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Satisfied that we had what we came for, Jack led us back onto the streets. Lance tucked his new comic book under his arm, stuck his hand in mine, and we headed down the packed sidewalk, away from the game shop with its creepy dice and miniatures.
“So...” Lance started, “after you’re done shopping with Lily, do you want to try breaking away from the group? I was thinking we might be able to go on a date.” He smiled, hopeful.
My heart sank and I twisted my lips. He looked so happy. “Actually, I already told Lily we could hang out a few days ago. I’m not sure what she has planned, and I’m really hoping clothes shopping with Inese doesn’t count.”
“Lily?” He blinked, surprised, and then quickly looked toward the passing crowds. “I didn’t realize you guys had become friends.”
I shrugged, though disappointment radiated from him without me needing to use the flower charm. “It was her idea. She thought it might help with the memory attacks if we tried doing more... friend stuff. I didn’t realize you were thinking about trying to have a date, or I would have planned that instead.”
To be honest, a date wasn’t really what I wanted. Those were too formal, too focused on making sure partners were compatible. I was hoping for something that would be a little more... spontaneous. Something that wouldn’t challenge future chances of partnership.
“Maybe we could work together to buff the airship hall tonight,” I suggested, forcing a smile. “It’s kind of dingy, and that could easily be made into a cooperative assessment.”
Ahead of us, Jack burst out laughing.
“What?” I glowered at the back of his head. “Repairs are a perfectly viable means of community service. And there aren’t many other options for dates on the airship.”
Lance twisted his lips, giving me a funny look. “Not quite what I had in mind, Jen.”
Jack shook his head, still laughing. “Seriously? Buffing the walls?”
“They’re dingy!”
“That’s not a date.” Jack turned around and faced us both at the end of a crosswalk. “Tell ya what... I’ll see if I can convince Pops to put off our return to the airship, that way the two of you can have some alone time once you and Lily finish hanging out. In the meantime,” he turned to Lance, “you and I can head back to the game shop and test out their latest booster packs.”
Lance perked up. “Great idea!” He smiled at me. “What do you think?”
“Sure,” I said, though I wasn’t sure what exactly he had in mind for a date if it wasn’t community service.
A private dinner, perhaps?
Once we found Inese, the men followed Jack for their clothes shopping while the rest of us browsed a department store Inese had singled out. Mom was already sorting through the racks, murmuring to herself about the lack of quality in the cut and sewing.
“How about this?” Mom held up a plain gray shirt. Though it looked quite a bit like the shirt I’d left the Community with—minus all the burns, tears, and patches—I wasn’t sure I wanted to go with something quite so Community. The Community was safe, secure, and efficient. However, its clothes were dull and, consequently, stood out everywhere else.
“Well, it’d be useful if I ever go back to St. Petersburg,” I admitted reluctantly, “which is doubtful. Something for missions might be better.”
“Don’t be silly.” Mom pushed the shirt into my arms. “Of course we’ll go back to St. Petersburg. We just need to wait until it’s safe again.”
I frowned. That wasn’t going to happen unless we made it happen. I needed something that actually worked in battle, something that was more protective than a simple, long-sleeve shirt.
Granted, this store probably didn’t carry military gear.
“Jenna, over here!” Lily waved me over, holding up a sleeveless, bright green top. “It’s a camisole. What do ya think?” She beamed as she offered it to me. My cheeks warmed. The camisole wouldn’t be at all helpful in battle, but it wasn’t as bad as that cursed swimsuit I wore in Japan.
I liked the color.
“It’s so... bright,” Mom protested. “And no sleeves? She’s not a leader, Lily.”
I sighed. “We aren’t in the Community anymore. Besides, people wear stuff like this all the time around here.” I motioned outside, and then cringed as a woman passed by wearing a bright pink bikini. Considering Mom’s mortified expression, not the best timing. “Maybe this one?” I suggested, holding up a dark brown camisole. “It’s not as bright, but it fits the style.”
Lily gave me a thumbs-up behind Mom’s back. I grinned. One step closer to being done with shopping.
“Maybe. But it’s still so revealing. Perhaps this would be better.” Mom pushed aside several hangers before pulling out her find of a short-sleeve, dark brown t-shirt. “Yes?”
Behind her, Lily waved her hand “so-so,” and then jerked her thumb back at the camisole.
“Lily!” I protested.
Mom turned around, confused.
“What?” Lily held up yet another shirt. “I think the turtleneck would actually work quite nicely. A little more protective in unexpected battles since it has long sleeves, warm for winter when you’re in the northern hemisphere, and” —she leaned near my ear— “form-fitting.”
I groaned, though Mom smiled approvingly at the turtleneck. She must not have heard Lily’s last comment. “Much better. Perhaps we could get the camisole for warmer weather.”
At least she was willing to compromise. I nodded, adding both shirts to the crook of my arm. As the hour passed—no sign of Inese or a chance to escape—I eventually found a pale green t-shirt with a happy-faced tree painted on it. The picture was oddly... adorable. I yanked it off the hanger and held it up. It was brown and had a smiley face right on the trunk.
I grinned.
Not for battle, but it looked comfortable.
“There’s a picture on it,” Mom faltered.
“Yeah,” Lily said. “Pretty common around here, actually.”
Most of the clothes did have some logo or pattern. Mom sighed and didn’t protest.
Once we found pants, I was set. “Let’s find Inese,” Lily said. She carried a host of outfits, though she put half of them on the rack near a dressing room as we passed. “Okay, Jenna,” she whispered. “While we were shopping, Inese has been looking for outfits for your mom. It’s our job to convince her to try them on and make sure they fit.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because Inese is convinced that Liana is not going to wear Community clothing for the rest of eternity. Get her to try them on, suggest they look nice, but not too much like a leader’s outfit, and we’ll be good to go.”
I paused. “Why exactly are we doing this?”
Lily chuckled. “Because it’s nice to see Community people lighten up once in a while.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what you think it means. You’re too uptight.” She grabbed me by the shoulder, pulled me close, and then pointed conspiratorially through the racks of clothes. I tensed, torn between making a break for it... and actually kind of enjoying being so close to someone when I wasn’t having a memory attack. “I mean, look at her. She seems so sad.”
Mom held one similar, bland outfit next to the other, and then frowned and replaced them both. She eyed a yellow shirt with a faint white flower pattern, a hint of a smile on her face, before she shook her head and moved on.
A smile quirked on Lily’s lips and she winked at me. “Work with me here. Your mom will be smiling by the end of the day, even if just a little.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Positive. It’s not like we’re going to put her in a bikini.”
I cringed. “Yeah, I don’t think she’d like that.” That wasn’t the best image in my head, either. Mom as a social leader? No.
“Inese is waiting for us, so come on.” Lily patted my shoulder before leading me to where Inese had laid out several outfits, each fairly modest. All had some form of sleeves, and none reminded me of a leader, though I suspected a couple of them would be tighter than Mom preferred.
“They don’t have any good Community attire here,” Mom protested, hopelessly searching through the racks. “Are there any other stores around?”
“No,” Inese said. “Well, yes, but they’re going to have the same kind of outfits as this one. Go inside, try these on, and then let us see.” Inese ushered Mom into the dressing room despite her protests and closed the door behind her.
“But—they have print on them! And logos! And this one is much more revealing—”
“Let us see,” Inese said, stern.
The door creaked open, and Mom walked out, pouting. “No.”
“Hmm,” Inese frowned. “I suppose you’re right. It does show your collarbone.”
Mom gave Inese a funny look. “What?”
“It shows your collarbone. That’s too bad, really, because it actually would make a nice shirt. Long sleeves, even the same type of fabric as your Community shirts. I’d know; I bloody-well mended enough of them.” She glared at me.
I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”
“Do you really think it resembles the Community shirts?”
“Closest one I’ve seen yet.” Lily nodded innocently.
A few outfits later, they had convinced Mom to buy four of their favorite picks—three of which they’d already guessed to be winners. “See?” Lily said, standing at the checkout line. “Told you we could do it. She’s even smiling.”
“Cradling the clothes like they’re a newborn would be a better analogy,” I murmured. “I’ll remember that next time you take me clothes shopping.”
Lily grinned mischievously. “Nah—you’ll forget.”
I glanced down at the pile of clothes in my hand, my face a bit too warm. For once, though, it wasn’t the uncomfortable hot-cold warning of an oncoming memory attack.
We purchased our finds and returned to the sidewalk, and then Lance ran up to me, holding out a dark green cloak. “Hey... check this out!” He whipped the cloak behind his back and fastened it over his shoulders.
“Don’t forget the quick release function.” Quin tapped the brass clamps. “Very important.”
Lance nodded, and then grinned as he turned to me. “It’ll protect my clothes during battles, so they don’t get quite so dirty. And it looks like something a superhero would wear.”
“That’s... great...” I paused, looking him over. He looked something like a handsome leader, with his shaggy brown hair and the bottom edge of the cloak flapping against the warm breeze. Problem was that image kept being marred with images of beasties tearing the cloak to shreds, Lance included.
“Are you sure it’s not too restrictive?” I asked reluctantly.
“Nope.” He shook his head before tapping the little clamps on his shoulders. “If it gets caught, these allow me to remove it instantly.”
“Good.” My chest tightened. I didn’t want him getting pinned by a beast because he wanted to look like the heroes in those comics he read. I shivered, feeling the pinprick of the flower charm against my chest. I took a deep breath. I had done well thus far not having a memory attack, and I had every intention of keeping it that way, which meant thinking of something other than beasts.
“It looks good on you,” I said finally, forcing a smile. As long as I only pictured him in the present, with him standing proudly in the middle of a crowded sidewalk, we were fine.
Though... I frowned, looking beyond him. A few passersby were giving him wary glances. I reached for the flower charm, tempted to make sure they weren’t planning on causing us any trouble—
“All right, everyone,” Jack said, jerking me back to attention. “Pops should be done checking out the Hall of Freedom, so anyone who wants to head back to the airship can.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Hall of Freedom?”
“Again, our glory days.” Jack shrugged. “It’s one of our more permanent locations. Hopefully we’ll never have to use it.”
“Wait... wasn’t that the one that got bombed?” Lily asked.
“No. That was Freedom Tower. That was in Australia.”
Lily grinned. “You had silly names.”
“As I recall,” Quin said soberly, “someone called herself Private Eye before joining the Coalition.”
I smirked. He had a point.
Lily glared at her brother. “You were calling yourself Jones.”
“Jones is a perfectly normal alias.”
“Lance,” Jack continued, “you still want to go back to the game shop?”
“Sure.” Lance grinned and nudged me in the ribs. “Afterward, I’ll take you out to dinner. I think I found a place you might like.”
I blinked, then nodded quickly, my breath lodged in my throat. “Okay,” I whispered, though I really hoped whatever he had in mind was not going to involve talking about beasties or missions. My arms already felt jittery from nervousness, from the possibility of having another memory attack in an unfamiliar place—
“Quin, you’re welcome to join us,” Jack said.
Quin shook his head. “Thanks, but I was actually hoping to see the library at the Hall.”
“Suit yourself.” Jack waved them off, and everyone parted, leaving me and Lily on our own. For a moment, neither of us said anything. The crowds around us murmured softly, jostling us, not alleviating the jitters and the low rise and fall of murmurs and some kid screaming in the distance, what should have been happy laughter but was turning into a scream of pain—
“You want someplace we can hang out, right?” Lily asked. “Someplace where we don’t have to worry about our jobs?”
I jumped, staring at Lily. “Our jobs?” My skin felt cold, despite the warmth of the day.
“Yeah. You know... being rebels?”
“Right. I think that was the plan.” I took another deep breath. A distraction would be nice, but what kind of distraction did she have in mind? After all, she was a mercenary. What if she was like Lance, and all she wanted to do was spar?
She smiled, her brown eyes bright under the afternoon sun. “How would you feel about visiting the botanical gardens?”
I stared at her, surprised. “You like gardens?”
She shrugged. “Fresh air... pretty scenery... and not much in the way of danger, unless you get hit by a Frisbee.”
“I like Frisbees!” I protested.
She chuckled. “Well, why don’t we see if we can find one and a place to play where we won’t trample any flowers? I’m sure we can find something. If not, we’ll go to one of the other local parks.”
I grinned. Maybe this would go better than I thought.
