Get Over It

(Thursday Night, August 15th)

Chad: You need a profile picture.

Beth: Yeah. I'm getting to it.

Chad: When do I get a picture?

Beth takes a minute: I'm getting a new outfit soon. Maybe your parents will let me over.

Chad: They still want you here for dinner.

Beth: Can we not have dinner?

Chad laughs, and his father comes in, "Still up?"

"I slept a lot this week," he murmurs.

His father walks towards him, "Sorry. I didn't hear that."

Chad twirls the office chair towards him, "I said I've slept enough this week." before he glances down. "It's still all I want to do."

"You will feel better after we figure out what the teacher wants with you," he reassures.

"Isn't that obvious?" Chad unenthusiastically comments, but his father fails to respond. "Dad?"

The computer dings, and he points, "Beth. How is she doing?"

"What?" Chad whispers.

"Didn't you say her parents are strict?" he recalls. "I'm surprised they're letting her stay up until midnight."

"Yeah," Chad slowly replies, before he turns back to the computer. "I don't know what's up with that."

His father watches him type his response, "What are you talking about?"

"She's trying to get out of the dinner," he frowns.

"If she's trying to get out of it—"

"No." Chad turns towards him, "She wants to come."

"Then what's the issue?" he questions.

He sighs, "The dinner. She wants to bring a smoothie instead."

"A smoothie?" His father's brows furrow, "I thought she's been in the hospital. What's she still drinking shakes for?"

"Dad," Chad's voice raises. "Just because she's willing to talk about it, doesn't mean I know everything. Okay? I'm not her. I don't know what's going on in her head."

"You're right," he nods. "You know, it's just that food is such an important part of life. It's not just something that helps you live. It's something that gathers people. It's the simple things people bond over."

"Maybe that's the problem," Chad analyses. "For her it isn't. It's stressful."

"But it shouldn't have to be," he insists.

The computer dings again, and Chad faces his father, "What about Ben? He has similar problems. Would you tell him to just not be stressed over food?"

His father takes a moment, "How about we go out for dinner, that smoothie shop?"

"What?" Chad falters.

"The smoothie shop you go to all the time," he grins, "that has those protein shakes you love. We could show her the place, give her some healthy options." Chad stares, and his expression falters, "Unless, you think the calories will put her off."

"I don't want to go there," Chad breathes, as his heart pounds.

"Why not?"

The computer dings, and his eyes widen, "I just don't want to."

His father steps forward, "Chad. What's wrong?" He sat across from him, the corners of his mouth cracked into a snake smile. "Chad?" There's no reason to be nervous. It's just human nature. "Chad. What happened?" The computer dings, the guard scoots closer, and his father reaches for his shoulder, "Hey."

He flinches and then shouts, "Can everyone shut up?"

His father's frown deepens, "Chad."

"Sorry. You know, I think I am tired," Chad excuses, before he turns back to the laptop. "Let me just wrap this up, and I'll get to sleep."

"Chad," he starts.

"I take all my girlfriends there," Chad interrupts. "I just don't want to do that to her."

"Except that this started out as a dinner—not a date—and that shop is highly regarded for its nutritional value," he reminds him. "If you like her, you would want to give her the option."

"I do," Chad assures.

"Then tell me the real reason you don't want to go," he persists.

Chad places a hand to his head, "I'm too tired to talk about this."

He watches him quickly wipe the fallen tears from his cheeks, "I know that it's hard, but we need to talk about this."

"No," Chad rejects, passing him to get to his wardrobe.

His father follows, "I can't protect you if you won't tell me what's going on." and Chad shakes his head. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm going to bed," Chad settles, as he grabs his pajamas and heads for the bathroom.

His father strides after him; however, the door closes, and Chad sits against the other side. "Why can't you just talk to me?"

"I told you," Chad comments, "after I got grounded. I'm never being honest with either of you again."

He pauses, "You didn't tell me that."

"You. Mom. It doesn't matter," Chad rationalizes. "You've always been so reasonable, but I knew. I knew that you wouldn't want me like this."

"That's not fair," Charming begins.

"And what's fair?" Chad cries, "I talked to Hawthorne, because I knew I couldn't trust you. But he betrayed me, and you still found out."

"Chad." His father softly replies, "I want to help."

Chad shakily breathes, "You can't help me. No one can." He gulps, "Maybe I should be sent to the Isle. The only person who wants me here is…"

"Hey," his father asserts. "I want you here."

"Do you?" Chad speculates. "I was so much trouble, you didn't want any more children, and now your only heir might not have any heirs."

"What about that girl?" he reminds him. "I thought you liked Beth."

"Yeah," Chad stresses, "but she can't have kids."

"Just because she has anorexia," he starts.

"It's more than that," Chad seriously responds.

After a moment of quiet, Charming comments, "There's other ways to have an heir."

"Like fucking some girl who looks like her?" Chad continues for him.

"Or you can offer another royal's child to take over your position like Ben has listed in his will," Charming considers.

"So, I could be king and not need an heir?" Chad examines.

"It's a possibility," he accepts.

Chad swings the door open, "Then why the fuck do you need me to date a girl?"

"Don't you think you would be happier if your relationship legal and open to the public?" his father figures.

"I would be happy if people quit fucking with me," Chad shouts, before he points to the door. "Get out."

"Chad."

"This is my room," he hollers, before he blinks and tears flood from his eyes. "And I want you out of here."

His father nods, "Alright." before he leaves and walks towards the door.

Chad glances at the guard, before he shuts the door and moves to the sink. He takes the icebreakers from the drawer, turns on the facet, and then downs two pills with a cupped hand of water. The quiet invades his hears, as he looks in the mirror. He takes out another pill, stares at it, and then puts it back. He hides the mints' case, exits the bathroom, and then sits in front of his computer. He pulls up the karaoke version of the song, gets the recording software going, and then frowns into the camera, "Sorry for going MIA, but I've been grounded." He takes a drink of water, "For very shitty reasons." before he clears his throat. "Sorry. I haven't been doing my singing exercises, but I'm really in a mood, so…" He takes a deep breath, "We're trying something a little different today. This is Avril Lavigne. Get over it."

"I thought we told Chad to stay clear of social media," Charming comments, as the notification reaches his phone.

"So long as the guard watches him, I'm fine with it," Ella inputs.

"Well, he posted a new video," Charming informs, before he sits next to her and plays it.

"We're grounding him for good reasons," she disagrees.

"He's singing a song about it?" he disbelieves.

After a moment, she hesitates, "This sounds like…"

"It's not about us grounding him," he agrees. He watches the tear fall to Chad's cheek, before his position changes. "He couldn't make it through in one try."

After Charming finishes replaying the song, he sighs, "It's about Hawthorne."

"You sure?" Ella asks, and he faces her. "You're the one who had doubts."

"Chad said he went to Hawthorne during a very depressing time, told him some very sensitive information," Charming analyzes. "This song is about more than just assault. It's about someone lying about their intentions, betraying you."

"And wanting to pretend that it never happened," Ella interprets.

"I need to talk to him again." Charming stands from the table, "Coming?" She takes another sip of coffee, stands from her seat, and they exit the Hall.

When they find him in the weight's room, his mother reminds him, "I thought I told you no weights before eating."

"Fine," Chad compromises, before he drops them and heads over to the treadmill.

His father sighs before heading over, "Chad." The treadmill starts, and he pushes the pause button.

"What the," Chad infuriates.

"I can't hear you with it on," his father explains.

Chad steps off and furrows his brows at him, "What is it?"

"Our conversation last night," he explains. "I really do want you to trust me."

"And the video I posted prompted this?" Chad presumes, and his father fails to respond. "How predictable. You're so fucking unbelievable."

He takes a minute, "The song was about Hawthorne, wasn't it?"

"Why assume that?" Chad shakes his head, "Maybe it was about Ben. That's what everyone else thinks."

"But I know better," his father evenly expresses, "and I want you to be able to tell me—" He notices his wife and gestures to her, "Us why."

Chad stares, "Those songs are just how I feel. It doesn't have to mean anything."

"But your feelings do matter," his mother proclaims, and Chad rolls his eyes. "All we want is your happiness."

"That's a lie," Chad yells, before he heads for the door.

His father races him to it, and Chad halts in front of him. "We still need to talk about this. What did Hawthorne do to make you feel this way?"

"You know what?" Chad dissolves, "If this is how it's going to be with the interrogations and everything, then maybe I don't want to say he did anything. It's not like it would matter. He still knows me, knows where to find me. He talks to me, no one blinks an eye. Does something, no one cares. No one believes me."

"I want to change that."

"Why would you believe me?" Chad deeply breathes. "I told you I was never going to tell you the truth again."

"You wouldn't lie about this," he reasons.

"But that kid that accused Audrey's reverend would," he reminds him, and his father gapes. "But, I guess, that's just because he wasn't a real Christian, but I haven't been going to church. I haven't even prayed. So, what does that make me?"

"I'm sorry."

Chad's eyes widen, "Get out of my way, before I do something that is worth grounding."

"Chad," he starts. "I didn't realize how personal that was for you."

He grits his teeth, "I said get out of my way."

"If I'd known," Charming continues.

Chad hits his chest, "I said," before he does the same with the other. "Get. Out of. My way." His father catches his fists, before he spins him around with his arms crossed. "No." Chad squirms, "I said no!" but he hadn't. He didn't say a word.

His father holds him, and Chad cries. "I believe you. You hear me? I believe you."

His mother walks over and places a hand to his cheek, "We're going to take care of this."