Author's Note

Special extra short chapter, because I feel if I tried to shoot for 1k words I'd just end up padding this.

Encounter

Crystal Clarity stared Neon Lights down. Tears were streaming down her face. Her mouth was open, revealing clenched teeth. She shook with rage as she held him close to her, her ragged breath the only sound either of them heard. "How could you," she all but spat in his face. Her tone was cold with fury. "I imagine you're thinking, 'But Crystal, you're a guidance counselor! Why are you doing this at Crystal Prep of all places?'," she said in acidic tone. "It's true that I'm a guidance counselor here..." she trailed off, seeming to calm down. "But I'm a mother first, above everything," she exclaimed, nearly shaking him. "Do you have any idea what you've put my daughter through, you son of a bitch," she hissed. Neon remained silent as he turned his head away from her.

"Don't you dare look away from me Neon Lights, or so help me I'll have you kicked out this school so fast that you'll have a career as a fucking janitor before you know it," Crystal exclaimed as she shook him angrily. "If you don't believe me, just ask Sugarcoat's ex!" Neon's eyes widened in surprise at her exclamation. "I said I'm a mother first, and I meant it," she said, still trembling with fury. "I'd sacrifice anything for her, but I suppose you don't know what that feels like."

Upon those words, something within Neon snapped. "How dare you..." he said silently, still in Crystal's grip. "You don't think I feel bad about it," he said as his voice and temper rose. "The very second I spoke those words...saw the look on her face, those tears in her eyes..." He felt a lump in his throat. "I knew I let her down. That I hurt the one I love." He sniffled, causing Crystal to loosen her grip on him. "Have you ever unintentionally hurt someone you feel so strongly for," he asked as tears of his own began to flow. "It's like poisoning both yourself and your lover..." Crystal gasped, and she released her grip on Neon. "I...I couldn't look you in the eyes because I was, and still am very ashamed of myself." His voice broke. "I still love your daughter very much, but I can't bring myself to talk to her," he said before letting out a small sob.

"Neon..." Crystal said in surprise.

"I can hardly forgive myself for what I did to Sugarcoat, and I can only imagine how angry she must be with me," Neon continued, desperately trying to keep his emotions in check. "The same goes for Sizzle. He's probably just as pissed as you are, if not more so..." He sniffled again. "And...and I can't blame any of you...I-I d-don't...I don't deserve her! I-I'm so sorry!" He put his head in his hands and broke, sobbing uncontrollably.

Crystal hugged Neon tightly as her tears began to flow anew. "I-I'm so sorry I doubted you...and I'm sorry I treated you so violently. Sugarcoat's not the only one with baggage from her previous relationship, it seems..." She sniffled.

The empty hallway was filled with Neon Light's muffled sobbing until the warning bell for first period rang.