Trouble

(Tuesday Afternoon, August 6th)

"Hey," Chad walks up to the semi-circle desk. "Where's Rebecca?"

"Rebecca," the woman repeats.

"She's like an interning nurse or something," he explains. "I thought she worked today."

"Yes, well," she clasps her hands. "I'm afraid miss Rebecca Stein won't be working here or at any hospital anymore."

"Why?" Chad concerns.

"Well, that's what happens when you steal drugs from the supply closet." He glances down, and she inches forward, "But you didn't hear that from me."

"Of course, not," he evenly expresses, before he lays an arm on the counter and leans forward. "But how do you know it was her?"

"A keycard is required to enter the room," she answers. "Her card was used, but she didn't sign anything out at the time."

Chad places his hand in the pocket with the keycard, as his eyes shift, "What's going to happen to her?"

"Well, she can say goodbye to her medical career."

Chad turns around, pushes himself from the desk, and saunters through the hall. "Chad," he hears his father, and sees him standing before him. His expression falters, "What happened?"

He blinks, and the tears leave his eyes, "I got her fired."

"Chad," he softly replies.

He hugs him, "I'm sorry."

He returns it, placing a hand on Chad's head, "We're going to fix this."

"King Charming. Prince Chad," the man eyes between them. "I hear you're hoping that I continue Rebecca Stein's internship."

"It's my fault she got fired," Chad explains.

"Is that so?" He fails to speak, and the director gestures to the chairs, "Take a seat."

Chad and his father sit on the opposite end of the desk, before Chad admits, "The reason why Rebecca's card was used was because I was flirting with her, and it was a private place for us to make out."

"So, she didn't steal anything," he concludes. "She just broke sanitation standards."

"I'm sorry," Charming interrupts. "What my son is trying to say is that he feels responsible for getting her fired, because he put her in that kind of position. We're just trying to make things right."

He nods, "Then tell me this." before he faces Chad. "Three bottles of oxycodone went missing after she used her keycard. Can you explain that?"

Chad glances over as his father looks at him, before he frowns at the man, "She left before I did. I didn't see her take anything."

"It was a slow day." He disproves, "Her card was the last one used."

"Someone could have messed up inventory," Chad suggests.

"I doubt that."

"Why?" Chad challenges, "I know that after Ben had that surgery, the nurse couldn't find the clipboard to sign anything out. Maybe other people had the same problem."

The director stares at him, "Prince Chad, this will only work once. The next time you think you've gotten someone fired, I will be holding them fully accountable for their own actions. Are we clear?"

"Like crystal," he smiles.

"Yes," the director suspiciously eyes over him. "Crystal."

"Thank you," Charming says, as he stands from his seat. Chad follows him into the hallway, and his father smiles, "That was honorable of you."

"Yeah," Chad dodges, before he reaches into his pocket. "I have to see her."

He examines him, "Why's that?"

Chad pulls the lanyard out of his pocket and the keycard hangs between them, "If she's working here, she's going to need this back."

His father frowns, "Let's find her."

"Chad," his father starts, as they come to a stoplight. "Is there something you want to tell me, something that might explain why you have her keycard?"

"I told you," Chad keeps his eyes away from him. "I had sex with her. I found the keycard afterwards."

The light turns green, and his father mentions, "Remind me what Oxycodone is."

"It's morphine," he informs.

"Right." Charming contemplates, "Like that morphine your doctor had you using."

Chad turns to him, "Are you trying to say something?"

"You told him that you didn't see her take anything," he adds.

"Are you trying to ask something?" he frustrates.

"You know I just want you to be able to be honest with me," he comments.

"So, what?" Chad's voice raises, "Just because I was prescribed a bottle, I must have a problem now. Right?"

"I didn't say that," his father backtracks, before he pulls over. "But if you did take the pills, then you obviously need help."

"How about you help Ben keep his teeth to himself," Chad says, before he opens the door. He notices his father unbuckle and hurries, "Don't." He looks at him, and Chad frowns, "I need to do this alone."

His father nods, "I'll be here when you're done."

Chad shuts the door, walks up to the house, and raises his hand to the door; however, he falters. As far as one-night-stands go, this is a doozy. He takes a deep breath and knocks. It sucks being accountable for your actions, so the entire day has pretty much sucked complete ass.

The brunette nurse opens the door, and her eyes narrow, "You."

"I'm sorry," he manages.

"For what?" she crosses her arms. "Having sex with me to get those drugs or getting me fired for it?"

"Actually, you're not fired," he tries to smile. "I talked to the head guy or whatever. I told them it was my fault."

"You told them you were the one that stole the drugs?" she doubts.

Chad takes a moment, "Ah, no. I just told them we were making out in the supply closet. That's why your card showed up." He pulls the keycard from his pocket, and she snatches it from the air. "Anyway, you're not fired anymore. You should be getting a call at any time." She continues to glare at him, and he sighs, "Come on. I got your job back. You should be happy."

"You used me," she seethes. "All that talk about King Ben's parents and how worried you were about him, was any of it even true?"

"Of course, it was," Chad frowns, and her expression slips. "I'm not an actor."

She eyes over him, "I feel sorry for whatever girl you're going to snatch up and marry."

His eyes lower, "I don't know if I am." He faces her and explains, "I don't find girls very interesting. Some of them are hot, but I never feel anything."

Her frown deepens, "You're kidding me."

"Believe it or not," Chad contemplates, "my ex-girlfriend is trying to help me."

"Is it a choice, though?" she counters. "I mean, why do people keep breaking that law? If it's a choice, wouldn't they just not do it?"

"It's really hard," he admits. He squeezes his eyes shut, holds his breath, and she places a hand on his shoulder. "I have a crush on my best friend." Chad faces her, "And he could die any day." He gulps, "That's all Ben ever talks about, is how he's going to die. He doesn't know how or when. He just knows it's going to happen, and when it does, he wants me to be king." She eyes over him, and he shakes his head, "In a perfect world, we'd rule together."

"In a perfect world, you'd be allowed to," she softly speaks.

He hugs her and whispers, "I don't know how much longer I can do this."

"Then don't." He lets go, and she explains, "You deserve to be happy. And to leave as few girls in the dust as possible."

He wipes the tears from his face, "Thank you." before he glances over at the car.

"Do your parents know?"

He turns to her, "They know about Ben, but they think that's just because we've been friends for so long. They blame my lack of interest in girls on casual sex. I couldn't possibly find one I want to spend the rest of my life with, if that's the only way I've seen them."

She takes a moment, "Were they okay with you and Ben?"

Chad runs a hand through his hair, "Not really. They actually put a lot of the blame onto Ben, which isn't fair because I'm not even sure if he really likes me like that."

"And, yet, your father's been visiting Ben at the hospital." Chad quiets, and she suggests, "Maybe they just need to warm up to the idea that you're not going to change."

"For that to happen," Chad discounts, "they'd have to know me first." He eyes over her, "Well, have a good day, I guess."

When he turns around, she steps forward, "Hey."

He turns back around, and she seriously mentions, "I better not see you in the hospital overdosing. Try to get some help."

Chad nods, "Yeah. Okay." before he heads to the car.

When he gets in, his father comments, "That looked emotional."

"Yeah," Chad accepts.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Chad watches as she shuts the door, "I just can't believe I hurt her like that."

"Chad." He turns towards him, and his father inquires, "Is there something you want to tell me?" Chad folds his arms, and his father places a hand on his shoulder, "Hey."

"I'm scared."

"She's not pregnant?" he assumes.

"No test is that quick," Chad dismisses.

He settles, "Then what is it?"

"Conversion therapy." His father lets go, and Chad clings tighter to himself, "I'm afraid if I'm honest with you, then you'll make me get it."

His father hesitates, "That kind of thing only helps people who want to be helped."

"This isn't about wanting help." He faces him, "Audrey's been trying to help me. I've been praying, I've spoken to pastors, and I've really tried to be good. I'm just not."

"I don't see how you could have gotten through something like that without us," he inputs. "If we knew how bad it was—"

"You'd've done what?" Chad interrupts, and he meets his eyes. "I'm tired of trying to be something I'm not. I have enough crap going on in my life to be worrying about this too."

"I just want what's best for you," he softly speaks. "Part of that is building a life with someone who loves you and having a family."

"And how's that fair if I don't love her?" Chad pinpoints, and his father silences. "I just want to be happy. I'm not going to get that in a loveless marriage." His father places his hands back on the steering wheel, and he gapes, "Aren't you going to say something?"

"I have to discuss this with your mother." Charming starts the car, "We're going to have to talk about this later."

"I might as well just kill myself now," Chad considers. "There's no way I would survive conversation therapy." He murmurs, "They probably have people monitoring you for that. It would be worse than Hell."

"Don't talk like that," William demands. "Your parents will understand."

"If they understood," Chad disproves, "they wouldn't be trying to come up with a plan."

"Chad?" his father voices from the hallway, before he opens the door and eyes between them. "Keep the door open. Okay?"

Chad's eyebrows furrow, "You never told me to close the door with Audrey."

"Audrey's a nice girl," he excuses. "But I want you to keep your door open now, regardless of the company."

"I can still have sex with the door open," Chad threatens.

His father tiredly stares at him, "William. Can you give us a minute?"

"He's just upset," William defends.

"I realize that," Charming widens his eyes, "but we need to talk." William nods, walks by him, and Chad's father shuts the door behind him.

After he turns to him, Chad squirms in his seat, "I feel like I'm in trouble."

"Your mother and I talked," he informs, before he moves over to the desk and sits.

"And?" Chad quietly prompts.

"Age of consent is sixteen. Maybe it's sixteen for a reason." He evenly advises, "We're not allowing you to have sex again, until you're sixteen—girls or guys." He nods down, "If you still feel like you can't connect with girls at that point, then we'll discuss options."

"Like conversion therapy," Chad accuses.

"I don't know if that's the right action to take," his father hesitates, "but we would have to do something."

"You never cared what Ben did," he reminds him.

"Ben's life will be here," his father counters. "You have an eternity, and I want you to be able to spend it in Heaven with me and everyone you care for."

Chad quiets, "Are you saying when Ben dies, he'll be gone? Forever." His father fails to answer, and he shouts, pointing to the door, "Get out."

"Chad," he tries to reason.

"Fine." He jumps from the bed and strides to the door, "I'll get out."

Charming sighs, pulls out his phone, and waits for the guard to answer, "Yes. I need someone posted at the front, back, and side entrances. Chad's grounded. Keep him here."