Shawn's POV:
The excited look in her eyes says it all. She's not serious about this--she doesn't get the severity of the situation. We can't just up and decide to join--who are we kidding? She, who isn't even a believer, cannot up and decide to travel through time and change the world. That's not gonna happen.
"Are you nuts?", I ask in disbelief.
She sighs, "I'm serious, Shawn. We can really make a change--for the better".
"I just--", I start.
"Even I know this", she gestures all around us, "isn't exactly the perfect world". She sighs and looks up, "I've secretly known all my life". She tucks a braid behind her ear and continues, "I know that the chemicals they released 20 years ago were supposed to make our instincts and natural behavior change, but I feel like--I don't know--like I've", she pauses.
"Been like... naturally excluded from the whole thing?", I suggest. "Like you have totally separate thoughts from the mindless believers of this New World?".
"Yeah, just like that", she smiles; it's genuine but kinda sad at the same time. "I've just never talked about it--you know because everyone's so deadset on this mentality, which was created 20 years ago, and I never wanted to seem like an outcast. I don't believe in the whole put women on top of men thing, honestly", she admits. Why had she threatened me before? Why argue about the issues of this world? Maybe she's just so used to the brainwashing--she doesn't recognize the difference between society's laws and her own thoughts.
"So we agree with each other?", I ask slyly.
"I would never agree with you if it wasn't serious", she points, "This is serious".
"You should join us", I say sincerely. It's not about blackmail and threats anymore. We both want better things for society--for our world.
"I-", she pauses.
"I'm serious, Kara", I add. "We could make some real change happen. And even though the idea of traveling through time and changing events that could alter earth as we know it is crazy as hell, we have to try", I shrug. This time I'm not being sarcastic. This means a hell of a lot more to me than being second rate to females. It means maybe seeing my mom or my dad again... it means more for me, even though it may be just a summer project for her.
Kara's POV:
He's right.
I've always been silent about my beliefs, but a full reversal is plain wrong. The system of blatant misogyny that we had before lasted hundreds of years—this one has lasted for twenty. With so many supporters and twenty good years behind the New World, I would never think we even had the slightest chance of changing it. Maybe we do.
"Okay. I'll join", I release a deep breath.
He nods but maintains the silence, looking out his window.
I tap my thighs to at least have something to do in this eerie silence.
"So", I start, "does this 'faction' have some type of initiation or something?".
He laughs while staring out the window... he laughs.
I cross my arms, "What's so funny?", and finish with an eye roll.
"I wouldn't call it a faction", he emphasizes, still chuckling.
"Okay, what would you call it?", I ask.
"A um... I would call it a...", he thinks, "A—"
"A what?", I snap.
"An advocacy group", he settles, crossing his arms.
"An advocacy group?", I ask, unconvinced. "Well how exactly do you advocate for changing the entire structure of society?", I ask.
He has no reply. Haha.
"The point is", I start, "How do I join?", I ask.
He shrugs in thought, "I don't know. I guess you'll come in, and I'll introduce you... et cetera".
"How did you join?", I ask.
"I found a flyer", he replies. A flyer?!
"Are they really putting up fliers for a counterrevolution faction? Really?", I ask, bewildered.
He just shrugs in response.
"So it's settled", I nod.
"It's settled", Shawn replies. "What now?", he asks.
"You return me back to town so my parents don't think you've kidnapped me", I say with a smile.
"Oh yea... almost forgot we were out of town. Your yelling is distracting", he says. My yelling is justified.
"I'm hungry", I pout.
He raises an eyebrow.
"Hey, you at least owe me some food", I cross my arms, "What with all the kidnapping and yelling that's gone down in the last couple hours. You know it takes a lot of energy to--"
"Enough said", he raises his palms. "Let's feed you so you can stop being annoying", he returns his sardonic smile.
"Hey, I'm not annoying!", I frown.
Shawn makes a chatting motion with his fingers, and I laugh but it's not genuine.
After about 20 minutes, we head into town and see more familiar buildings, streets, and parks.
"Ooh, right here", I point. He just stares straight. "Right-Right here!", I start to poke him.
"For the second time, I'm driving", he barks.
"Damn, calm down", I say lowly. "I just want some Chipotle".
He eventually turns into a Wendy's. Not what I wanted.
"Ugh, I said Chipotle", I pout.
"There you go, being annoying again", he says.
"Shut up".
We both order medium Baconator meals and strawberry lemonade.
"You are such a copycat", I snap.
"I ordered mine first", he says with his mouth full, so it sounds muffled. He has a good point.
We eat for a while and I guess I'm going at my burger a bit ferociously.
"Calm down, it's not going anywhere", he laughs after looking at me in horror for a while.
"Except down my throat", I joke.
We make eye contact and laugh so hard my burger almost comes back up... I guess it is going somewhere.
We finish up, and throw away the garbage--and then the real horror begins.
I slurp up the last gulp of my lemonade, but the condensation makes the cup slippery... and it gets away from me.
The plastic cup lands, and like a bomb, it explodes. Strawberry lemonade splashes the plastic floor mats, the passenger seat, and the passenger door. Ah shit.
Shawn is fuming: like smoke in ears, turning beet red, tapping his leg to cope fuming. I have definitely fucked up.
"I-", I start.
"What's my number one rule when it comes to my car?!", he growls--it sounds like a wolf is in the car.
"Well", I draw out in a high pitched voice, "I didn't know we established the rules of your car yet", I shrug.
"Kara", he warns. This is one of the few times he's actually referred to me by name, and it's laced with contempt.
"Sorry, sorry", I apologize. "It was an accident, I swear", I frantically look around for napkins.
"Shit, we didn't get any napkins", he shows me the empty grease-stained bag.
"You think it'll stain?", I ask.
"It better not", he says, looking straight at me.
"With how strict you are about your car rules, why don't you have napkins or wipes in here already?", I ask.
"Well, nobody's stupidly poured lemonade all over my car before", he mutters.
I just roll my eyes in response.
"Drop me off at my house, and I'll just get some cleaning supplies and fix", I look around the front seat, "this".
"Deal", he slaps the steering wheel, "I get a cleaned car, and to get rid of you at the same time", he says sardonically.
"Haha", I say loudly. Then I get a text from Jack.
I'm coming over to your house, he said.
What? Is this about "telling me the truth"?--Or whatever he said? Can he just get over the breakup already?
I leave him on read.
"Shit", he's looking at his phone, "My mom needs me to help her with something", he says. "We have to stop there first, and you", he points at me, "can clean this mess up there". Yay.
He pulls out of the parking lot and swerves into traffic. This thing must be urgent because he's just an inch above the speed limit.
"Hey, I've never met your dad", I say. What did he mean when he said they wouldn't care about his involvement in a counterrevolution faction?
"Me neither", he replies.
His mom clearly looks like she wouldn't care. With how relaxed she was, slumped on the couch, she probably doesn't have a care in the world--except for Shawn.
Silence again.
"What does your mom need help with?", I ask--I'm just bored.
"Just stuff", he says. Very specific.
We pull up to his house and he backs into his driveway, doing that looking behind with his arm over the passenger seat thing--you know the thing. Somehow it's not the same as romance novels, though. The frustrated look ruins it.
He gathers his trash and hops out, slamming the door.
As he unlocks the front door, he looks confused, "What are you doing?".
"How am I going to get the cleaning supplies?", I ask with one eyebrow raised. I'm standing right behind him, wondering what the hold up is with unlocking the door.
"Ju-Just", he looks through the peephole, "stay by the car and I'll bring the stuff out, okay?".
I just cross my arms. Why is he being so damn difficult?
"Okay?", he emphasizes.
I throw my hands up in defeat, "Fine. Weirdo". He raises an eyebrow with one last glance at me before he heads inside. I've already seen the house.
After about 10 minutes, I start to worry. Why wouldn't he invite me inside--after I've already seen the house? Like there's nothing left to hide. Plus, he needs to get more comfortable if we're going to change the world together, we have to be comfortable with one another right? To an extent, at least.
I give up. I'm going in. Definitely not prepared for what I saw next.