“WAKE UP YOU TWO! COLLEGE AWAITS!”

The words were loud enough to open my eyes, but Donald tackling me to shake me is what truly woke me up. My instincts put my blackbelt in brazilian jiu-jitsu to use, by slipping under Donald’s grasp to his backside. Seeing an opening, my arms maneuvered around his neck and under his arm into a simple, but effective choke hold.

With his face turning red from slight embarrassment and a lack of oxygen, Donald used his free hand to signal his defeat. Alec and Sergei laughed at his defeat while settling into open seats, Brad, somehow, was still asleep.

“Damn, Addy. You get me every time,” he rubbed his neck to soothe the pain and stimulate a greater intake of oxygen. “Took you guys long enough to get us, did you run into traffic?”

“No clue,” I looked at my phone, the time on the screen read 9:00 AM. Underneath the time shown, news notifications sat awaiting further interaction. There were three new notifications, with surprising headlines.

PEACEFUL PROTESTORS GATHER OUTSIDE THE SPINE DEMANDING END TO POLICE BRUTALITY

PEACEFUL PROTESTORS GATHER OUTSIDE WILLIAMS ENTERPRISE DEMANDING END TO CORRUPTION

PEACEFUL PROTESTORS STAGE SIT IN TO DEMAND FAIR WINNINGS STEELPORT CASINO

“Well, I guess all of these protests are why it took us so long,” I presented my phone to them so they could read news headlines for themselves.

Alec’s hand coddled the back of my phone as he leaned closer to read, “I don’t see how any of these protests would interfere with you guys coming to pick us up, none of those locations are on the direct route.”

As if on cue, the small privacy window between the back cabin and the driver’s slid down only a sliver to reveal the top of the driver’s balding head. “I apologize for eavesdropping, but I can explain as to why it took us so long to pick the rest of you up. Mr. Duval’s guess about the protests is correct, except they have not impacted us in a direct manner.”

“Then how Winston?” Alec crossed his arms, he was preparing for a verbal bout. It is too early for this shit.

“Well Mr. Robinson, we have received some information from law enforcement that is quite alarming. So, Master Bradford’s father asked me to pull over and wait for a security team to arrive,” a simple click came from Winston’s direction, and a screen began to emerge from the ceiling above Brad, who was still sleeping.

The screen was filled with the feed of an outside camera on the limo’s roof. At first, all I could see was the cloud sky crowning the buildings that towered above us. The closer I looked revealed a dim green light pulsating above us.

Sergei, Donald, and Alec were squinting in hopes that they would see the purpose for the screen’s showing.

Sergei got out of his seat and crawled along the limo’s immaculate black carpet to get a closer look. Donald stayed in his seat, stuck in a thinking man pose while examining the screen.

Alec, arms still crossed, analyzed the screen with great intent, his brow was beginning to furrow, “This is a nice view of the sky, but what are you trying to show us?”

“He’s trying to show us the green light,” leather squeaked as I scooched closer to the screen to point it out to the rest. I extended my finger to the pulsing light, “See. It is right there in the center. The light is pulsing and dim so it is a bit hard to see.”

“What are you doing Addy?” Brad asked with annoyance seeing me lean over him.

“Time to wake up Master Bradford,” Winston’s authoritative tone had subtle hints of annoyance and worry. Whatever information he received must be pretty serious.

“So you wanted to show us the pretty little light that Brad’s dad sent to keep us safe? What’s it going to do? Cast a green light on anyone who tries to harm us?” Alec put his snark on full display for all to witness.

Sometimes he can be such an asshole.

“No, Mr. Robinson, it is a security precaution that I pray we don’t need.” The privacy window returned to its initial position, with Winston getting the final word, denying Alec any further opportunity to make a snarky remark.

Alec turned his attention to me, arms still crossed, reminding me of my mother before she lectures me about something I did wrong, “Taking security precautions over peaceful protestors is unnecessary. Don’t you think?”

“That’s assuming they are peaceful. With everything going on in the country, it is too soon to say if they are truly peaceful, or if there are ulterior methods to their demonstrations.”

Donald reclined back to join our conversation, “Please you two, lets not dive into this topic of discussion now. I’m sure you two could inform us very well of your stances, but today we move into college. Today is supposed to be about all the fun and excitement that comes with starting college. So, please, let’s not ruin the mood with some great debate.”

Sergei, sitting cross legged on the floor, nodded his head in agreement with Donald.

Brad sat up to stretch and yawn, “I’m with the Duke on this. Today we start college, that should be our focus. Society sees us as kids, and deems that the conversation is to be had between the adults. The adults may ask us to take sides and do things on their behalf to show our support; but, they truly don’t want us having any power in the decision making. Now, Alec, regardless of what you think or feel about my father’s decision to delay your pick up by sending a security detail doesn’t matter. My father made the decision without your consideration, so let it go. It was a decision made outside of your control, there is nothing you could have done to change his mind.”

My jaw dropped.

For as long as I’ve known Brad, there have been moments, such as this, where he takes control with a degree of rationale to exert his will.

“You alright there Addy?”

My shock went away at Brad’s question, causing my face to rearrange to an off-guard smile, “Yeah, I’m fine. But, you and Donald are right. Fuck all of that shit, right now let’s focus on college.”

Alec uncrossed his arms with reluctance, the action causing him to expel a mighty sigh, “Whatever you guys say.”

Donald and Brad took the opportunity to pivot the conversation to one about all the parties we’d go to once we go to college. How fucked up we would get with various combinations of booze and drugs. As well as all the hot girls we’d have one night stands with and date. The banter one would expect to be shared between guys on their way to college.

I failed to recognize the specifics of what they were saying, as I was still fixated on the dim green light pulsing on the screen. Whatever information Brad’s father received had to be somewhat credible for him to make us wait for a security detail.

I guess he saw the morning’s red sky and heeded its warning.