Chapter 1: The Wretched

Emily's POV-

My mom is slowly accepting the face that I'm gay so that's a good sign and my dad still hasn't has a problem with me being gay sometimes I get weird looks in school because people know that I'm gay. I will talk to coach after school if I can join the swim team again I left the team because I had too much going on and I couldn't handle it so I quit the team. I'm in English class and I'm not evening listening to Mr. Fitz the bell rings and class is over.

'' Emily are you ok you been spacing out'' Hanna asked me

'' Yeah I'm ok I just have a lot on my mind'' I said to her and we leave the classroom and we are heading to my locker then Aria and Spencer comes towards us I tell them I'm going to try and join the swim team again.

'' So Spencer how was your dinner party with your parents at the country club?'' Aria asked

'' It was boring like always not much really'' Spencer said then I see Paige by her locker it's has been a while that we all stop talking to Paige and I miss her so much but yet we haven't done anything to try to be friend again.

'' Em what are you looking at?'' Spencer asked they all look at Paige by her locker putting her books away

'' I miss Paige we should have never listened to Ali of telling us not to be her friend'' I tell them

'' But if we didn't listen to Ali she would have told our secrets to everyone in town'' Aria said

'' But Emily is right but back then we were sacred to stand up to Ali and I do miss Paige maybe we should try talking to her'' Hanna said then we see Paige walking by us then Spencer calls her name Paige just look at us but doesn't stop she just keeps walking away from us.

'' Really Spencer just by calling her you think she will just hug us again and be happy we broke her trust and we should try to gain her trust back'' I said

'' But you think Paige will be our friend again?'' Spencer asked

'' We should try and tell her that we are sorry for listening to Ali'' Aria said the bell rings and we all go to class but I'm not sure of how we will gain Paige trust back and be her friend. I send a text to my mom saying I'm going to talk to coach and she said she will work late but my dad will be home. I go to health class also Paige and I have the same class but I get to class late and the only seat left is next to Paige so I go sit down right now I really want to talk to Paige but she won't talk to us and I don't blame her for that. When we see Paige around the hall ways she won't even look at me or the girls.

The day went by fast since school finished I go look for coach and I find in her office so I go inside and I talk to her.

'' Hey Emily how are you?'' Coach asked

'' Hey coach I'm doing good I hoping if I can join the team again''

'' Emily are sure? We do miss having you on the team but I have to know you will give it your all'' Coach said

'' Coach yes I will give it hundred percent to the team I promise'' I said to her

'' Ok Emily you will be back on the team but you have to talk to the team captain'' Coach said to me

'' Ok who is the captain?''

'' There she is Paige'' Coach said and Paige steps into her office

'' Paige is the team captain?'' I asked

'' Yes Paige is the team captain and Paige Emily will be joining the team again so I want you two to work with each other ok'' Coach said her office phones rings and Paige and I walk to the locker room. Walking besides her made me feel nervous we get inside the locker room and my locker is right next to her locker.

'' Practice will start in ten minutes so get ready'' Paige said coldly and goes to locker putting her stuff away

'' Ok feels great being back on the team I missed swimming'' I said to Paige but she is not listening or even looking at me but then she says something to me

'' Look we are not friends ok we are just teammates that's it nothing else only because you came back doesn't mean I will give you any special treatments got it?'' Paige said this is side of Paige I never seen her voice is full of anger but she didn't yell at me she said calm but in an annoyed voice.

'' Paige I'm not asking for any special treatments ok but I hope we can be friends again'' I said to Paige but she doesn't anything else she just leaves and gets ready for practice.

I'm happy that I'm on the team again and swim practice is kicking my ass Paige is strict making sure everyone's swim timing is good enough and right now my body is starting to get hurt I keep looking at Paige but not in a creepy way.

'' Are you going to sit there all day or are you going to swim?'' Paige asked I was sitting on the bleachers

'' No I will get in the water right now'' I said and I go jump in the way and I start doing the butterfly stoke after swim practice everyone goes get changed in the locker room Paige and I was the last ones to leave the school building. I see Paige going to her bike and I walk to my car I see Paige leaving on her bike and I get into my car and drive home. I went straight to my room and I lay on my bed can't believe Paige is the team captain.

'' Emmy are you ok?'' My dad asked and he comes into my room

'' Yeah oh and coach let me join the swim team again'' I tell him I sit up on my bed and he stands next to my bed

'' You don't seem happy about it is something wrong?'' He asked

'' No I'm happy but Paige is the team captain and I miss her having her has a friend and so does the girls we miss her'' I tell him

'' Emmy listen I may not know why you girls stop being friends with her and if you really want her has a friend again show her again why you girls became friends in the first place. But it takes time so don't rush it you can't force to be friends again at the end it will be up to her'' My dad said

'' Dad you are right we will try and not rush it dad you think mom will be ok with me being gay''

'' Your mother loves you ok it's hard for to understand but she is slowly coming to accept that you are gay just give her time ok'' My dad and he gives me a kiss on the top of my head and then we go eat dinner.

Paige's POV-

I'm home watching cartoons on TV I'm not happy I will see Emily even more now that she is on the swim team again but she is a great swimmer but also it was really weird that Spencer called me when I walked by them I just looked at them like why are you calling me but I just kept on walking. Lately my dad has put more pressure on me to be perfect in everything it's too much to handle I just want to be me even if I don't who I'm. My mom calls me for dinner and I go downstairs to go and eat and we are eating dinner and my dad rather talks about my swimming nothing else.

'' Oh Paige your cousin London is going to stay with us for a while'' My mom said

'' That's so cool I missed him so much can't wait'' I said happily London he is my cousin from my mother side of the family he is older than me he is in his early twenties. I love talking to him and hanging out with him. He is tall and has brown hair with brown eyes he always wears ripped jeans with random band t-shirts and he has ear gauges but they are not that huge and he listens to a lot of rock music.

'' Paige he will be sharing room with you because the guest room it's still not fixed ok but I don't want him to distract you from swimming ok'' My dad said he hardly gets along with London mainly because how he dress but London he is not really a mean person he is really sweet and funny. Before I can ask another question I hear the doorbell ringing and my dad gets up and goes opens the door.

'' Hey Paigey! Hey aunt Julie'' London said coming into the kitchen and he gives my mom a hug and then gives me a hug picks me up and spins me around one time then puts me down.

'' London so happy you are here'' I said to him with a smile

'' Me too I missed you so much'' London said I sit down and so does he and my mom goes fix him a plate of food my dad explain to him the rules of the house and talked about sharing a room with me. After we eat dinner London and I go to my room and he tells he has a gift for me.

'' So I got you a gift hope you like it'' London he opens his bag and takes out a vinyl of Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison and gives it to me

'' Oh my god thank you so much London this is the best gift ever'' I said excited I do collect vinyl records and I do have a few albums from different artists

'' Glad you like it so Paige tell me how is everything'' London said he knows me really well he can tell if I'm hurt or bottling it up inside

'' Oh you know same old stuff you know teenager stuff'' I said but he doesn't believe me

'' Paige I don't believe you but I won't force you to talk about it but you know I will never judge you ok'' London said

'' I know its that I'm not ready to talk about it'' I tell him but we had up talking about everything he even told that he dropped out of college because he it wasn't for him and also he doesn't know what to do with his life.

A/N: To guest reader who gave me the idea of Paige being team captain so thank you. Also any ideas or suggestions want in the story let me know & I will try my best to write it. With Paige I want to try something different of her coming out & also I do have a cousin like London similar to his style so I thought to write it in the story & try it. :)