Thursday, January 20th, 2033. The day that Armani Parker would officially become president, and Eliot Scott would officially become vice president at noon sharp. It'd be a historical day. There would be speeches, a ceremony, and a parade to welcome in the new people who were sworn into office. It'd all be televised too.
Michelle and Roselle finished up getting dressed up for it. Their curls, makeup, and dresses were matching, but their colors were different. Michelle's sunday dress was purple, and Roselle's was red. They took pictures together and posted it all on instagram.
"I can't believe that just a few months ago we never even left Michigan, and now we're going to the presidential inauguration as special guests," Michelle said, tossing her hair around. "We're getting front seats too. I feel so important." She winked at herself in the mirror.
"Yeah . . . This is awesome," Roselle said, taking a curl and tightening it. She looked at herself in the mirror too, but her energy didn't match her sister's at all.
Her sister grumbled. "Okay, Ro, what's wrong? You're killing the vibe. I thought you'd finally be happy."
"I should be, right?" She sat down on the bench. "All my problems are solved and everything, but my anxiety is buzzing around more than ever. I have a feeling right in the pit of my gut. My thoughts are driving me insane."
"What are your thoughts saying?"
"They're saying that things are too perfect right now. It's suspicious. How can everything be so calm all of a sudden after months of drama?" She munched on her hair. "Armani and I are going to talk tomorrow once he's president about 'our relationship'. What if James was right? What if we aren't really meant to be together after all? What if we've grown apart? What if--"
"Don't let James get in your head, Ro." Michelle held onto her sister's shoulders and gave her a pep talk. "He's just jealous because he wanted you to date him, and you chose Armani, right?"
She took a deep breath. "Right . . ."
"You don't have to worry about a thing. You and Armani have always had serious chemistry ever since you guys were kids. Now that you're older, I'm sure you guys can build an even deeper connection. I've seen the way the two of you look at each other, and I know, okay?"
Roselle forced a plastered smile on her face. "Okay. Thanks."
Michelle smiled and dismissed the conversation.
Truthfully however, Roselle only smiled under false pretense. The worry hasn't gone away whatsoever. James did have a point the other day. Love was more than just chemistry. It was compromise and self-sacrifice. What had Armani done to prove himself to her lately? Did he love her at all, or was she just a fantasy that Armani built up in his head for the past fourteen years? Maybe she was romanticizing him too.
* * *
Roselle, Michelle, and Dan showed up at the inauguration early so they could see everyone before the event backstage. Even though it was still four hours before the ceremony would take place, hundreds of people were already waiting outside the capitol. The commotion could be heard from behind the stage. It was PACKED.
"Hey," Armani said, walking up to the trio.
"Hey, man!" Dan greeted. "Good luck today."
"Thanks."
The two of them did a secret handshake that they made up when they spent the holidays at the Reyes estate.
Armani turned his attention to Roselle, and broke into an all-out smile. "Wow," he said. "You look . . . amazing."
"But you'd still like me even if I didn't look amazing, right?" Roselle asked, twitching.
Armani stumbled back a bit at that response. "Of course," he finally said.
"Even if I came here without showering in sweatpants and put my hair into a giant mohawk and had one of my legs cut off?"
He nodded. "Even if."
Someone came running over to Armani. "Hey, Eliot Scott has completely lost his mind! He climbed a tree outside and he refuses to come down."
Armani exhaled. "That sounds like him."
"Can you come with me to calm him down for a sec? You're one of the only people he trusts."
"Well, alright." He turned to the group. "I'll be right back."
The trio smiled at him, but once he was out of site, Dan and Michelle crossed their arms and looked at Roselle, who was once again chewing on her hair.
"What was that?" Michelle asked.
"What was what?" Roselle questioned innocently.
"You know, the part when you asked Armani if he'd still be chill if your leg was cut off? Are you losing your mind?"
"I don't know! I might be!"
"I'm honestly worried about you, Ro," said Dan. "Is this about what James said?"
"No! It's not! Well, maybe it is a little bit, but even before James talked to me, I was looking for problems."
"Why?"
"Because that's what my mind does! It creates problems that aren't there!" She hyperventilated. She would usually count to five and then count down from five when she was in this state, but in that moment, it was as if she forgot how to count. "Something is going to go wrong . . ." She cried. "Something is going to go horribly wrong . . . Every time I'm happy . . . Life always does something to screw me over . . ."
"Keep comforting her," Michelle told Dan. "I'm going to fix this."
* * *
Before too long, Michelle returned with James, who was eyeing her in amusement.
"Roselle . . ." His voice trailed off. "Your sister told me of your predicament. Are you alright?"
"We'll give you some space," Dan said, taking Michelle by the hand and walking away.
"Actually, no, James. I am most definitely NOT alright." Roselle put her palm on her forehead. Even though it was freezing outside, she was sweating her makeup off. "There's something wrong."
"Did what I said have that great of an impact on you? Honestly, I had no idea you'd be laced with so much angst."
She groaned. "But the thing is, you were right! Even if you weren't, I don't know. I don't feel good about today. I feel so anxious that it's making me sick. Something's wrong, but I can't figure out what it is."
James shrugged. "To be honest with you, little rose, I don't understand your angst at all. You're about to get everything you wanted. Why aren't you content?"
"What if this ISN'T everything I wanted?"
"What do you mean?"
She paced in circles around him. "I mean, I don't know what I mean. I'm confused. I should be happy, but something's not right. Something's wrong and it doesn't matter who tells me it isn't. I even know how insane I sound, but I can't shake this feeling away."
He patted her on the shoulder. "Roselle . . . I'm going to tell you something I don't say very often, but just know that I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I am . . . truly, excruciatingly, undoubtedly sorry if anything I told you contributed to you feeling this way. I wish I could take it back. I never meant to cause such distortions within you."
"Yeah? Well the damage has been done, hasn't it?"
"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"
"Yeah. Just leave me alone." Roselle stormed off to who knows where.
* * *
Roselle was just wandering around outside, and she didn't mean to, but she stumbled upon the tree Eliot had climbed. He was still up there, and a huge crowd of people were desperately attempting to convince him to come down. They were all shouting and urging, but the future vice president just wouldn't budge.
Armani had a megaphone in his hand. "Eliot, please, come down. We can talk this out."
"LEAVE ME ALONE, MAN!" Eliot shouted.
"Everything is going to be okay. Just come with me."
"I don't want to!"
Roselle pushed herself through the crowd to get to Armani. "What the hell is going on here?" she asked.
"Eliot is freaking out," Armani said. "The pressure is really getting to him." He looked up at the future VP. "I've never seen him like this before."
"He looks ridiculous," someone in the crowd said, rolling their eyes. "Some leader we've got there. I hope Armani never dies and makes THAT guy president."
Roselle whipped her head at the person who said that. "Excuse you, but don't you think you're being a little insensitive?"
"This is American politics, sweetheart," the guy said. "Not preschool. What's that guy gonna do if we need to go to war, or have an economic collapse? Is he going to solve our problems by climbing trees?"
"Bitch, he might." She was getting her sass on. "I'm sure Armani ran with him for a reason, right?" She turned to Armani, but he was giving the 'kinda' sign with his hand.
"It's actually an interesting story why I'm running with Eliot," Armani said.
Roselle grumbled. "You know what? Doesn't matter. I'm climbing that tree and I'm going to knock some sense into that boy."