t h i r t y : unfinished business

Ferguson's Correctional Facility, HI

"These fucking people, I swear," an officer claims.

"Hmm?," his partner looks up.

"They should all be in prison."

"Not this again," officer McNevin sighs.

"Dude, you worry me sometimes."

"Why? Because I'm not pro-violence and wrongful incarceration? Sorry," he finishes sarcastically.

"No, because you seem anti-Reversal lately."

Officer McNevin straightens. He knows that just an accusation can get you shipped off to... well, a place like this.

"I-I'm, of course I'm not," he says defensively.

"Look over there. Prime example: some women, men, and kids busted from an Anti-New World group, and they're getting let free," the other officer spits.

"They weren't convicted of anything. I heard someone called it in, and they're being let free because... I don't know, you can't fully prove that they're a part of a rebellion."

"Hmmph," he grunts.

A few feet in front of them sat Andrew, Mr. Grayson, and company.

"Thank you, Andrew. We greatly appreciate your representation," Mr. Grayson says earnestly. Of course he barely knew Andrew, one of the group's sworn-in members, but the gesture was still appreciated. Andrew's dad, a man in high places apparently, got them all off. No prolonged "education" in Hawaii. Andrew could imagine his father's disappointment, but he couldn't let the group suffer. He's a team player, especially because of his spot on the high school Men's basketball team, and a team player advocates for all. This is also the reason why he hadn't ratted out the two people who went missing. He wondered where they could be now. Home, in another facility, in hiding?

Kara's POV:

"I-I," he plants more kisses. "I don't know what you mean," I say innocently.

His tongue stops.

Looking up, he says, "I mean tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it."

My eyes widen. Oh, he wants me to describe it. I-

"I'm... I think," I pat his hand, "that we should probably stop."

"Let me guess, you want to pretend like this never happened," he sighs. Not necessarily.

"No," I smile, "I just don't want to go that far."

Sighing, I continue, "I don't want to do other stuff." Funny how I don't feel up to sex now, with someone who's more than willing. But I guess that's the problem.

Surprisingly, that towel hasn't moved an inch.

He nods slowly, a little confused. I feel so exposed now. I pull my sweatshirt down. The mood's fizzled out a bit.

"Shit!," he runs his hands through his hair.

"What?"

"Just something I forgot to do. Don't worry."

He goes over to his phone. This is officially awkward. Or am I making it awkward?

After a little while, he returns, "I just had to cancel something."

"So, I think the problem is we want different things," I settle.

"I like you, you like me—but don't want to admit it."

"I can admit it. I think what just happened is proof."

He shrugs, "I just don't know where the distinction begins."

"You want a short-lived friend with benefits thing, and I'm more of a relationship girl. I think we've established that."

"I think that if we're enjoying each other and having fun, that should be that—why make it difficult?"

"How is a relationship difficult?"

"Do I have to use my many examples?," he asks smugly.

"We're different people than your examples. If you actually like me, why would you want to be with other people?"

"If we agreed to be exclusive, that would be one thing. But, the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing... Just the sound of introducing you like that to someone makes me gag."

"Oh," I look down. I make him gag.

"Not-Not like that. I mean, that title. It just brings too much pressure."

"I think I get you."

"You do?"

"Yeah, bye," I say in a high pitch, collecting myself to leave.

"No-No," he grabs my arm, "I want you but not with any specific title. Let's just be... us. You know, like we've been doing," he smiles.

"But with kissing," I giggle.

"Yeah, that too," he smiles, going in for another. Okay, I think I can get used to this.

He rests a palm on the side of my neck while carrying on a more passionate makeout session, like when we first got up here. He reaches his other hand up my sweatshirt, palming my chest once again.

I pull back, "How long have you wanted to do this for?," I smirk.

He rolls his eyes, "Shut up," and he continues the kiss.

This is great, but the pit in my stomach is ruining it. I have to come clean.

"I need to tell you something," I say.

"Hmm?," he grazes a finger up my side.

"It's kinda serious, and I don't want you to take it the wrong way. Well, not serious serious, but"

"Spit it out, Kara."

"I may have done a thing..." 

He nods, "Okay..."

"I took your diary out of that drawer," I point. I say it all in one syllable. Even after all my fast talking, this is my record time. I'm searching for his reaction. His face is a little blank; he's taken aback by my declaration.

"What?," he laughs. Okay, not what I was expecting. "Do you have it with you? I was looking for it the other day."

"Huh? I thought you'd hate me... why this nonchalant reaction?"

"I had my suspicions," he bites his lip.

"Okay, what would make you think I took it? Why?"

"How about you start with telling me your reasons," he laughs.

"Well, I saw it that night that we watched some stupid football game," he rolls his eyes, "I don't even know what compelled me to put it in my bag... I guess I was just curious. It's not a good explanation for stealing, but I hope you won't hate me as much as I thought you would in my head."

"I don't hate you at all, weirdo. I feel the same. It was an old journal... from like Freshman year or something. The most harmful thing in it was like an entry about the Anti-New Worlders. But otherwise, I couldn't care less."

"Phew. Shit. But you still think I'm weird?"

"Yep, definitely."

"Okay, just making sure," I giggle. "I never even read a word of it. I felt such immense guilt after taking it, so I was going to return it at the pool party, then..."

"Then?"

"Tiana took it."

Silence.

"She..."

"It was in my duffel bag, and she took it."

"I don't understand..."

"She's blackmailing me. She said that she'll return the book if I get her a date with you."

"Wow."

"Yeah," I click my teeth.

"Tiana is literally the worst friend in the world."

"I know. She was my bestfriend. Not anymore and never again, after finding out all the shit she's done. Fuck her."

"I mean, like she's the worst. The absolute worst. The..."

"I get it. She's a fucking horrible friend and person. I guess I overlooked her general terrible disposition because... I don't know, I still saw my bestfriend in that shell of a human being."

"At least you realize she was fucking horrible overall," he laughs.

I scowl, "You know, you should really put on some clothes. I cannot take you seriously this way."

"Oh, please. You like me this way. You're practically salivating."

I cross my arms. "Fine, fine. As you wish," he smirks.

He returns in some boxers—and that's it. This is worst than the towel.

"Do you know how badly she treated," he looks up in thought, "literally everyone in school?"

I nod slowly.

He rubs on some deodorant, "You thought it was acceptable."

"Well..." I shift from side to side on the bed. He lifts an eyebrow after a while.

"I thought it wasn't me. I thought that I could see the real her, and that the fake person she appeared to be around mean girls and lesser known students was just... not her."

"But when it finally happened to you..."

"Yep."

"So we've established that I'm 100% not going on this fucked date with her?"

I rub my chin. "I mean, her leverage over you is gone since you told me."

"What if she read some of it?," I blurt. "What's the worst thing in it, again?"

"Just some stuff about the Anti-New Worlders."

I nod. "A few entries about you," he blurts out quickly.

I look up sharply, "Huh? Me?"

He shrugs sheepishly, "Yeah, but mostly about how annoying you are," he smiles.

"Aww. That's so cute."

"It's not cute," he buries his head in a pillow, "I was pissed when I wrote some of that stuff, so I'm glad you didn't read it."

"So, being us, are we seeing other people or... because I'd rather stay exclusive," I straighten.

"If you don't want to see other people, we won't."

"But by no means is this a conventional relationship," I say.

"No means."

"And with that, I have some rules," I smile.

He sighs, "Okay, give it to me."

"Absolutely no PDA or talking about anything romantic around family or friends."

He nods. "This isn't about being embarrassed or anything, just that they'll ask too many questions and probably be suspicious about other things that we will be doing."

"Like sex?"

"No," I blurt out... a little too quickly. "I mean, not that, but like time travel or conspiring against the government. Our usual summer time activities."

He laughs, "Is that the only one?"

"Actually, yes."

"Okay, then I have one. This only lasts for the summer. A fling for the whole season. But by the time school lets back out, we will have reset the world, and we can go our separate ways."

Wow. I never thought about after summer. And he wants to be rid of me after we finish all this. Reasonably so, as we only started hanging out because of this. I thought it was a little more than that—it feels like a little more than that.

"Harsh," I say.

"Well, we never really spoke before, so it would seem weird if we just started, once schoool opens up."

"I guess you're right. Let's do it," I say confidently. With that, I've signed my death sentence. This won't end too well. I get too attached, and I like long term. I know this, but still I chose what I want over what I need.

He smiles and cups my face, pulling my lips to his once more, making me forget my reservations.

I wrap my hands around his neck and jump up, wrapping my legs around his waist. He stabilizes my legs and adds tongue to embrace.

Palming my ass, he says, "I don't get it. I'm getting mixed signals."

"Hmm?"

"Do you or don't you want to have sex?"

"I don't."

"Okay," he says.

"I think we should ease into that type of thing."

"Right."

He places me down. I look down to see his boner. Wow, he was (is) definitely ready and willing. I really misjudged him as a quiet loner. I've seen several different sides of Shawn since that first night: humorous Shawn, sarcastic Shawn, caring Shawn... horny Shawn. I understand now that he has to portray himself in a certain way at school... useless social politics.

"Wow," I exclaim.

He chuckles nervously, "I'm gonna put some pants on."

I would object, but I plan on keeping this evening PG-13... mostly.

"About the date this coming Friday, you still have to go," he makes groans of objection. "If you refuse, and my end of the deal is not kept, she'll know something's wrong. Once you get that one date over with, we should be in the clear."

He nods reluctantly, "Taking one for the team. This will be hell," he thinks for a second, "unless you come," he finishes with a smirk.

"Huh? Me?"

I haven't told him about Jack's proposal for a meet-up at the movies. If I were still doing that with him, then I would get Shawn to do the same, but that ship has sailed. Fully. That ship is loooong gone. Like across the world, into another galaxy gone. I'll never talk to that asshole again. Maybe I'll dress up in a disguise and follow them around. No, that's only in movies.