Ryaan waits impatiently for the bell to ring while his teacher drones on about the history of the American southwest. Multiple students raise their hands to ask questions about the Alamo but Ryaan stares into space, occasionally glancing at the time on his phone. He has multiple classes left today but after this period ends he has something planned that’s way more important than class. He’s meeting Gillian Brent to pick up the key to his new project.

Since a couple of armed vigilantes calling themselves the Goggle Guys beat the crap out of him on his way home last week, Ryaan’s felt a raging desire to do something about these morons. To do something to them. It’s more than a desire really, it’s a need.

Random people shouldn’t be able to put on a costume, give themselves an awful name, and parade around in the street enforcing their own brand of justice. President Hughes pushed the Vigilantes Making Us Safe Act, or VMUS, through congress last month and now that’s exactly what they can do. Everything’s topsy turvy. People can come into your neighborhood and do whatever they want. As long as they say you were a threat they can even kill you with no repercussions. They don’t have to prove it, they just have to believe it. He saw these guys harassing a family and tried to help. That ended with him bleeding and bruised on the sidewalk.

The bell rings and the teacher announces they’re free to go. There’s only five minutes between periods so he’ll need to make every second count. His next class is in the opposite direction of the hallway he knows Gillian will be working out of this time of day. She keeps a regular routine. Says it’s good for business.

There’s so many kids packed in the hall that most of them blend together into a generic blob. Not Gillian. She’s a junior with long brown hair, glasses, and what can only be described as an eclectic wardrobe. Despite not necessarily fitting the mold you’d expect a popular girl to fill, she has lots of friends and gets along with pretty much everybody in school. That has a lot to do with the service she provides. Seeing her tie-dyed hoodie through the crowd, Ryaan casually falls into step beside her.

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Not knowing how to best broach the subject, he decides for the direct approach. “So I kind of need a fake ID. How much is that going to cost and when can you have it ready?”

Gillian isn’t easily surprised by her customers or by random classmates approaching her, but this one gives her a shock. “You Mr. Big Shot? What do you need a fake ID for? Hoping to go pro quicker?”

“I should have the money, I just need to know how much it’s going to be. I don’t have long until my next class.”

Gillian’s used to getting answers when she asks questions but decides to let it go. “This won’t take long. I need $150.00 and a picture but that’ll take a couple weeks. I can have it done in a couple days but if you want it fast it’s an extra $50.00.”

Reaching into his back pocket, Ryaan pulls out his wallet. He slips her four $50.00 bills along with a wallet sized copy of last year’s school picture. He thought ahead.

“You move fast,” she says, making sure the money’s all there. “I’ll have it in two days. Meet me here at the same time and I’ll pass it to you. How old do you want to be?”

“Nineteen?”

“Different.” She looks him up and down. “I think you can pull that off. Any thoughts on the name or do you want to keep your name? You know what, I’ll decide.”

Gillian drifts into the crowd before Ryaan can say anything else. She never spends long with anyone here at school which is why after being the go to for fake IDs for three years running, she still hasn’t been caught. That’s not for lack of trying. Her locker and bag have been searched five times this year alone and they haven’t found a thing. Girl is smooth, he’ll give her that.

Ryaan turns toward his next class. Just a few more periods until the day’s over and he can head to basketball practice. It’s the day before their big playoff game and his nerves are on edge. Everyone expects huge things after he hit the game winner to get them into the playoffs. His game has never been about scoring though. He thrives on setting his teammates up and playing defense. He can hit an open shot and he scores now and then but if they lose and he doesn’t score a bunch of points, he feels like he’ll take the blame. He knows he has to give it everything he has.