Enough

(Saturday Afternoon, August 17th)

"Have you thought any more about talking to Fairy Godmother?" Chad's mom asks, as they sit in the Dining Hall.

"Ella," Charming whispers.

"It's been a couple days," she defends. "School's going to be starting soon, and he has three classes with him."

"Three what?" Chad's jaw drops.

"We didn't want to worry you about it," his dad says.

"Worry me about what?" Chad panics.

"You're just taking so many science classes," his mother starts.

"I don't care how many fucking science courses I took," Chad argues. "I picked them specifically because he wasn't in charge of them." His parents glance at him. "You really think I care about what's going on beyond this planet, beyond this country? I only took Astronomy so that I wouldn't have to deal with him."

His father faces him. "Chad. Before we found out about any of this… At the start of the summer Fairy Godmother called us to ask if you've mentioned the Astronomy class to us. Biology is a required class, so she needed to know Astronomy was something you were excited about for her to even consider letting you take the class. We honestly thought it was a mistake, because Biology is a requirement for the career you've been striving towards."

"You should've asked," Chad monotones. "Did you trade my health classes in for the anatomy and virology classes too? Is that why he's in charge of so many of them?"

"No," she answers. "You still have your health classes. The teachers must have just swapped a few."

"Swapped a few?" Chad mutters, before he runs out of the room.

"Bernard," Charming starts.

"Yes, sir," he understands before trailing after Chad.

Charming takes a deep breath, and Ella asks, "You don't think that man purposely chose the classes Chad enlisted for, do you?"

He eyes the pill on the table and grabs it. "Chad didn't take it."

Chad types: Who did you have to pay off to take over three of my classes?

The guard enters the bedroom, and Chad comments. "Yes. I know. I'm grounded."

He takes the seat next to him. "Who's Christian?"

"None of your fucking business," Chad irritably replies, before the message is marked as read and the user switches to invisible mode. "No."

"Prince Chad?" the guard asks.

He types: Fucking answer me you cocksucking coward.

"Is that the professor's email?" the guard questions.

"No," Chad angers. "It's Hawthorne's. Probably uses the same account to check in with his kids." He exits his email and closes the laptop.

"If he's contacted you, that's some good evidence."

"I don't care." There's a knock on the door, and Chad stands from the chair.

His father enters. "Hey." He walks towards him and shows him the pill. "You forgot this at the table."

Chad shakes his head. "I don't want it."

"Chad." He reasons, "You need it."

"I want my old prescription." Chad fumes, "You can't expect me to face him sober."

"I know it's a lot to ask," his father realizes.

"More like impossible," Chad emphasizes. "You know, I bet if I kept quiet, Hawthorne would get the drugs for me."

"Chad." His brown eyes widen. "I know this is hard, but I need you to stick with me." Chad eyes away. "Take the pill."

Chad releases a breath before taking it from him. "Only because it's my only option."

His father hesitates, "Now that you know how many classes you have with him, maybe you'd like to talk to Fairy Godmother?"

"Why?" Chad dismisses. "She's not going to believe me."

"I'd be there with you," he reassures.

"Yeah?" Chad gapes. "So would he. You think Fairy Godmother's going to let some druggie ruin the great professor's reputation without letting him defend himself?"

"Listen to me." He lays his hands on Chad's shoulders. "Good always prevails. Whatever his defense is, the truth will come out."

Chad nods. "And if the truth is, I let him do it?" Chad faces him. "If the truth is my hands were free but I didn't use them, and there were people nearby but I didn't call for help?"

"He's in a position of power." His father defends, "That still makes you the victim."

"And if for a split second I liked it?" His father's arms fall to his side, and Chad shakes his head. "What if he only did it, because he really thought he was helping me? I mean, what was he supposed to get out of it? Nothing. He got nothing!"

"Chad," his father manages. "Please, take your medication."

"See." Chad grins. "You can't handle the truth."

"You're under a lot of stress," he explains. "The last thing you need is withdrawals."

"Withdrawals." Chad huffs before finding his water bottle on the desk, downing the medication, before he faces his father. "There. Everything good, now?"

"Chad," he starts.

He marches forth. "You think the medication keeps me calm? It doesn't. You took the one thing that kept my mind and feelings clear and numb enough to even think about it, but that's not enough. You want me to talk about it too. Without the drugs."

"Chad."

"Get out," Chad shouts, but his father doesn't move. "Get out. Get out! Get out!"

He turns away and heads for the door. He exits into the hallway, sees Ben, and shuts the door behind him. "Ben. You should be asleep."

"I heard noise," he murmurs.

"You can't let every little noise bother you." He takes a deep breath. "Sorry. I know it must take you back to… a difficult time."

"Is Chad okay?" he worries.

"No." Charming faces him. "The guard told me about something Chad said to him. I've been trying to get him to open up about it."

Ben falters. "What did Chad say, exactly?"

"He told the guard that Professor Hawthorne took advantage of him, while he'd been paralyzed in the hospital last year."

Ben's mouth opens. "Professor Hawthorne?"

"Obviously, I'd like him to tell Fairy Godmother before the new school year starts," Charming mutters, "especially since he's managed to take over three of Chad's classes."

His eyes shift. "Anything I can do?"

Charming pauses. "I know things are strained between you two, but if you're up for it, he could really use a friend right now."

Ben nods. "Okay." Charming nods in return before striding down the hall, and Ben knocks on Chad's door.

"I told you to get out," he yells.

Ben opens the door and peeks inside. "Hey. Can I come in?" Chad takes a seat on the bed, and Ben closes the door behind him.

"I'm guessing you heard everything, fucking predators and your all-omniscient ass."

"I just couldn't sleep." Ben steps forward, glancing over the disheveled room. "After my parents… even Charming knocking on your door wakes me up."

Chad examines him. "Right. How are you doing now that everyone knows?"

"I mean, I'm not much for social media." Ben unsurely smiles. "And your father's blocked the news channels on the TV in my room, so… guessing, not good."

"Kind of a sucky thing to do the week before your father's trial," Chad opinionates.

"Which is going to ultra suck," Ben admits, "since my request for a translator got denied." He eyes the ground. "My last speech was so good, they think I don't need one."

"They'll realize you need one during the trial," Chad comments.

"At that point it will be too late." Ben sits beside him and stretches out at the foot of the bed. "My father's attorney can ask me any question he wants, and I won't know what to say."

"What if I'm there." Chad solves, "I can translate for you. Like old times."

"No." Ben's frown deepens. "They'll think you're feeding me answers. You'd get in trouble for witness tampering, and my testimony would get thrown out of court." Chad grows quiet, and Ben turns on his side. "I don't want to make you think about it, but I'd like to know if it's true." Chad stares at the bedding. "Did Hawthorne really hurt you?"

Chad meets Ben's hazel green eyes. "Did your parents really hurt you?"

Ben falls onto his back, the bed shakes, and he stares at the ceiling. "Yes, Chad. They really did."

"I'd take Hawthorne over your parents," Chad decides.

"What did he do to you?" Ben asks again.

His heart races. "I can't talk about it." He eyes over him. "But I could show you." Ben turns his head towards him, and Chad reaches for the button of Ben's pants. "I was wearing a hospital gown, because they were looking for snake bites." He lowers the zipper and sees the mesh underwear. "All he had to do was reach underneath." He touches the underwear, and Ben takes his hand.

"Chad." He looks at him. "I'm not comfortable with this."

Chad glances over and sees him. "Don't worry about the guard. He's not even looking."

"I'm not comfortable with myself," Ben rewords.

Chad takes his hands off him, eyes lowered. "This is the only way I know how to express what happened."

"I know." Ben whispers, "I'm sorry."

Chad stretches out across the bed and sighs. "I want my drugs."

"Here." Chad pulls Carlos into the supply closet. "We lost them."

Carlos smiles. "A good thing even dinosaurs have to use the bathroom."

Chad kisses him before undoing Carlos's pants. "Hold on a second." Chad unbuckles his own pants. "Can we slow down for a minute?" he whines.

"We'll get caught."

"I don't care," Carlos stresses. "I want to talk."

Chad unzips his pants. "We came in here to fuck, not to talk."

"This is our first time without you paying me."

"Shut up," Chad frustrates.

"This is supposed to be consensual."

Chad pushes him against the brick wall. "I said 'shut up', you whore." Carlos starts to tear up, and Chad releases him. "Carlos?"

"You called me a whore," he whispers.

Chad's expression slips. "I've called you a whore before."

"You said—" Carlos gulps. "You said, like you meant it."

He cries, and Chad sighs. "Carlos." He zips his pants back up, Chad follows suit, and Carlos slips by before escaping the closet. Chad chases after him, until Carlos stops, sways back-and-forth, and collapses to the floor. Chad runs over to him and kneels. "Carlos." He shakes him. "Hey." Carlos makes an incoherent noise, and a man crouches across from him.

Chad falls back, catching himself with his hands. "We told him not to exercise."

"Hawthorne," Chad whispers.

"Nice to see you too, Chad."

He picks Carlos up into his arms, and Chad hurries to his feet. "What do you think you're doing with him?"

"Did no one tell you?" Hawthorne pauses, and Chad eyes him up-and-down. "Carlos is a carnivore. I'm in charge of his recovery."

"No." Chad lunges forward, but a set of arms grabs hold of him. "Let go."

Hawthorne smiles. "Have a good day, Chad."

He turns around. "No." He walks further away, but Chad's stuck. "Get your hands off him." He struggles, but he's trapped. "Carlos!" The professor steps into the hospital room, and Chad sinks to the floor. His heart pounds.

"I'm going to test your nerves." Chad rubs where the pin had punctured his leg, and he sniffles as he pinches the tears from his eyelashes.

"Chad?" He looks up at Fairy Godmother. "Dear. What's wrong?"

He shakes, and the guard helps him up. "King Charming's been meaning to talk to you."

"Right." She suggests, "There's some seats next to the counselor's office, if he'd like to rest there."

"Life is fleeting," the bald man says. "Anything you have to say, now's the time to do it."

"So, you used to be a cricket," Chad recalls.

"That's correct."

"Ben always wanted to be human." Chad grabs the cup of pens from the table. "Who do you have to go to, to keep the king from eating you?"

"Well, uh." He pulls at his collar. "It was Fairy Godmother."

"So, if Ben asked her, she'd do it?" Chad assumes.

"Well, no." He admits, "Adjusting to human life has caused me great anxiety. And Pinocchio kept getting hurt, because he had underdeveloped nerve sensors—It's not something she would do again."

He sets the cup back on the table. "If turning you human was a mistake, then why hasn't she fixed it?"

"She doesn't want to reduce my lifespan."

"So." Chad faces him. "Wouldn't you rather be dead than suffer?"

"Hmm." His ear twitches. "We're here to talk about you."

Chad picks up the Rubik's cube. "I have nothing to talk about."

"Not even that episode you had in the hallway?" he questions. "It seemed like you had a lot to say, then."

"Look." Chad asserts, "I get what this is all about. You need me to express my feelings or whatever, but I'm not creative. I don't have any words to use, I don't draw, and I haven't played with dolls since I was like six, so…"

He refocuses on the Rubik's cube, and the counselor comments, "You sing, though, don't you? That's a form of expression."

Chad finishes the Rubik's cube, but the colors aren't complete. Two squares are out of place. "There's no song that can express what I've been going through."

"And what's that?"

Chad sets the cube down and narrows his eyes. "I told you: I'm not a fucking storyteller."

He hums. "You have no words at all?"

Chad stands from his seat and exits the room; however, he falters when he sees his father speaking with Fairy Godmother in front of the semicircle desk. "Chad?" He looks away from the headmistress. "Come here. We were just talking."

Chad doesn't move. "I want to go home."

"In a minute," his father reassures. "Come here, please."

Chad steps towards them, and his dad places a hand on his shoulder. "I told Fairy Godmother some concerns you had. She promises to keep an eye out until we can formally discuss the issue."

"Wait." Chad turns towards him. "You're not making me talk today?"

"Not unless you want you." He explains, "You're a key witness for Ben's trial this week. I don't want to put you under any extra stress, but if you feel like addressing your problems with Professor Hawthorne will help ease your mind, we can do it now, if you like."

"No. Uh." Chad frowns. "Waiting's fine."

"I took the liberty of checking the cameras," Fairy Godmother informs. "It appears Professor Hawthorne has been very professional towards Carlos during his recovery."

"So, what?" Chad questions. "You trust him?"

She eyes between them. "Hawthorne has a place here, because the carnivore students trust him. If what he did to you was intentional, then I don't think he'd jeopardize his stay here by hurting Carlos in such a manner."

"He's an arrogant jackass," Chad asserts. "He thinks he can get away with this stuff."

"Like I said," Fairy Godmother reassures, "I'll be keeping an eye on him."

"What if it isn't intentional?" Chad's dad asks. "Or, I mean—"

"I know what you mean." She nods. "Everyone has unique sexual preferences, and if their sex drive is high enough, they will eventually act on it regardless of the law or societal expectation." She frowns. "Chad's slightly out of age range for it to be clinical pedophilia. I don't see his reasoning for it. He could just as easily ask for a twenty-year-old at the sex parlor, but, then again, maybe he's afraid they won't keep it confidential."

"Can we stop talking about this?" Chad requests.

"Of course." Fairy Godmother accepts. She checks the electronic tablet. "I should check on Carlos."

"Carlos," Chad whispers. "I need to see him. I have to apologize."

"Apologize for what?" his father questions.

"For…" Chad confesses, "I called him a whore."

"You called him what?" Fairy Godmother gapes.

"I likes all that dirty talk," Chad hurriedly explains, "but I was stressed and didn't say it right. I need to apologize."

"I'm afraid Professor Hawthorne is still speaking with the nurse," Fairy Godmother informs. "After what just transpired, I hardly think it's a good idea."

"But I have to apologize."

"Carlos needs to rest," she says.

"But."

"I don't think it's a good idea," his father speaks up, and Chad faces him. "Having you talk about sex in front of him. Again. It might be why the professor chose you in the first place."

Chad gapes. "You're saying it's my fault?"

His father pauses. "I'm saying, now that you know what he's like, you shouldn't willingly put yourself in that kind of situation."

"And what situation's that?" Chad disbelieves, "The kind where I'm hospitalized, and he showed up before you?"

"The kind where he finds out these things about you." His father voices, "If you'd been good, he wouldn't have had anything on you."

"Charming." The headmistress's jaw drops, and Chad shakes his head back-and-forth before running away.

"Hold on." Charming steps forward. "Chad!"

"That was uncalled for."

"It was true." Charming faces her. "Chad was only targeted because he was easy prey. If he hadn't been doing anything illegal, he could have called for help."

"Straight kids without drug problems can get molested too," Fairy Godmother disproves. "In their eyes, they become tainted from it. They think they're stupid for not seeing it beforehand. It can happen to anyone, and anyone can be afraid to report it."

"Chad didn't report it, because it involved a homosexual act."

"And I'm sure he didn't want to hear people comparing homosexuality to child molestation," Fairy Godmother agrees, "but it's not your son's fault that his sexual desires are illegal, despite his relationships being consensual."

She sighs, and Charming's frown deepens. "What is it?" She shows him the tablet, and he sees Chad standing in front of Hawthorne.

"Tell me one thing," Hawthorne requests, inching forward. "How did your parents feel when you told them your sexual preferences?" Chad's eyes lower. "That well, huh?"

Chad glares at him. "You're not my friend."

"That might be." He raises his eyebrows. "But I am the only one who understands. Perhaps a part of you wants to deny that, but you know it's true. Society doesn't respect our needs. We're the same in that way." He takes a step back. "We should be helping each other."

"You mean, like last time?" Chad insinuates.

"Professor Hawthorne." Fairy Godmother strides over to them. "Does something seem to be the matter here?"

"I was merely asking our friend, here, if he needed help with anything."

"He was wishing to speak with his friend, if you'd like to give them a minute alone," Fairy Godmother suggests.

He strains a smile. "Of course, Headmistress."

"Chad." His father breathes in relief, as he's turned around. "Are you okay?"

"Don't pretend like you care." Chad backs away from him and heads into the nurse's office. He finds Carlos's bed and takes the seat next to him. "Hey."

Carlos closes his eyes. "Don't talk to me."

"I didn't mean what I said." Chad explains, "I've just been stressed. I shouldn't have tried turning you on with insults when I was in a bad mood."

Carlos frowns at him. "You really didn't mean it?"

"Of course, not." Chad diminishes, "You've had sex with what? Two people? I've lost count of the people I've been with."

Carlos takes a moment. "What's got you stressed? It's more than the drugs, right?"

"Yeah." Chad breathes. "It's more than the drugs."

"Well… do you want to talk about it."

"No." Chad shakes his head. "I really don't."

Charming checks his watch for the third time, before the guard exits the family restroom. "Bernard. You okay?"

"No, sir," he tiredly answers. "Everything's been running through me today."

"Eating enough solids?"

"Egg and ham sandwich for breakfast, a cereal bar, and pizza for lunch."

"Sounds solid enough." Charming examines, "Take the rest of the day off. If you're not better within three days, see a doctor and call me."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Chad crosses his arms, as he stares out the window, and his dad asks, "What's on your mind?"

"You think I never thought about it?" Chad angers, "That Hawthorne was just God's way of showing me that sin has consequences."

"God wouldn't stoop that low," he dismisses.

"You said if I was good, it wouldn't have happened." Chad starts to cry. "And you're probably right."

"What did he say to you?"

Chad looks at him. "What?"

"The professor," his father elaborates. "What did he say to you?"

"Why? You going to try to blame him now?" Chad turns in his seat. "I'm not upset that I had to see him again. I'm upset that he seems to understand me more than you do."

Chad's father continues to drive. "We can talk about this when you've calmed down."

The palace comes into view, the gates open, and the car stops at the front of the palace. Chad runs inside, heads for the royal quarters, and enters his parents' room. His mother will be prepping dinner, his father will be tired from the drive, and his pills will be hidden in his mother's purse. How did his father ever expect him to calm down when the subject was so infuriating? What he feels doesn't matter. He opens the pills. It's just a mess of teenage emotion. He could never have a reason for feeling anything. It's the only way to calm down, but he doesn't have any water. "Chad?"

He glances over. "Get out of here."

Ben walks over to him. "I don't think you're supposed to be in here either."

Chad yells at him, "Can't you see I'm having a moment?"

His eyes dart from the pills to Chad. "What are you doing with those?"

"If I take them, I'll feel better."

"Chad." Ben whispers, "If you take all of them, you'll die."

He grins. "That's kind of the plan."

"No." Ben rejects, "The Chad I know is stronger than that. Okay? That's why you inherit the country when I die. You'd never give up on the people you love like this."

"Well." Chad gulps. "That was before they gave up on me."

"Chad."

He brings the bottle towards his mouth, but Ben grabs hold, causing the bottle to fall and the pills to scatter along the floor. Chad lunges at the bottle, pours the remaining contents into his mouth, and Ben turns him over. "You think—" Chad coughs. "—that five is enough?"

Ben finds his guard at doorway and commands, "Call ES."

"Chad."

He opens his eyes. "Dad?"

"Hey." He moves to the edge of his seat. "I'm here."

Chad's eyes widen. "Hos—this is a hospital."

His father presses him back against the bed. "It's okay, Chad. We're in Charmington."

"I don't want to be here," Chad panics.

"I understand that." He stands up and places his hands on Chad's shoulders. "But we couldn't risk losing you." Chad relaxes, and his father lets go. "Ben said you were trying to overdose. Why?"

Chad murmurs, "It was the only way I was going to calm down."

His father swiftly turns, and he paces out of the room. "Charming." Ella glances at Chad before tracing his steps, and she moves in front of him. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not saying any of the right things, El— I…" He looks away, and she takes his hands. He takes a deep breath before facing her. "We got into an argument. I told him we could discuss it after he calmed down."

"You think that's why he did this?" she questions.

"I might have implied that if he hadn't been sexually promiscuous, then he wouldn't have been hurt." He shakes his head. "I wasn't thinking. It's just so frustrating. He's the only one who could have seen it coming, but we didn't teach him the signs. I never told him not to talk to teachers about sex."

"Why would you?" Ella defends. "These teachers go through the most thorough background checks, and teachers do teach kids about the dangers of sex nowadays."

He closes his eyes. "Chad thinks I hate him."

"No, he doesn't." She squeezes his hands. "Get something to drink. I'll talk to him."

He nods. "Thank you."

Their hands part, and Ella returns to the hospital room. Chad glances at her, and she takes the seat next to him. "Your father told me what he said." Chad doesn't respond. "I don't think anything that happened is your fault."

He looks at her. "You don't?"

"No." She pauses. "And neither does your father. He's not angry with you, Chad. He's angry that someone so dangerous could fall through the cracks. Never in our wildest dreams could we have thought that any of the teachers there would hurt you. If you're thinking you should have known somehow… there's no for sure way that you could have."

He frowns at her. "I want to go home."

"I know." She places her hand on his arm. "Until then, we're not leaving your side."

- I ran into an issue, where the editing screen showed the pasted text as the computer script (as though pressing F12). That seemed to fix, once I pasted it on the edit screen instead of the submit screen; however, let me know if you're seeing any issues.