Revamped!

Act of Kai-ndness: Part Seven

Winter runs into The Rampion and as she expected, sees her friends minus Kai are sitting at a booth. Because the diner is mostly empty, Scarlet stands at their table, chatting with them until she has work to do. This is exactly what Winter wanted to see (but with Kai) so she happily walks over to them. When the others see her, Cinder scoots over in the booth for them, but Winter stands beside Scarlet to make sure they're looking at her.

"Where's Kai?" Winter asks to make sure he isn't here.

"He said he was busy but we doubt that," Scarlet responds. "We didn't further question him and let him be."

"Good." Winter holds her hands together at her chest. "Torin and Levana need help with getting our age group more involved in not only voting but more in favour for them."

To Winter's surprise, everyone's on board. It must've been that rally most of them suffered through. From what she heard, it traumatized them and Scarlet still has stickers in her curls that she can't find.

"Cinder knows where I'm going with this and I want to know what you guys think," Winter continues, "Torin and Levana want Kai on board more than showing his face at one event. At first, he refused since it was too much for him but I think talking about it aloud will help him. It'd be cathartic."

"He didn't even want to be at the party," Thorne responds. "I saw him for maybe five minutes and he disappeared. I asked Torin's twins where he went and they pointed in opposite directions."

"We can't force Kai," Wolf says. "I'm not saying he shouldn't do it because I believe he should go out there but if he can't handle it, then what's the point?"

Winter leans forwards a little. "The point is that dandelions lose their minds all the time and when they do, their seeds spread to where they grow again. So the next time he feels his mind go, the breeze will soothe him."

Nobody knows how to respond to that mostly because nobody understands what she said. They're trying to connect the metaphor of Kai and the election to dandelions and their hypothetical minds, but they can't find the dots.

"I'm sorry, what?" Scarlet questions on behalf of them.

"Dr. Darnel tells me that all the time," Winter states.

They look at Cress for an explanation but she's as far in the dark like them.

"I'm sorry, what?" Cress questions like Scarlet did.

Winter finally takes a seat. "Kai doesn't have to pretend to be fine. Vulnerability is strength. Despite his current madness, he has to find a way to live with it and use that as power."

They nod, now understanding the dandelion metaphor. Some of them believe that Winter should've been running for mayor. She would win all the soulful botanists out there.

"So, let's say we get Kai on board," Cress says, "the election is in two days. What could we do last-minute that would make an impression on our generation?"

"Press conferences and debates are lame," Wolf tells them. "We need something short yet attention-grabbing."

"I think Kai would have a breakdown in one of those," Cinder replies. "He already runs away from the press and debates are when everyone critiques each other harshly. The worst of anyone comes out in those."

"Let's get a hashtag started!" Thorne exclaims.

They're quiet. At first, that sounded like a stupid idea but that's what made it a good idea. (It was also better than no idea and a press conference.) Besides, how better to get the internet generation on board was to get something they could find and spread online? With the two days they have left, may the stars bless their fast internet connections and screen addictions.

"Give me a minute to think of one," Thorne says as she starts to think.

"Okay, but a hashtag needs something to attach itself to," Scarlet says. "It needs something to be with that isn't just a stupid selfie. What are we supposed to do? Have Kai make a short viral video and spread it through all our social media accounts?"

Winter nods. "We all have a great collective following so it seems doable. The eulogy he gave was made on the spot and it made everyone cry. Maybe some words Kai says will make its way to being selfie captions."

"Minus the Kai factor," Cress adds.

And there was what was definitely the hardest part in this equation. They could have these wonderful campaign ideas but it would mean nothing if Kai wasn't there to do anything. They may as well have no plan if he wasn't there. The only problem was how they would approach him about this because of his current state of emotional mentality. He already declined campaigning, unwillingly accepted an appearance, and now they needed him on board. It was like going back to step one of an already-failed plan as if it never happened.

"As sensitive as the dude is, we need to peer pressure him," Wolf states. "I know he's still grieving and I'm not degrading that but he's trapped in that world and unaware of what's happening out here."

"Agreed," Scarlet says, putting her hand on Wolf's shoulder.

"Maybe…" Cress says hesitantly. "I think it's a little harsh. He has no more parents and we can't tell him to pause grieving to tell our peers to vote."

"He doesn't have to pause," Winter says. "His grief can get people to vote."

"Isn't that a little insensitive?"

"It's insensitive." Winter sighs, running her hands over her face. "I know what Kai's going through because I lost both of my parents, but my wounds aren't as fresh. At least I have a step-mother who maybe likes me. All that aside, we have three votes to be frank with Kai, one maybe…"

They look at those who remain in their current booth which radiates with democracy. Only Thorne and Cinder haven't said what they thought about their new strategy. Thorne is too busy thinking of possible hashtags for their upcoming viral sensation which implies that he's in and Cinder stares at them with disapproval.

"No," Cinder states, "we can't do that."

"Maybe not peer pressure," Cress mutters slowly. She starts eyeing Cinder. "Maybe we need girlfriend pressure."

"Seriously?" Cinder yells. "You weren't even on board a second ago. This is all your guys' doing and you're making me go ask him?"

"Yeah, so start pulling your weight in our master plan by girlfriend-pressuring him," Scarlet says firmly.

Cinder narrows her eyes at Scarlet and gives her the finger. Scarlet chuckles as she returns the gesture. Everyone around them agrees that Cinder needs to be the one to do this and when she realizes that, she gives them all both of her middle fingers.

"I can't do it," Cinder argues. "I'm a bull when it comes to dealing with emotional stuff."

She isn't wrong there but despite that, she's still the best option to approaching Kai.

"Maybe that's what Kai needs," Cress says. "He gave us keys so that we could force ourselves in. He doesn't need a hug but a bull to drag him out and chase him here."

Everyone agrees with Cress, saying that they meant that from the start. Cinder isn't amused, knowing spades well that they didn't think of that at all. However, even with that symbolic and possibly unintentional explanation, Cinder still isn't on board. However, the looks her friends give her are a mix of demeaning and begging, and combining those with the future fate of Commonwealth makes her consider asking Kai. She might as well try so she could say she did if he still says no. The sooner he says no, the quicker they could come up with another plan.

Cinder groans before climbing over her friends to get out of the booth. "Fine. I'll do it."

Their cheering towards her involuntary decision makes her angry. It's times like this where Cinder has to remind herself that she doesn't hate her friends and that sometimes she'll have to face emotions from other people. That's the part of any relationship that she doesn't like. If there was one thing she liked about Levana, it was her coldness for that reason.

"Isn't it funny how the plan was to pressure Kai and you ended up getting pressured?" Thorne questions rhetorically.

"I will pressure you with my fist," Cinder replies before storming out of The Rampion.

[Some of you are probably thinking that they're all jerks for trying to get Kai to do this, but in the context of the story, they're right to do it.] [2020: I still stand by it.]