The Irony of Conversion Camp *ON HOLD*

[Chapter 1] Drowning

Ash had always hated water. In fact, they were terrified of it. The way that it clung to your skin and can never leave without a towel or heat. The fact that they knew how to swim— they were rather exceptional at it— but knew that if they went under then they would never come back up. It scared them how often they had to come in contact with it; school swimming lessons in physical education, their friends always wanting to swim at the beach, and more. The beach. Ironically, it was Ash's favorite place to be. It has been since they were two.

As life would move on, Ash turns fifteen in approximately one month. They're excited to wear a new number for a year. Excited to see its affect. In one month, it would mark the anniversary of their coming out to everyone they knew. Their friends were very proud of them; immediately using the preferred pronouns. It would also mark the two year anniversary of their best friend Leonanie coming out as a lesbian-ace, and that she wanted to be called Leon. It would mark the forty-two days before Xymenes said that he is a boy. Busy most notable to Ash, it would mark the day that their hell began. And when the water would pull them under.

{Ash}

Two minutes. Two minutes and then my life would become more of a living hell. Two minutes is not long enough to call my friends goodbye and to tell them to stay strong. For two minutes, I felt underwater.

I was standing outside with all my belongings I would have for the next three months. Most of it was just clothes and my favorite books, and I had an entire duffel bag dedicated to all my art supplies. I just simply could not part without them.

I looked up from the green converse I was wearing as I heard a bus approaching. I couldn't see that many kids on it, so either not many kids were in my area, or I was one of the early pickups.

As the bus rolled to a stop, I heard a faint sob as my father shushed my mother. I expected her to get emotional. My father, not so much.

"Don't look back, Ash. Don't give them the satisfaction of seeing the pain in your eyes." I had been repeating the mantra for a whole hour, trying to show my parents that they haven't broken me after a whole year of shoving bible verses down my throat, more often than before. Instead, in The Heat of the Moment, I loudly said, "Fuck off, dickwads" as I trudged up the steps.

The bus was ordinary, a regular school bus, only used for a darker means of transportation. I was about to find a seat when I heard someone ask me for my name.

"Ash Findlay."

"Is your full name Ashwin?"

This earned the somewhat- innocent man a sigh and an eye roll. "Yes. But I go by Ash."

"Okay, I'll make a note." This sparked my attention. The brochure and website both said that nicknames or alternative names would not be tolerated. I looked up from the ground, once again, and was immediately intrigued by what I saw.

Purple eyes.

They weren't dark or anything, not indicating contacts. They were light, almost blending in with the whites of the sclera.

I must have been staring for too long cause he said, "Take a seat. The drive will be three hours long, so get comfortable." I don't know if I was imagining it, but I swear that he winked at me.

He sat down in the seat behind the driver, so, naturally, I unconsciously sat behind him.

"Bus too filled?" He chuckled before turning around to face me yet again. His eyes pierced my soul, leaving me with just as much anxiety as when you have to place your order over the phone. I felt my cheeks heat up and darken, indicating I was blushing.