May 2040
Kara's POV:
I wake up to find that I can't move. My legs and arms are tangled with Tiana's. I feel like a human pretzel.
And, my fingernails are jet black. How in the world did Kay get to them?! We all went to sleep at the same time!
It's 8:30!
If I show up to work late one more time...
I start to untangle myself from her, and dash upstairs to change into my work outfit.
I hop into my car, leaving Kaylynn and Tiana tangled on the couch--both with black painted nails--Tiana's gonna be pissed about that.
I clock in, and get ready to serve ice cream--at 9 am... again. What fool is ordering ice cream this early? Oh wait, I know one.
I on Instagram for a while until the doorbell rings.
I turn around and put on my employee smile, "Hello, how are you? What would you like today?".
"Wanna go for a drive?", a voice asks. What?
I look up to see Jack, and I know my face looks unimpressed. I was actually expecting someone else...
"No", I say flatly. "Order ice cream, or get out", I finish with a smile.
"Can I order ice cream and take you out on a drive?", he asks.
"No", I say.
I start to turn around, then, "It's important. I just need to talk to you--to tell you the truth".
I sigh, "Fine". Then, the doorbell rings again. Perfect timing.
I can already tell by the dark clothing and blonde hair: it's Shawn.
Saved by the bell... again.
"Hey, what are you doing here?", I ask.
"Uh, getting ice cream... at 9 am", he says, with a rare smile. "Ar-Are you working right now?", he stutters.
"It's literally a desert at this time, so I might as well sign out", I shrug. "How badly do you want that ice cream?", I ask, fully ignoring Jack, who's just staring blankly between Shawn and me.
"Not that bad", he admits. "I actually came to talk to you", he finishes.
"Oh", I mutter, "about...", I stare suggestively, as to say "that night when I walked in on that anti-New Worlders' meeting".
"Yeah, and other stuff. Just to hang out maybe?", he asks sheepishly.
Hang out? Victim and blackmailer... hanging out? Our meet-up at Andrew's party was just circumstantial, but intentionally hanging out with each other is different. It's almost as if we are friends? I won't get attached, I won't get attached, I won't get attached. Then again, one extra friend won't hurt. Deep down, I know he's not just one extra friend. Being affiliated with someone with his beliefs is dangerous in itself, and if I do end up exposing this faction, each member and everyone they know will be questioned.
I must look crazy, staring straight forward with an awkwardly wide smile. Jack is looking at my facial expression for an answer, and Shawn is as well.
"Sure, why not", I shrug. "I'm bored here, anyway". I head to the back to change into my regular clothes.
When I come out, Shawn is staring at his phone, and Jack is glaring at him--for what reason, I have no idea.
He shouldn't care about who I hang out with; we're broken up.
"So let's 'hang out'", I airquote, and exclaim with feigned enthusiasm.
He turns and leads the way to his car. We leave Jack frowning in the ice cream shop. Why is he so bothered?
As we're driving off, I turn toward Shawn, "So where are we going exac--"
"I'm sorry, I lied", he says, not breaking eye contact with the road.
Lied... about what exactly?
"Lied? Wha-What did you lie about?", I ask with my arms crossed.
He turns right, "When I said the next meeting is on Wednesday. It actually already happened today... at 7 am", he says, emotionless, "so, when you think about it, you wouldn't have made it anyway", he shrugs. I am literally fighting myself not to strangle this boy and kill us both.
"Are you kidding me?!", I scream, which causes him to cover his ears.
"I guess I'll be calling--", I start.
"My 'parents'", he airquotes, "don't care", he finishes with a shrug. What? I-? Grrr!--(my mind makes weird sounds).
I am so angry that I swear my ears start puffing out steam. I ball my fists tightly so that my knuckles turn white under my brown skin. I'm so infuriated, that my forehead starts to sweat. These are my tells: the things that usually happen before I smack a bitch.
I crisply turn to him, and my eyes shoot razor sharp darts through his, "Do you know how hard I am trying to not smack the hell out of you?!", I ask, rhetorically of course. I'm trying so fucking hard.
"I'm", he emphasizes, pointing to himself, "operating a motor vehicle, just in case you hadn't noticed", he points to the wheel. I roll my eyes so hard, I think they're going to fall out--like actually.
Why did he lie? Why did he string me on for so long? I thought we had a mutual agreement--he would take me to one meeting, and we could forget about all this. I was just curious, but now I'm angry because I feel betrayed. I mean, we're not close buddies or anything, but I thought we were at least getting along. Whatever, this is what I get for getting attached--but I'm not really attached... I'm... mildly attached?
I put my hands into a choking position, "This will be you when we pull over, Shawn", I seethe.
Waving his hands in feigned innocence, he says, "Ooh, I'm so scared".
"Where are we going?", I cross my arms. Suddenly my eyes widen and I glare at him, "Are you kidnapping me?!", I look all around frantically, "Did that weird guy in the blue suit and mask make you do this? Did you tell him about me?!".
"There are a lot of weird guys in blue suits in that place--you're gonna have to be more specific", he shrugs. Why is he so nonchalant about this? About everything?!
"I'm not fucking around, Shawn!", I exclaim.
"Alright, alright", he surrenders, "I'm taking you some place where we can talk about all this", he says genuinely.
"If you had just taken me to a meeting, like I asked, we could have already been done with each other", I say, "for good".
"That's the thing. I don't want to be done with you for good", he stares straight ahead.