Three Weeks

Part Nine – Imbroglio

Vidcund is lying down on the Curious family sofa later that afternoon staring up at the ceiling, his head reeling over Amber's latest twist. Pascal steps forward and appears in Vidcund's line of vision. Vidcund sighs, his hand perched on his forehead as Pascal stares curiously down at him.

"I can't do it, Pascal. I can't beat her," he moans.

Pascal cocks his forehead, "Why not?"

"Because," Vidcund exhales, sitting up on the sofa, "how in the hell am I supposed to win Loki's affections over Crystal in the past if I can't even do it in the future? Amber made this impossible, and she knows it."

"Come on Vidcund, don't you think that's kind of stretch?" Pascal replies, taking a seat on the cushion next to him, "There's got to be some way you can win."

Vidcund shakes his head, "That's the thing, Pascal. There's not. Believe me, if there's one thing that this whole experience has taught me, it's that people don't change," Vidcund explains, giving a heavy sigh as he leans back in his seat, "No matter what I do, Loki's still going to fall for Crystal anyway because everyone will always be inherently the same!"

All of sudden, Vidcund sits up slightly, his eyes shining as he strikes an epiphany.

Pascal turns to his brother with a smirk, his arms crossed over his torso as he recognizes the insightful look in Vidcund's eyes. "Meaning…?" Pascal begins.

"Meaning…this may not be so hopeless after all," Vidcund grins.

…

The next morning, Pascal and Vidcund are standing in front of Vidcund's locker catching their youngest brother, Lazlo, up on their newest plan. Vidcund sighs as he adjusts the suit jacket on Lazlo's shoulders while Pascal hands the puzzled Curious a box of chocolates. "Okay, so…what am I doing?" Lazlo wonders once his brothers step away from him.

"You're romancing the new girl, Crystal, so Vidcund can keep her away from Loki," Pascal tells him, gesturing over his shoulder at the blonde teen, who is busy putting away her books in her locker across the hallway.

Lazlo tilts his forehead, "Why would I do that?" he wonders.

"Because you and Crystal are practically soulmates in the future and if you guys get together thirteen years earlier, then it's really going to help me out," Vidcund explains, giving Lazlo a gentle pat on the shoulder. "We don't have much time left, so just go over there and introduce yourself."

Lazlo takes a step back, quivering in his shoes, "I don't know, guys. I don't think I'm good with women."

"You're joking, right?" Vidcund tells him, briefly locking eyes with Pascal to confirm, "You're a total chick magnet. You can get any girl you want without even trying."

"Really?" Lazlo squeaks, "That doesn't sound like me."

Vidcund sighs and steps forward, "Maybe not now. But trust me, it will," he states, grabbing Lazlo by the shoulders and turning him towards Crystal. "Now please do this for me, so I'm not stuck here forever."

Lazlo nods and takes a step forward before letting out a cowardly squeak and racing back to hide behind Vidcund's locker. "I-I can't! I'm too nervous!" Lazlo cries, cowering behind the open door, "I feel like I'm going to puke."

Vidcund sighs as he stares down at his youngest brother, his empathy immediately kicking in. "Alright, it's fine," he assures him, "I'll just go over there and introduce her to you."

Pascal and Lazlo watch as Vidcund confidently walks across the hallway, Lazlo standing up in place as Vidcund stops in front of the new girl. "Hello," Vidcund greets, his sudden appearance causing Crystal to gasp.

"Oh, hi," Crystal states, her hand over her chest as she calms from the sudden disruption. "You're Vidcund, right?" she says in a surprisingly friendly tone, "You're in my Geometry class."

"Yeah, that's me," Vidcund replies, wondering how he's still so awkward after all these years as Crystal rearranges some of the books in her locker, "Look, I know you've only been here for a day, but I already know someone who really likes you."

Crystal stops and turns towards him, her face glowing at the thought, "Really?" Crystal beams, "Wow! That never happened at my other school."

"Yes, well, it did here and this guy's a real catch," Vidcund continues, glancing over his shoulder at his brothers, who are still watching them from across the hall, "I think you two will really hit it off."

"Okay," Crystal chimes, hugging her books to her torso, "So, what's he like?"

"Well, he's nice, smart, and a little nerdy," Vidcund says, awkwardly fidgeting with his hands as he struggles to come up with acceptable things to say about his brother, "And he's got a few brothers who aren't major dorks."

Crystal laughs as she places a hand on Vidcund's shoulder, "You know, if you like me, you could've just said so."

"What?! No!" Vidcund cries, frantically waving his hands in front of his chest as the plan spirals out of control, "No, not me. I'm talking about my brother, Lazlo."

"Uh-huh," Crystal smirks, folding her arms over her chest; the dubious glint in her eyes telling Vidcund that she clearly doesn't believe him, "Then why didn't he come over here himself?"

"Because he's extremely shy," Vidcund answers as if this is obvious. "So, are you interested in him or not?"

Crystal turns to the side and glances at the pair of brothers across the room. She looks back to Vidcund and shakes her head. "No, I'm interested in you," she coos. Crystal leans forward, giving Vidcund a peck on the cheek before slamming her locker door shut behind her. "See you later, Vidcund!" she beams.

Vidcund cowers as he watches her retreat down the hallway. Pascal and Lazlo quickly race over to their brother, who is now leaning defeatedly up against Crystal's locker. "Okay, maybe I was wrong," Vidcund states as he feels a colossal headache sneaking up on him, "Maybe the people in the past are nothing like they are in the future."

"Well, that would explain how you got two girls to like you," Pascal mutters causing Vidcund to shoot his oldest brother a glare.

Vidcund sighs, "Thanks, Pascal."

…

Later that morning, Vidcund is back at his locker sluggishly putting away his books before lunch. Vidcund exhales as he places his final book in his locker before he grabs his lunch bag. Vidcund steps back from his locker and slams the door shut only to find himself face to face with Circe, who is standing beside the row of lockers, her arms crossed.

"How could you, Vidcund?" Circe states, her tone sharp and icy, "How could you move on so quickly? I thought you and I had something special, at least on your end."

Vidcund sighs as he rubs his forehead, which hasn't stopped aching since Crystal kissed him, "We do. No, wait – I mean, we don't," Vidcund quickly corrects, doing his best to keep his facts straight, "I mean, I used to like you, but I don't anymore and I am not interested in Crystal in any way whatsoever, so you have nothing to worry about if you still like me. But please don't still like me," Vidcund begs, clasping his hands together in a prayer, hoping that things don't get even more complicated.

Circe crosses her arms and cocks her forehead, "Well, you have nothing to worry about there because you and I are long over."

"Great!" Vidcund beams, swerving on his heel and taking off down the hallway. To his displeasure, Circe follows after him.

"Wait, you're happy that we're no longer together?" Circe wonders, relentlessly keeping up with him. Vidcund nods. "Well," Circe huffs as the pair stops in front of the cafeteria's double doors, "then that changes everything," she states, staring up at her ex-boyfriend, "Maybe I still like you after all."

Vidcund sighs as he throws his head back at the ceiling, "Oh no."

"Wow Vidcund," Circe begins, affectionately wrapping her arms around him. She smiles as she pulls back, holding her ex-boyfriend at arms-length as she stares lovingly into his eyes, "I can't believe we ever broke up," she coos, before leaning forward a planting one on him.

Vidcund freezes, his whole body frozen in shock as he watches Circe give him a perky wave before entering the cafeteria. Vidcund groans, his body slowly regaining movement as he trudges back towards his locker. "God, I don't think this day could get anymore twisted-"

Vidcund stops in place, finding himself face to face with Loki, who is leaning up against his rival's locker door. Loki sets his foot down when he sees him, his arms crossed and his face filled with hurt, "Well, Vidcund. You sure had me fooled," Loki states, looking as though he is about to lose it at any moment, "Here I was standing here like a chump thinking that you liked me when you've been busy schmoozing everyone in school."

"Loki," Vidcund begins, his face softening at the accusation, "that's not true. I swear I don't like Circe or Crystal. I like you-"

"Psh, yeah right!" Loki snaps, rolling his eyes up at the ceiling, "Do you honestly expect to believe that? This whole thing has just been a game to you!"

Vidcund stops in place. As much as he wants to dismiss these claims, Loki's last statement is actually true. "Look, I can't deny everything about this, but I do really like you. And it doesn't matter if you believe me or not because that doesn't make it any less true. You and I belong together."

Loki takes a step back and hugs himself, Vidcund's response taking him slightly off-guard. "Say what you will, Vidcund," Loki begins, fire lacing his voice, "but I will never like you," his words stinging like the final twist of a knife.

Vidcund watches hopelessly as Loki takes off down the hallway, feeling his life slowly slipping through his fingers, "Yeah, I know," he sighs helplessly as the reality of the situation sinks in.