!!! Hel—“
“ah—-“ Yeah. Emery should have thought about their next actions a little more. They should have probably turned away or something buy, they already made up their mind. They pass by the other high school in their city on their walk to school everyday. They don’t need to put up with the school bigot, and they won’t pee their pants because of her, that’s for damn sure.
Maybe, wiping it out and peeing on Christie Muku’s shoes in the middle of the hallway was a little extreme…at least they had the right mind to not take themselves fully out. Their still peeing their pants, just, forcefully and with their zipper down, thought their underwear. It’s soaking down their legs, but it’s also, hitting the ground, rapidly and hard.
“I told you I needed to pee. This is your fault.” Emery said, continuing to empty their soar bladder.
“Help!!! Help!!!” Christie screamed, Emery heard footsteps, the soft clack of high heels.
“My god! What is going on here?” A sharp woman’s voice rings behind Emery. At this point they can’t stop peeing, so they simply grab between their legs again, turning around to great, who they now see if a teacher they don’t have, but they know is the drama club instructor.
“Miss! Look! He is exposing himself to me! I was just trying to go to the bathroom and he cornered me!” Emery hangs their head, the light wash skinny jeans now slowly darken down the fronts of their thighs, tears collecting in their eyes. They know what happens next,
“You’re the freshman I got that email about a few weeks ago, right? Are you done? Are you sick? I can’t remember your name—“
“E-Emery.” Emery shakes their head, “I just wanted to go to the bathroom and she—-I’m sorry! You have to believe me I didn’t want to—-“ The words won’t leave their lips.
“Miss! You have to be joking!? I need to see the nurse, I’ve been traumatized and violated! I need new shoes!”
“Ms.Mukus. I’ll have you know, your brother was a wonderful actor, He was a pleasure to have on the drama club all four years. However, I don’t think you inherited his natural gift. If Emery here was keeping you from the bathroom, why is she the one in wet pants?”
“I—because he is a freak!? I don’t know why this—-thing does anything it does, But I know he was touching himself in the hallway! I saw it with my own eyes miss.” Emery looks between the two. Maybe its the warm hand of the nice older woman on their shoulder or their body is just tired of it all, but they give up.
“I wasn't touching myself! You need proof—see!” Emery pulls their hands away from their crotch. They immediately start peeing again. “You blocked my way into the bathroom! I told you I needed to go, and you kept insulting me! I wasn’t touching myself, I was having an emergency!” The last of their accident runs down their legs, joining the puddle at their feet, the one Christie is still standing in.
“I’ve heard enough. Christie, you may use the restroom, as I assume that’s why you were allowed out of class but you are to report to the principal's office immediately after. Emery, Do you have extra clothes? Or do you have someone you can call to pick you up early?” Emery shrugs, they don’t really know what they wanna do, besides cry. A few more words are exchanged between the two, but Emery checks out, fully letting the tears fall.
“sssh, It’s okay. I promise you won't have to deal with that girl again. We don’t accept that kind of behavior at this school.”
“I’m gonna change schools. I—Everyone is like that. Christie is just bravest.” Emery says, realizing they are heading towards the nurses office.
“Not everyone. You act? You certainly look the part. You're a beautiful girl. My crew this year is great, we're doing Rocky Horror.”
“I—-I’m actually Non-binary. I use They/Them pronouns. I don’t act but—-Rocky Horror, really? Isn’t that kinda—-“
“If anyone on faculty asks, we’re doing Wicked.” The teacher winks at Emery, “We’re the best school in the district. You’re a smart person. Brave, You already did the worst of it.” Emery…Does certainly feel like this cannot get any worse but—-
“Nobody will believe what I say. Christie will tell her side of what happened and I’ll get arrested or expelled.” Even if the thought of doing underground rocky horror in the school drama club is the most camp thing they have every heard of, they can’t stay....
“ you know, You picked a good place to be ambushed. My seniors last year thought ring doorbell footage was hilarious and installed one outside my classroom. I never took it down. With your permission, I’ll show the principal and that girls parents and promise you she will be expelled, okay?”
They reach the nurses office and Emery pauses at the door,
“Why…Why would you go to such lengths to help me?” Even their own Dad would probably agree just switching school would be easier at this point.
“We protect our own. Get cleaned up. I’ll send one of my kids down with some clothes from our costume closet. If you wanna rest in the nurses office and then come to drama club after school, your more then welcome. If you wanna call someone to come get you, I understand, but I still intend to get Christie expelled. She was evil, you shouldn’t have had to go through that, We shouldn’t have to live in fear because of who we are.”
Emery goes into the nurses office, who is equally as kind and caring when she see’s the state of them, mentioning she was worried when they didn’t stop by at lunch.
Emery cleans themselves up, wipes their eyes, and gladly accepts the pair of cheetah print fold-over flared leggings a very cool looking older student brought her. They decline the offer to call their dad, Deciding maybe things truly won’t get worse, but better from here on out.