"Three o'clock is a really late lunch," Jinn complained as Layla tossed a shopping bag onto the kitchen table.
After leaving the graffiti site, they had driven to Layla's house, a huge modern monstrosity located in the more expensive part of town. The whole house was spotless, though not really in a 'we're compulsive cleaners' sort of way, more of a 'we don't really live here' sort of way, and though I was curious, I didn't want to comment since that wouldn't be polite.
"Lunch is lunch, is it not?" Layla said, sitting down and taking out a steaming package wrapped in brown butcher's paper. Tearing it open, she revealed a steaming piece of fish nestled in a bed of potato chips. A visible aroma wafted around the room and my stomach gurgled quietly. It was clearly still sulking about her lack of breakfast.
"Feel free to use the plates and cutlery in the cupboards," Layla offered, gesturing at the pristine kitchen casually.
Dee got up with a sigh and got out a stack of plates, grabbing some cutlery on her way past a column of draws. Reaching the bench they all sat at, she passed them out, then scooped up a handful of chips and dumped them on her plate.
They ate in silence apart from the usual eating noises, and I was struck with the silence of the house. Usually at this point, Desmond and Charlie would've run in and claimed some chips, Cara would have at least come down for some lunch, and Aunty Lin would be in the thick of it, passing out plates and making sure everyone had enough before finally sitting down herself. The silence was a stranger I dare not disturb, lest I incur an unknown sanction.
"So, Jules," Layla began, breaking the silence with enviable ease, "you didn't make it last night."
It was a statement, not a question, and the silence stretched a breath longer than I was comfortable with. What could I to say to that?
"No," I eventually managed.
"What happened?" Layla said, voice shifting to something softer, and I was caught by her kind golden eyes.
"Cara caught me before I could leave with Jinn," I revealed, frowning, "She said she'd wake Aunty if I did."
"I really missed you," she said, and I felt her disappointment settle on me like a shroud.
"I really wanted to go," I protested, "I just couldn't when Cara-"
She cut me off, waving away my excuse with a shrug, "Don't worry about it. I get it; you were stuck. It happens to everyone sometimes."
I still felt like I should have gone. Why should Cara get to dictate my life anyway? Who gave her the right?
"Anyway, even though you weren't there last night, you can be here now," Layla continued, smiling, "anyway, I know you're nervous about joining the Pack, but you don't have to join to still help those people you saw the other day."
"How?" I asked, glad that she wasn't pressuring me to join.
"You know those messages Jinn and Oliver have been painting on walls?" Layla said, laying her hands flat on the table eagerly.
"Yeah," I said, glancing at Jinn, who hadn't said anything since Layla had started this conversation. He was focussed on Layla, but when he saw me looking, he turned to smile at me.
"Well," Layla said, "we're trying to raise awareness, but it's not working. The news isn't picking it up and people are losing interest. They don't realise how important it is! We need to do something bigger to get their attention."
"Like what?" I asked cautiously. It couldn't be too bad though, since everyone else was obviously supporting it.
"We do the same thing, but on Senator Jones' window."
"What?"
"No, think about it," Layla urged me, "The senator is the one with all the power, but how do they use it? They talk about opening meta schools to isolate meta teens from everyone else, they make it mandatory to register yourself if you're a meta, they allow prejudice against innocent metas who are just trying to live their lives! If we write the message on his window, not only will the news have to cover it, but he'll be forced to make a statement about what we stand for."
"What if he just thinks this means they should crack down harder on us?" I asked, worried. Violence incites more violence, isn't that what they say?
"Even if he does, that will just generate more sympathy for our cause," Layla explained, "and more metas will join us. The more his 'fair and equitable' farce fades, the more people will realise that he should be replaced with someone who has everyone's best interests at heart, not just normal humans'. Isn't that what democracy is about?"
"I guess," I said reluctantly, still doubtful that spray painting a message on the senator's door was the best way to advance meta rights.
"It's just a peaceful protest, it's not like anyone will get hurt," Layla assured me, leaning forward to look me in the eye, "You trust me, right, Jules?"
When I looked into her golden eyes, I was slightly surprised to say that I did. I did trust her. And that thought felt right.
"Okay," I said, smiling tentatively into her grin.
"Thank you! And don't worry, you'll just be a lookout. You don't have to do anything you haven't done before," Layla said, eyes bright with excitement.
This isn't bad, I told myself, I'm helping a marginalised group. Heck, I'm helping a marginalised group I'm a part of! And it's peaceful. No one is going to get hurt.
Author's Note:
I LIVE!
I bet you're surprised, it has been an awfully long time :) It seems that the less external pressure is on me, the less I procrastinate by writing fanfiction lol, so I guess you guys would like me to be stressed and pressed for time more often XD
Anyway, I'm working on some backlog, so updates could come more often (I've become wary of making promises about this), but I thought I'd post this as soon as I'd finished and so I wouldn't keep you waiting any longer than necessary (I didn't even edit, so forgive me my typos).
Wishing you a belated Happy New Year!
Trix