Page 86 of The Sixth Spring

“Oh?”

“Store’s gonna close today early, already got it approved by Adrián. We’re gonna do a protest tonight at Town Hall, seven sharp. Some signs, some yelling. My friend Cassy has a cousin with the Gazette, so she’s gonna drag him down, see if we can’t get some coverage.”

“Oh, wow. Uh, is that… safe?” Will asked.

Becky shrugged and offered him the bag. “Ain’t no knobby-kneed junior cop ‘round here gonna put his hands on me,” she said with confidence. “Plus it’ll be a small thing. The paper will snap some photos, run a story. And hey… I don’t know if you have any plans, but a protest at Town Hall is sure to attract some of the boys in blue. Might be a good night to…”

She trailed off meaningfully.

“Oh,” Will said. He took a chip and popped it in his mouth.

“Unless you need help? I don’t necessarily have to be there tonight,” Becky said, “all the arrangements have already been made.”

“No,” Will said quickly. He didn’t want her tangled up in his mess. At best she was annoying the cops right now, but Will had committed actual, prosecutable crimes. “I have to do this alone,” he said.

“Alone? Or with,” she emphasized, and Will became aware he was touching the pearl with his other hand, fingers rubbing over its smooth surface.

He froze.

“With,” Will said slowly. It was as far as he could stretch, even with Becky.

She nodded. “Okay. Then you do your thing, and I’ll do mine tonight. Divide and conquer, deal?”

“Deal,” Will said. Then, “Make it loud, would ya?”

He meant it half as a joke, but Becky grinned sinisterly. “Oh, I will. We already got a megaphone from the high school. They’re going to be so pissed.”

Will laughed, surprised. “Please don’t get arrested.”

“For my freedom of speech?” Becky asked, “I’d love to see them try.”

If Will didn’t have such a pressing date with Itori, he thought that he would’ve loved to see it–the pretty, blond cheerleader, megaphone in hand, telling the cops where to stick it.

###

The store closed at six. Will hung out front and waited for Becky to be done. It seemed important to, especially if he might not see her again.

“Hey, uh,” Will started when they began to cross the lot together. “I just wanted to thank you for not ratting me out. And for, uh, always being nice to me.”

He kept his eyes forward, but felt Becky look at him. “What, aren’t I always nice to everyone?” Becky said sarcastically, getting a laugh out of Will.

“Sure, southern nice,” he said.

Becky snorted. “Yeah well, you made it easy.” She gave him a friendly elbow. “Didn’t know you were cool like that, taking on the suits. You got my respect.”

“Thanks. I, uh, also didn’t know I had that in me,” Will confessed.

“We’ll get these fuckers,” Becky said. “Don’t you worry. One way or another, we’ll figure it out.”

They were nearing the edge of the lot now, soon to split off. Will felt the time running down.

“Hey uh, if I don’t see you later, don’t worry.” The words came out clunky.

Becky came to a stop, and so did Will. He made himself turn to face her.

“...What do you mean?” She asked.

“Just… I might have to go, after. I might have to leave, go away. Quickly.” He couldn’t disappear without giving her a heads up. Not after everything. “But I’ll be okay. Better than okay. I don’t want you to worry.”