I DO NOT OWN STARGIRL. SHOUTOUT TO EVERYONE WHO GIVES A DAMN ABOUT THIS STORY. THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS TRANSPHOBIC SLURS, A SUICIDE ATTEMPT, AND SEVERE CHILD ABUSE, READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Bogumill Home. The next day.
When Bob Bogumill finally emerged from his study for the first time in days, it was clear that the man was changing and not for the better. He seemed to be rather bitter at everyone within reach. The reason for his anger was unknown, but Jacob and Tonya naturally assumed that his sour mood was a result of Zack bringing shame upon the family by being a transgender boy and while it was not the sole reason, Bob didn't do anything to rid them of that notion.
It all came to a head 1 night when the Bogumills sat down for dinner. Zack had barely began to eat his food when Jacob went in swinging with the transphobic insults.
"So tranny, where did you get that new shirt?" Jacob asked as Zack was wearing a new Blue Valley high school T shirt that Yolanda had bought for him.
"My name is Zack and a friend bought it for me." He insisted as he tried to keep his cool while his aunt threw her hat in with her nephew and decided to jump on the transphobia bandwagon.
"Who in their right mind would want to be friends with no good ladyboy trash like you?" Aunt Tonya asked in disgust as Jacob flung some of his peas at his long suffering cousin.
"I am not a ladyboy and I am not trash!" Zack shouted as he glared daggers at both of his familial tormentors. "I. Am. A. Freaking. Boy. So for the love of God, get over all of this Anti trans bullshit because I am not changing who I am for any of you!" This finally provoked a response from his uncle who slammed his fists down hard on the table top before standing up and undoing his belt from his pants.
"Damn you...you rotten tranny bitch!" Uncle Bob snarled as he rushed over and grabbed Zack in his hands. The boy tries to fight back with all of his might, but it was no use as Bob knocked Zack to the floor and began beating on him with the leather belt. Zack tried desperately to fight back, but it felt like his uncle had some kind of superhuman strength that he was using to just beat the living shit out of his nephew. Zack was powerless to do anything to stop it. He had no other alternative, but to lay there and take the beating that was forced upon him. At first, Tonya and Jacob were egging him on, trying to get him to hit Zack harder, but eventually they both became silent as the grave since his rage was even beginning to scare them a little. The beating did eventually stop as Zack lay on the floor; bruised and bleeding. After a few minutes of painful crying, Zack slowly got to his feet and stumbled out the door. He'd had enough of this pointless existence and it was time to end it; once and for all.
Blue Valley High School. Later that night.
A bloodied and hopeless Zack slowly made his way to the top of the high school, thanks to back door that was left unlocked by the janitor. He went all the way up to the roof and looked down at the asphalt parking lot below him. Zack was confident that a fall from this height would be enough to kill him. "I'm sorry Courtney...I just can't do it anymore..." Zack said as he walked off of the roof. He didn't fall though because before he knew what was happening, he saw Stargirl above him. She was holding onto her cosmic staff as she held him up.
"Do not let go!" She exclaimed as the staff flew them back into the roof. Once they were both safe, Stargirl grabbed Zack angrily.
"What in the Hell were you doing?" She asked in shock as she tried to stop herself from crying. "Why would you kill yourself?"
"Because my family hates me and I can't take it anymore!" Zack exclaimed as Stargirl took another look and saw Zack's blood and bruises.
"Oh my God..." she whispered in horror as Zack cried in front of her. "There has to be someone who cares about you."
"Yeah...Courtney Whitmore." Zack muttered through his tears, remembering what Jacob had told him. "She's so kind and smart and caring...but I don't deserve her. I'm basically her gay BFF."
"That is bullshit!" Stargirl exclaimed angrily as she took his face in her hands, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Courtney cares about you so freaking much, it would break her heart if you died like this...she would blame herself forever."
"How do you know?" Zack asked as the superheroine was silent for a few moments before she slowly removed her mask to reveal that she was in fact Courtney all along. This sent a shock through Zack as he didn't know what to say.
"How do you think?" She asked with a sad smile as she let out a weak chuckle.
"I should have guessed, someone as awesome as you must be a superheroine." Zack said, trying to make light of the situation.
"Please Zack, you can't try this again." Courtney insisted as she held Zack's hands. "It would hurt me so bad if you killed yourself...please don't hurt me like that."
"I won't Courtney, I promise..." Zack replied as the 2 embraced each other on top of the roof as they cried together as one.
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