49 Na?veté - Part 7 (2/2)
”Oh whatever. You're gonna be working on the campaign speech, right? If things get tough and you need to blow off some steam, then the game I recommended you is on the memory card.”
Ah, that.
What was the name again…?
”Underwing, right?”
”Undertale, man. Undertale. Anyway, don't say I never did you any favors. I'm heading home now.”
”… Nick.”
Before he heads through the door, I call to stop him in his tracks.
”What's up man?”
”Thank you. You and Sig are the best friends I could've asked for at this terrible school.”
”…”
He turns away.
”Like my own blood. That's how it goes in the oath, right?”
”From now, until our last breath.”
”Yeah. So you don't need to thank me. It's just a matter of course at this point.”
”Haha, yeah. I guess you're right.”
”Still…”
”Hmm?”
He turns back to face me once more time.
”If you lose that election I'll beat the shit out of you, dude! We're going all out here! You know that, right?! You have absolutely NO right to lose to fucking Thotifer of all people! If your speech sucks then I swear to god I'll-”
”Shut up, you stupid cockroach!”
Scarlet smacks the back of his head.
”OWWW!! What the hell was that for, bitch?!”
”I'm not a b-bitch, you're just an idiot! Why'd you have to ruin the moment like that?! Apologize! Give me back my appreciation of you!”
”Ughhh, the dude's wearing women's clothes! The moment was ruined before it even started! Talk to your girlfriend, Chase!”
”Uh, she's not my girlfriend. Remember?”
”Uhuh, and I'm not 6'1.”
But… you're not.
”Look man. Point is, just sort your shit out before Monday, okay? There's no way we're losing.”
”Yeah, you're right.”
”TNT.”
”Yeah, TNT.”
The two of us wave at one another as he finally exits the room.
”Phew…”
I sigh.
Talk about a rough day.
Nick has a point, though.
I need to get out of these clothes.
I'm beginning to feel more and more like a woman.
”So Chase, I've been thinking…”
But before I can head to the washroom, Scarlet stops me completely in my tracks.
”Huh? What is it?”
”If it's okay, I could get my mom to drop us to school on Monday.”
Oh yeah, the trains are gonna be down. I was gonna see if Rachael could get someone to get me a lift, but…
A ride straight to school with Scarlet? That'd solve everything. We could even talk about the campaign speech on the way.
”Really? I mean, we're kinda out of the way, you know. I don't wanna impose.”
”No, it's no problem. Her work is in the city so it'd just be a minor detour. Then we could take the train that goes from the city to the school. I'd just need to skip my morning jog, that's all.”
Well, that certainly does work out.
”Thanks, Scarlet. You're a lifesaver.”
Seriously, she's such a sweet girl.
And yet, Jennifer had nothing but bad things to say about her.
Scarlet isn't an idiot, she's just kind to a fault.
That's why she let you take advantage of her so easily.
She just wanted to believe in you with all her heart.
Just like she believes in me right now.
”…”
But the difference between us is, I won't let her down.
I'm going to make a future where she can smile and live out the everyday high school life that she deserves.
”Kinda weird being thanked by you in girl's clothes, you know. Actually, why haven't you changed out of it yet?”
”You're the one who stopped me!!”
”Hahaha, what a loser! Don't tell me you're getting off on this?! Do you want me to take some pictures so you can post them on the internet later?”
Nevermind, I hate this basic woman.
”By the way, before I forget… give me your address.”
”Sure… I'll write it down right now.”
”'Kaaay. We'll probably try to pick you up at 6 so just be ready.”
”No problem.”
I reach out and grab a nearby pen and paper from the large center table and begin writing the address.
”So um, Chase… I've been wondering.”
”What's up?'
I hand her the paper.
”'What does 'TNT' mean?”
”…”
”Seriously?”
”W-what? I just think it's weird that you guys haven't told me yet.”
”No I mean, it should be kinda obvious, right?”
”O-of course it isn't! That's why I'm asking you!”
”Haha, this is kinda weird. Never thought I'd be the one making fun of you like this. 'Wow, Scarlet's such a looooser! She doesn't even know what TNT means'!”
”Urk… For some reason I feel like it stings more since it's Beatrice saying it…”
”Well, that's exactly what I was going for.”
”Hmph, idiot.”
She smiles.
It's quite nice.
The whirring of the air conditioning unit.
The gentle snoring of the Newspaper club's president.
And the rambunctious red-head who refuses to stop calling me a loser.
This tranquil scene is something I'll be sure to remember for the rest of my life.
Because no matter what happens on Monday, this tranquil every day will change.
The only thing I can do now is shape whether that future we're headed toward is one filled with happiness or utter despair.