The Point
(Thursday Morning, August 29th)
Audrey glances at Lonnie. "We already hung up that one."
"What's the point?" she questions. "No one reads these things anyway."
"The point is to put them in as many places as possible so that people are given as many opportunities to read it as possible."
"This poster is specist," Lonnie complains. "You expect a vampire to see themselves in this? They're not going to accept the resource if it's coming from bigoted humans."
Audrey places a hand to her waist. "What makes it specist?"
"They don't have fangs that stick out of their mouth," Lonnie protests. "You painted them as saber tooth tigers."
"Look." Audrey flips through the posters in her hands. "We're hanging them now. We can always change them later."
"But you won't."
Audrey takes a deep breath and frowns at her. "Let's talk about what this is really about. You're upset that your girlfriend ditched you."
Lonnie laughs in stress, "She's not my girlfriend."
"Well, not now that she got deported," Audrey accepts. "But you're upset and rightfully so. She ditched you like Carlos dumped Chad—like Jay left Ruby without a word." She sees the poster in Lonnie's hand singe at the fingertips. "Be careful. We have to pay for those."
"It's not about that." Lonnie outrages, "It's about how you think a simple picture or choice words can make things better." She steps towards her, her eyes glowing red. "So, tell me. My parents don't get along. They lie to me nonstop, my boyfriend wants my undivided attention, and the only person whose genetic markers match mine just left the country. What choice words do you have for me?"
Audrey eyes her up-and-down. "If you don't want an involuntary shower, you should cool it before the fire alarms go off." Lonnie's eyes widen, as she gapes, and the posters separate from the ash in her hands. She makes a fist, grits her teeth, and charges away. "Okay, then." Audrey takes a deep breath, picks the burned posters up from the floor, and then tosses them into the trash bin.
"Someone has anger issues," a guy says, and Audrey turns around.
She rolls her eyes, once she sees the pale boy with blond hair and green eyes. "Seriously? You know, I know who you are. Right?"
He falters. "You do?"
"Yes." She strides halfway to him. "You're the guy who's been stalking me for the past two years." She eyes over the black hoodie and cargo shorts in disgust. "God. Do you ever change your clothes?" He chuckles, and she shakes her head. "What? What is it?"
He grins. "Nothing. It's just, uh…" He scratches his nose. "You intimidate me."
"Oh." Audrey frowns.
"I meant to talk to you earlier." His posture relaxes. "But I wasn't sure how. I'm sorry. I really wasn't trying to stalk you or anything."
The silence unnerves her. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
He unsurely slips his hands into his pockets. "I'm still trying to figure that out."
Her phone rings, and she holds up a finger. "Sorry. One second." She brings the phone to her ear and spins around. "Hello?" A woman cries hysterically on the other line.
"Audrey." She sniffles. "Is there any chance Ruby is with you right now."
"Ruby?" she repeats. "No. I haven't heard from her since Jay left. I mean, I offered to talk to her about it and everything, but… wait. What's going on?"
"She's been missing a full day." Rapunzel whispers, "I already called the headmistress. She said Ruby hasn't signed into campus, yet. You're the only person she spends any real time with. If you know anything about where she could be or who she's with—"
"I'm sorry," Audrey interrupts. "I really don't know anything."
"Call me back if you do."
"Of course," Audrey willingly agrees, before she removes the phone from her ear and the call ends. "Okay." She slips the phone back into her pocket. "Since you don't know what to talk to me about, why don't you help me—" She turns back around, and the boy is nowhere in sight. "Jesus. He didn't even tell me his name."
"I'm sorry, Rapunzel," Charming says at the council table. "I would have postponed had—"
"Had a mermaid not needed to go out of her way to be here," she brashly replies. "I understand. There was no time."
"We're making the search for your daughter top priority," Florian reassures. "All of us are spreading the word, hanging up posters, and have a call line set up for our kingdoms."
"I said 'I understand'," Rapunzel remarks, before she faces Charming. "So, this vote. How do we begin?"
"Considering that Queen Athena and Doc weren't here for the discussion last session," Charming considers, "we should hear their thoughts first."
"Well." Athena frowns. "I think there's a problem with the terms themselves. You use the terms heterosexual and homosexual, because you think there's only two sexes; however, in the sea sex is very fluid. Some animals have multiple sexes. Some animals change their sex if there isn't a compatible mate. Some animals don't have mating partners at all." She pauses. "It doesn't make sense to me. We don't have these kinds of labels where I come from."
Charming nods. "Doc. What do you have to say?"
The small man asks, "This is just about what's legal, right. Our families—our communities—could still have our own expectations, is that correct?"
"I imagine conversation therapy would still be available for anyone who wants it," Charming acknowledges. "Like the royal families, you can tell your people they're expected to have children. You just wouldn't be able to get the law involved. It would be considered a civil matter at that point."
He thoughtfully nods. "Okay."
Charming finds Ace hunched in a chair. "Alpha. Do you have anything to add?"
His multicolored eyes scan the counsel. "Homosexuality is a part of nature. A lot of animals do it, and—as much as you hate to admit it—humans are animals. No one should have to go against their own nature… it's not like it's hurting anyone."
Charming nods once more. "In front of you, you will find a ballot. Check the box you agree with. If the consensus is that the law should be repealed, we will spend the remaining time amending the document it came from."
"What do you mean, the law's been repealed?" Aziz disbelieves.
His father explains, "Next month the revised document will take effect. Anyone with homosexual inclinations could legally act on them."
"How could you do this?" Aziz angers.
"Tell me you've never kissed a boy," his father requests.
His eyes narrow. "You know I have."
"You're fifteen," he reminds him. "It's bound to happen again, and when it does, I don't want you to get in trouble for it."
"Agrabah isn't going to allow a homosexual on the throne. They would kill me first."
"I'm going to take care of that," he promises. "I'll request King Charming to get the Auradon police on it. In the meantime, you will be safe at school."
"You expect me to sin," Aziz proclaims.
"Yes," his father asserts, and Aziz's face drops. "We all sin, Aziz."
"Not me," he quietly rejects. "I intend to atone for my mistake and never make it again."
"Aziz," he whispers.
"You know how much harder that's going to be now that you're letting people do it, talk about it in public? People are going to be pressing me to act on my urges now. And for what? So, I can be happy? So that I can spend an eternity in Hell?"
"Aziz." He widens his dark eyes. "You do so much for the world. You've helped so many people. Now, you know that when the time comes God weighs the good versus the bad. If the only sin you commit is to spend the rest of your life with a man, that is nothing."
Aziz eyes over. "God thought the act of homosexuality warranted burning an entire city to the ground. Now that the law's gone, what do you think is going to happen to us?" His father fails to answer, and Aziz says, "When it comes to my afterlife, I'm not taking any risks."
"I thought you would be happier."
"You took my drugs again," Chad evenly states. "Sorry if I'm not overly enthused."
His father grimaces. "How are you holding up?"
"My life sucks," Chad asserts. "You won't let me distract myself from it."
"It's drugs, Chad." His reminds him. "If you die from it, you won't have a life."
"I really don't care right now."
"I know you don't," he acknowledges, "but you will. One day." Chad's eyes lower, and his father takes a deep breath. "Look. I know this isn't the best timing, but you need to know that Bernard has asked to leave his residency. I have him posted outside until he finds a new job."
"What?" Chad pouts, "Why?"
His father slowly explains, "He said he can't protect people who don't tell the truth."
Chad's eyes shift. "He's leaving because…"
"I'm sorry, Chad."
When Chad finds Bernard standing guard in the courtyard, he approaches him. "Hey." The guard remains quiet. "I heard that you're leaving." The guard's eyes stare forward, gazing above him. "Look. I know it's because I lied. If you stay, I promise not to do it again."
His eyes lower to him. "I'm not leaving because you lied. I'm leaving because you didn't tell the truth." Chad frowns, and he elaborates. "I know he hurt you, and I know you denied it. I've spent too much of my life watching the people I care about get hurt. I couldn't stand it if you were to get hurt on my watch too."
"Dino." Chad pleads, "Please."
"I'm not your dinosaur," the guard firmly replies. "Not anymore."
"What can I do to change your mind?"
He returns his eyes to the horizon. "I'm afraid you can't."
Chad's breaths shake, and he starts into a run. He runs up the palace steps, slams the door to his room, and jumps onto the bed. How could he leave him? He cries into his arms. He needed him. Chad's eyes meet the plush dinosaur on the TV stand, and he rolls out of bed before sauntering over to take it. He rubs his cheeks against the soft fur and returns to his bed, hugging it tight. His real Dino can protect him now. If it can keep the shadow monsters away, it can keep other monsters away too.
"I know I messed up," Chad stresses. "But Fairy Godmother had my room and locker checked. There's no more drugs."
"Yes, but there's peer pressure," his father counters. "You're a very social person."
"Which makes me susceptible to it," Chad finishes. "But morphine isn't something someone gets high off of. It's something you become addicted to."
"And if you were to find a classmate had a prescription," he analyzes, "would you not be tempted to take a pill or two from them?"
Chad's expression deepens. "Look. I've been cleared to play sports this year. So long as I take my script and see the guidance counselor, but I can't do that if I miss weekend practice."
"I can take you to practice," his father compromises.
"Charming," Chad's mom whispers. "Like you said, he's a social person."
"Yeah." Chad agrees, "Aren't you worried I'm going to be depressed as hell being stuck in this palace alone?"
His father takes a deep breath before rubbing his forehead, "Yes, Chad, but I'm also very worried that something might happen when we're not with you."
"The withdrawal meds keep the seizures from happening," he reminds him. "That's the worst thing that could happen, and it won't. I promise."
His father closes his eyes as he clasps his hands tight. "Promise me you will actually speak to the guidance counselor this time."
"I can talk." Chad mumbles, "I can't promise I'll be good at it."
His mom places a hand on his father's shoulder, and he gives in. "Alright. I'll take you back to the dorms tomorrow."
"Eat breakfast?" the nurse asks.
"Yes," Chad lies.
"Good." She hands him a packet of crackers.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Chad outrages. "I said I ate."
"Just a few will do," she reassures.
"Forget it," he yells. "I'm not eating something I don't even like for no damn reason."
"The reason is to absorb your medication properly," she explains. "It's policy."
"So, what?" Chad questions, "If I say no, do you just deny me my script?"
"Yes," she evenly expresses. "And then we call your parents." He glowers at her, and she says, "It's just crackers. You can do it."
"It's fucking sodium is what it is," Chad counters. "It's going to retain water, bloat me."
She takes a moment. "I can't give you the medication, unless I see you eat."
"I could die if I don't take it."
"Then I highly recommend that you do." She adds, "Properly."
"You know what?" Chad jumps off the patient bed and widens his eyes. "No. I'm not eating junk just because some bitch tells me to." He moves past her. "Have a good day."
"Prince Chad," she calls after him.
He exits the nurse's office and sees Audrey, her mouth open. "No," he interrupts. "Just no. Okay?"
"Get a pack of unsalted almonds from the vending machine," she asserts.
"And what?" Chad challenges. "Give her the satisfaction? No way."
"You're prideful," she accuses, and Chad's expression slips.
He tries to slide past her. "Get out of my way."
She presses onto his shoulders. "Your pride's going to kill you."
"Good!" Chad inches forward, and Audrey falters. "You have no idea what crap I've been through this year."
"Willfully neglecting medication could be considered suicide." She reminds him, "I'm pretty sure God has a rule against that."
"He wouldn't want me anyway." Chad says, "I'm disgusting." His eyes lower. It's true. He really is.
"Chad," Audrey whispers.
He releases a breath and then moves past her. "Stay away from me."
Chad's phone rings, and he turns over on his bed to answer the video call. "Hey, Dad."
"The nurse called," he informs.
"I know." Chad closes his eyes.
"Keep your eyes open," he orders, and Chad complies. "Talk to me."
"My head hurts," he complains.
"It's only been thirty minutes." His father instructs, "Go back downstairs and tell the nurse you'll accept her conditions."
"But then I'd have to move," Chad points out.
"Do you feel that weak?" his father worries.
"I just walked up those stairs," he grumbles. "Now you want me to go back down?"
"Yes."
"Forget it." Chad closes his eyes again. "I'm not eating crackers."
"You know," he offers, "there's an easy solution. Make your own snack and let her watch you eat it." He grumbles. "Chad?" He doesn't respond, and his father's voice raises. "Chad."
"I'm miserable." He turns the phone over. "Let me sleep."
A knock echoes from the door, and Chad moves the pillow over his head to drown out the noise. "Chad. You in there?" He pauses. "Your father sent me." Chad resituates himself, and the drumming echoes once more. "Chad. If you don't answer, I have to get Fairy Godmother."
"Go away," Chad shouts.
"Open the door first," Doug negotiates.
Chad forces himself from bed and moves to travels to the door before opening it. "There. You saw me. Now go."
"I have to talk to you first."
"Says who?" Chad asserts.
Doug readjusts his glasses. "Well, your father."
"How does he have your number anyway?"
"In case he can't reach Ben," he answers. "I also have his number in case something happens to Ben."
"Well, I didn't give him permission for you to check on me," Chad shouts.
"I'm pretty sure Ben didn't either," Doug evenly states. "Can I come in?"
"No," Chad disagrees. "This is my room." He points to his chest. "Mine."
"Yes, Chad." Doug agrees. "I know it's yours." He takes a deep breath. "Look. Your drug issue isn't as secret as you think. If you need to talk about it—"
"Then I'll speak to the guidance counselor," Chad finishes.
Doug nods. "Well, clearly you're awake and well, so… if you need someone to talk to about anything—"
"I won't," he interrupts.
"I'm just trying to help."
"Well, unless you want a good fuck—" Chad nods to the hall. "—you can go."
Doug takes a moment. "Tell me what's really bothering you first."
"Like you'd believe me." Chad shakes his head as he shuts the door.
Posted: 04/14/2021