Chad just opened the front door to his house. Incessant ringing from his all too annoying doorbell woke him up and forced him to do so. What awaited him right outside was quite the surprise.

“I’m so sorry!”

“Rose?”

There was a girl in front of him balling her eyes out in pajamas. He recognized this girl, it was the student council president, Rose Visca. What was she doing at his residence well past midnight?

“I-s- saawwry, I-I don’t know… I’m such a…”

She was saying sentences, but he couldn’t make out anything of substance. Her words were stifled by her tears and snot. Her emotions seemed to be bursting out of her.

“A-are you ok?”

Those were the only words that came to his mind. She seemed physically alright, but he had a hard time comprehending what was going on in front of him.

“Y-ye…”

Again, her words were cut off by her wails. Her legs weakened and she bent over on her knees. Her upper body hunched over with her hair covering her face. Her words were finally became more clear.

“I’m so sorry… I lied to you… I couldn’t think of another way… You would’ve never joined?”

“Lied? What are you talking about?”

Chad’s brain was still foggy. He had just awoken from a deep sleep and dragged himself downstairs to answer the door. What was she talking about?

What the hell is happening? Why is she here? When did she lie to me? Oh…

Memories of the student council meeting earlier that day, or the previous day now, came back to him. He was blindsided by the news that he would have to work at the concession stands this Friday at the girl’s soccer game. This wasn’t just more work for him, but would require him to stay after school until almost ten at night. This was not acceptable. Especially when Rose had promised that the after school meetings were the only time commitment he would incur with joining the student council. The fury he felt earlier came back to him. She did lie to him. She should be saying sorry.

Chad looked back down at Rose who was balling on the pavement right outside his door. The fury seemed to slip away. Apologizing is exactly what she should be doing… but everything just felt wrong.

This whole situation made him feel in the wrong, even though he wasn’t. The feeling of pity jabbed him in the abdomen.

This isn’t right… This isn’t right… What should I do?

“Uh Rose… it’s ok. Please stand up. There’s no need for this.”

In the most consoling voice he could muster, he tried to relieve her grief.

She looked up to him. Her eyes were completely bloodshot and watery.

“How could you ever forgive me?”

With a sigh, he held out his hand and helped her up.

“What is there even to forgive? You haven’t wronged me.”

Even though it was a lie, it felt like the truth coming off his lips.

“But… I deceived you! I tricked you into joining the student council!” she wiped away the lingering tears, “I’m a horrible person!”

“You didn’t trick me.”

“I did! I said there wouldn’t be much extra work and you could keep your schedule, b-but you can’t keep your current schedule. There are so many responsibilities as a council member. You’ll constantly be preparing and closing school events as well as participating in them.”

“I would’ve joined even if I knew all that.”

Rose’s head tilted.

“Really?”

“Yea,”

Chad thought of his mother and Yuna. There was no choice of joining, no matter how much he didn’t want to. He just fantasized that he had a choice in this decision, but any route he chose would’ve led to the same ending.

“Like you said at the meeting,” he gritted his teeth, “I guess I just have to ‘Grow up and deal with it.’”

“You really mean it? You’re not mad at me?”

“Yes.”

No! Of course I’m mad, I just can’t be with you in this… state.

This bipolar president has been making Chad guess his sanity for the past couple of days. The way she acts at school, all professional and pompous, it’s much easier to be mad at her. But when she acts like… this, he just can’t bring himself to be mad. It would be like seeing a crying puppy, only a monster could be enraged by that, even if it wronged them.

He looked down at his hand that he used to help Rose to her feet. He was still holding onto her hand. Quickly retrieving his hand from her grasp, he moved on from this uncomfortable topic.

“How’d you even get here?” he peaked around her shoulder, there was no car in the driveway, “It’s the middle of the night.”

“I walked.”

“It’s pitch black out. How’d you even find your way here?”

Rose began swaying back and forth.

I wonder if she’s getting cold.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“I-I just wanted to apologize. I couldn’t fall asleep. I needed to see you…”

A jolt of energy shot into Chad’s stomach, or was it his chest? Either way, he carried on the conversation to distract himself from it.

“So how’d you get here?”

“I-”

Rose opened her mouth to reply, but the entire front of Chad’s house lit up. A red car was pulling into the driveway with its bright headlights pointing right at them. After a subpar parking job, a woman exited the vehicle.

Oh shit! What is she doing back?

His mother just pulled into the driveway. This was way earlier than he was expecting, she should be torturing some misfit author until dawn, bugging them about finishing their manuscript. She shouldn’t be back yet.

Chad analyzed the situation he was in. He and another girl were in their pajamas at the front of his house… in the middle of the night... And his mother was walking right towards them.

What should I do? Do I grab Rose and hide her somewhere? No, there’s no time.

Rebecca nonchalantly kept walking towards the pair.

“Don’t worry, I just forgot my laptop charger. I’ll be out of your business in a sec.”

Not comprehending her words, Chad began defending his situation.

“It’s not what it looks like.”

She was now right next to the pair.

“I don’t care about that-”

Her eyes met Rose’s.

“Hi Becca,” Rose squeaked as she gave a small wave.

“What did you do!”

His mother’s eyes were filled with the rage of God.

“Like I said, it’s not what it looks like. She hasn’t stepped a foot into the house-”

“I don’t care about that!”

She softly embraced Rose, rubbing her hair with one hand.

“Why is she crying! The hell did you do to her!”

She was no longer crying, but her eyelids were red and swollen with the remnants of dried tears on her face.

“Wha-What? I didn’t do anything.”

“My ass you did nothing!”

She raised her hand, preparing to reprimand her son.

“Wait!”, Rose’s frail voice protected him from an incoming slap, “He’s telling the truth. I should be punished, not him.”

She looked to her in confusion, “What do you mean sweetheart?”

Rose ended up explaining the situation to his mother. The way she put it made Chad seem like he was in the right, which of course he was. It was only natural for Rose to be sorry and he even graciously forgave her… in a way. There is no way his mom could be mad at him now.

“You’re telling me he made you stand outside in the cold while you were crying! I raised you better than that!”

There’s no winning with her.

After a bit more scolding from her, the group moved from outside into the much warmer house. Rebecca wrapped Rose in a blanket and sat her down on the couch next to Chad. After quickly running in and out of the kitchen, she then sat on a chair a couple feet away and crossed her legs as if she were a therapist.

“Rose dear, there was no need for you to apologize, let alone walk here in the middle of the night.”

“I just felt like I wronged Chad so I had to come and apologize… but he assured me that I didn’t do anything wrong. Isn’t he so kind?”

He gave a sheepish smile to his mother, she seemed like she didn’t believe Rose.

“Well I’m glad you know you didn’t do anything wrong now. You’re such a sweet girl and I’m glad you asked Chad to be on the student council.”

“Thank you Becca.”

“After the hot cocoa is done I can bring you home. Where do you live?”

“Um, my house is by the pharmacy on fifth street.”

“What!?!”

Rebecca’s eyes widened.

Why’d that get her worked up?

Her eyes filled with malice turned to Chad.

“You made her walk over five miles to apologize?!?”

“I didn’t make her do anything.”

“Chad Nosmith! When I’m through with you-” Rebecca glanced at Rose and then cooled herself down, “We’ll talk later about that.”

A small chime came from the kitchen.

“I’ll grab the cocoa and then I can take you back. Poor thing you must’ve been freezing.”

She left to the kitchen, leaving the pair of highschoolers on the couch. Chad just stared straight ahead, not wanting to converse with her any further.

“T-thank you… Chad.”

“Why are you thanking me? I haven’t done anything.”

“You’re just such a kind person, forgiving me even though I lied to you.”

“It's not a big deal,” he sighed, “I didn’t do anything special… and I’m not kind.”

“You are kind,” her voice strengthened, “Stop always lying to yourself. You’re kind and a hard worker.”

Chad turned to look at her. She was sitting tall and her glasses no longer teetered at the tip of her nose.

“You constantly lie to yourself, saying you're not this or that, but you are. Your self doubt is crippling your potential.”

Although he could still see the room lights reflecting off her dried tears, she no longer showed any sign of being sad. She radiated her usual confident aura, the way she does at school, sitting tall and looking sternly at Chad.

“Alright, I have the cocoa.”

Rebecca walked back into the living room holding two mugs with steam coming off of them. The room was filled with the sweet scent of chocolate and marshmallows.

“Thank you Becca.”

Rose slid down back into the couch along with her glasses sliding back to the tip of her nose.

What the hell?

“I’ll take you back now.”

Rebecca handed her a mug and she stood up. They then began to walk out of the house.

“Wait, I don't get any cocoa?”

Chad had expected his mother to hand him the other mug, but she showed no signs of doing so.

“Rose was the one who walked outside in the cold… and I made it. You don’t deserve any.” She smugly took a sip from her mug.

“Here you go Chad,” Rose held out her mug, “I already drank some, but you can have it if you want.”

He looked down to the mug and then back at her.

Weren’t you just scolding me five seconds ago?

The switch flipped once again and she was holding out her mug of hot chocolate with a sincere smile. He reached for it, but then stopped himself.

“I’m ok, thank you though.”

“You are so welcome Chad!” her smile grew.

What are you so happy about?

Rose and Rebecca left the house, leaving Chad all by himself.

“What a freakin’ night. I need some sleep.”

He climbed up the stairs once again and slipped into his bed.

“That bipolar bitch. What does she think she’s doing?”

Now that Rose wasn’t in front of him, he found it much easier to be mad at her.

“Is she trying to gain my pity by acting like that? Like that will work,” He turned to lay on his other shoulder, “I bet that’s how she got all the other council members to support her. She’s smart. I'll give her that, but I’m smarter. I’ll beat her and get what I want. Then the council won’t have to do all this stupid work.”

He clenched his blankets.

“And what with this whole ‘lying to myself’ thing and wasting my potential or whatever. Why is she trying to act like she knows me? I bet it’s another one of her ploys. She’s trying to act like my friend and gain my favor. Yea, that’s it, but it will never work. You’re the one lying. I’m not kind and I’m not a hard worker! Your little tricks will never work against me.”

Chad let out a long sigh. He had tired himself out with his ranting and it was quite late. If he didn’t get to sleep now, tomorrow would be much harder to get through. Needing to get the last word in this single person argument, he whispered.

“You crazy girl.”