Disclaimer: Still don't own.
Warning, this chapter contains a acts of civil disobedience, along with beliefs that may not be shared by everyone. you have been warned.
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Robbie looked around, making sure the others from his synagogue were okay before stepping away. It was another hot day, and like so many others, he felt he needed a few minutes in the shade, with a cool drink, to refresh himself. "So, any word yet?" He asked one of the others. A short distance away, several others from his synagogue were working at salvaging what they could of a sun shade that had been torn down by the police before it was pointed out that they had a permit that included shade form the sun.
"You do realize, no one cares, right?" One of the girls from his church said. She was one of the popular mean girls from her high school, and the last time they'd spoken, she'd been presenting him with a list of why no decent woman would ever want to be near him, let alone dating. However, she was here, because even an admitted bitch like her preferred humane treatment to blind loyalty. Once again, some high profile Jewish parson had done something dicey, and despite most American Jews condemning such actions, anyone who questioned his motives were called antisemitic. Even this group, young Jews from around Hollywood, were protesting, and the press still acted like his faith, throughout the U.S., was united in supporting this man, just because he was Jewish, and supported a more extremist and militaristic approach to Israels government.
"Doesn't mater." Robbie said. "We're doing this so people know the faith, not okay with the hate that's being spread. I mean, how can someone who claimed to be a good Jew support that kind of…" His voice faltered.
"No idea." The girl said as she shook her head. "No idea." Her blond hair and statuesque body hinted at a very different ethnicity then her faith would indicate. Even her more petite nose, somehow natural, didn't fit the stereotype. Her grandmother was a convert. For a moment, she just looked at the gathering, members of a dozen synagogues gathered together to protest these cruel actions that cast a horrible light on their people. "Don't they know, after what happened to our people, you know, the holocaust, we got way into the whole never again stuff? Oh, right, they don't believe in the holocaust, just supporting anything that will plunge the whole world into chaos, so their god can come back, condemn us to hell, and reward them for the murder of countless innocents. All because they somehow were born into the right subset of their faith."
"Julie, calm down." Some tall handsome guy cautioned. Robbie knew that was Valentino, her brother, and that the boy had always been a bit reluctant to rock the boat. "We're here, doing our part, Just, lets protest a touch more quietly, cause dad, he does business with those people."
"And those people won't much care." Juliet shot back. "So, Robbie, any word from your school? I thought the liberal Hollywood types would support a protest like this?"
"They do." He insisted. "Only, the school, no real history of fighting public battles. Too many people trying to play it safe."
"Saw some Gothic type chick who claimed to go to your school." Val said. "Hot, but way dark. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd totally do her. But unless she was willing to convert, and lets just say, massive amounts of therapy, no way I'd want anything more from her."
"Wait, Jade's here?" Rob asked, now surprised.
"Wait, that psycho is here?" Julia wondered. "What about her hot boyfriend?"
"Didn't see captain hair." Val said. "But she's over there, with the small group of non-Jewish supporters."
"Think I should go over and say hi?" Rob wondered.
"Yea, cause you getting your lips ripped off, probably way funny." Juliet opined. "But yea, go let that psycho know we do appreciate her bring here. This protest, it's about more then letting the adults know we don't agree with some policies. It's about doing whats right." For a moment, she looked soft. "Betting no one at Sherwood would believe I care about anything other then being popular."
"I'd say it's tradition, but lets just say, the way we were raised." Rob noted. "Should I go get Rex?"
"Nope." Val said, looking to the small counter protest. "He has his opinions, and we respect them, even if we don't agree."
"He just creeps you out." The blond girl said. "But yea, go get him, cause we don't want ANY violence here. You know, even if it's just a mannequin, the press will blow it all out of proportion. But tear up our sunscreens, and what do they claim? Illegal barriers, or something like that. Maybe we were blocking the good peoples sun…"
Robbie decided Rex was fine where he was, in the care of a selfish man who knew Rob, and would make sure the puppet was returned once the protest was over. 'Besides, Julie is right, Jade'll just rip his arms off, again, and that would be bad press. Lets keep this legal, and while hardly quiet, peaceful. Yea, peaceful.'
"Jade, you made it?"
"Where's Vega?" The blue eyed girl asked.
"Not her fight." Rob said, as if that somehow excused what was happening.
"It's everyone's fight." Jade growled. "I just assumed, this was so much her kind of thing."
"Or maybe Charity begins at home?" The comedian wanna-be suggested. "Thing is, I know why I'm here. My faith, we preach the whole gospel of never again. Don't much matter who's being oppressed, we're against it. No, it makes sense why Juliet is here. I just, wasn't expecting you?"
"Why, cause I enjoy other peoples pain?" The dark haired girl wondered. "Only when they deserve it. Most of those people don't deserve this kind of… You know what? I don't have to justify my actions. Not to you, or anyone. I'm here because, to my twisted eyes, what that man wants to do is wrong. Don't much matter if the victims are indigenous people here in the states, or some minorities back in Israel, what he wants to do is ethnic cleansing. Wrong is wrong, no mater how you slice it."
"Where's Beck?" Robbie was looking around, making like he believed the handsome actor was there. Inside, he knew the Canadian just wasn't interested in getting involved.
"Claims it's not our fight." Jade said with a shrug. "So, I take it you and Juliet are an item?"
"She hates me." Rob stated.
"Sometimes, THAT kind of hate is hiding something deeper." Jade noted. "Trust me, when you see someone who hates with that kind of irrationality, and then, easily can work with you a moment later, it's hiding a real connection. That woman wants to have your kids."
'I won't tell Beck this.' Robbie thought, editing himself out of sheer self preservation. "Okay, the protest is gonna last another couple of hours. You gonna hang that long?"
"Like your group is gonna leave." Jade teased. "After, we should get something. Invite your girl…"
"I'll call Cat." Robbie said, stepping away.
"Yea cause she's funny when she's all jealous…" Jade's taunt was oddly refreshing, knowing that even in this protest, she was still herself.
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Thoughts? I wrote this a while ago, and just published it now.