25 – Rally in Redding (2)

 

Sebastian couldn’t believe it. Stellaluna wrapped in the arms of a servant. He had a feeling Yannick’s mysterious disappearances at work involved her. He just didn’t think things had gone anywhere. Had they actually done it too? The thought made him shudder. It was best to forget about all of it. He just hoped she wouldn’t mention seeing him at a Clark Black rally. (Then again, she’d have to explain why she was at a Clark Black rally.) No. It was nothing to worry about.

Jake kept muttering something about power imbalances as they made their way towards the merch stand. Axel was thinking of buying something small to show his support. Most people had left at this point. Sebastian looked at all the shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers.

Clark Black, flanked by a security guard, stopped near the merch stand. A woman in front of Sebastian went over to say a few words of gratitude to him. It sounded like she might have been sharing her life story. He nodded along and smiled.

Maybe Sebastian should say something too. Never had he supported a politician before. But none ever had policies that would actually improve his life. Without realizing it, Sebastian found himself walking over to Clark Black as he said a goodbye to the woman.

“Hey.” Sebastian rubbed his arm. “I really liked all you said about blacklisting. And I’m really glad someone finally wants to get rid of conversion camps. I was sent to one and it… ruined my life.”

“I’m sorry.” And he really looked it. “I’ve heard so many heartbreaking stories about them. Studies show they don’t work.”

“It didn’t for me. I’m still…” Sebastian couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud, with strangers standing nearby.

Black nodded like he understood. “What’s your name.”

“Sebastian... Barstow.”

“Barstow?” Black furrowed his brow. “Are you related to…?”

“Yes. He’s my father.”

“So you’re the son he claims was cured by one of those camps.”

“Please don’t say anything,” Sebastian said quickly. “I’m stuck living with him. Because… blacklisted. Getting a job and finding a place to live is hard.”

“I’ve heard so many stories like yours.”

Right then, Jake and Axel appeared at Sebastian’s side, Axel holding a button. Jake folded his arms, attention on Clark Black. Hopefully he’d keep his opinions to himself.

“Why are you only getting rid of blacklisting for one-time offenders?” Jake drilled. “It shouldn’t be a thing at all!”

“Jake!” Axel hissed. Sebastian cringed.

Black opened his mouth, but Jake continued. “And 600 ameros is still too low to live in. It should be at least 800! Also, why did you support giving military aid to Russia? That ended up destroying countries, you know.”

Giving Black one, last apologetic look, Sebastian left the scene.

Axel followed him. “We can’t leave without Jake.”

“We can wait for him outside the car.” Sebastian would rather not be associated with Jake. He stepped onto the sidewalk just in time to see a familiar car drive by. His heart pounded as he caught a glimpse of his dad and Barry inside it. But did they see him?

The car came to a stop, and pulled over. “I’ll meet you at the car,” Sebastian muttered to Axel. It was bad enough Waylon found him near a Clark Black rally. The last thing he needed was for his father to discover Sebastian’s new friend was the mechanic he hated.

“What?” Axel asked.

“Go!”

Waylon and Barry got out of the car. Axel then understood what was happening, and hurried away.

Waylon marched right up to Sebastian. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Sebastian went for a half-truth. “I was shopping and saw a crowd of people over here. I wanted to know what was going on. Do you know what it is?”

“Hey Sebastian!” a new voice called.

It took Sebastian a moment to recognize the man in the stained undershirt. “Angus?”

Angus shook his hand. “You here to support Clark Black too?”

Arms crossed, Waylon raised his eyebrow at Sebastian. Sebastian coughed. “Is that what’s going on? I just saw a crowd…”

“Yeah. It was great. He’s got a lot of energy. Can’t wait for November!”

“Tell Raylon I said hi,” Sebastian said as Angus waved goodbye.

“Who the hell was that?!” Waylon asked.

“Someone I met when I went to the East Side.”

“When the hell did you go to the East Side?”

“Last month! Remember? You told me to go there.”

“Why the hell would I tell you to go to the East Side? Honestly, Sebastian, I think you’re losing it. How’d you get here anyway?”

“Uh… I got a ride from a friend.”

“Some other East Side lunatic?”

Was Axel from the East Side? Sebastian still hadn’t a clue where Axel lived. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you might as well come home with me. Get in the car.”

Sebastian sighed. He’d acted weird enough. If he refused or made up some dumb excuse, his father would only ask more uncomfortable questions. So he followed his father to his car, sending a quick message to Axel about it.

 

~~~~~

 

After the rally, Stellaluna walked with Yannick to his car. It was still light out, despite being 6:30.

Once inside the car, Yannick opened his glovebox and pulled out a tin of mints. He popped one, and held the tin out towards her. Taking the hint, she ate one as well. What did the man have in mind?

“When will Barry be home?” Yannick asked.

“He usually comes home late.” It could be anywhere between 9 and midnight. “We still have plenty of time.”

“Good.” Yannick set his hand on top of hers. “I still want to with you stay.”

“Me too. But where should we go?”

The corner of Yannick’s mouth twitched up. “Somewhere more private. If that is okay?”

Stellaluna’s heart raced. He definitely planned on getting physical, and her body was more than okay with that.

A twinge of guilt settled in her stomach, but she brushed it away. Barry cheated on her all the time. It was only fair. She smiled at Yannick. “I’d love to.”

“Somewhere more private” turned out being the top floor of a parking garage. Not many cars were parked up there, and they were able to find a spot far away from other cars. They weren’t able to do much in the backseat of a sedan – Stellaluna was nowhere near as flexible as she used to be – but she ended the night satisfied nonetheless.

On the way back home, Yannick asked her about the rally.

“You never answered my question. What do you think of Clark Black?”

“Nothing much. I’m not interested in politics.”

“He wants to help women. Give them more rights.”

Nice as it sounded, his discussion on women didn’t generate the amount of enthusiasm as his talk of raising minimum wage. “I don’t think he’ll win off that platform.” And why did he care about women’s rights anyway?

“He could. I am voting for him. Everyone I talk to is.”

“So he’s popular among lowers?”

“Very.”

She supposed lowers didn’t care as much about controlling women as uppers. They were too busy trying to survive than to care about if they were allowed to treat their women like dogs.

“I should to your house take you.”

“Huh?”

“It is too dark for you to walk.”

The spot she met Yannick at was rather secluded, but it was only a five minute walk away, and in a safe area. Chances were higher the wrong person would see Yannick dropping her off. “You can’t drive me up to the house. People might see us.”

Yannick sighed. He pulled over when they approached the secluded spot. He turned off the car, took off his seatbelt, and got out, closing the door behind him.

What was he doing? Stellaluna got out too. “What’s going on?”

Yannick took her hand. “I will with you walk. Some of the way.”

Stellaluna didn’t argue. Silently, they walked up a dirt path, away from any houses, through an open area of dead grass, up until they caught sight of the mansion in the distance. The back garden wasn’t far off from were they stood, and the closer they got, the higher their chances of getting caught together. So they stopped.

Yannick still held her hand in his, and squeezed it. “We say goodbye here. I had fun.”

“Me too.”

“We should again do.” He leaned in, and gently kissed her lips. “Good night, Lady Callahan.”

After everything they’d done together, and he still insisted on calling her Lady Callahan? “You really should stop calling me that. It’s too formal.”

“Okay." He grinned. "Good night, schatz.”

“Schatz?”

But Yannick just kissed the back of her hand. Stellaluna wished him a goodnight of her own, and walked off, wondering what “schatz” meant.

Stellaluna slipped into the back gardens. She walked past rows of tall hedges, guilt settling over her. Guilt over what she was doing with Yannick. Yes, Barry fooled around with the servants all the time. But that didn’t make it right for her to do the same. Not only that, but her connection with Yannick ran deeper than a casual romp in bed.

And what would happen if they got caught? Fun of a night she had, maybe she should reconsider their relationship.

Something rustled. She froze. A giggle rang out. Stellaluna peeked over the hedge. It was hard to see in the dark, but she could make out the forms of a man and a woman lying in the grass, having the same sort of fun she just had with Yannick.

“You’re the best out of all of them,” the man said, his voice Stellaluna recognized immediately. “Why, I’ll slip in a little extra money into your next paycheck.”

Stellaluna’s stomach lurched, throwing up the guilt. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen Barry in the act, and she knew it wouldn’t be the last. She took a step back, foot landing on something that crunched. The woman pulled the hem of her dress down, and fled. Barry turned in Stellaluna’s direction, eyes locking into hers.

“Stella?” Barry yanked up his pants, and got to his feet. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same.” She folded her arms, eyeing his half-unbuttoned shirt. How would he talk his way out of this one?

“It’s not what it looks like. I, uh, was walking her to her car. Because it’s dark and she was worried about her safety… But we couldn’t see, because it’s dark, and she tripped on something. And then I tripped and fell on top of her.”

“And in the process, your pants fell down,” Stellaluna said dryly.

“Exactly!”

Did he seriously think she was that stupid? “I don’t believe it.”

“It’s true. What, you think I’d sleep with one of the servant girls?”

“You told her you’d give her extra money in her paycheck!”

“As compensation for getting hurt on the property.”

Like he’d ever do something like that. Too disgusted to even look at him, Stellaluna exhaled through her nose, and marched off.

Barry followed at her side, buttoning up his shirt. “Now, you tell me what you were doing out here?”

“Getting fresh air.”

“This far from the mansion?”

“I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”

“Well, I don’t want you walking back here after dark. If you need fresh air, you can sit outside the back door.”

Stellaluna grunted in response. She wanted to talk back. Or yell at him. Or hit him. But she couldn’t do any of that without consequence. Instead, she’d continue her hidden relationship with Yannick.