Naïveté - Part 2

I'm woken up by a rather strange sensation.

It feels like I'm being rocked back and forth in my bed by an unruly phenomenon that has no respect for a sleep deprived student's rest.

Sleep is something hard to come by these days, but I suppose there's no use in even trying when I'm being shaken up like this.

"What is this, an earthquake…?"

"Earthquake? What the… no, it's your sister."

I force my eyes open, only to find that Chloe has been trying to wake me up for a while now.

"Ahh, hey. I thought there was something cute about that rocking."

"Cute, huh…?"

She sighs.

"Hey Chase. I have bad news. Something got put under our door. I think you should read it."

A piece of paper…? What could it be?

I try my hardest to focus on the words.

The sun still isn't above the horizon so it's relatively dark right now.

"Uhhh… Let's see here. Attention residents… hmmm, are reluctant to announce… yeah yeah…"

I freeze up.

"Wait, what?"

"Y-yeah…"

"Are you serious?! Why would they do this on a Monday morning of all times?!"

This has to be a joke.

In fact, in my half-asleep daze, I almost want to believe that it is.

But there's no mistaking it, it's the same as the usual maintenance letters.

It's like everyone and everything is trying to get me to drop out of the race.

"It's okay Chase, railroads undergo maintenance all the time."

"Yeah but, we won't make it to school on time at this rate."

Which means I'll miss the entire election.

Seriously though, why 3 to 7 in the morning? That completely screws everything.

It's fine for you two, I can just write up a letter excusing your tardiness, but for me…

This ruins everything.

"Haaa, don't be such a baby. It's just one day."

"Easy for you to say…"

"What? Shut up. I don't wanna be late either."

She sits at my bedside and sighs.

"I don't care if I am sometimes, though. School sucks anyway…"

Huh…

It's unusual to see her take a moment to genuinely sit down and breathe in the morning. Usually it's a race to make it to the train before it leaves without us.

"Hey Chloe, is something wrong?"

"Eh? Oh, well… I-I guess so."

"Ohh?"

I sit up in the bed and smile.

"Do you wanna talk about it? I don't mind listening to my sister's problems, you know."

"Huh? No way. Why would I tell you about my life?"

"Yeah? Okay. My bad for asking then."

I yawn and slip back into my sleeping position.

For a while, the only sounds are the occasional cars passing by and the chirping of nearby birds.

"…"

But it's obvious enough that sudden silence seems to have unsettled her.

"Ugh, fine! I'll tell you, geez."

She shuffles about in her spot nervously.

"It's good to be honest. So, what's up?"

"Well… T-there's a boy that I like…"

"Wow, go Chloe."

"S-shut up…"

"Okay okay, I'm sorry."

"A-anyway, I've never felt this way about a boy before. I always think about him and it makes me feel all funny and, I… I think I want to marry him… Ahh god I'm so embarrassed saying it! Never mind, don't listen to me!"

"Ahahaha."

"Why are you laughing at me?! Ugh! I'm leaving!"

"W-wait, don't leave. I'm sorry, I just thought it was cute. What you're feeling is normal, I promise."

She blushes and looks away.

"Nnnn… You'd better mean that…"

"Really, I do. So, what exactly do you like about him?"

"Uhm, well… he's like… really cool, a-and… h-he's cute, and he's nice to me…"

Sounds like a real Casanova.

"You two talk a lot?"

"Well, kinda… Sometimes he'll say hi to me when we pass each other in the halls, or he'll pick up my eraser for me when I drop it… Y-y'know, stuff like that."

So… they haven't actually had a real conversation then?

Is this how all first loves happen or something? You just kinda stare at them from far away and fall in love?

This feels painful to listen to.

"So, um… How do I get him to notice me?"

"Notice you? Well… wait, why are you asking me?"

"Well, your ex-girlfriend must have done something amazing for that, right? What was her name again?"

"It's Scarlet. And I wouldn't say she 'got me to notice her', she just kinda shoved herself into my life."

"Shoved?"

"Yeah, she's just that kinda girl. If she wants something then she won't take no for an answer. She's not always honest about it with her words, but her actions always make it obvious what her goal is."

It's funny. Even though she said she pretend-dated me because she wanted to ruin me, I just can't find myself believing those words.

"… Oh."

"Anyway, I think what's important is that you shouldn't let him know how much of a pedestal you're putting him on. Guys love girls who feel out of their league. Be friendly, but don't let him know how much you respect and admire him until he says something. He'll fall head-over-heels for someone like you in no time."

"That kinda sounds like how you get friend-zoned, Chase…"

"W-well you're obviously gonna flirt with him once in a while! Just don't make it obvious that you want to put a ring on his finger… like a joke! Make it sound like a joke!"

Why on earth am I giving my younger sister tips on seducing men…? This is something a mother or an older sister should be doing.

"I don't know if I can flirt… it's really scary."

"Yeah, it is huh?"

"Y-yeah…"

"But you know, I think it's better to try and risk failing than to have to look at him with another girl. You'll just spend the rest of your days wondering what would've happened if you tried."

The one that got away.

I wonder if I'll ever feel that way.

"… I guess."

"And remember, a girl's most powerful weapon is her smile."

"L-like so?"

She forces a smile, but her face crunches really hard so it looks more awkward than anything else.

"Haha, let's call it a work in progress for now."

"Haaa, I don't like smiling. Is that really how that Scarlet girl got to you?"

"Huh? Uh, sure."

To be honest though, if we're talking smiles I think Momo's smile is much more alluring than Scarlet's.

I mean, when Scarlet smiles it feels like she might just break into laughter and start making fun of me like she usually does. At least Momo's teasing isn't as hurtful.

They're both saintly compared to Jen's though. I feel like devilish horns could pop out of her skull at any moment when she smiles.

Actually, none of these girls have smiles that make me feel comfortable in my own skin. Why the hell did I give Chloe that advice in the first place?

"Is that all?"

"Yep. But remember, even if it doesn't go well your big brother still loves you, okay?"

"S-shut up. Quit being such a creep! Fuck!"

"Hey, don't swear…"

She stands up and walks to the door.

But just before she can exit, she hesitates for a moment.

"But… T-thanks."

Once she says those words, she dashes out of the small bedroom as quickly as she could.

She's as dishonest with her feelings as Scarlet is, isn't she?

The two of them are both so cute…

If they really are one and the same then she should be fine with that boy.

The only real problem is the kind of guy he is.

She might be a good judge of character, but love has a way of clouding your judgment when it comes to people.

Oh well. Enough about that.

This news about the maintenance is kind of a big deal.

If I can't think of a way to get to school early then it might well be over for me.

I'll have to see if Rachael can help me out somehow.

"Fuck!"

That…

That wasn't me.

The voice came from the crib next to my bed.

Apparently Chad was awake and, out of all the words that were uttered in this room, he took the liberty of repeating the only swear word from our conversation.

My face falls flat into my palms as I sigh.

"I'll need to buy you a bar of soap after school."