The Rise - Chapter 22

“That’s so great to hear. I’m assuming you’re here to meet with Jessica?” said Mrs. Twint

“Yes ma’am, is she home?”

“She is, we’re actually about to have dinner.” she said pointing back into the house with her thumb

“Oh, sorry, I’ll come around later then-”

“No! Come on in, have dinner with us, it’s been a while.” she said grabbing Leon’s arm with her greasy hands pulling him into the house.

Leon scanned the house, he knew exactly where the kitchen was. He could smell the food – spaghetti with meatballs.

“Jessica! Tony! Look what the cat dragged in!” shouted Mrs. Twint into the kitchen

First Tony, Mr.Twint, appears followed by a stunned Jessica who locked eyes with Leon and her eyebrows burrowed into a slightly furious expression.

At the dinner table the Twint parents faced each other whereas Jessica and her little brother sat opposite to Leon. The Twint family closed their eyes and cupped their hands making a prayer before eating – Leon had almost forgot the ritual and quickly joined in.

The Twint’s were like Leon’s second family, which is why even though he broke up with their daughter after two years of dating in middle school, they still treat him like their own son. One of the main reasons why their relationship lasted so long was that Jessica’s parents would often intervene and help settle arguments between the two – it was the most unorthodox relationship, nothing was kept from them. Which is why the two felt comfortable talking about anything in their presence.

Jessica’s little brother, Carl, was inquisitively staring at Leon with every bite he took from his food.

“Who’s he!” said Carl tugging on his sister’s blue shirt. Jessica was a natural beauty that rarely wore makeup, she barely took time fixing her hair yet it was always perfectly messy. She had plump lips, light black hair with brown eyes.

“Just an old friend from middle school Carl” she said patting Carl on the head.

“I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you when you came to Unitare.” said Leon suddenly

“No Leon, it’s not that you didn’t talk to me, it’s that we didn’t talk to each other.” she said continuing to eat her food

“Do you know why I’m here?” said Leon

Jessica shrugs

“No idea” she said almost sarcastically

“It’s about my grandmother, why didn’t you ever tell me that you two met?” he said

“I met her after middle school Leon, we weren’t together anymore so I had no reason to tell you.” she said

“Why did she choose you? Out of all people.”

“I don’t know Leon. I won the presidential election at my old high school in my first year, next thing I know some man is at our door saying that Hilda Cottonwood wanted to meet with me.” said Jessica

Tony points his fork at Jessica with his mouth half full and says

“Your grandmother was nice enough to give Jessica a full scholarship at Unitare”

“Tony and I always thought it had something to do you with you Leon” said Mrs. Twint

“I’m not so sure about that” he said politely, then diverts his attention to Jessica “There was a catch, wasn’t there?”

“I have to win this election. My scholarship won’t get renewed if I lose, meaning I can’t graduate from Unitare unless I win.” said Jessica

Being from a poor family, Jessica understood the importance of graduating from a school like Unitare. Her dream of becoming a lawyer will become easier and it will open her to several elitist clients if she is able to network well with the students at Unitare, and thus their family businesses. This is her stepping stone to reaching the top of the food chain as a lawyer.

“And do you think that you’re the only one in the country that won a school election on their first try?” he said

“Are you saying she chose me for another reason?” she replied

“My mother had always tried to get me to run for the election, but I hadn’t noticed until just now that she was especially forceful around the same time when you came to school. Hilda was using my mother to try and get me to run, she needed me to run.” said Leon

“That doesn’t add up Leon, I heard from Hilda as soon as you ran, she told me nothing changes.” said Jessica

“That’s right, but that’s how good she is. Let me walk you through this. How many times have you met with Hilda directly after your first meeting?” he said

Jessica looks at her mother as she tries to remember.

“None.” she said

“Exactly, sixteen years of my life, I’ve never met my grandmother – she’s the most exclusive person to meet in the country. You have a better chance to land a meeting with the emperor himself. Yet as soon as I ran, I met with her immediately.”

“Which means she was waiting for you to run and had the meeting time allotted just for you.” said Jessica finishing Leon’s thought.

“She also made sure that I left that meeting believing two things, first – that she wanted me to run and second – that she’s supporting you behind the scenes.” continued Leon

Carl’s head was turning back and forth between Jessica and Leon as they seamlessly bounced the conversation between each other. Whilst the Twint parents were attentively listening.

“Hilda doesn’t need you to win, she only needs Sinclair to lose. She can’t trust George to win it because he’s got the biggest target on his back, but she knows that neither of us can win it alone. She chose you purposefully – because of our history.” said Leon

“Blood is thicker than water, your grandmother probably trusts family more than anyone else. And to you Jessica is closer than family” said Mrs. Twint

“Not anymore. Unless your grandmother still thinks were dating, this is terrible speculation on your part Leon. Even though I hate to admit that subconsciously, maybe I was more open to Hilda’s suggestion because she was your grandmother, but this is Hilda Cottonwood we’re talking about. Winning an election is child’s play for her, being undefeated, you think she needs us both to win? She would win if a wooden stick was running in my place.” said Jessica

Tony suddenly spilled his drink on his trousers. Mrs. Twint bursts into laughter and quickly gets up to dry the spill with her handkerchief, Carl points and laughs.

“She’s the smartest woman I’ve met, up until you told me how she chose you, I genuinely came here to ask that we work together without even considering that she set this all up. She’s not where she is because she’s some kind of divine figure that’s invisible, but because she knows what she can and cannot do and works around that. Running a proxy election through you is completely different if she were running herself, especially with the current situation of the election. You know as well as I do, winning alone is near impossible.” said Leon

“Sorry Leon. I only do as she orders. She didn’t tell me to work with you, so I won’t.” said Jessica taking the last bite out of her food.

“And if she did, would you have agreed?”

Jessica kept silent

“Exactly, she couldn’t ever tell you to do it, it would be like parents forcing their children to go on a date. It had to seem like it came out naturally – and it nearly did, until I figured this all out.” he said

“Well why did you tell me what her plan was if you knew I was less likely to accept? You could’ve pretended it was natural and you genuinely wanted to work together.” she said

“Because Jess, I’ve always been honest with you.” he replied

Main Note:

Leon went to a different middle school than Justin and Veronica, this was the school that Jessica Twint went to, this is why Justin and Veronica do not know about this relationship – however it was hinted at in Chapter 3 when Leon accidentally let’s it slip that Jessica “is a tough one”. As well as in Chapter 5 when Veronica tells Leon “he hasn’t dated anyone either” but Leon kept suspiciously silent.