July 2040
~Next Week Friday~
Kara's POV:
Tonight is the night. We will finally go through with our plans, and I don't feel an ounce of guilt.
Just because Shawn and I were the only ones to figure out how fucked up this all is, it doesn't mean it's any less fucked.
We've been talking a lot this past week--going on little food dates, shopping, any situation where we could hang out together really. I would go grocery shopping with this guy if it meant we could walk around in each other's arms, occasionally staring into the other's eyes and thinking about how much we like each other. I'd seen the sides of him that he usually concealed, and I love being that special person that he could confide in at times.
Maybe he was right... I am one of those people? I try not to get too mushy around him, but it's all still going on in my head.
To my parents, he's my "friend." They don't know exactly what I do when I hang out with him, which is perfect because I'd have been sent to Hawaii weeks ago.
He makes everything interesting... how the hell have I gone my entire school career without talking to him for more than 30 seconds or so?
Even now, he makes a normal phone call and I'm grinning the whole time.
"I have to get in the shower. Make sure you start getting ready for the gala. Call you back?"
"What, no invite?" he pouts on FaceTime.
"No," I say flatly.
"I've seen it all before," he smiles.
I blush like crazy... the bright red comes through my brown skin. He has seen it all... and I'm comfortable with that.
"Hang up," he says, still smiling.
"No, you hang up."
He actually hangs up...
Then a text message pops up: "I'm not doing the mushy back and forth."
I laugh out loud. He's probably saying "No, you hang up" to himself still. I know he wanted to.
I get in and have a bubble bath. Later, while drying off, I apply some coconut scented lotion and perfume to my skin. My hair is already braided into an updo for tonight.
Someone suddenly knocks on the door. "Come in."
She gasps, "You look so beautiful. If only you'd stop wearing clothes that aren't flattering to your--"
"Mom, please help me put this on," I gesture toward the sapphire necklace.
She closes the clasp and runs her hand over the shiny emblem.
Then a familiar sadness forms in her eyes. It's not outrightly sad, but I can tell that something... less than pleasant is going on in her head.
"You okay?"
"Yea-Yeah, it's just you're my little girl... now somewhat of a young woman," she wraps me in an emotional embrace.
Something's definitely going on...
In the last week, she's been extra clingy, inviting me to work, spending time with me in the house, doing chores with me... chores.
Why is she... coddling me?
"Remember I told you that my friend Shawn is going to be my plus one?"
She looks down, then nodding reluctantly, "Yep. I have to get ready and check on your father. Are you driving yourself and Shawn?"
I nod yes. With that, she exits.
No snarky comment, no extensive questions about him, no pregnancy tests... what the hell?
I never thought I'd be complaining that she hasn't been completely repulsive lately... but that means something is going on.
"I'm ready," he texts. I could feel the excitement overcoming me as I clutched my phone, staring at the text.
I rush down to the car, quickly saying goodbye to my parents. For some reason, they were huddled together, whispering, as I came down. They stopped when I said bye.
When I get to Shawn's house, he's coming out, dressed nicely in a sleek suit, with a tie, matching my dress. He remembered.
"You look hot," he exclaims as he approaches the car.
I smile, "You, too."
Then we stare at each other's outfits for a while. I can tell we're both thinking the same thing... well I'm thinking one thing: I want to rip his clothes off.
But I remember our mission. Clothes-ripping may commence at a later date.
"Let's go," I turn toward the road.
"You've stolen my job as chauffeur in this relationship."
"Sorry," I say insincerely.
Not sorry.
We arrive at the White House shortly. It's kind of funny that this charity gala--for world hunger--usually has a big ass buffet, with leftovers that inevitably end up in the trash after.
Well, not funny, but sad and ironic...
He gasps at the extravagance. I know, this is what the government spends our tax money on.
I can spot President Carrington shaking hands and smiling... kissing babies. We were all under her spell... most of us still are.
"You ready to put on the best performance of your life?" I ask.
"100%."
"I should probably tell you that all my old friends and Jack, etc. will be there. That's mostly because their parents are work friends with mine," I add.
He nods, "Of course."
What can I say? We were used to going to these events together. That's how we all bonded as children. Our parents drank and danced the night away while the valets and waitors watched us.
That seems like so long ago. Now, I'm going as an imposter, infiltrating the system.
One of the valets takes my car, while Shawn and I head inside. Before we even get far inside the ballroom, some shifty behavior is going on to our right.
He subtly points, "They look a little suspicious."
It was Lacey and Jack's dad, shuffling into a side room. They were looking around... to make sure no one noticed they disappeared together, I guess. I wasn't even aware Jack's dad knew the president directly.
Lacey's POV:
I nudge him into a small room to the side. Hopefully no one notices us. Harry is my employee. This just looks unprofessional. Little did they know, our relationship had never been professional.
I take a deep breath, "I found our... kid."
He crosses his arms. "The kid I didn't know about?"
"Yes, that one," I reply curtly. "It turns out he lives near here," I say.
I look for his response, and he's getting a little pissed.
"Where, Lace?" he asks bitterly.
"Maryland, right on the edge of DC."
He sucks his teeth and throws his head back in annoyance. "So you mean to tell me my son," he seethes, "has been walking around us, outside of his rightful home, this whole time?"
He's visibly getting angry. I sigh, at a loss for words.
"Nothing to say, huh?" he punches the wall.
"Shit, Harry," I hiss. Where is his submissive nature?
"Use our taxes to pay for it," he says as he slams the door shut.
I haven't talked to those bright blue eyes for a long period of time in over a decade and a half. It's my fault. I broke it off after I gave birth. I couldn't look at him the same afterward. Plus, he never loved me. Our relationship would be bound by a pregnancy... that's not what I wanted. Playing the step-mother, baby mother, and wife to an unhappy husband while running the country? Definitely not what I wanted. There was Jack to think about... he's a walking reminder of what I did twenty years ago.
Kara's POV:
We sit down at our name tags and watch the pretentious rich people buy things to provide extra meals to the hungry. Why couldn't they just donate without having a huge party and be tricked into buying things?
I asked mom this once, but she just shhhed me and bought me a music box.
I look over to Shawn to make sure he's having fun... as much as he could have at least.
I so desperately want to give him a small kiss, if only just to claim him as mine in front of Tiana's ogling eyes.
He catches me glaring lightly at her. "Don't feed into that," he says softly. When did he become the rational one? There's no reason for me to be jealous, but Tiana is persistent. Anyone she's wanted, she undoubtedly has gotten. And I know she wanted Shawn.
I turn straight to see Jack, Kaylynn, Lisa, and Tiana in front of us.
"Anything you all need?" I ask in my customer service voice.
This seems like an intervention.
"Why are you here with him?" Kaylynn asks.
"He's sitting right here," I roll my eyes.
"You painted my nails, remember?" Shawn asks her expectantly.
She acts like he's not ringing a bell. "Anyway, we know the lies you've been telling her," Kaylynn turns her attention to him.
He looks to me, and I don't know what to do but shrug. "What lies?" he asks her.
"Telling her not to trust the New World, when this is the ideal world... what we've always known. You took her to your anti-New World faction and fucked her up."
I'm surprised at her fervor.
"We're just trying to have a decent night. You've all proved to be untrustworthy... in several ways. I don't feel like being around you. So, would you kindly get the fuck away from our table?" I ask in a kind tone. Really, they were all pissing me the fuck off.
"Kara, please," Jack pleads. If he thinks that tone will win me over... not anymore.
"Go," I assert.
He sighs and mutters a "fuck you" to Shawn. Shawn just raises his middle finger with a subtle smile.
For some reason, that was so hot.
Harry's POV:
Lacey just... fuck!
She chooses now... well into the boy's life to tell me about him? How could she--
Whatever, I need to collect myself before giving some upsetting information to Isla.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a second? It's important," I whisper.
She nods, and I lead her to a secluded area. What I have cannot be taken lightly. My suspicions were correct.
"Before I say anything, just watch this video."
She nods suspiciously.
After the security footage ends, I ask her if she understands what's going on in the video.
She rubs her forehead, "My daughter was at this building with her friend Shawn..."
"They were at the site of a bust I conducted. An anti-New World faction regularly met at an abandoned apartment near my neighborhood: this is it. I thought we had everyone, but Kara and her friend escaped." I sigh, "I suspected her well before the bust, though. She never seemed to fully support the movement in the way the others did... I was sure she'd be at the bust. Turns out I was right."
"Congrats. My daughter is a traitor to our government and you were right... con-fucking-grats," she spits.
Kara's POV:
This whole thing seems even more awkward than ever. After that little spat, I feel kind of embarrassed for how they acted, for formerly having friends that acted like that.
"I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for," he checks his phone. "We should be getting ready soon."
I look at his time. He's right. Showtime.
We get up, and I direct him to the media office, where mom showed me that day.
Tiana's POV:
"Mrs. Vox, Mrs. Vox," I call. "They're going that way. They can't be up to any good."
I'm totally concerned for my friend.
Her mom nods and follows the lovebirds.
"Come on," Jack grabs my arm and directs the others in Mrs. Vox's path.
Kara's POV:
"Here," I point. "You got the--"
He lifts the device with a smile.
Before he can press the buttons, Tiana and company stroll in.
What the fuck?
Quickly, he shoves it behind his back, but the location and time are already entered.
"Stop right there."
"What?" I ask.
"We're getting you help... and away from him," mom spits the word "him."
Then, two more people enter: Jack's dad and President Carrington.
"What's going on in here?" she asks.
No one knows what to say.
Her gaze finally lands on Shawn, and her face almost falls. Not breaking eye contact with Shawn, she walks up and studies him. Her face displays some sincere emotion that's hard to describe... it's mixed with a little sadness.
"Is this him?" Jack's dad asks in a faltering tone, moving toward Shawn.
President Carrington just nods solemnly, "This is our son."
I look toward my boyfriend with a panicked expression. Are they going mad?
He remains emotionless, looking toward me, "Let's go."
I give his hand a squeeze, and we're off.
December 31st, 2020
Terra's breathing fast and hard. "Thank God, you two are here. I've been trying desperately to get out of that party. I was literally kissing the feet of the woman that fucked my boyfriend."
Shawn and I are staring blankly at each other. My parents and all of our social circle know about us... and our plan, or at least our broad ideas. His parents had admitted to being his parents? Half of me convinced myself that they were drunk and confused, while the other half figured it was true. Who would lie about something like that?
I break from the stare, "Uh, what?"
I'm just registering what Terra said.
"Wait, who's your boyfriend?" Shawn inquires.
"You wouldn't know him."
"I'm really curious," Shawn persists. How the fuck would she know who we know? We're from the future. The fu-ture, I emphasize mentally.
"His name is Harry... Harry Kerry. His legal first name is Harold."
Fuck.
Realization hits us both.
"And who was 'fucking' him perse?" Shawn asks.
"Lacey. Your future president," she huffs.
Double fuck.
"Look, I really don't want to mull over this now. Let's do what you two came to do."
I can see the hurt in his eyes. His mother, who left him right after giving birth, was the woman he villanized for years... the one he blamed for creating an institution which allowed his mother to leave... was his mother. That's a mindfuck.
She holds up a vial of the equality chemical and loads it into a machine.
"You two ready?"
We nod in unison. He pulls me closer and kisses my forehead.
We walk over to the machine as Terra programs it. Instantly, the new chemical floods the streets, the air, everywhere. We're seeing the change firsthand.
He leans down and kisses me softly. This is like New Years... oh wait.
"Thank you for this. The future's going to be better because of you."
Terra nods with a warm smile.
He presses the buttons on the device once more, and the bright light sends us through time.
The End.