𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓘𝓷𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓜𝓮𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓽...

Chapter 110

Delilah and Nina were surprised at my declaration to fight to free the wrongly-incarcerated inmates who didn't deserve to be put away just for enjoying a certain type of music that made them feel happy. I told them if they wanted to keep themselves safe, they didn't have to stand with me and I would have understood. I have never done anything like this in my life and while I was scared as all hell, I couldn't stand by and let them live in jail for the rest of their lives. To my surprise and intense delight, Del and Nina declared they would always stand by me to do what's right. Nina added that inside of that jail is a boy she loves too, and she would do whatever it takes to free the boy who made her feel like a priceless work of art when she always felt worthless. We went back into the police station to ask one more question, "Is there any way we could visit the inmates tonight?" The officer said, "Probably not tonight, but you can try again tomorrow night." We nodded and thanked him before leaving the station for the night.

Del invited me and Nina back to her home where she lived with her husband, Scott, and I was grateful since I don't think I'd be able to go home by myself. When we got to her house, Scott was there and was happy to see us. When he asked if something happened, Del said she'd explain it to him later. Then she left us to her bedroom which she now shares with Scott and as soon as I sat down on the bed, I bawled my eyes out like a baby. Nina hugged me tightly and started crying too, "I know, Carina", she said to me, "I miss my boyfriend too." I shook my head and told her, "No, Nina. I'm not crying just because I miss Remington. I'm crying because all of this is my fault. If I had never told him about what happened last summer, none of this would have happened. I should have just kept my mouth shut and everything would stay the same." Delilah then kneeled down across from where I was sitting on her bed and looked at me seriously while also taking my hands in hers.

"Carina sweetie", she started, "It's either none or both of your faults. But I don't believe it matters. I believe that for the longest time, I had been waiting for the opportunity to finally help make changes in this town and stop living like something I'm not. I believe what has happened is our window of opportunity to finally start making changes. And even though you've been here for a short amount of time, I believe you are the one who will lead this revolution in the abolishment of this stupid law. And no matter what the cost, I will proudly and gladly follow you in changing the way this town works for good." I felt Nina lay her hand on my shoulder and state with a smile, "Me too. I want to help make changes so everyone can live peacefully and happily." I looked at both of them with a slight hint of intimidation that they believe I'm some sort of leader. I was scared of this possibility, but if these headstrong and selfless ladies were by my side, I knew I had nothing to fear. I beamed brightly at both of them and pulled them into a comforting group hug.

We planned to go to a printing store and make flyers to hang everywhere in town. My plan was to start a protest to finally end this ban and release the inmates. The idea was a walkout; meaning at noon the next day, we wanted to get students in school to exit their classes and employees to exit their jobs and then we'd all walk together to the city hall and hopefully open a case to end this bank for good. We got some help from friends that didn't get arrested, such as Andrew since he's still new to town, Austin, Luis, Waldo, Allegra, Scott, Magnolia and Georgina, and a few of the boys' friends that I remember from Christmas and New Year's and even my birthday. Everyone who was arrested was either a rock band like Palaye or just rock enthusiasts. I was glad Jennifer never knew I had secret rock records with me, but I believe she wanted me to be separated from Remington regardless.

We printed about a thousand flyers and hung them everywhere: Schools, stores, restaurants, doors on people's houses, restrooms, the park, the drive-in theater, the diner, churches, and the hospital. I couldn't sleep the night before the walkout because I believed no one wanted to risk something important to help out on a cause that could make living in this city easier. Then the next day I waited nervously and in anticipation as I watched the clock ticking when it was one more minute to 12:00 PM, and I hoped with all my heart and soul that I wouldn't be the only one in my college to be doing this. When it was finally time, I stood up during a lecture in my class and walked out of it. I felt a pang of disappointment when I noticed no one else was following me and I was about to give up when I saw about half of my class follow me and then other kids from other classes around do the exact same thing. I was joined a little later by my friends who clasped hands with me and then I started shouting a new chant I would be proud of saying which was from a classic song I remember listening to on the radio when I was younger and loved with all my heart. For that song was the moment I started to love rock n' roll.

Rock 'n roll is here to stay,
It will never die
It was meant to be that way,
Though I don't know why
I don't care what people say,
Rock 'n roll is here to stay
(We don't care what people say,
Rock 'n roll is here to stay)

Rock 'n roll will always be
Our ticket to the end
It'll go down in history,
Just you watch, my friend
Rock 'n roll will always be,
It'll go down in history
(Rock 'n roll will always be,
It'll go down in history)

By the time we got to city hall there must have been more than a thousand people behind us and I couldn't help but feel emotional that all of them were living in the dark and were waiting for something like this to happen. I stopped when I got to the steps in front of the building, and then I took a deep breath and walked inside along with the protesters still following me. I walked inside and was able to find an open court and even though they were in the middle of something, I held my head high and stood before the judge. He was old and had gray hair but seemed impressed by my proud entrance. He pounded his gavel to the get the room to be silent and then spoke up looking at me only, "Well, Miss. You've certainly got my attention. Mind telling me what all this is for?" I was quiet for a moment, but then I held on to my black rose necklace given to me by Rem last Christmas and clearly declared without any fear or hesitation, "I want to open a case to abolish the decades-old law that deems all forms of rock n' roll music illegal and also to free the wrongly-arrested inmates who were taken away because of this law that refrains them from living peacefully and causes them to live in fear. The entire room erupted with the jury opposing this proposal and the protesters backing me up and then the judge pounded his gavel to silence the room once again. "Now see here, Miss. In all the years I've worked to bring justice, I've never, EVER seen a girl as young as you propose something so outrageous yet have this many individuals on her side." I stayed silent as he looked me down. "This might be the case I've been waiting for my whole life."

AHHH!!! I'm so excited to start this special part of the book! I've planned this for a while and loved the reception I've been getting since a few chapters before this one. It's gonna get wild. exciting, emotional, and overall enjoyable. This was never meant to be a simple love story. I love writing my female characters as strong and letting love fuel their fire! Thank you again for showing your love for this story and I hope you like what I have planned next...😉😉😉