Untitled Fiction - The Protest Part III

As Ayla and Ezekial made their way towards the Washington Monument, the sidewalk became more dense with people. They were surrounded by all kinds of people. Some were teenagers like themselves, but others was older dressed like their parents. Ezekial even thought he saw the mother of one of his classmates from school across the parkway. He carefully steered Ayla in the opposite direction. There was no way he wanted this to get back to his parents.

Walking on, Ezekial began to see the immensity of this protest. People talked among themselves as they crowded together along sidewalks and park benches. Some held signs high over their heads. The smell of pot wafted through the air and Ezekial had to be careful not to bump into people who floated by as in a daze. This was nothing like what Ezekial thought the protest would be like. For a moment, Ezekial felt a tightness across his chest and noticed that steadying his breathing took a deliberate effort. Unconsciously, he grabbed Ayla's hand and tried to walk faster to an area of grass that was still surprisingly open. Ayla didn't seem to mind holding hands and Ezekia found that reassuring. Suddenly, Ayla dropped Ezekial's hand and started waving. "There's my friends," said Ayla. Ayla grabbed Ezekial's arm and pulled him towards a group of teens holding signs.

"Get out now!" yelled one of the girls. She looked a bit like Ayla but the rage in her voice could be seen in the wrenching expression across her face. For moment Ezekial thought she was talking to him. Then he realized that she was shouting as part of the protest. He hadn't thought to bring any signs. She seemed to be really into the protest. Then just as quickly, her face relaxed. "You have to yell once in a while. Otherwise, people don't think you are serious about demo-ing." The rest of the group didn't seem that concerned about demonstrating though. Three others sat under a tree and a fourth person lay flat on his back completely focused on smoking. One of the people sitting strummed a guitar but Ezekial didn't recognize what he was playing.

Untitle Fiction - The protest Part II

The pretty girl laughed. Ezekial was fascinated by the way the light sparkled beneath her long lashes.
"Hmmm. . . since you are Z, I'll be something at the beginning of the alphabet. Let me think . . . A my name is Alice. No that is too ordinary."
"You could just go by A or, what no, how about Ayla? It almost sounds like "I lie." You know since that isn't your real name."
"Ayla? I think I like it."
"okay, then Ayla, what's a nice girl like you doing at a protest like this?" Ezekial winced at how corny that line must have sounded. "She probably thinks I am a real dork," he thought to himself.
Ayla giggled, "That's not a very original line."
"I know," Ezekial replied. It's just . . . you take my breath away and I feel a bit muddled inside."
"I do that to you? No one has ever told me anything like that before." Ayla blushed and glanced down at her feet then started to walk down the sidewalk.
Ezekial kept pace.
"You know, I am here to protest the war. I should get going," Ayla whispered.
"But that's where I am going, too. Let's walk together."
"Okay, but no personal questions. Let's keep the mysterious aura going. I kinda of like pretending to be someone I'm not. It makes being away from home a little easier."
"Is home far away? Oops! I didn't mean to pry. Where would Ayla be from if she was a real person?" Ezekial liked this. He wouldn't have to reveal his age or that he was still in school under his parents' thumb.
Ayla thought for a moment. "Berkley. Ayla is a student there and hitch hiked all the way here to you."
Ezekial blushed again. He was entranced and ready to follow Ayla anywhere.
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