Freedom Train

April 3, 1963

April 3, 1963

Annabeth looked over herself in the mirror, taking a deep breath in anticipation of the day to come. Her dress was on loan from Lizzie's closet, a deep cerulean blue pencil dress, with a cinched waist and a small black belt in the center. She reached up to her head and situated the little blue hat, her bottom lip in her teeth.

Her eyes fall to the sink counter and she turned around, almost running into Bobby as he came up behind her to use the mirror himself, his hands around the ends of a red tie.

"Have you seen my gloves?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from sounding as nervous as she was feeling.

"Can you tie this for me?" Bobby asked, the two of them speaking at the same time.

They both expelled a calming breath, putting a pause on their frantic pacing to smile at each other. Annabeth reached out. Taking his tie in her hands, she expertly knotted the fabric.

The air got thicker as they stood so close, her hands grazing his skin every now and then. When she finished, she paused, her eyes looking up to meet Bobby's, her hands on his shoulders. They regarded each other carefully for a few seconds, before Bobby cleared his throat and took a cautious step back.

"Your gloves are on the side table," he replied with a smile as turned away.

He bypassed her and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Annabeth walked to the table and slid her gloves over her hands. The white silk was delicate and felt foreign on her fingers, but she wanted to look her best and follow the proper procedure for sit-ins.

Rule #1: Wear your best clothes.

Or in Annabeth's case, wear your best friends best clothes.

Annabeth sat on the edge of the bed and slid her shoes on her feet as Bobby came out of the bathroom and turned her way. He held his arms out, showcasing his all gray suit and red tie with a goofy grin on his face.

"How do I look?" he asked.

Annabeth laughed, lightly shaking her head.

"You look great," she said, standing up.

A knock on the door had them both taking in a deep breath. Henry was supposed to come for them. They were assigned to Britt's lunch counter; one of five lunch counters being targeted for the scheduled sit-ins in Birmingham that day.

Bobby opened the door, Annabeth standing behind him and unable to see who it was on the other side.

"Well I'll be damned," he said as he pushed the door open further.

Sandy stood, a cigarette dangling from her lips, wearing the same dress she wore at Christmas. She walked into the room and shook her head, looking around.

"I can't believe you sleep in the same room as this creep," she said to Annabeth in greeting.

Annabeth laughed and hugged her friend.

"I'm so happy you're here."

"Me, too, kitten. Me, too."

*~*~*

"I really wish you would've sent her to any other lunch counter," Terry said to Henry as they neared the motel that Annabeth and Bobby were staying in.

"The assignments were completely random and not chosen by me at all, brother," Henry answered as he turned the corner and pulled into the motel parking lot.

"I'm sure you could've done something," Terry mumbled.

"And you could've been smart and not got yourself involved with a white girl. The world is full of could'ves and should'ves."

Terry grumbled opened the car door.

"You get Annabeth from her room. I'll get Bobby from his room. Which one is it?"

Henry laughed as he turned the car off and opened the door, stepping out onto the pavement.

"I'm pretty sure the room is one in the same," he replied, leaving Terry in the car digesting what he said.

Henry hit the top of the car.

"Let's go," he called to Terry.

Bobby and Annabeth were sharing a room?

The anger and jealousy that washed over him at that realization was a strong force that he wasn't prepared to deal with.

But he had broken up with Annabeth. Practically told her to date Bobby. He had no right to be so upset. He repeated that mantra to himself as he climbed from the car and jogged up beside his best friend, ready to collect the two members of their troop to accompany them to the sit in at Britt's.

*~*~*

Annabeth was laughing with Bobby and Sandy when another knock sounded on the door. Their conversation fell and Sandy found herself taking Annabeth's gloved hand in her own. Bobby opened the door, revealing the towering forms of Terry and Henry. Annabeth felt Sandy's hand squeeze hers and couldn't help but look at the face of her friend as she viewed these two men for the first time.

Sandy's eyes were wide and a small smile graced her lips. She let go of Annabeth's hand and took a giant step forward, holding her hand out to Henry first- who looked at Sandy as if he was seeing a mythical creature.

"Hiya, chaps," Sandy greeted- hand outstretched. "The name's Sandy Merriman. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Annabeth noticed the quirk in Terry's lips as he recognized the name. Annabeth had told him many stories about her best friends.

Henry reached out and barely touched her fingers before he pulled his hand away. Sandy's eyebrow rose in surprise before she turned her eyes to Terry and offered him her hand as well.

Terry properly shook her hand and introduced himself and his friend.

"I'm Terry. This is Henry."

"Terry? The Terry?" Sandy asked, snatching her hand away and turning toward Annabeth.

Annabeth's cheeks flamed red and she offered her friend a short shrug.

"I have a few choice words for you, my friend," Sandy said as she pointed her finger at Terry and took a threatening step forward. "The nerve of you to..."

"Now's not the time," Annabeth interjected, taking Sandy's hand and leading her passed Henry and Terry and toward the outside landing.

"Don't embarrass me," the men heard Annabeth whisper to her friend as she drug her to the stairs, causing more than one of them to crack a smile.

*~*~*

"Just so you know, there's a good chance we'll both end up in the Birmingham jail by the end of the day," Annabeth said to Sandy as they followed the group down the street and toward Britt's lunch counter.

"Guess I can cross that off my bucket list then," Sandy replied. "By the way," she smiled with a nudge to Annabeth's ribs. "Terry is a fox. I get it."

Annabeth rolled her eyes in response.

"That Henry, too. He's probably the most intriguing character I've ever met."

Annabeth scoffed.

"Intriguing is a good word for it, I guess. Personally, I prefer intimidating. Intolerable."

Sandy shrugged.

"I don't let much intimidate me. Especially not a man."

The group began to slow as one by one they entered Britt's and began to sit down.

"You ready for this?" Annabeth asked Sandy.

Sandy squeezed her hand as they moved forward.

"I guess we'll soon found out," was her reply.