It wasn’t a bad idea. It hobbled things, slowed them down, it was a bit of a headache… but having a lawyer as a hoop to jump through could restrain some of the more impulsive parts of the team. I’d have to run it by them, but it made sense.

“I could ask around,” my dad offered. “But if you really wanted a good perspective on who you could talk to, there are better people to ask.”

“You mean Mom,” I said.

My dad nodded.

“Yeah,” I said. I clenched my fist and relaxed it. “I’ll talk to her.”

“You really want this.”

I thought of the team when it had been operating together, playing off one another, being good at what they did. I thought of Tattletale and her version of my hometown and how much I really wanted her and people like her to lose every reason they had to be smug and confident.

I wanted to bring those two ideas together into a concrete reality, and I wanted it badly enough I was willing to go have a conversation with my mom when I was really fucking pissed at her.

If it meant wrangling this team that was going to do what they were doing whether I was involved or not, I’d do that.

“I feel like whatever I say, you’re going to say I’m just like Mom again, and then I’m going to be mad at you,” I said.

“Can’t have that,” my dad said.

“Putting all of that stuff aside,” I said. “If I walked away, if I left it alone, I’m scared of what would happen to people who didn’t deserve it. I can’t do that. I don’t know if that’s the Carol in me talking, but it’s the truth.”

My dad nodded to himself. “That’s not your mom talking, I’m pretty sure. Similar, but… not your mom.”

He didn’t even need to say it. The moment I’d seen the look on his face as he’d opened his mouth, I’d realized who I’d been echoing.

Glare 3.6

Group Text (@ Ashley Stillons, Chris Elman, Kenzie Martin, Rain Frazier, Sveta Karelia, Tristan Vera)

Me: Morning, everyone. I’m planning to swing by the Wardens HQ today. Some Qs for people, going to talk to a family member about what you guys might need to do legally.
Me: In interest of not taking over your thing, anyone want to come with? You can make calls & be involved

Ashley S: I have appointments

Sveta K: I can come. I know my way around.

Kenzie M: I’ll come! are you going in the morning or afternoon?
Kenzie M: I can have my parents call in to school and get me out for the day if I have to

Sveta K: I don’t want your schoolwork to suffer

Me: Afternoon