On the road again. Zoe and I take up the back seat of Anja’s car as she takes over to our state capitol, Austin. Unfortunately, Nova, being the skinniest, is forced to sit in between us, as Lily has taken up the passenger’s seat, where she appears to have dozed off. He’s playing on his 3DS as usual.
I’m in sort of a weird mood. I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about everything. I guess I should ‘get angry.’ I mean, they took my parents. They’re going to pay for that. But, I don’t know. It isn’t coming naturally to me. Because there’s something else, some stupid thought that I can’t get over.
Up to now, we’ve all been doing this by ourselves. Waging battles that only impacted a single person's life, or a small group local to our community. Now, it’s like we’re fighting the whole state. And yet, we also, in a spiritual sense at least, have the whole state on our side. All the others who have been affected, could be affected, or are just sympathetic. I… don’t know how to feel about that. I guess more people on your side means more power, but also more chaos. I don’t know how much I’ll actually have in common with the people we meet there. But that’s the point; different people coming together. And it’s not like I have that much in common with anyone in my friend group anyway. So I guess it doesn’t matter. And yet, I feel a little flutter in my stomach at the prospect all the same.
My ruminations, thankfully, are interrupted by a phone call. Thinking it could be an update from my parents or Sarah, I answer right away.
“Ashley!” An elderly woman’s voice says on the other end. “How is my adorable granddaughter today?”
I groan audibly. I hate it when she calls me that.
“Oh, keeping busy,” I say.
“Now, nobody’s given me any updates!” she huffs. “Have they released Gregg from prison yet?”
“Uh, no,” I say.
“Outrageous. Now I told your parents they never should’ve moved to that state, but they wouldn’t listen. Now I know California is expensive, but I still live here and I’m doing just fine for myself!”
“Been able to afford that knee replacement yet?” I ask pointedly.
“Don’t you take that tone with me!” she scolds. “Where are you, anyway? They can’t have left you home alone!”
“I’ve been hanging out with friends for the weekend,” I explain. “I’m fine.”
“Oh, if you’re fine enough to sass me, I believe you!” she says. “What about that other girl? Zephy, was it?”
“Zoe,” I correct. “And yeah, she’s fine. She’s with me right now.”
“Can you put her on for me?” she requests.
I hand the phone to Zoe. “It’s Grandma Milly,” I explain.
“Oh! Okay!” Zoe takes the phone, seeming taken aback. “Hello! Yes, this is Zoe! Why, thank you! We’re safe for now, yes…”
“She live in the area by any chance?” Anja asks as she steers off of 35 and into Austin’s downtown area.
“Nope. Upstate California,” I say.
“Ah. Do you have any other family around here? Just in case, you know, they need to take you in?” Anja inquires.
“Mom’s side lives out in the country down south,” I explain. “I don’t see them much, though. Bad blood. They’re mad at her for marrying dad.”
“Down south? You mean, still in San Patricio?” Anja asks.
“...Yeah. Oh that’s right. Your mom lived there too,” I remember. “And… I guess so did Lucy. And your Aunt Kierstyn. Kind of mind-bending, thinking about them all hanging out as normal high school kids, doing Metaverse stuff just like us.”
“What were the chances of you two meeting?” Nova inquires.
“Not bad, given how many people are rapidly moving to central Texas,” I reason.
“We should promise to not let it end the same way,” Anja says resolutely. “We can’t fall apart like they did. We’ll always be friends, if nothing else.”
I’m about to say that we can’t predict the future, that there’s no way of knowing what’ll happen, that it could all fall apart just like them, we could lose contact, die, or betray each other.
But then, I stop myself. Because… I don’t know. It doesn’t feel right. So I just say, “I hope you’re right.”
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I use some allowance money to park in a garage near the capitol building. In times like this, I find myself wishing we had mass public transportation. Countries like the Netherlands and Japan can do it, why not us? Even the Soviets had a massive railroad network. But I digress.
It was a bit of a squeeze getting myself, Kevin, Charlotte, Jason, Collin and Kat in the car together, but we just barely managed. A few blocks from the capitol building, we make our way there. It’s recognizable as soon as we exit the garage, looming in the distance. Austin at least still has a fairly walkable downtown, so we have a pleasant walk in the cool morning breeze as we pass the city’s various businesses.
“Hey, you alright?” Charlotte asks Kevin as we walk.
“Yeah. Just bummed about getting dumped,” Kevin answers, heaving a heavy sigh.
“Hey, I get that,” she says. “Or… I would. But I’ve never really dated anyone before, so…”
“Unless I count!” Jason says, smirking from behind Charlotte.
Charlotte chuckles. “I wouldn’t really call that dating.”
“Maybe you’ll find someone at the protest,” Collin suggests. “There’s probably a bunch of hot… what are you into, again?”
“I’m not in a rush,” Charlotte says. “I want to take my time and find the right man.”
“But you won’t know who the right man is unless you shop around a bit,” Kat says. “Thanks to Devin and Nico, I now know of two men who aren’t the right man. Fuckin’ losers.” She rolls her eyes dramatically.
“You’ve already had two boyfriends?” Kevin asks incredulously. “You’re in seventh grade.”
“Jealous?” Kat asks, smirking.
“No… I promise you I’m not,” Kevin replies seriously. “Just concerned. I’ve had two and I’m in ninth…”
“Really? Who was your first?” Collin asks.
“Er… girl in my science class in eighth grade,” he says. “Her name was Cheryl. She-”
“YOU DATED MY COUSIN?” Collin explodes.
“Huh?” Kevin says obliviously.
“Cheryl PARKER? That’s my cousin!” Collin storms.
“Oh. Huh, never knew you were related. There are a lot of Parkers in town,” Kevin says.
“Yeah! And we’re all related!” Collin says. “Blonde hair? Hello?”
“But hers wasn’t curly,” Kevin argues.
“Because that came from my mom!” Collin says. “Anyway, glad you broke up with her. She’s annoying and kinda creepy.”
“You’re only on number one, my dude,” Kat teases Collin.
“Not that easy when you’re gay,” Collin points out to Kat. “You take what you can get.”
“Wow, rude!” Jason lashes out, looking offended.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“Er- I didn’t mean you!” Collin tries to correct. Sadly, the damage is done, and the remainder of the walk is very awkward.
One block out, we notice that we’re not the first ones here. There is a crowd amassing outside the gate. I scan through the faces to see if I can see Anja or any of the others who were supposed to be arriving from the other direction about now. Instead, my heart jolts as I see a different familiar face.
Cousin Sam has changed quite a bit since I last saw her. She’s grown out her frizzy brown hair long enough to reach down the back of her neck. She’s holding a sign that appears to say “trans people deserve healthcare.” We make eye contact as we reach the crowd, her dark brown eyes meeting my own.
She gives me a big, red-lipstick smile. “Ruth! I’m so glad you came!” She reaches out her pale hand to shake with mine.
“Thank you for telling me about this,” I say. “I brought friends. This boy is my friend Kevin, who’s here as an ally.”
“Hey!” Kevin greets, waving at her.
“This is my girlfriend, Jennifer,” Sam says, directing me towards the woman standing next to her. Jennifer has dark skin and her hair tied up in a unique bun in the back adorned with a flower crown and two braids hanging down on either side of her face. She shakes my hand as well, saying, “It’s nice to meet you, Ruth. Sam tells me you’re interested in environmentalism?”
“I am,” I confirm.
Jennifer smiles at me. “That’s what I’m studying. We should stay in touch.”
“Watch out!” Sam says, pulling on my arm. I hadn’t realized we were stopped still in the street, and an angry-looking man driving a truck is trying to drive past. Kevin and I step out of the street at once. The other four have already wandered off somewhere else.
“Hey Jelani!” Sam calls out. “Any luck on that gate? It’s getting crowded out here.”
I follow her line of sight to a man with medium-brown skin and dreadlocks, who’s standing near the gate leading into the courtyard and shaking his head.
“Well. Fuck it, then,” Sam says. She climbs onto the short brick wall around the fence, and reaches down her hand to Jennifer to do the same.
“Hmm. Seems like we’re not supposed to do that,” Kevin observes. “But we do gotta get closer to start our… you know. Let’s go.”
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We approach the capitol building, the large, ornate white building that towers over its surroundings. Its pillars and rafters continue upwards until it tapers into a dome, on top of which is the Goddess of Liberty, brandishing her star threateningly as if ready to join the fray. We see that a crowd has passed the gates and is amassing near the steps into the building.
“Good turnout,” Lily observes, yawning.
“Let’s go see what’s cooking!” Anja says confidently. She charges off for the crowd, Nova following her nervously.
“Ready?” I ask Zoe.
She nods firmly. “One thing first, though.” She takes my hand.
I nod back at her. And so we make our way towards the action.
There are all sorts of people here. A lot of college-aged people, which I expected, but there are also other teens like us here, and some older people, presumably either older gay couples or people here to support their children. Buttons and little flags are handed up with various pride iconography. I recognize the standard gay flag, the shades of red and pink that represent lesbians, and the bisexual, pansexual, transgender, and asexual ones, as well as some others I don’t think I’ve ever even seen before.
“‘Bout time you showed up!” calls Collin, when he sees Zoe and I. He and Kat are near the back of the crowd. Collin is carrying a few pins in his cupped hands. “Hey, question. What’s the difference between bisexual and pansexual? Don’t they basically just seem like the same thing?”
“No idea,” I say. “Ask Anja.”
“Yo, Anja!” he calls out, pushing his way through the crowd with Kat to try and find her.
“Whoah! Ashley?” a different voice says from behind us. I turn and am jolted to see Laura Carter approaching the crowd, a very shy looking boy by her side.
“Laura,” I say. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Oooh, I remember you!” Zoe says. “You were one of the other french horn players at all-region, right?”
“Yep!” Laura confirms. “I didn’t expect to be seeing you in between now and All-State, Ashley!”
“Is that your boyfriend?” I ask, pointing to the boy by her side, who blushes and looks away.
“Oh… well, about that,” she says.
“Laura…” the boy says weakly.
“It’s okay! She’s a friend,” Laura assures him. “My partner here… has been questioning her gender. That’s why I wanted to come here, actually.”
“I see,” I say. “So, you’re okay with dating someone who might be a girl, then?”
“Well… upon further reflection… I definitely like girls,” Laura admits, blushing a bit. “So it works out either way!”
“Welcome to the club!” Zoe says cheerily. “We have cookies! Awe, I should’ve baked some for this.”
“You’ll be a fantastic grandma someday,” I joke.
“You can call me Tommy for now, until I think of something better,” Laura’s… girlfriend says. “But, I’m not really supposed to be here.”
“She’s the daughter of Senator Di Stefano,” Laura whispers.
“Sorry to hear that,” I say.
“It’s okay. We’ll keep your secret,” Zoe says reassuringly. “Want a hug?”
“Um… I wouldn’t say no,” Tommy says, blushing. Zoe smiles warmly and wraps her into her arms. In the moment, I can’t help but feel a little warm myself.
“What’s all the ruckus about?” Laura asks, trying to peer over the crowd. I hear it too- raised voices coming from near the stairs.
“I’ll go check it out,” I say.
I walk my way around the crowd and feel a flutter in my stomach as I make out the pretty red-haired newscaster from the news the other day. She’s interviewing someone else I vaguely recognize from TV, a Texas state official with a messy red beard, ruddy nose, and thin rectangular glasses. Between the three of us, this must be the highest concentration of redheads this side of the Atlantic.
“...may hurt families in Texas?” The newscaster is saying, seemingly interviewing him live, holding a microphone to his mouth.
“It’s my job as Attorney General to enforce the law, not make up my own,” the bearded man says. “We can’t afford to take any risks given what happened here in Austin.”
“And do you plan to defend these laws in court against the many lawsuits being filed against the state of Texas?” the reporters asks.
Someone from the crowd interrupts by yelling out, “You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!” There’s a cheer by the rest of the crowd in response.
“Listen- this is not the place to talk!” the Attorney General says agitatedly. “You are all on government property, and you must leave or be arrested!”
Feeling inspired, I shout out, “You declared war on us, now we are waging it back.” A few people near me cheer.
“Listen! Can’t we all come to an agreement?” the AG pleads, starting to look scared.
“Don’t ban us from existing. That’s the agreement!” a familiar voice shouts out, as Anja steps away from the crowd, looking as fierce as if we were already fighting the shadows. “Until then, we will not be moved!”
This seems to catch on with the crowd, and they begin vigorously chanting, “we will not be moved!”
The AG seems to get cold feet at this point. He checks his watch and turns to half-run towards the capitol building.
“Nice going!” I say to Anja.
The reporter takes note of Anja and turns to face her. “What is your name?”
“I’m Anja. Spelled with a J,” she says.
“What brought you out here to Austin today?” the reporter asks.
“I think destiny did, if I’m honest,” she says. “You see… My mom ran against Schenider in 2006. And I’m here now to finish what she started.”
“Could you be referring to Ellen Beatty, the gubernatorial candidate who tragically passed away mid-race?” the reporter asks. “This is a remarkable development!”
I watch with awe as, in front of my eyes, Anja gets a full standing interview with a nationally known reporter, something that’s being seen and will be seen by God knows how many. While clearly a bit nervous, she takes to it quite well. She talks about her mother and about how harmful the laws have been. She’s getting to speak her views on the greatest soapbox of all. And weirdly, I feel- of all things I could be feeling right now- proud of her.
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“You think anyone will really listen to her?” I ask, watching Anja speak to a reporter.
I’m a little bit outside of the crowd in a group with Sam, Jelani and Jennifer, Kevin having gone to parts elsewhere.
“We can hope so,” Sam says, giving me an encouraging smile.
I don’t say anything to that.
She gives a meaningful look to Jennifer, who pulls out a bunch of little pride flags from Jelani’s duffel bag and resumes passing them out.
“I miss him too, you know,” Sam says softly.
“Of course,” I say. “He was your brother. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you.”
“I don’t know if you knew this, but he was my boyfriend too,” Jelani chimes in. “Nice to meet you at last.”
“Nice to meet you as well,” I say, nodding. “I’m deeply, truly sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry,” Sam says, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“I tried to warn them that he was in danger,” I say. “But nobody listened to me. And because of that, he…”
“You’re only one person, Ruth,” Jelani says pointedly.
“I know. That’s what I keep being told,” I say, sighing heavily. “Maybe it’s time I quit, then. I only seem to make things worse, if anything…”
“Nuh-uh,” Sam says, shaking her head. “‘You can’t do it alone’ doesn’t mean ‘you can’t do it.’ You’re here, look at everyone who came out! This is huge! It never would’ve happened if we hadn’t made our voices heard!”
“How do you know it’ll make a difference?” I ask, my voice breaking as my grief and shame well up to the point of bursting. “What if they ignore us? What if they just laugh us off?”
“Then we speak up anyway,” Sam says firmly. “And we do it again. And again. As many voices saying it as many times as needed. And then, some people will listen. And then more people will. And then, someday, we’ll win.”
“Well said, Samanta,” Jelani says approvingly. “That’s what keeps me in this fight. Not a day passes that I don’t work to make sure Roberto is not forgotten.”
That’s what makes the tears break out. Sam and I hug closely as I wipe them away.
“Uhhh… Ruth?” I hear Charlotte’s voice say.
I break the hug and look to my right to see Charlotte, along with Jason and a boy with white hair and cat ears that I don’t recognize.
“We, uh, came here to do something,” she says vaguely. “Is this a good time?”
I nod. “I think the crowd is big enough.”
I turn to Sam and Jelani. “Thank you both.”
“Don’t stop fighting, Ruth,” Jelani says, punching me lightly on the shoulder.
Charlotte and I round up the others. Anja’s TV spot is over before too long, and soon everyone is assembled.
We find a little enclave where we’re hidden from view of the crowd by the building’s many pillars, and then, we enter.
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“Uh… did it work?” Kevin asks, attempting to look around from under his red-brimmed hat. “I don’t see anything but…”
Clouds. As far as the eye can see. It reminds me of a time I went on an airplane for a vacation to Florida, years ago. Except, on an airplane, you can only see from a tiny window next to your seat. You never get the overwhelming sense of being swallowed whole by the sky.
“Let’s not dawdle near the edge,” Ashley advises. “There are some… buildings? Over this way. That’ll be where our fight is.” I try to verify this with my Navigator senses, but I find that things are strangely fuzzy; I can only vaguely make out that there are a ton of cognitive people congregated behind us.
“Uh…” Anja, however, is looking down to the surface of the earth, a look of horror on her face. “Guys? That’s… not how this looked before.”
I follow her gaze and look to the ground so see that it is all on fire. Every inch of whatever dilapidated city existed here, every partially demolished building, is burning in an eternal fire.