Kara's POV:
That guy... Mr. Grayson, I guess, is gathering everyone. He has his blue suit and mask on. I honestly think he looks ridiculous, but hey, if he believes it'll get us closer to a counterrevolution, far be it from me to question it.
"My people!", he booms, "What are we gathered here for?".
Andrew raises his hand, "The counterrevolution!", he shouts so that everyone can hear.
"Yes, Andrew, that is our purpose. We will bring the world back to normalcy", he announces.
"Chant, I tell you, chant".
"RE-VERSE, RE-VERSE", the crowd emphasizes each syllable. Just like that first night. Everything's the same--except it's day and I'm here voluntarily (more voluntarily...).
I look over at Shawn and he's chanting will all his might. I never would have pegged him for a team effort kind of person.
He's obviously passionate about this cause. Maybe I should look into his point of view. His dad isn't around--for some reason concerning the initial reversal, I think. That must have had some internal effect on him. He has a reason to hate the society we're in now.
People are chanting different things now, running in circles, and hugging each other. The whole thing seems really warm and supportive. I know they mean well--but the government won't be so understanding. I don't want to witness what happens when shit hits the fan.
Shawn's holding my hand with his eyes clothes, swaying to the musical chanting. This time he doesn't yank away.
"Attention!", Mr. Grayson calls. "The travelers, these lucky three", he points to three men. "Are our saviors, who will be going back in time soon enough to change the world as we know it--again".
Three bulky men stood in the center, waving to the crowd.
So all we have to do is infiltrate that group somehow.
"My people, I want you to think about why you believe in our values--what significance they have to you", he says.
Shawn.
At least his situation. I'm not personally badly affected by the reversal, but I want to help protect those who are.
He does too.
Once the meeting's over, I'm certain. On the way to his car, I stop.
He turns around, wondering why I've stopped.
"I'm fully ready for this. I'm gonna commit to", I lean toward him and whisper, "the plan".
He smiles and says, "I knew you'd fully come around. And absolutely no blabbing to your mom or anyone else", he points.
"I know, I know", I roll my eyes. "I just think that meeting made me feel the warmth radiating from the group, the support aspect, the sense of togetherness--I love it".
"See", he raises his hands, "I knew you'd come to the light".
"Is the blue thing really necessary, though? Because it's not really my color", I say.
He just rolls his eyes. "Get in the car", he says before slamming his door.
"I'm hungry", I say as I sit down.
He rolls his eyes again.
"Again?", he asks annoyed.
"The last time was yesterday", I shrug.
"The last time you've eaten?", he asks shockingly.
"No, the last time with you", I say. "I thought we had a deal. I annoy you; you buy me food. Perfect relationship".
He laughs sardonically and pulls off.
We pull into IHOP (The International House of Pancakes), and immediately we're seated.
It's about 2 ish so I'm feeling like some lunch.
"Hmm", I hum, looking for a good selection for lunch.
He taps his foot. Weird.
Then a song gets stuck in my head and, of course, I start humming it. "Hmm-mm-mm", I continue.
He taps faster.
So he's annoyed by my humming?
I hum louder.
He stops tapping and looks dead in my eyes.
"Can you stop that fucking humming?", he asks bluntly.
"Maybe", I say in a singsong voice.
"Stop the humming, or I'm not buying you food", he replies. Noooo! This is an ultimatum I can't refuse.
"Fine", I pout. He looks back to his menu.
"Alright, I'm ready to order", he says, "Excuse me", he calls to our server.
We complete our order, and then we're back to silence.
"21 questions?", I ask, hoping to relieve the tension in the silence.
His face twists into confusion.
"Fine", he settles.
"Uhh", I start, but I can't think of a question.
"How do you propose this question-based game, yet you don't have a question?", he asks.
Good point.
"Here's one: you're not as lame now as I thought you were before we hung out more often", he says.
"That's not a question", I say bluntly.
He just shrugs.
"Well thanks?", I don't really know how to respond to that.
"You're actually less bitchy than I thought you'd be", he says.
"Really!", I raise my voice, "just pile it on, why don't you?", I chuckle.
He laughs, too. Before long we break into a fit of laughter.
Then our food arrives, and we have to compose ourselves to receive the hot plates.
He ordered pancakes. At lunch time. Weird. Just like ice cream at 9am.
"Why did you order pancakes, you weirdo?", I ask.
"Why did you order chicken tenders", he laughs, "so basic".
"Ha ha", I exaggerate.
Soon we're devouring our meals, and witty banter is reduced to content filled silence.
Once we're finished, we're back on the road.
"Uh, we passed the turn to my house", I say.
"We're not going to your house", he replies.
"Are you kidnapping me again?", I ask bluntly. I'm not even surprised anymore.
"No", he rolls his eyes. "You have my clothes, remember", he points to me. Oh yeah.
"Riiiight", I sigh. Thank God I'm giving them back.
"The fact that you're so comfortable in my clothing is alarming", he states, "We've been spending too much time together".
I chuckle. "Amen", I say.
We get to his house and go to his bedroom.
I instinctively pull the sweatshirt over my head.
"Whoa, whoa, bathroom's over there!", he shields his eyes.
Whoops. Forgot this isn't my house.
"Sorry", I squeal. I'm so embarrassed. I rush into the bathroom and change into my clothes.
I throw them on and rush out of the bathroom.
He's shirtless and wearing basketball shorts.
"Well, thanks for the change of clothes. I'm gonna go", I finish.
"Wait", he calls. Ah, shit. "I'm your ride, remember?".
What was I planning to do? Walk home? I never fail to embarrass myself.
"I remember now", I reply. "You look very comfortable, though. Not like someone getting ready to leave", I cross my arms.
"I can't be comfortable in my own house?", he asks.
"Not half naked", I say.
"Well, if I can recall properly, you were the one who tried to undress in front of me", he crosses his arms and stands up, towering over me.
He walks closer, slowly. I start to back up, but I bump into the closed bathroom door. Not closed properly, though, because I fall into it.
Thankfully he grabs my lower back, providing support.
"Ahh!", I shout.
"Shh!", he presses an index finger to his lips.
"Well, sorry, I almost fell", I squeal.
"You are increasingly clumsy and weird today", he says lowly.
We stay there for a while, with his hand holding me up, our eyes stuck on each other.
I can stabilize myself now, but something keeps me in this position.
I shrug his hand off my back and stand on my own.
"Thanks", I say with a small smile.
"Wanna hang out for a while before I drop you off?", he asks casually.
"Hang out?", I ask doubfully.
"Yea, we're friends now", he replies, "Turn on the TV".
"Where's the remote?", I ask.
"Find it", he shouts as he exits the room. What? Find it?
I open the drawer of his short bedside table. Bad idea.
A wad of condoms flies out, along with dirty socks, magazines, pencils, a pair of scissors, and a stapler. What the fuck does he need a stapler in here for?
He waltzes back in with two bottles of water. I just hold up a line of the condoms with a disapproving look.
"What?", he asks innocently.
I roll my eyes. "I couldn't find the remote, but I found all this extra crap in your drawer".
"We can use them, then", he says nonchalantly.
I-
What?
My jaw literally drops open.
"Relax, Vox, take a joke", he says, flipping through the channels.
I push all the clutter back into the drawer.
And I find something interesting. A diary. Cool Shawn writes in a diary. Interesting.
I know it's wrong, but I can't help it.
I sneak the diary into my bag.
He doesn't even notice as he's still looking for some football game.
I drop my bag and sit next to him on the foot of the bed. One minute, I'm zoning out on him talking about some famous quarterback, and the next I'm asleep.
I don't know where the time went.
"Sleepyhead!", He yells into my ear.
"Mhhmm", I grunt. What is wrong with him? Wait. I check my phone: 4 missed calls from Dad, 2 missed calls from Mom, and over 20 missed text messages. Shit.
It's 8pm.
How have I been here this long? I'm in so much trouble.
"I-I need to get home. I'm in big trouble", I shake my head and blink to focus my vision.
I just keep repeating "I'm in big trouble" over and over again.
"Calm down, what's wrong? You know you fell asleep for like the whole game right?", he asks casually.
"That's an understatement", I cry. "You don't understand my mom. She's crazy".
"Supporting this government as devoutly as she does, I bet...", he trails under his breath.
"I'm not joking!", I exclaim. "And if she figured out I was with you?", I touch my temples in frustration.
"Okay, okay, I get it", he rolls his eyes.
"I'm never going to hear the end of this", I cry.
"Alright let's go", he heads to the door.
"Wait!", I say sharply.
He stops in his tracks.
"Your clothes?", I ask.
"We're going to your house then back", he says lowly.
"Right", I walk closer, "Then my mom's gonna look in the car, and she'll probably interrogate you--shirtless--then forbid me from seeing you so...", I shrug. "Change", I reaffirm as he looks confused.
"Fine, fine", he throws his hands up.
I walk outside with my bag as he changes.
8:16pm
A minute later, he comes out with a jacket and keys. "Let's go", he says.
We basically speed to my house, and we arrive by 8:20.
The tension-filled silence in the car is truly overwhelming.
The lights are off in my house, but I know my mom's still up. Maybe I'm not in as much trouble as I think? It's summer, I'm 16, I should be allowed the freedom to go out without telling them and... who am I kidding? I'm screwed.
He taps on the steering wheel. I'm anxious, too. None of us say a word.
"I really hope you don't get into too much trouble", he says finally, "and that your mom doesn't lecture me".
Me too.
I nod.
I finally work up the courage to get out of the car, and step inside the house.
"Bye", I wave, "See you... when is to be determined", I say with a nervous smile.
Into the threshold I go.
I walk in and it's pitch black.
Nobody's on the couch; nobody's holding up text message receipts, showing the attempts of contact made.
This is the exact opposite of the night I snuck out to Jack's house in the 9th grade.
We watched movies and played video games--young teenage stuff. Before we got ourselves into such a weird relationship--when we were friends. I miss those days. Maybe we should have stayed friends because at least I could text him about how fucked I am.
But no, I just have an empty couch and the silence to accompany me. Dad's too passive to confront me about tonight, and mom's tired from work.
Tiana's gone back home or to partying or whatever the fuck she may be doing right now, Lisa and Kaylynn are at odds (I think), and I'm here.
I partly want someone to scold me because that means that I can think of this evening and tonight as anything other than enjoyable and fun. I should be scolded for this, right? I mean, I'd been unconscious for most of the time, but I was still in the wrong.
Shawn and I are getting closer and I'd hate to see it crash and burn--I don't know if I could lose another friend. Today was fun, but I can't help but feel guilty.