Rito ½

Chapter 14: Good Lies

HeroSpirit: "Now that I look at this, that last chapter would fit the description of a climax."

Brayden: "Does that mean the story is going to end soon?"
HeroSpirit: "I wasn't planning on it, mostly because I have so many more chapters I want to do."

Rito: "Well whether it's the climax or just rising action, you better make things right with me and Darlyne."

HeroSpirit: "Relax, I have it all planned out."

Rito: "That's exactly what worries me."

It had been a full week before I was back to school again. I managed to fake a bunch of illnesses to keep my sister from being suspicious, but regardless of my efforts something seemed to signal to me that she knew I was faking the entire time. Why I don't know, and why she'd let me skip school I don't know. Maybe she knew about the fight at school, or maybe she sensed my depression a mile away, whichever was correct, I was thankful she didn't do anything about it. It gave me time to think.

Even though it had been a week since I went back to school, I was still avoiding Darlyne for a couple more weeks. Just the thought of having to face her with what I just put on her shoulders would be torture, and something told me this wasn't going to be an incident she would just forgive like the time at the mall. Why I didn't even try to approach her as Rita I'll never know. Maybe it was because now that I told the truth to Darlyne, I didn't feel like lying to her even more than I already was. Whether the reason was clear or not though, I just wasn't up for it.

As I trudged to school dragging my feet, I noticed that it was a particularly cold day. It made sense, since fall had officially passed and November came around bringing winter along with it. The new trimester came around as well, bringing me new classes for me to attend and new pains to endure. I now had a P.E. class, which I wasn't looking forward to. Regardless though, I dragged myself into school with everyone gathered around in their usual spots. Brayden was waiting for me like he always was.

"What's up, sunshine." he sarcastically said. I glared at Brayden as I wasn't in the mood for his sassy and yet clever remarks.

"Zip it, lord of the craniums." I growled. If I hadn't mentioned it before, I was still pretty depressed about the incident that happened a little less than a month ago. Yeah, I sure can hold a grudge with myself.

"Wow, are you ok? You still seem pretty down. Are you still mad about that incident with Darlyne?" Einstein asked. I cupped my ears not wanting to hear about that incident for the rest of my life. Even then it would be too soon.

"Ga, I'm not mad, I'm just depressed that everyone heard what I said to Darlyne. I'm even more depressed that Darlyne didn't seem to thrilled about what I said. It was basically an indirect rejection in front of the entire school." I explained. That's how I saw it anyway, I guess now that I look back I realize I was being a little mellow-dramatic, but then again this was Darlyne I was talking about.

"I'm sure that she was just shocked is all. If it bothers you that much you should go talk to her. She seemed a little out of it the first few days after you told her, but she seems pretty upbeat now." Brayden assured. In case you're wondering how Brayden knows this, it's because our principal was kind enough to abolish the rule in which restricted us from the male and female sides of the school during lunch and passing periods... and if you're wondering why the principal did this while there was a fight going on the opposing side of the school... it's because nobody told him. Why did nobody tell him you ask? The principal already treats us like military soldiers. If he found out... he would mold us into robots.

"Maybe I should, I'm just not feeling up for it right now though." I sighed, trudging on by as the bell was about to ring any minute. I made my way to my new class which of course was english. My worst of all subjects. To make matters worse, a certain someone was in the same class as I was. As the bell rang, that certain someone entered the classroom.

"Sorry I'm a little late, I had a little trouble opening my locker." I heard Ian smoothly say as he entered. He carried his book-bag in one hand and nothing in the other. Why, you ask? It's because he put it in a sling. Yeah, after our fight he placed his right arm in a sling like he had broken it. Or more accurately... like I had broken it. This was even though during our fight I barely touched his arm. It was the face that I mostly hit. Why, Ian went so far as to twitch and moan every once in a while in pain at his arm that he supposedly broke. He even wore a few bandages on his face like it was damaged that far as well.

"I can't believe that guy! Putting his arm in a sling like I had actually broken it just to gain sympathy. People like him make me sick!"

As I thought about this, I could hear the words of myself from that fight Ian and I got into only weeks ago.

"I HATE people like you!"

As I heard this in my own voice I cupped my ears. I didn't even want to think partially about that conversation let alone the entire incident. I didn't feel like being in class anymore. However, I guess I had to so I stayed for my grade's sake.

Fast forwarding a bit to lunch, I reached into my locker to get my sacked sandwiches and bottled water. I couldn't help but notice Brayden walking by with his backpack. He must have been on his way to the cafeteria where he usually gets a school-made lunch. Once he glanced at me he started walking towards me.

"Hey man, you feeling any better?" he concerning asked. I closed my locker once I had gotten my things out and started walking.

"Not really. I guess it wasn't a good idea to come to school today after all." I dismally answered, looking more at the ground beneath me than at my friend trying to comfort me. Brayden didn't sound to approving of this.

"Oh come on Rito, I understand that you're upset about this, but it's nearly been a month. You need to learn to let things go and move on. I may not know exactly how you feel about this girl but... ok... scratch that, I absolutely know how you feel about this girl because I know you like a brother. Even if this is true, what's done is done and you need to stop acting like it's the end of the world." Brayden scolded. I know that he was trying to make me feel better, and looking back on this situation I realize that. However, at the time it only seemed like he was trying to make me feel worse.

"I can't let it go Einstein! Do you realize how long I've liked Darlyne? I've been looking at her for well over five years! Do you realize what it feels like to like someone for so long and then suddenly get dumped by that person? It feels like falling 1,000 feet without a parachute! You enjoy the ride for so long but when you finally collide with the ground it hurts like hell!" I defended. I could feel myself getting emotional. My body was starting to heat up and I felt so uncomfortable in this situation. "Maybe... maybe it would have been better if I had just kept my mouth shut and realized that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush."

"Stop it! Stop it right now!" Brayden crossly exclaimed, dropping his book-bag. "I can't stand to hear you talk like that! The Rito I've known ever since kindergarden isn't like this! The Rito I've known since kindergarden always toughed things out no matter how bad things have gotten, and he's always been able to feel good about himself when it's all said and done. I don't know why you think it's the end of the world Rito, but you need to suck it up and stop acting like a girl!"

Those four words are words that I'll never forget. Those four words alone echoed mockingly throughout my cranium and back again. They continuously played back in my head over and over like a broken record. That was about the time that something in me snapped. I dropped my lunch and backpack like bricks and charged at Brayden with all my speed.

I immediately pinned him to the wall using his shirt and drew back my fist. Twisting my face to a aggressive snarl no different than a mad dog's.

"Don't you ever... EVER... say that again. If you so much as attempt to compare me to that again, I will personally make sure you're a permanent addition to this wall!" I snarled. I was only seconds from catapulting my fist into Brayden's nose, but that's when I saw his surprised and terrified expression.

"What am I doing?"

I released my grip of him and stepped back, looking down at the ground in shame. I saw Brayden collapse onto the ground a little in shock at what just happened. Never in my life had Brayden and I disagreed with each other in a way that it turned physical. I mean we teased each other every now and again, but that was it. Nothing escalated beyond that.

"I'm... I'm sorry." I apologized as Brayden stood himself back up, still a little surprised. He dusted himself off a little and looked at me.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't realize the severity of the situation, and I forgot that you in particular are sensitive about being called a... you know what." Brayden pardoned, picking up his backpack and walking towards me. He placed a hand on my shoulder and grinned. "Hey, you like this girl, don't you?"

"Yeah." I admitted, looking back up to see Brayden's cheerful expression.

"Then go talk to her. It's the only way this will go away."

"No, I can't."

"Why not? You don't even have to go as yourself. With your curse and all you could.."

"No! I can't even go like that."

"Why not?"

"Because I just can't lie to Darlyne any more than I already have."

Einstein didn't seem to understanding of that. In fact he looked confused. He leaned in a little and arched his eyebrow.

"Already have? What do you mean?"

"I mean I've been using that horrible form to interact with Darlyne on a daily basis." I sighed, stepping farther back and leaning against a locker.

"On a daily basis? For how long?" Brayden curiously asked, taking the time to walk over next to me and lean beside me.

"Practically ever since I got the curse. Rita Richards and Darlyne Quartez are like best friends." I confessed, collapsing myself and sliding to the ground using the wall. Brayden was a little surprised by this, and took a moment to process. It seemed like minutes before he responded.

"No wonder you feel the way you do about this situation." Brayden realized, looking away from me and at the hallway's wall in front of us. "But I still think you should go see her, even as her best friend."

"No! I already told you that I can't lie any-..." I started, but Brayden interrupted me only seconds after I said the word "lie".

"Rito, do you know how many kinds of lies there are?" Brayden seemed to randomly ask. He seemed to smile as he asked this and turned to me waiting for answer. When he didn't get one, he continued. "Rito, there are lots of different kinds of lies. There are lies you tell to make someone feel good. There are lies you tell to make someone feel bad. There are lies you tell to stall for time, and there are lies you tell to make time go faster." Brayden started. "But I think the lies that are the hardest to understand, are the lies that you tell to save your relationship with someone."

"Wow."

"I think you have that kind of thing going on here, Rito. I'm not saying those kinds of lies are good or bad, but I am saying that those kinds of lies can be both good and bad. I mean, by lying to Darlyne you're giving her a best friend." Brayden seemed to chuckle as he started to stand up, taking his backpack around his back. "But at the same time you're hurting her by giving her a false fantasy. You know, it's a lot like that one question that's been trying to get the right answer for it for centuries." Brayden paused as he started to walk in front of me. "That question is, when someone is asleep for a long time having a good dream, do you wake them up, or do you let them dream?"

It was at that moment that maybe, just maybe, the way I was lying to Darlyne wasn't all bad. I mean, she seemed to enjoy my company a lot, and I really enjoy being around her watching her have fun and all. So I guess maybe this situation wasn't all bad. That was when I started to get up, carrying my sack lunch with me.

"Thanks Einstein. You anyways seem to know what to say."

"No problem, buddy."

I reached into my locker and grabbed my gym bag, and afterwards darted down the hallway towards the nearest bathroom. I knew what I had to do now. I knew what I had to do to solve all of this. It was all thanks to Einstein though. He made me realize that although most lies have bad properties about them, it's the lies that have more good than bad that make it worth the trouble.

Once I found a bathroom, I dashed in and shut the door, unzipping my gym bag and looking at it's contents.

"Thank god I was too lazy to take out my girl's uniform out of my gym bag."

It was moments later before I zipped back out of the bathroom taking a second to adjust my ribbon and fix my skirt as I went looking for Darlyne. If I knew her as much as I did, every Wednesday one of her friends brought some sort of sweet like cake or brownies or something and they would all enjoy it at the school's home-ec class.

"Wow, I just realized how much of a stalker I am."

Once I found the classroom, I gently opened it so that they wouldn't hear my intrusion, and found Darlyne along with two of her friends sitting at one of the class's tables and enjoying some slices of what looked like some kind of pie. I couldn't really tell what flavor it was but I was pretty sure it was pie.

"I know! It's always so sticky afterwards to, so it's a real pain." I heard one of Darylne's friends say in mid-conversation. I opened the door a little farther and got a better look at what was happening. Why I wanted to be so quiet I'll never know, I suppose it was a habit.

"Wow. Again, reminded of how much of a stalker I am."

Darlyne was in the middle of the table and enjoying her lunch, taking a minute to chew before replying.

"Yeah, but the trick is to-.." Darlyne started, but she stopped mid-sentence once she caught a glimpse of me at the door. I saw Darlyne's eyes brighten up a little, and she seemed to smile. "Rita?"

I didn't really know how to reply, so I just waved and smiled innocently like I didn't know what was going on. In retrospect I didn't need to act as I really didn't know what was going on. I saw Darlyne get up from her seat.

"Rita! I'm so happy to see you! You haven't been in school for so long now. Where have you been? Have you been sick? Are you feeling ok? Did you have family troubles or something?" Darlyne bombarded with questions as she approached and her friends only seemed to watch as she did this. I could tell they didn't even know who I was.

"Ah, the fact that Darlyne was worried about me brings me great peace."

"Uh, no. I just haven't really been around lately. Sorry if I haven't been keeping contact." I apologized. It was mostly because I was avoiding Darlyne, but what's done is done I suppose.

"I see. Well I'm glad you came by regardless. You want some cherry pie? Sam's mom owns a bakery and we get this kind of stuff every week. We have plenty if you want some." Darlyne offered.

"So that's where they get it."

"Uh, no thanks. I don't care to much for pie." I politely declined, suddenly realizing what I came down here to do. "Hey Darlyne, can I talk to you about something?"

Darlyne seemed a little surprised by this, but only for a brief moment as she regained her joyful expression and nodded.

"Sure." she assured as she turned back to the table she was sitting in. "Hang on guys, be right back."

Darlyne and I stepped out of the classroom where we could take without the eyes and ears of her friends. This was a little more comforting knowing I could talk to Darlyne about this alone. After all, everyone else who was usually roaming the halls where either outside the school or in the cafeteria.

"Is something wrong?" Darlyne concernedly asked.

"No, It's not that, it's just that... I heard about what happened a couple of weeks ago. You know between me- I mean those two boys and whatnot." I started, relieved that I caught myself with that sentence. I saw Darlyne expression turn from concerning to dismal in a short moment. It seemed like she was still a little unsure about that incident.

"Oh, you heard about that?" she dolefully asked, looking towards the floor.

"Yeah, and I want to let you know that, uh.." I started. "That I know things like that can be confusing and maybe even unwanted, and I'm sorry that you had to hear that. But still, I wanted to-.." I continued, but was interrupted by Darlyne.

"Why are you sorry?" Darlyne curiously asked, looking up with an arched eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"I know that was a little confusing, and at first I didn't know what to do, but in the end I figured that there wasn't much I could have done to keep it from happening, and that the best I could do was go to that one guy and ask him about it." Darlyne clarified. "However, whenever I tried to find him, I didn't have much luck."

"That's because I was avoiding you."

"Darlyne..." I started, a little unsure of what to say next. "That boy, well, I kind of know him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he and I are... well we both kind of.." I stuttered.

"You and him are?..."

"I have to say it."

"He and I are... well both of us are..." I started, still a little reluctant to say what comes afterwards. I knew I had to tell her. If I didn't tell her now I might not be able to later. Maybe this wasn't the best of times, but maybe it was the perfect opportunity. "I mean both me and him are..." I stammered, still struggling to make my mouth say it. "We're both..." in the end I just sighed, and said. "Acquaintances."

"Really?" Darlyne asked, arching her eyebrow a little.

"Yeah, and he told me to tell you that he's sorry for putting you through that, and that he sort of regrets saying it in the first place." I admitted, looking down to the floor. In the end I realized that maybe this was for the best, and that perhaps this wasn't all bad. I mean, with Darlyne in the dark it would mean her ignorance could be bliss. That was something I didn't want to ruin.

"I can't tell her. Not yet, not until both she and I are ready to accept the consequences of what happens after."

"Tell him he shouldn't be sorry." I heard Darlyne say. I went wide eyed, looking back up.

"Huh?"

"Tell him I thought it was kind of sweet what he did, and he can't help the way he feels." Darlyne smiled, she seemed ok with the situation despite how depressed she looked about it before. "But tell him that if he really means it. Ask him to tell me in person once more."

That alone made me feel like a new man. Just the sheer fact of Darlyne being ok with what I did made me feel so much better. All I could think after that was...

"I'm not going to tell you though, not yet anyway. Not until I'm ready to accept the consequences of what happens after."

HeroSpirit: "WOW! I can't believe I finally finished it."

Rito: "The story?"

HeroSpirit: "Heck no! This only marks one part of what's to come!"

Brayden: "Still though, it took you over a month to post this chapter."

HeroSpirit: "I know, I'm sorry. I've been going into hyperdrive on a Yu-Gi-Oh fanfic I've been working on."

Rito: "Oh yeah, is it true you're already like written twelve chapters in yet you've only posted like six chapters?"

HeroSpirit: "Yeah, and I've only been working on it for like two or three weeks."

Rito and Brayden (in unison): "Wow."

HeroSpirit: "Still though, this fanfic isn't over. But I might be taking a break from it for awhile now."

Rito: "Ah, ok. Well it's a good thing you let the fans know."

Karyra: "Yeah, god knows I was worried."

HeroSpirit: "Hey! Get out of here! Don't you have a Sly Cooper fanfic to work on!"