The ones that got away...

The ones that got away...

You'll never get out of this place... You'll never get out of this place... You'll never...

The morning bell went off, that annoying high-pitched repetitive chime pulling me from my dream. I wish I could just roll over and go back to sleep; wake up someplace... anyplace... that wasn't here. I hate it here. Hate this place.

I'm not religious, I've never really believed in that sort of stuff and I believe in it even less now. We will get out of here though, somehow. Me and Kelly; and anyone else who wants to come.

Kelly has long ginger hair and bright green eyes, really pretty eyes. She's smaller than me, in height and general build. Oh and she has freckles- I love her freckles. She's covered in them, head to toe. She's beautiful. Really, truly, beautiful, inside and out. I'm lucky that, for whatever reason, she thinks I am too. She's my girlfriend. 

She shouldn't be though, not here. That's what this place is, see, a conversion camp. Everyone here has heavily-religious parents who believe it's not okay to be gay. Or lesbian. To them being homosexual is a big no-no. The camp is called 'Gods Will' but I'm pretty sure God doesn't exist in this place.

It was my parents last resort, they tried talking me out of it, setting me up on dates etcetera. When that didn't work they sent me here.

"It's for the best," they said "we don't want you to go to hell." but this is close enough.

They strip you of your identity first. Any 'boyish' clothes are burnt and you're given a full wardrobe of pink, peach and pale-yellow blouses and dresses and a whole range of skirts. No trainers or pumps allowed. Only dolly-shoes or brogues (or heels on special occasions). They burnt my Eminem shirts and my converse. And my jeans. All my awesome bright coloured jeans.

All electronic devices are confiscated, we get one phone-call a day, to family members only.

Then we have lessons on being 'girly' - etiquette, sewing, how to dress and do make-up - that sort of thing. It's so boring. There is absolutely nothing here I find entertaining. Even the books are all soppy-over-dramatic romance novels. Blech.

The only good thing in this place is Kelly.

I guess it's not that bad though as long as you comply. If you don't... what they do to you... it's... well it's not good for you, I'll tell you that - and it certainly doesn't make you want to be straight. I've heard other stories I don't even want to repeat. From the girls who've been through it themselves but I've never had it that bad. It's HORRIBLE.

That's why me and Kelly can never let anyone find out about us, if they knew... I can't even think about that... about her going through that... and it would be my fault...

 But we're going to get out tonight, me and her, then we're going to stay with her auntie Mel. We've been planning for weeks. Tonight is the night.

***

We spent the day normally, going to 'lessons' and doing our chores. Those cute, secretive glances passed between me and Kelly as they always did. It still amazes me how much I love her. They way that little grin plays across her mouth could melt ice.

"Hey," I say as I pass her on our way out of class

"Hey," she smiles, so sweet, so shy... she's not like that when we're alone together though (which is as often as possible but still, not often enough).

We speak only in passing for now but I see the sparkle of anticipation in her eyes as she turns and heads down the corridor in the opposite direction. I can't help but grin.

***

Night comes and so does the curfew, I change into a pair of shorts that I made from one of the black skirts the camp provided us with. Then the wardens come and check, making sure everyone is in bed. I stay fully dressed beneath the covers, shoes included. 

Two and a half hours pass. I check my watch before climbing silently from my bed and slip a pillow and a pillowcase full of clothes under the covers to make it seem as though I was asleep when the warden looked in. Not the best plan but it would have to suffice.

Kellys room is one down the hall on the opposite side to mine. Quite lucky really; it's made our secret visits so much easier. I tap three times quietly on her door, fully aware that the wardens next patrol is in five minuets. Her door opened slightly and she pulled me inside.

"Trish," she breathes and pulls me into a hug. "Those shorts look hot." The compliment makes me stifle a giggle as she pulls me closer. We kiss and it's warm and sweet "Quick." She pushes me into the closet as we here footsteps making their way up the corridor. I close the doors as she dives into bed. I smile remembering all the great times we've had here together.

The warden opens the door and I hold my breath. It will take her a few minuets to leave the corridor, then we have half an hour to get out. I just hope that she doesn't notice that I'm not actually in bed.

The minuets tick by agonizingly slowly until I hear Kelly leave her bed again. She opens the doors of the wardrobe and I step out into her arms. Our kisses are hot and urgent and her hands tangle in my shorter hair. I feel her smile as my hands slide up her body and pull her closer.

"I can't wait until we're out of here," she whispers, her lips still against mine.

"That makes two of us." I grin "We'd better go," I kiss her again and she steps back,

"Yeah," she sighs. I ease open the door and check for signs of the warden.

We tiptoe out into the hall and make our way to the fire escape at the back of the building, counting out and knocking on specific doors as we go. Four others join us: Lucy, Ruby, Tanya and Wendy.

Cautiously, we edge out of the main building and make our way around the back to the field. Unfortunately, the teachers block is at the edge of the field and some of the lights are still on. We had not been counting on that, and I panic slightly as we run down the side of the building to the fence.

"Quickly!" Wendy, who is the tallest of the six of us, pulls herself up and over the fence. I stay on the inside because I'm second tallest and the others all need help up.

"They're coming!" Ruby half shouts and we all start to panic. I kiss Kelly and give her a leg-up over the 6ft fence where Wendy helps her down the other side. Lucy jumps but gets her skirt caught.

"Damnit!" she falls off the other side of the fence. Ruby and Tanya are scrambling to get up but they can't quite reach. The teachers are running across the field as I push them up and over the fence.

"HEY! Girls stop! There will be serious consequence for all of you!"

"Trish come on!!" the others have started running but Kelly is still by the fence. I grab her through the bars and kiss her.

"I love you, now RUN!"  as she turns and takes off crying I hoist myself up just as Mr. Harrison reaches me. He grabs for my ankle and pulls me from the fence. I slip and cut my hand. "Get off me you b*****d!" I shout and swing for him. When I miss I kick him in the balls. 

I pull myself up to the top of the fence and kick Miss. Relish in the face as she tries to pull me down.

"F**K YOU!" I shout as I fall off of the fence and land hard on the floor. It's insanely painful and I think I broke my arm. I don't care though. I get up and start running.

I haven't been able to run, not properly, since I arrived here six months ago and wow, it's amazing. I can't believe we actually made it. I catch up with Kelly and the others after a few minuets, turns out I run fastest.

***

Lucy got picked up by her brother, Wendy went off to meet someone called Amy and Ruby and Tanya went straight to the police station. As for Kelly and me, Mel stayed true to her word and picked us up. She also took us to the police station where we reported the cam and our parents for putting us there. 'Gods Will' now faces formal inquiries and will be shut down until the trials are complete.

We keep in touch with the other four. Wendy never talks about what happened to her there and I'm pretty sure she had it the worst. It kills me thinking of what went on and I get it because I can barely think about what happened to me...

Kelly's great though, wow. We have so much time together you'd think we'd get sick of it but it's great. No, amazing. No guy could love me like that, make me feel the way she does.

I guess there is one thing I can thank that place for after all...

Author's Note

Any feedback/advice/criticism is appreciated, I'm just starting so yeah :)