Chapter Twenty Nine —
Control

"We have to be smart," Helena spoke, addressing the crowd that had gathered together in the church. "And not like children, not angry, not impetuous, not gullible. We have to mistrust easy sales pitches that life will be magically better. We can't allow ourselves to be moved by voices that speak only to our anger and frustration. Allie's not a perfect leader. No one is. But for the past five months, we've survived because she kept us together–"

The double doors burst open, the sound of the commotion interrupting Helena's speech. Luke trailed in with Harry and Lexie either side of him, Rosa following behind the three of them, firm looks etched over their faces, nobody daring to break character even for a second.

Helena's eyes darted between the four of them, her unsure gaze lingering on Rosa for a few moments before landing solely on Luke. "What's going on?"

"It's all right," Luke reassured as they continued heading down the church aisle, their forceful presence demanding everybody's attention.

"Luke, what's happening?" Helena pressed.

"Trust me," he replied.

Rosa began to slow to a stop as they reached the front of the church, each of them turning to address the crowd.

"I'm in the middle of–"

"It's all right," Luke repeated.

"What are you doing with Lexie?" Helena questioned, lowering her voice as she faced him. "Luke, why are they here?" She looked past him. "Rosa? What's going on?"

Luke stepped up beside her, turning his head to whisper quietly in her ear. "It's all right. Trust me."

Rosa avoided Helena's stare, not wanting to break the facade she'd been upholding. She stood closely beside Harry, watching as Lexie took a step forwards to speak.

"I'm sorry to do it this this way," Lexie began, hushing the confused whisperings. "But there isn't going to be an election."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, questions filling the air from everybody, including Helena, who looked back and forth between them all incredulously. "What?"

"Allie and Will have been arrested by the Guard," Lexie informed. "They're under house arrest right now for trying to steal the election."

"I don't believe that," Helena interrupted, her resistance briefly quelling the shocked gasps and whispers breaking out around the church. "Luke–"

"I heard them talking about it when they didn't realize I was in the room," Luke clarified. Rosa tightened her jaw, focusing her attention on the wall at the back of the room. She hated this. "But they control the ballots. They weren't gonna lose."

Naturally, the crowd began to let out shouts of protest and disagreement. Rosa took a step forwards, attempting to defend him.

"It's true," Rosa affirmed, her eyes slowly drifting over the rows of people in front of her. The entire room fell silent, quiet enough that Rosa could feel her heart beating furiously in her chest. "I didn't want to believe that Allie was capable of this either."

People began to whisper amongst themselves again, many still not convinced, but others beginning to turn onto their side, having put a lot of trust in Rosa since she'd been such a strong authority figure by Allie's side the past few months. In many of their minds, if Rosa wasn't on Allie's side anymore, something truly had to have happened.

Rosa wasn't sure how to feel about the power she seemed to have over people, especially in a situation like this. She liked to be trusted, and she knew that lying to everybody was going to damage that. But for the sake of the situation, she was thankful many believed her, and, truthfully, quite in awe.

"No matter what happened with the vote, they were gonna win," Luke continued, only to receive yells of protest from those who were still unconvinced. "I know. I know. I didn't want to believe it either."

"I think it's pretty clear that I was actually going to win," Lexie stated, raising her voice to be heard over the noise once more. "But because of how things have happened, I think it's best if Harry and I serve as mayors of New Ham together." She looked over her shoulder to briefly face Harry and Rosa, who had somehow moved even closer towards each other, their shoulders brushing as they stood side by side. "And we'll do so with Rosa's help, as an already experienced member of the council, one that all of you trust."

More shouts began to erupt, and Rosa did her very best to keep her eyes from focusing on anybody at all, but as her gaze flickered over the crowd once more, she found herself locking eyes with Sasha, the disappointed expression on her face causing Rosa's facade to slowly crumble.

"And then, as soon as we can, we'll hold an election for the rest of council," Lexie carried on. "Look, I know that it's not great, but it's the best that we can do right now."

"I don't believe you," Gretchen stated as she stood up in front of everybody, accusing, narrowed eyes looking between all of them. "You're lying, all of you. I don't know what happened, but you're lying."

"Look," Lexie began, walking over to the girl. Harry spared a glance down at Rosa, in slight concern for her as he watched her stare despondently into the distance, the muscles in her jaw clenched tightly. "Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I have no reason to lie. I was about to be mayor, just me, and now I'm sharing that with Harry, so..." she trailed off for a moment, turning to address everybody else as hushed whispering began once more. "Look, I promised that I would make New Ham a better place, and it will be." Harry took a step towards her, moving to her side, the two of them sharing a glance. "We'll get through this."

Harry couldn't help but look back to Rosa, nodding assuringly as he finally caught her eyes. She took a step down from the stage, not daring to even look at Helena, knowing she wouldn't be able to face it, as she followed Lexie and Harry out of the doors.

The three of them stood outside in silence for a moment, heads lowered as they slowly processed what had just happened. Rosa leaned against one of the pillars, feeling completely overcome with nausea at the thought of their lies.

All of a sudden, the doors flew open and Sasha stormed outside, grabbing the attention of the three teenagers. Luke and Helena hurried after her, but hung back several paces.

"What the actual fuck, Rosa?!" She snapped, stopping right in front of her. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Sasha," Rosa attempted to calm her down, her stomach tightening in knots as she began to realise the horrid extent to what she'd just done. She was going to lose everyone because of this. "Listen–"

"How could you do this?" She hissed, disappointment the clearest and most overwhelming emotion in her brown eyes.

Sasha had always looked up to Rosa, especially since they had arrived in New Ham. She was so passionate about what she believed in, and now Sasha was watching her turn against those very beliefs, and away from everything she'd helped build with Allie those past few months.

Rosa swallowed thickly, unable to meet Sasha's rightfully furious stare. "I–I don't know what to tell you."

Sasha stared at her silently for a moment longer, before turning to Harry and Lexie, who had been quietly joined by Campbell merely seconds ago. "I can't believe you would do this," she shook her head at them. "And you–" she snapped at Campbell, taking a confrontational step towards him. "I know you're the one behind it all. This might be the most monumentally stupid idea you've ever come up with. Lying about Allie stealing the election? I mean, come on!"

"Sasha stop," Rosa cut in before Campbell could respond, desperately not wanting her friend to get on the wrong side of him.

"Nobody is gonna believe you!" Sasha continued, raising her voice.

People began filtering out from the church, curious eyes landing on the commotion they were creating.

"Sasha, stop," Luke warned, attempting to move between them.

"Why?!" She bit back, side stepping Luke to move in front of Campbell once more. "Why are you doing this?!"

"Sasha!"

"Why are you–" Sasha whirled around, facing Rosa, her finger pointed at his chest. "Why are you lying to us?!"

"Sasha..." Helena trailed, but couldn't finish. It seemed like she didn't quite have the strength to argue against her.

Rosa wasn't entirely sure that Helena was convinced by their story.

"Sasha, just– just go home," Luke's words faltered, as if he didn't truly believe in them.

Sasha's expression dropped, the betrayal from the people she loved finally sinking in properly. "No," she ground out. "No, fuck all of you." Her gaze levelled on Campbell. "Especially you. This is wrong."

Rosa caught the way Campbell's expression hardened, quickly stepping in. "Sasha, listen–"

"No, you listen to me–"

"Sasha, I said listen to me!" Rosa suddenly snapped, her voice carrying a heavy, palpable weight through the air. Sasha's mouth clamped shut, the girl falling completely silent. The mere fierce firmness in Rosa's voice, the incredibly strong presence of authority surrounding her, finally made Sasha actually stop and listen. "This is what's happening, okay? There is nothing you, or anyone else, can do to change it. Nothing."

Sasha's voice nearly cracked. "This is...this is so wrong."

"You can choose– you can choose not to believe it," Rosa responded calmly, exhaling heavily though her nose as she collected herself. "But Allie betrayed us."

"Bullshit–"

"It's true," Harry defended, moving to Rosa's side. The two of them shared a passing look before he turned his attention to Sasha. "Rosa would never lie about that."

Sasha's lips drew into a firm line as she shook her head in disbelief at his words, harsh stare moving towards Rosa, before finally landing on Luke.

She started to move past him, but then stopped, leaning in closer. "I'm never going to forgive you for this."

Luke's stiffened at her words. Rosa caught sight of the pain visible in his wounded eyes. He opened his mouth to respond, but could form no words on his tongue, only simply being able to watch as Sasha shoved past them.

"Sasha," he finally managed to choke out.

Sasha turned around for a brief moment, looking at Rosa once more in disappointment, and then at Luke, her usually bright, hopeful eyes growing dark. "You're on the wrong side."

Rosa released a long breath as Sasha's words lingered heavily in the air. She remaining completely still, feet almost cemented to the ground.

"Well," Campbell started, beginning to move past them. He placed a hand on Rosa's shoulder, the single touch almost making her skin crawl, every muscle in her body tensing. "You did the right thing."

Campbell's gesture lingered for a few moments too long, forcing her to desperately fight back the urge to smack his hand away from her.

"Come on," he said, motioning his head towards all of them. "It's time."

Harry and Lexie began to follow after him, moving past Rosa, who remained motionless as she stared into the distance. Harry hesitated as he started to pass her, slowing to touch her arm, prompting her to look up at him.

The two of them watched silently for a few moments as Campbell and Lexie walked away. Helena interlocked her fingers with Luke's, the pair of them following on behind.

Harry's eyes remained solely on Rosa. "You okay?" He asked her.

"I'm fine."

Rosa knew only one thing – she knew more confidently than ever that she was completely and utterly on the wrong side.

When she returned home barely ten minutes later, using the measly excuse of retrieving her winter coat because she was cold, (honestly, it wasn't entirely a lie), she found that Sasha was waiting patiently for her.

Rosa took a tentative step into the kitchen. Sasha looked at her for a moment, before peering round the corner.
"You alone?"

"Yeah," Rosa responded, moving further inside.

"How did I do?"

"Convincing," Rosa answered honestly. "Seriously convincing."

"Well, I wasn't top of drama class for no reason," Sasha replied. Rosa offered her a weak smile, but Sasha's lips barely tugged in return. "Are you sure this is the right play?"

"I have to be," Rosa said. "There's no turning back now."

Sasha nodded, but the frown lines wrinkling on her forehead told a different story.

"I'm sorry you had to hurt Luke," Rosa added, genuinely. She could tell that the pain in Sasha's voice when she spoke to him was real, and the hurt was unbelievably clear in her eyes.

"I never thought he'd do something like this," she said, looking off distantly.

"I don't think he had much choice," Rosa replied.

Sasha's eyes almost glazed over with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, shaking her head dismissively at herself.

Rosa understood the way she was hurting. They both had made huge sacrifices to allow this plan to work. The toll it was going to have on them was already starting to weigh on their hearts.

"What do I tell Grizz?" Sasha asked. It was the question that Rosa dreaded most. It made her stomach lurch just thinking about it.

"He has to believe it." Rosa met Sasha's stare to convey the level of sincerity she wanted to get across. "His reaction needs to be genuine. That means I'm going to lose him, I know that."

"Rosa..."

"When the time is right, he'll find out the truth," Rosa concluded. "You'll tell him."

"And how will I know?" Sasha asked her. "How will I know when the time's right?"

"You'll know."

A/N

Almost gotcha with the Sasha thing hehe

In case anyone needs a reminder, the people in on Rosa and Allie's plan are Will, Glenn and Sasha.