It’s Not Easy Being Chen(?)
Summary: So the whole “Boo Lloyd” scene never fully sat right with me when it comes to my personal interpretation of Chen, so, how about we take a look at that scene form a different point of view, shall we?
Just stand and smile.
Stand and smile.
That’s all Chen needs to do as his history teacher drones on about an award he was nominated for.
He could honestly care less. He knows he’ll win and it’ll become yet another award on his bedroom wall for his mother to scrutinize because it isn’t good enough. Because he isn’t good enough.
But he knows he deserves it. He knows he needs to be kept humble, but at the same time, not too humble. He is an Amber after all.
And Ambers are better.
First Master, he can feel his eyelids growing heavier by the second, every blink a desperate cry for the sweet release of sleep.
But he fights it.
He did this to himself. He always does it to himself.
Chen swears he can hear a chorus of angels singing from above as his teacher bids him farewell and he’s finally allowed to go find Gigi and Maggie, after all, they need to discuss the cheer routine for the football game later tonight.
The cheerleader quickly rushes out of the classroom and into the hallway, while still keeping a straight posture, of course.
After all, his uncles can always correct his slouching.
“Hey Chen, nice one this morning!” A student he doesn’t recognize greets. He nods, not understanding what they mean, but he dares not correct a compliment.
“You really showed Garmadork!” Another cheers as he passed by. Chen simply nods again, while internally his brow furrows.
What in the name of the First Master are they talking about?
“Great song, Chen!”
“Damn, already on Polkify!”
“If you don’t get Garmadork to finally leave this place and run home to his daddy, I don’t know who will!”
Chen catches a wince at the final comment.
Still, he doesn’t know what everyone is on about, he just arrived.
Finally, he rounds the corner and spots Gigi and Maggie, both talking in hushed tones, obviously confused. At least, that’s what he assumes. He’s never been good at social cues, just another thing that makes him unbefitting of his bloodline.
“Gigi! Maggie!” Chen waves, to which his friends look to him, even more confused than before, “How are you this morning?”
The cheerleaders look between each other before looking back at Chen.
“Yes, Chen, we’re… we’re doing well.” Gigi greets awkwardly.
“No, we’re not!” Maggie corrects her girlfriend in hushed tones, “We just saw you! How did you get around the school so fast?! And what the hell was up with that ridiculous song??”
“I was pulled aside by our history teacher right after I entered the building.” Chen explains, his chest tight as his mind races and screams at him that something isn’t right, “I haven’t seen you two until now.”
“Then who was the one who dragged the both of us into that ‘Boo Lloyd’ cheer??” Maggie questions, tone harsh, but Chen knows his friend: she’s not accusing him of wrongdoing, she’s just as confused as he is.
“Boo Llo- what are you talking about? I didn’t-“
“Hey, Captain!” A grating voice bellows from down the hall.
Chen internally groans, he just wants everything to be quieter, he doesn’t want to have the deal with-
“Seith, good morning to you.” Chen greets his fellow member of the cheer squad, mask sliding perfectly in place.
Suddenly, a muscular arm is around Chen’s shoulder no, no touching he doesn’t want anyone to touch him PLEASE NO MORE-, Seith grinning the most faked grin Chen’s seen in his life.
And he knows about fake smiles.
A phone is shoved in his face, on it is a video. A video of…
Himself? Gigi and Maggie as well. The noise of the hallway is too much, and Chen can’t understand the exact words spoken, but he can tell they’re cringey as all hell based on Gigi and Maggie’s reactions in front of him.
“I caught it all on video.” Seith beams, “It’s already all over the school’s Instabook page. Good promo for the game tonight.”
Chen receives a rough pat on the back ad Seith turns to walk away, but, not before he shouts:
“Maybe next time let me join in! I’ll come up with a better song any day!”
And, with that, Seith turns the corner, thankfully vanishing from Chen’s sight, although his ears are still ringing.
“Ugh- his cheer would be worse.” Maggie comments, rolling her eyes to emphasize her point.
Chen doesn’t respond, his mind thinking back to the video Seith showed him. Obviously that wasn’t him. It couldn’t be him! He was in the history classroom all morning! But if it wasn’t him, then…
…
No.
Oh FSM, please no.
He’s been punished enough! He heard their words all night long, he stood on that pedestal and took it all night! Why? Why did he have to come to school and ruin that for him too??
“Pom Pom?” Maggie asks, voice growing in concern.
“Gigi… Maggie… you met me this morning, before now, correct?” He asks in return, turning to face his friends.
“Yeah? What about it?” Maggie responds.
“How… how did I behave?”
“You were different.” Gigi takes over, “You were… well, to put it bluntly, obnoxious.”
Chen’s heart drops.
“Chad.”
The name is like poison in his mouth: foul and with a nasty aftertaste.
“I knew you looked paler! Ugh- and you would never go out of your way to do something that! I should’ve- oh Pom Pom, are you ok?? Did something happen?”
Yes.
“I am not at liberty to disclose that.” Chen replies, smoothening out his hair as he does.
“Come on! What did they do?? Did they hurt you??”
“I have already answered that.”
“Like hell you-“
A gentle, dark-skinned hand appears on Maggie’s shoulder. Gigi slowly moves her girlfriend aside.
“Chen. Are you safe at this moment?” Gigi calmly asks.”
“Yes.” Chen replies.
“That’s all we need to know.” She smiles, loosening the knot in his chest, even if for only a moment.
He can’t believe it- he knows Chad likes to have his fun around the house when Chen comes over, but invading his school life? Actively affecting his reputation? The one thing keeping him alive?
First Master either he’s bored out of his mind or he and Skylor are really out for blood.
If his reputation takes any kind of a hit, especially one that Chad could cause…
Chen knows what the consequences are, and he can’t let that happen. Not for himself, he hardly deserves a place in this world, but for his friends, for his pet, Twig.
He- he can’t leave them behind with no explanation.
“Did- Did he leave the school?” Chen asks slowly, to which Gigi and Maggie exchange worried glances.
“We don’t know.” Gigi responds truthfully.
“Then I must request the both of you search for him within reason. I must head to class so as to not be seen around him.”
“But what if-“ Maggie starts.
“I’ll be fine.” Chen lies states, “Just… please make sure he’s gone. Don’t let him become aware of your knowledge.”
Before his friends can say anything Chen turns and walks away to his first class of the day, inadvertently passing Lloyd on the way, hood up and staring at the ground, seemingly not even noticing Chen’s presence.
If only he could apologize.
But that would be a death sentence.