Kelsai Adamson vs. “The One” Kirsten Scott

[TheOne]

{NEHMIAH: Chapter 1}

Life isn't always what you expect it to be, especially after you have other major events in it.  Such was our case, as the raid on The Compound became further and further in our rear view mirror...

At first, we knew a low profile would be necessary.  We knew people would be angry with us having the place shut down, and The Prophets jailed for their actions.  We also knew there would be those who just inherently didn't trust us because we went from those swearing an allegiance to their anonymity to the people who outed them all to the feds.  So we laid low.  We stayed outside of town, at various locations, including Hailey's parents.

But the fact remained, that town was our home, and with everything behind us, we felt we had as much right to live there as everyone else, and we were ready to show that we were moving on with our lives, like everyone else should be as well.  It was our train of thought that the time had passed.  The legal system was working on those who had actually committed crimes and was ignoring those who simply were there for the aspect of being "paying members" of the club.

We anticipated the time differential would be our saving grace, and after, what we felt was a good amount of time, we decided that it was safe to begin making our way back to town, and reestablishing our personal presence among the masses.

After finding refuge for a night, just outside the town they all used to effectively call home, the group awakens and decides that it's simply time to make their way in, and see how they are received.  Unbeknownst to them, the city still stands in a massive state of chaos and disarray.  Everyone is still side-eyeing one another, not knowing who may or may not being a spy for "the government" against them.  It's a situation that the group quickly can see from others, as everyone just looks everyone else up and down, no matter where they're at, getting gas, getting groceries, at a park with their kids, everyone is doubtful of everyone.

While the group may not fully understand why, to the rest of the community, it's simple.  Nobody knows who may or may not be cooperating to bring other people to potential justice, even though the main antagonists of the situation have all been apprehended and are awaiting their fate in a court of law.  Others fear repercussions from the local law enforcement members who were originally part of the secret payroll of The Prophets, and may still be acting on their behalf.

It's a city riddled with anxiety and chaos, even though on the surface everything may look normal.

People fear that if they may have been used at one point, and be patted down and interrogated the next, all for that one nugget of information they may not willingly know they have.  But for Kirsten, while she expected this to be a short-term problem, she wasn't going to let it deter her and her "family" from coming home and being happy, themselves.

Which leads us to tonight...

They know they are going to be walking into a world that will have a lot of judgment but they hope they can begin their re assimilation into society, by just doing something that the normal populous would be doing.  The one thing they that they have noticed quickly is the businesses really enforcing the "right to refuse service" mentality against them, be it to get groceries, or simply eat.  It is something becoming more and more frustrating to the group, as they wish the world would simply accept that they did the right thing, and want to take their place among the masses in society.

And it comes to a major head when they finally decide it's time to sit down for dinner, and try and find a quiet and inconspicuous place to eat dinner, at a local pizza joint, in town.  Kirsten and Hailey keep their heads down, takng refuge behind the brother-sister tandem.  While they try to hide their faces, people have already ID'ed them and begin to murmur around the restaurant.  This even extends to the back of the establishment to the cooks, front office staff, and management, who wastes no time in confronting the group, Emma specifically as she walks in front of the rest, head on...

Manager: I'd appreciate it if you all just left our premises now... We don't want any trouble here...

Emma begins to look around, confused, including back at Kirsten.  She then looks back at the man.

Emma Taylor: I... I just want a slice of pizza...

Manager: I don't care... I just don't want any trouble...

Kirsten rises up from her low profile behind Emma.

Kirsten Scott: And neither do we...

Emma Taylor: I... I just wanted a slice of the "John Stamos..."  It's got all of my favorite Greek flavors on it... OH and some of the garlic butter, too...

Ethan, being kind of oblivious to what is transpiring, chimes in.

Ethan Taylor: Yeah, and I'll want an order of the garlic knots with marinara sauce... Saw them on the menu online, and yeah, I've been craving them!

Manager: Yeah... Sorry... I don't want trouble.  I'm not letting my staff be threatened by your two friends behind you...

He points directly at Kirsten and Hailey.  Kirsten then asserts herself even further, from her initial comment.

Kirsten Scott: The girl just wants a slice of pizza, man... We don't want any trouble...

It's at this point Hailey begins to look around at all of the eyes staring directly at them, and as she makes eye contact with them, they quickly look back down.  Hailey taps Kirsten on the shoulder.

Hailey Brooks: I think they realize who we are...

Kirsten rolls her eyes.

Kirsten Scott: What was your first clue?

From out of nowhere, Ethan decides to chime in, hearing what the two "leaders" of the group are saying.

Ethan Taylor:  Ok, listen... I don't give a shit if anyone in this damn building knows who the hell we are, where we came from, or wonders why we are here.  We are here to do like everyone else, and that's eat some pizza and some damn knots, like any other Goddamn human on the planet.  We aren't here to spy on you, or you, or any of your people here eating, and we aren't here to mess with anyone's lives.  Enough people have done that to each one of us, and for FUCK'S SAKE... We want some garlic knots and a slice of the Goddamn John Stamos pizza!  For fuck's sake even someone gave Jesus water when he was suffering... We're actually going to pay!

Hailey, Kirsten and Emma all go wide-eyed as Ethan, for the first time ever, has a backbone and stands up to someone about something.  He has always been seen as a weaker individual and this moment catches them all off guard, as he's never wanted to be the "brute."

Emma does her best to try and calm the situation, knowing her role in the group's dynamic.

Emma Taylor: Ethan... It's OK...

He looks at her with a face completely aghast.

Ethan Taylor: No!  No it isn't!  It isn't OK for him to treat us this way and I for one am DONE being alienated in my own fucking hometown because of what our parents did, for one, and because people are also too embarrassed to accept what they did on top of it.  What they did, on their time, is their business.  I don't care WHEE it happened, but it was THEIR CHOICE!  NOT OURS!

Calling our patrons this openly makes all of the group, minus Ethan, cringe on the inside, but somehow he gets the message to shut up about it, and shifts his rant.

Ethan Taylor: ... And like I said is all I want to do is eat some damn garlic knots, with some marinara sauce, and I'll go sit my fat, happy, ass down down in a fucking corner, and leave the world alone!  And my sister, all she wants is a slice of pizza with olives, red onions, grilled chicken, and feta, with some of that garlic sauce, and she'll do the same!  And when it comes to the two behind me, I DON'T HAVE A FUCKING CLUE!  WE... JUST... WANT... FOOD!

Kirsten's head facepalms down into her hand, expecting this to be the end of it all, and them having to go try and find some food elsewhere.  Surprisingly, the manager's tone changes to a much more frightened one, and willing to appease the rambunctious and loud Ethan.

Manager: Umm....  So, I have one slice of the John Stamos, one knots, a garlic butter and marinara... What else can I get you all?

He then looks at Kirsten and Hailey, who are completely dumbfounded on how to act or respond because the situation is so new to them.

Kirsten Scott: ... Uhh... Stamos and garlic sauce for me?  And a drink, please?

Manager: K... And you...

Hailey Brooks: Umm... The ziti pie, garlic sauce, and a drink, please?

The manager is now breathing heavy and apparently scared shitless of the potential problems that any of the four could present.  He nervously rings up the group, and then elects to try and make a peace offering, stuttering while talking.

Manager: Y-you know... It's, it's on the house... Ok?  Just, please, no trouble?

He then hands a placard over so they can be identified for the delivery of their food.  Emma, Ethan and Hailey begin to walk off and go find a spot in a corner, but Kirsten stops in front of the manager and looks him dead in the eyes, knowing he realizes she knows who he is.  She casually slides two $100 bills across the counter she had pulled from her pocket, and lets go of them right in front of him.  He nervously looks down and sees the money, then quickly back up at Kirsten.

Kirsten Scott: I'm serious when I say we mean no trouble, you have my word.  We just wanted to get some food for her [Emma] now that she's free.

The manager looks down at the money again and back up, seeing Kirsten assume the "look" of "The One" again, reiterating herself.

Kirsten Scott: Nobody here is in any danger or being put under any surveillance by us or anyone else.  She's wanted to try this place, and your pizza.  We brought her here hoping we could give her some new and positive experiences in the community.

The manager realizes that Kirsten still has has her loyalty to Emma, and it was her desire that brought them there, not to cause trouble.  Kirsten sneaks another couple of $100s from her pocket and adds them to the others, money she had effectively imbezzeled from The Prophets, with great joy.

Kirsten Scott: That's for the food, plus you and your staff to split.  And I'll let you decide how much of it to split, while the leftover can pay for however many more people come in that it will cover.

Kirsten then nods, and lowers her head in a more relaxed manner, turning and walking toward the table her crew had secured.  It's a table that positions them out of most visual and foot traffic, in order to honor their assertion they are not there to cause any trouble.

It's at this time the manager realizes the legitimacy of what is going on, and quickly insists their food and order be moved to the front of the line.  He wants to deliver the best possible opportunity for Emma.  The staff scrambles to get the pieces made fresh and the side dishes prepared, and in what seems like the blink of an eye, the first part of their order is rushed out to them, with an obvious level of favoritism.  But as always, it's Emma, who feels the stress in the staff, and touches one waitress on the hand, who is very nervous and trying to hurry to bring them their order.

Emma Taylor: Seriously, it's ok.  No rush for us.  Take your time and make sure everyone else is cared for as well, not just us.  I promise we are in no hurry and will happily wait for the rest of our food, if need be.

The innocence conveyed by Emma immediately calms the waitress down, and makes Kirsten smile.  Kirsten seeing "The Oracle" bring comfort to strangers is what she truly believed in and saw in this young girl from the get-go.  It's this calming sensation that turns the frantic restaurant back into its normal operation, bring food out to everyone as it is completed, sometimes one simple slice at a time.  While there are a few who still know of the group's existence and are still on edge, everyone has slowly begun acting normally,  The few that elect to truly obsess over the bunch try and make it nonchalant, but are quickly then making direct eye contact with "The One," who is trying to, more and more, divorce that side of her life away from her present and future.