Rebel Red Hope

15

     Walking through Trench with the Banditos is refreshing, watching the few in the group make small talk with Alex is nice as well, a few chuckles and laughs softly coming from their direction. Tyler walks ahead of us, probably in his own little world as he leads us to camp.

     Finally having had it with my hair falling into my face, I forcefully rake it back with both my hands, holding it in place, slightly upset about not having grabbed something to put my hair back before we left the city.

     "Hey Tyler," I call out to him while picking up my pace to walk alongside him, "You wouldn't happen to have a uhhh..." the word escapes me as my fingers twirl around the back of my head, "uhh... what the fuck is it called?" his eyebrows raise as he turns his head slightly to get a better view of me,

     "A hair tie?" Tyler questions, now fully facing me, eyebrows fully raised, smile about to explode off his face,

     "Hair tie!" I exclaim like an echo, my head quickly turning back to him, "do-" I stop, looking at him for a second before his entire body bends forwards, his hands rest on his legs for a moment as he explodes into laughter,

     "Do I have a hair tie?" He manages to get out between laughs, his whole body leaning forwards causing him to stumble slightly,

     "You're so dramatic," I snicker, playfully elbowing him before letting go of my hair, "But seeing as you buzzed your head again, I take it you don't have a hair tie," Tyler continues to laugh at my sass,

     "Yeah no, no hair ties here," he confirms after calming himself a bit, "Someone at camp might have one if you need it though," he smiles.

     We walk in silence together for a bit, Alex still making friends with the others behind us, the sun setting overhead.

     "So," Tyler breaks the silence, "Where'd you find the kid?" he asks, gesturing over to Alex,

     "Found them drawing Trench scenery in Reisdros District, just in front of the big building," I explain,

     "Nice," he smiles a bit before his face turns questioning, "How did you convince them to leave?" he asks

     "Long story short, you won't like that answer." I almost chuckle and Tyler lets out a sigh,

     "I usually don't-" he stops and glances at me for a moment before starting again, "What did you do this t- What did you do?" he stumbles over the phrase

     "I may have jumped out the top window and onto the roof of their building in Keons district with them to escape the bishops that came to glorify them," as the words fall out of my mouth,  my head slowly turns to Tyler who looks very distressed as he comes a bit closer and lowers his head and tone slightly, his eyes very concerned, but the corners of his mouth turn up slightly,

     "You stole a soon-to-be glorified from Keons?" he whispers, almost sounding like he was proud or maybe surprised? What was it in his voice?

     "They were going to be glorified! Of course, I stole them!", I whisper back defensively, "it was just a lot sooner than I thought," I admitted softly with a shrug,

     "Dude," he breaths through a smile as he bumps into me playfully, "That's sick!" he smiles as he steps away to give us a small bit of space, "Just don't tell Josh about it, and especially not Clancy,"

     "God, Clancy would have a fit!" I laugh before trailing off. It feels like I know him. All of them. As long-time friends, but I couldn't know them... Could I?