The Free Pass

Chapter 2

Author's note: This story alternates between the two main characters' points of view. POV is designated at the beginning of each chapter.

Mallory

I absentmindedly stroked my stomach, though there was nothing visible yet. I could feel the tiny bump, though. I was constantly aware that it was there.

I thought about how I got to this point. My baby's conception was kind of a blur, but I remembered everything leading up to it.

There had been a music festival hosted by Charlottesville at my college, The University of Virginia. It was held in September, which meant a huge turn-out since the students were all back in town.

I was part of a gun-control political group on campus. Politics were my passion. In fact, I was studying government and public policy. Someday I hoped to run for office and try to implement the changes I was currently fighting for.

Our group had received permission to set up a booth in the marketplace area of the music festival. There were quite a few other similar booths, plus dozens of food vendors and pop-up shops selling t-shirts and other memorabilia. There were a few craft tents, too.

I was standing at the booth calling out to people as they passed by, asking that they sign our gun legislation petition in exchange for a free t-shirt. I knew I'd be out in the sun all day, so I wore a bikini top and some denim shorts.

Late in the afternoon, I was listening to the band that was playing off in the distance. I wasn't planning to watch any of the performances, but it was nice to listen to them as I stood there. A group of guys walked by me.

"Free t-shirt if you sign this petition!" I called to them.

Three of the guys just smiled and kept walking. One stopped, looked at me, and then slowly walked over to my table.

"I really support your cause," he said. "The gun violence in the US is horrible."

He was tall. He wore a black t-shirt, black jeans, and had on a baseball cap and sunglasses. Around his neck was a lanyard with an all access pass for the festival. His smile made my stomach flip.

"If you support it, then please sign the petition," I said with a smile.

"I'm from Canada. Does that matter?"

"Actually, we need Virginia residents since the petition is for local legislation. Sorry."

He frowned. "Can I at least donate to your cause?"

With those words he pulled out his wallet and started taking out twenty dollar bills.

"Of course." I pulled out an envelope from the big plastic bin under the table. "If you put your name and email address, my club can send you a receipt for tax purposes."

"That's not necessary," he said, as he stuffed the cash in the envelope.

His friends had stopped walking and were standing one booth away, admiring some tie-dyed shirts. He looked over at them and held up a finger, indicating he needed a minute.

"Thank you so much," I said as I put the envelope away. "What size t-shirt?"

"Large."

I grabbed what he needed and handed it to him.

"Are you a college student here?" he asked me.

"Yep."

"You here all day?" he queried, removing his sunglasses so that I could now see his beautiful brown eyes.