Canvas Skies (Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!) by S. L. Wallace Page B

urban legend. That keeps Resistance fighters safe because
what kind of a threat are we if no one believes in us? But I keep
wondering, how can we change society unless everyone knows?”
    “Keira, if the wrong people hear you,
they'll take you away and do what they did to Scott, probably
worse.”
    “There's always a chance of that. Just after
you left, wanted posters for all three of us went up.”
    “What? Why didn't you tell me?”
    “Because it didn't affect you before.” Keira
leaned forward. “They couldn't get to you in Mediterra, and you had
enough on your mind. Anyway, we don't even know who posted them.
There's just a number, no name. We don't know if it was because of
the Palamara report or because of Beckett or some combination. We
just don't know. ” She waved her hand like it was of little
concern.
    I stood. “Keira, stop trying to protect me!
You always do that, and you just can't, okay? You can't protect me
all the time.”
    Her face paled a shade. “I'm sorry.”
    I moved around the table and rested my hand
on her shoulder. Keira looked up at me.
    “We need to support each other. I need you
to talk to me, to trust me to be able to handle things. Do you
understand?”
    Keira nodded, and I bent down to hug her.
There really wasn't anything more to say, so I simply asked, “Are
you hungry? I could make crepes.”
    “Toast will be fine.”
    I moved toward the counter that separated
the kitchen and dining areas, but Keira took a deep breath and
stopped me. “No, you sit. I'll get it. What would you like?”
    “I'll have a piece of toast too, with apple
jelly.” I sat down and poured myself some tea, then gently lifted
the white teacup with bluebells on it. I inhaled the sweet aroma of
peaches before taking a sip. The porcelain clinked when I set the
cup on the saucer.
    Tea and coffee were luxuries here, reserved
for the Elite, but after living abroad, I knew it wasn't because
they were terribly expensive to import. Scott said the prices on
certain food items had been inflated by the Gov as a way to keep
the Divide strong.
    Keira returned to the table with two small
plates of toast. She handed one to me, then sat down and poured a
cup of tea.
    “You didn't answer my question before. Guy's
parents really don't know about you? How is that even possible?
You've been living together for months. What do his neighbors
think?”
    Keira shrugged. “They think he's a player.
That's how he's described in the newsvids.”
    “Really?”
    “I come and go in so many different outfits
and hair styles, I'm pretty sure they believe he's the eligible
young bachelor the media's been describing. People usually see what
they want to see, you know, and I haven't attended any Elite events
with him or anything.”
    “And he doesn't go alone,” I guessed.
    Keira simply shook her head.
    “Wow, and you're okay with that?”
    She shurgged. “It's like a job.”
    I raised my eyebrows.
    “I do the same for my job, and you know
it.”
    “What? You mean you still...” My eyes grew
wide.
    “No. No, that's reserved for Guy now.”
    We were quiet for a few minutes.
    Then I asked, “So, how is this going to work
exactly?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “This.” I gestured around the apartment.
“Our living arrangements. My work. Where do we begin?”
    “Well, you have the master bedroom, and
you'll decide what your life here is going to be like. I'll follow
your lead. Okay?”
    I nodded, still a little unsure.
    “Of course, you'll get to attend benefits
and galas and such. It's part of your station now, but we can do
that together, as friends. As far as anyone around here is
concerned, Kendra James is new in town too.” She paused. “What
would you like to do today?”
    “I guess I should try to find a job. I'll
apply at some of the local galleries.”
    “Is that what you want?”
    “Well, it's either that or open up one of my
own.”
    “Which would you prefer?”
    “Is that even possible? A gallery of