With the school festival happening next week, Delancy was working overtime to make sure everything was ready. Asher’s school had their festival last week it had already set the bar pretty high and with Rei’s school festival taking place two weeks after her school’s, it was up to her as the student body president to make sure it was the best one of the three schools.

“Are you sure you can handle all of this?” Carson asked, handling Delancy even more paperwork.

“It’s fine. It’s fine.”

Finishing the rest of the paperwork, Delancy headed off to volleyball practice and said she’ll return as soon as she’s done. Delancy never she she’d prefer to get hit by a bunch of volleyballs than do paperwork but compared to her role as the treasurer last year, this year’s festival seemed to be a lot more stressful.

“Okay girls, great practice today. Go home, ice your joints and I’ll see everyone at tomorrow’s morning practice. Dismissed.”

Without even changing back into her regular clothes, Delancy threw on a pair of sweats over her shorts and went from volleyball captain Delancy to student council president Delancy. She thanked everyone for their hard work and rushed off to the student council office.

In between paperwork breaks, Delancy alternated between working on her fashion project and making phone calls to the different companies confirming the final details. Her council members just looked at her in awe.

“I’m going to go deliver the paperwork and get something to drink. Anyone want anything?” Delancy asked.

“I’m good.”

“I want to finish this.”

“We’re all good.”

Delancy dropped off all the paperwork and took her time on the trip back to the student council office. She took a nice long stretch going all the way up to her toes. She crouched down and bounced in place to give her knees a workout.

It might have been the lack of sleep or the fact that she got up too fast but Delancy felt winded. She placed a hand on the wall to support herself and when she felt alright, she shook it off and made her way back but she didn’t make it more than two steps before she collapsed onto the ground.

*

I’m fine. That’s the biggest lie I’ve ever told without even realising that I told one. How are you? I’m fine. It comes almost second nature. Maybe it was the fact that I finally got some sleep that I was thinking clearly. Was I fine?

Delancy woke up from the best nap in her life. She stretched around and got up, confused to where she was. She looked around to see it was the school infirmary.

“Excuse me,” Delancy said. The student who had his back turned to her didn’t hear her. So she tried again, “Excuse me.”

The guy put down his pencil and turned around to her, “Morning, well evening.”

“What happened?”

“Don’t know. I was walking in the halls when I found you sleeping on the floor. Figured you’d be more comfortable here.”

“Thank you,” she said but he was too busy mumbling to himself.

“Oh,” the student said. He turned around and scribbled something onto a sheet of paper before turning to Delancy. “The other members of the student council dropped by to say that they finished all the work so you should take it easy. And something about you should get some rest. You seem disappointed.”

“I have nothing to do now. Hey do you want to grab a bite? My treat as a thank you for carrying me here. I’m Delancy by the way.”

“Eric.”

Delancy and Eric headed to the nearest pizza joint and ordered a large to share. As soon as they sat down, or even before, Eric was busy mumbling to himself while scribbling down circles and lines onto a paper.

“Music notes. Trying to compose a song.”

“Are you almost done?”

“Who knows.”

“Can I listen to something that’s finished?”

Eric couldn’t hide the shock on his face and looked up at Delancy. He examined her face, surprised that she was genuinely interested. He fumbled around his bag and pulled out a cassette tape. He blew on it and loaded it into the player and handed it over to Delancy along with a set of headphones.

Delancy’s expression changed with the song but she continued to nod to the music. When it finished, she returned everything to Eric and with a smile she said, “It’s good! Like really good. Can I listen to more in the future? They’re calming.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Can I? I promise I’ll take good care of them.”

“Ye-yeah. Sure I’ll send them when they’re done.”

“Can I also listen while you’re working on it? I’m not really patient,” she explained embarrassingly.

“Sure.”

Sure we tell lies. I’m fine, I’m happy, everything is alright. We tell them to not trouble others. We tell them to convince ourselves. We tell them to make others happy. But can a lie be all bad, if the person we tell it to is happy? I never knew I could relate to some song lyrics so much. I wonder what Eric was feeling when he wrote that. All I know is that he got through it and if he can, then there’s hope for me.