Passive

I wake up to the jarring sound of my phone’s ringtone going off. I see it’s Jude. I tap to answer just to get it to shut up. Plus I can’t ignore a call from my best friend since elementary school.

“Hello?” My voice is horse.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with out your make-up before.” Not since we were kids. I cover the camera.

“Ok, ok.” She says before I can snap at her. The early hour it not putting me in a good mood. It’s almost five in the morning. She knows I stayed up late at my parents dinner party last night. “I got my Flaw Word.” I sit up in bed.

“What?” My camera uncovered now. Your Flaw Word, or your Flaw is something you get after you turn eighteen, during your eighteenth year. She shows me the Word. It’s in pretty looping script. Black like most Words. It was to the side a bit near her hair line. It’s was a bit smaller than most. It would be easy to cover with her hair if she wanted too. She seemed exited though. Not disappointed. I read the word; Passive. That made sense. At the beginning of our high school year she has been teased a lot by this one group of people. That is until we met Beck. Our other best friend. He was being bullied by this guy. I blackmailed him. Word spread, and well no more teasing. They had both done nothing about there situations. Not that I blamed them. She just was that sort of person. She could certainly be too passive sometimes now that I thought of it. The will to make peace with people who clearly weren’t listening to a word she was saying, or not getting people involved when she should, but that’s why I was here. Passive was certainly a flaw, but in my option she could have been stuck with a much worse one. No wonder she seemed exited rather than disheartened. I guess it depended on what that individual thought was a better, or worse flaw.

“It’s pretty.” I say. “Aesthetically pleasing to the eye.”

“I know right!” That was pretty lucky. Most people got stuck with basic font. A capitol letter in front, with black ‘ink’.

“So you’re passive.”

“Can’t save I’m surprised though I don’t know what I was expecting. I showed Beck, and he thinks he might get something similar. Like compliant, unassertive, or meek. Something like that.” She told him before she told me. That was unlike her. I shrug it off. It really makes no difference to me though. “Then our Flaws would compliment each other.” If they’re compliment and meek I’m the opposite. I’ll probably getting stuck with something like assertive or aggressive or something.

“Right we’ll got to go. See you at school.”

“See you.” I say. The call ends. With no chance of getting back to sleep after that convo I get up to get ready. I look at my face search for something I know isn’t there. My hair is an Asymmetrical Bob, half-shaved on one side, slightly curled, black roots with white hair. My eyes are blue-grey. I start with foundation. Then concealer. Blush. Black eyeliner, and mascara. I put a curler though my hair to give it more volume. I put on a simple grey cocktail dress, and black heels. I grab my sparkling sliver clutch then go down for breakfast. I’m the first one up in my family, but the staff already set the table. There’s a tear tea tray. On the bottom is hard boiled eggs in fancy little cups, the second course is different fruit muffins, the third a variety of pasties. At some point someone comes in to fill my glass for me. I thank them, and they leave. With time to spare I eat breakfast slowly, scrolling through photos on social media. Clothes mostly. News on new acting roles acquaintances got. Friends posting pictures of aesthetic foods, or drinks. Invites to parties chime as the notifications goes off. I ignore them for now. Then I get a new notification. An apartment near the city square were I’ve been looking. I click on it. I’m immediately disappointed. There’s no way it’s big enough to hold parties, or even dinner events. It’s hard to find places in my location. Not too far from mother. Close to all the shops, and the other movie stars, politicians, and singers houses, and only a decent walk away from the only park around. Some day I would be on the same street of the rich and successful, but for now rich or not I only eighteen. I wanted to fit in. Make my own way, and make my own money. Mom would insist on helping with the down payment. Father would insist on some place nice. I wanted to feel on my own though. Like most people my age did I guess. I would still be obligated to go to my parents parties, and the star’s galas. I liked their galas though, and Father really wasn’t asking that much from me. I passed a family portrait in the hall. My face clear. My Mom’s read; Naïve. My Father’s; Ambitious. Ambition could be a good thing, or a bad thing. Obviously, it was a flaw of his. Though he is the one who made us rich. I think I should be more grateful to him than I am, but it’s hard when you are someone he keeps under lock, and key half the time. My Mom, and I have always gotten along smoothly. She’s a stay at home mom despite the staff. She taught me how to cook, clean, bake, cut grass, and fix a leaky faucet. She also taught me how to ride her motorcycle she bought during her early college years. The money she made as a professional negotiator was nothing to scoff at. She just liked being at home with me. I wondered what she would do after I was gone. Probably what she said she would do, drop me off home made meals, help the staff out, and start that art channel she always wanted to make. She would probably make a little money that way too. She’d have more time to join Father at parties. Though she’d never go to as many as he did. She wasn’t quite as much of an extrovert. Though she wasn’t an introvert like Beck. Jude was like me an extrovert I think that’s why we got along so well. I head out. A limo pulls out of one of our garages. I open the door myself, and get in. Immediately I click my camera app. I hit record.

“Hello my Starlets. How is everyone today!” My page’s name is just Reece Ire. My fans are called Starlets. I wave to the chauffeur. He presses a button, and the black widow rolls up so he does have to talk to me. “Ok. Rude.” I say. Not certain if I’m really annoyed, or just amused. I would have asked if he wanted to be in my video before posting. I wonder if he’s new. Most staff are used to my vlogging antics. I probably should’ve asked before, but now that I think about it. I guess I’m just not used to being surrounded by people who aren’t as comfortable on camera as I am. I’ll cut this part out. I turn the camera back to me. “I have news. My best friend has her Flaw Word. It’s Passive. Personally I don’t think that’s such a bad thing to get stuck with. What do you think I will get? Fill free to guess in the comments, and keep shining!” Both Beck and Jude have been in a couple of my videos, but I’ll text and ask her if I can post this vid just in case she doesn’t want people online to know her Flaw Word. When I get her approval, I post it before I can think to much of if it was a good idea to have people guess what my defining flaw will be for the rest of my life. They never change, or at least I’ve never heard of one changing. I suppose good things are like that too, and even flaws can be strengths if you know how to use them right, but is not our defining good thing that’s on our face as adults. I envy kids. Not having to worry about what kind of person they are deep down. That’s not entirely true though. Even then you show signs, you just haven’t developed your personality completely yet. So you might not be able to tell, but once you grow up. Once you get stuck with that word in your face. People can’t ignore your flaw, and nether can you. We’re a very judge on action based society. So if you never act on your dark impulses you’re good, but no one’s good all the time. Because of your Flaw Word people notice. It’s impossible to hide your flaw. Your dark side. It’s impossible for other people to ignore. And it’s impossible for you to ignore. Which is potentially worse, depending on who you ask. Everyone has flaws, but every one has different lines. Different standards, they hold friends do. Different standards they hold their favorite actors too. It’s the way of the world. You could hide it. Cover it with make-up. That’s rare though. People want to be on the same playing field. After all why would anyone hide something we all have. Worse draw a different one, but that one is very taboo. If it gets revealed people will think you a liar, a manipulator. Trying to make yourself out to be something you’re not. Because you would be. Pretending to have a different flaw, or hiding the truth everyone else shows. No one else is hiding who they are. I’ve never seen anyone who’s done ether that I know of anyway. Things have always been like this. As long as anyone can remember. Though some conspiracy theorist say there was a time we’re we don’t have Flaw Words, but no one believes it. I turn off my notifications. Something I almost never do. The sky is the same perfectly clear, deep dark blue as always. There’s one sun orbiting us, and at night two moons. We live on the red desert continent. The Sun City, the only city, is a large multi floored city. I can see the Dyson Sphere that surround the sun. Powering this whole place. Our continent is surrounded by other continents. Wild forest continents. I can see Venus, Jupiter, Saturn. Once upon a time you would’ve seen a fourth planet Earth, but a Sun destroyed it long ago. Long before we existed, that’s for sure. I turn back to the school building. It’s mostly glass. Clear and one way. With some metal architecture. It’s a sight. To my left is a sky scraper with a train running though. To my right, is a supply delivery truck delivering to a tall apartment building. A company that delivers basic supplies to every house a couple times a year. All the food, clothes, etc you need to survive. Even a small apartment is paid for once you turn eighteen as shelter is seen as a basic martian need, but I want to buy my own place. Something big enough to customize. Something perfect. That’s the dream isn’t it. I’ve already made a little bit of cash babysitting (honestly I didn’t really like it so it didn’t last long) then the second I was old enough working for different celebrities as their assistant. It was a nice way to make myself known. Start the connections early. I get invited to the best parties and galas, and some day I’m going to be an actress. A starlet. People think it’s because my father is a direct but honestly, I haven’t even seen any of his movies. We’re not very close. I just have a gift for acting. My first class is theatre. We’re doing a play called The Fall of the Moon Kingdom. A fictional character piece, about a flawed individuals fall to villainy. I got the lead. Cassie got my understudy. With the word, Jealous, scrawled on her face, along with her reputation, I know why she’s glaring at me. The next time I see my friends is lunch.

“Is Cassie still staring.”

“Yes.” Beck says.

“I should go over there and-“

“Do you think that would make things better?” Jude asks.

“No, that’s not the point.”

“What’s the point?” She asks.

“That she’s starting to piss me off. You should have heard what she said-“

“Take a breath.” Beck say. I do. His presence is more calming than the actual exercise. He’s cool, confident, and mello. It takes a lot to rattle him. The bell rings. Cassie comes over. Queue the scene.

“Hey Jude. Mind carrying my bags for me?”

“No.” Before she can take them I interrupt.

“Hey Cassie. I’m going to be working with my dad so would you mind being the lead role this time round. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it.” She blinks surprised. I see a glimmer enter her eyes.

“What?” She pauses. “Really?”

“Yeah. Thank you. You’re doing me a real favor.”

“Ok.” Slightly suspicious, but not willing to give up a gift like this that seemingly fell into her lap. Her parents will be proud, and she looks happy. At least for now she looks happy.

“Did you have to do that?” Jude asks.

“She’s going to be so pissed when she sees my video, and finds out it’s because my dad is trying to get me a lead role in his new movie.” I say. “And it will pacify her for now.” That’s all that matters. In the halls I open my locker checking my make-up in the mirror.

“Oh my word.” I say.

“What.” Beck asks worried. I take the magnetic mirror off my locker door.

“Look.” A dark blue word has appeared on his cheek. One word. Passive.

“We’re twins.” Jude exclaims excitedly. “It makes sense we do have a lot in common, and tend to face confrontation the same way I suppose.”

“Not just confrontation you do tend to be a very go with the flow, not take charge kind of guy.”

“So the opposite of you then.” He jokes. “Maybe you’ll get Assertive.” I could honestly see that. That would probably be it. I try hard not to think too long about what my Flaw Marks going to be. I don’t like how it makes me feel. Being face to face with the worst part of yourself. Unable to hide it. I notice Beck looks a little disappointed himself. Jude is oblivious walks to class.

“You ok?” I ask placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Passive. The sort of person who does stand up for himself or others. Who lets life happen to him. Who never takes charge.”

“You have me to balance you out. What else do I do but take charge. Of people, situations, life. I’ll stand so you don’t have too. And you did that one time. Remember you were so sad about how the frozen yogurt place you worked at was closing you stood up to the business man.”

“It still got closed, and I almost didn’t. It was really, really hard for me to do that.”

“That’s what made it such a cool thing to do. We’re all flawed. We all make mistakes. Wish we could do more. Be better. You’re passive, but that’s not all of you.”

“It’s a big part of me.”

“You could be worse.” I say. “I mean you could have gotten evil.” He rolls his eyes finally smiling. That’s an old creepy online tale. No one has ever, or will ever get evil. The idea is laughable.

“Thanks Reece.” He says. We go our separate ways. With school over I finally look at the comments on the video I posted in the morning, ready to pretend they don’t exist. Comments like, ‘You having a Flaw can’t picture it’, and ‘probably something like perfectionist’. Realized that non of them seem to be an insult to my character. People are either complementing me, or just playing around with there answers like most people do. They really love me. Calling me perfect. Occasionally people get to Words. I’ll probably get something like People Pleaser. Many people don’t like that kind of person, but that wouldn’t be such a bad thing to be stuck with in my opinion. That’s the problem with people, and flaws. There was no right answer for the most part it’s just people’s opinions, and perceptions of you. And people’s assumptions tend to be accurate. When your Flaw is something you can’t hide. I heart a few comments. Then put my phone into my dress pocket as I leave the building. I pretend not to notice Cassie coming towards me screaming something. I laugh. She’s completely forgotten about using my friends to make me angry, and I got under her skin. Two moons one stone.