Stowaway

(Day 49: Saturday Night)

"We should have more farms."

"Or," Chad slowly counters, "we could work on the actual production of the food so that there's less waste."

"We can't afford that." Ben points, "See. The building would cost too much."

"We could just increase the taxes."

"But then people won't spend their money and the economy will crash," Ben worries.

"But there'd be new jobs," Chad counters. "People love jobs."

Ben looks at him in annoyance, "I think the people would like to be able to afford their food even better. If we did what you suggest, then the population would drop dramatically."

Chad shrugs, "So?"

"So?" Ben widens his eyes at him. "You would have all of those people die?"

"Ben." Chad laughs, "It's just a game."

Ben lets out a breath as he turns back to the screen and mumbles, "There was a time when you took this more seriously."

"Yeah. When I was twelve," Chad comments, before he takes some more chips from the large bowl."

Ben glances down, "Go easy on those. I was only able to smuggle in so many bags. If you finish those, then we'll be left eating vegetable chips for the rest of the night."

"What's up with that anyway?" Chad questions. "You're sixteen, and your mom still doesn't let you eat real snacks."

"It's not just her," Ben responds. "Both of my parents want me to be healthy." He shakes his head, "I have a bad immune system. They must think it will help." Ben moves the joystick to jump from object to object, "What are we going to do?"

"The farms are fine." Ben places two more. "I'm glad we could do this."

Ben looks over at him, "Yeah. Me too."

He frowns, looking down for a second, "If I say something, do you promise not to get mad at me."

"That depends." Ben offers a questioning look, "What is it?"

It takes a second for Chad to confess, "I only started to hook up with Audrey, because you were dating her."

Ben stares at him for a moment, "Remind me how that makes any literal sense at all."

"I don't know." He shrugs, "I guess, I just didn't like that you two were together."

"You were jealous of me," Ben guesses.

"No." It takes a minute for Chad to find the words, "It was more like I was being protective of you or something, I guess."

Ben lets out a stressed breath, "Chad. I understand that we've known each other for a very long time, but our lives are separate. You've got to be able to let me date."

"I know," he acknowledges. "But it just felt wrong seeing you two together. I just— I really didn't like it."

"So, you stole her from me."

"Basically."

Ben shakes his head, "Do you even like Audrey?"

"Yeah. Of course," Chad quickly answers, but then his response slows. "But that was only after I got to know her. Before then, she was just another pretty face."

"Well, at least you're not a total jerk," Ben says as he places a hand to his face. "What about Mal? Do you really believe what you said about her or were you just being protective of me then too?"

"Maybe a little of both?" Ben nods as he takes the information in. "You don't hate me, do you?"

Ben sighs, "No, Chad. I don't hate you. I hate the things you do sometimes, but no. I don't hate you."

He partly smiles, "Good." but then he sees the clock. "Is that really the time?"

Ben looks over his shoulder, "Should be." before he checks his phone. "Yeah. It's one in the morning."

"Crap," Chad slowly realizes, before he takes out his own phone. "It's dead."

"Why does it matter? Did your ride turn into a pumpkin at midnight?"

Chad narrows his eyes at him and smiles, "Shut up." before he frowns again. "Audrey has this thing where she likes to meet at the end of each night, so she can know I'm not cheating."

"I don't see how that's supposed to stop you, but okay."

Chad looks up at him, "I'm not cheating."

"Sure, you're not," Ben evenly comments.

"Having other people do my homework is not cheating."

Ben gives him a look, "Take a minute to think about what you just said."

"You know what I meant." Chad asserts, "I'm not cheating on Audrey by having some girl do my homework."

"You are if you're luring those girls into your room and coercing them into sexual favors," Ben counters.

"I have," Chad looks up, "never done that."

"Uh huh," Ben disbelieves. "There you were blocking Mal from entering my room, saying that girls aren't allowed in the boys' dorms, and here you are taking girls to your room all the time."

"It's not all the time," he denies.

"It's enough," Ben replies. "For your sake, I really hope that you aren't cheating. Audrey can be a force to reckon with when she wants to be." He gestures, "Like a poisonous flower."

"Well, I'm not," Chad reassures.

"I'm not the one you have to convince," Ben reminds him, and there's silence as Chad's jaw drops at the realization. "It's getting late. Why don't you find a guestroom to sleep in?"

"No," Chad shakes his head. "I need to get back to my room."

Ben gives a look, "You're not going back to school in the middle of the night. For all we know they could have the front doors locked."

"I can be a little moody first thing in the morning," he warns. "You don't want to see me like that."

"I'll take my chances." Ben smiles, "Now. Get off your stubborn rear and get to bed. We can sneak you out in the morning."

"Your parents don't know I'm here?" Chad questions.

"They probably don't even know I'm here," Ben admits as he scratches the back of his head. "I may have neglected to tell them I was coming."

"Well. It's your castle too," Chad reminds him. "So, it can't be that bad."

Ben is quiet for a minute, "Never mind about me." before he saves the game and shuts off the television. "Let's find you a room. And don't wake anyone up."

"Don't worry," Chad comments. "I'll be quiet."

"Good," Ben evenly responds as he stands, but when Chad stands he touches his shoulder for a second. "Wait." He looks at him, "I've been wondering, on Valentine's Day when I was being rude to you, what were you going to tell me?"

"Oh." Chad laughs, "Nothing. I was just going to say that I care about you and that I wouldn't want to make your life miserable… I want you to be happy."

Ben nods, "Okay." before he steps back away from the couch. "Come on."

When Ben hears the door open he looks up, "Oh. Hey, Mom."

"Early start?" she questions.

Ben sorts the papers on his desk, "Something like that. I'm going over that human safety act Dad passed." before he looks back up at her. "Did you know that private schools have the right to refuse hybrid students?"

His mother sighs, "Fairy Godmother would never be so short sighted."

Ben merely looks down, "She won't be around forever." but as the silence drags on he looks up again. "You didn't come into my office at five in the morning just to see how I was doing, did you?"

"No," she answers before coming in and shutting the door behind her. "One of the maids found your little stowaway." She crosses her arms, "You're supposed to tell us when you plan to bring company over."

"We were just hanging out." Ben explains, "With the trial and everything we thought a private place would be best."

"What if your father hadn't been feeling well?" his mother worries.

"Look," Ben tries to reason. "Chad was in the living room the entire time. He never left. I was the one getting drinks and grabbing snacks."

"That's beside the point," she sternly responds. "You're supposed to warn me when someone is coming over."

Ben is silent for a moment, "You're right. I should have told you. It won't happen again."

She nods, "Okay, then." before she lets her arms loosen some. "Since he is here, maybe you'd like to have him stay for breakfast?"

"Oh. Ah, no," Ben frowns. "We really need to get back to the school. "We planned to last night, but time escaped us."

"How is it," his mother questions, "spending time with him again?"

"It's fine," Ben evenly answers, but she waits for more of an explanation. "He's being open with me, I think. That makes it better than before."

She nods, "And he hasn't been posting any secrets of yours online?"

Ben nearly rolls his eyes, "He's just a very social person. He can't help it." When she stays quiet he wets his lips, "But, no… I haven't even told him anything."

"Good," his mother comments. "Keep it that way."

"Mom," Ben begins.

"When he posted that dare of you stealing from the health store the people were outraged," she reminds him.

"I paid them back the same day," Ben defends. "I had plans to tell them about the dare even before the video was posted."

"And even after we set the interview for you to explain that, the people still had their doubts." Ben stays quiet. "And what about that time when he told everyone about your gambling?"

"God, Mom." Ben places a hand to his head, "I was just trying to have a little fun. And as far as Chad goes, it was just political. If I'm seen unfit to rule, then he's the next viable option."

"Gamboling is illegal," she reminds him.

"And yet everyone does it anyway," he counters. "It's not an enforced law. So, can we please just drop it already?"

"That depends. Are you still doing it?" she questions.

It takes a moment for Ben to reply, "If I do it again, I promise to tell you."

"No," she rejects. "You're king now. You can't keep breaking the law. If you do, then what will the law become to your citizens other than some arbitrary notion?"

Ben shuts his eyes, "Fine." before opening them again and smiling at her. "The next time the guys invite me to play a game I'll just have to tell them I'm not allowed to have fun." She gives him a look, and he shakes his head, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"You don't have to break the law to have fun," she lets him know.

"I know," Ben frowns. "I'm sorry." She doesn't speak, so he continues, "And not to be rude or anything, but I really would like to finish reading this before it's time for us to head back to school."

She slightly nods, "Alright. I will leave you to it, then." before she opens the door.

It takes a second for Ben to say, "I love you."

She laughs as she smiles back, "I love you too." before she exits the room and closes the door behind herself."

Ben looks back down at the copy of the Human Rights to Safety Act, before he thumbs over the remaining pages. Thirty-two done. Only twenty-two to go. He shakes his head, takes out his phone, and takes a break to look through his missed messages. Doug: Where are you? Doug: If you don't tell me where you are, then I'm going to throw your homework in the trash. Doug: Okay. So, I'm not going to throw your homework away, but you left your tic-tacs here. I'm really hoping you weren't wanting to keep them with you. Ben shuts his eyes as he releases a breath, before he taps the message box, "Sorry for worrying you. I'm at my parents. I have mints here. I'm fine."

After pressing send he moves onto the next couple messages. Jay: Carlos is telling me to apologize. So, yeah. There you go. Jay: By the way, Gatorade is still the best thing ever. Ben snickers, unable to control the grin on his face until his yawns. He tiredly looks over the pages again. All of this reading is exhausting.

When he hears his phone go off he sees Doug's response. I don't like to swear, but you've been real jerk-like lately.

I know. Ben answers. I'm sorry.

It doesn't even take ten seconds for him to receive the next text. You could have been lying dead somewhere.

Ben frowns. I wasn't planning on being out that long. I lost track of time. I'm sorry.

And if you weren't at your parents?

Ben breathes before muttering the next response, "I'll be more careful. I promise."

It takes a minute for Doug to comment. You can promise me in person. You wake me up this early, you'd better be having breakfast with me.

Ben smiles. Don't worry. I'll be there.

Good.

Ben waits a few minutes for the conversation to somehow continue, but Doug doesn't say anything else and he doesn't know how to respond. He takes a deep breath as he sets his phone down. He has no more excuses to make. He eyes the long document. He has to finish reading it. Ben leans back in the chair, lays one knee over the edge of the desk, and continues to read. It's going to be a long morning.

- Yeah. It took me a minute to think of what trivial secrets Ben could possibly have of which could have already been exposed. I mean, it doesn't matter how well he was raised, everyone still does stupid stuff, right? However, I'm not completely satisfied with the examples I chose. Like, I know peer pressure is a thing and that you're more likely to do something if the other people around you are doing it too, but still. It seems off somehow.

- Also, it's gotten past the point where I feel the need to let everyone know that I neither work for Gatorade or Propel nor am I sponsored by them.

- Just out of curiosity, how many of you were able to figure out Ben and Chad were playing a video game before it said so?