Lennard wasn't on board with using outside help, but Polly decided he didn't have a say. After all, she was the main catalyst in their plan, and at that point, it was Kenzie or bust. The following afternoon, Kenzie stood on Lennard's doorstep, looking like she was a queen entering her castle.

Kenzie wore a stunning pink skater dress with thigh high stockings that matched the white, lace bow in her hair. Her heels were tall and sharp, and her sunglasses were large and reflective. And of course, she was chewing gum obnoxiously. All a part of who she was: the queen of masks.

And this afternoon, she was wearing her bitch mask, complete with the attitude to match. She was there to support Polly and make a difference, and that meant she needed to bring all the attitude she possessed.

Behind her stood Tom, unsure and hesitant. Unlike Polly, he was not confident. Minny hadn't exactly invited him, and Lennard wasn't the most friendly person. But, Kenzie and Tom both knew Lennard, and both had dealt with much worse.

When Lennard opened the door, Kenzie cocked her head to the side. "Lenny. How nice to see you again." Her words sounded sarcastic.

Before Lennard could spit out a comeback, Polly was running through the doorway and into Kenzie's arms, holding tight to the girl she loved. Just being there, in Kenzie's arms, felt so right. She felt instantly safe, and instantly better about their situation. Just by being in Kenzie's presence.

Kenzie wrapped her arms around Polly, and then without hesitation, planted a kiss on the blonde's lips. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to do. And when Polly answered with a grin, Kenzie felt like everything in her life was finally coming together. Her father may have attempted to kill her, but with Polly in her arms, things were looking up.

"You brought Tom, too." Was Lennard's only response.

Minny poked his head out from behind Lennard. "Tom, you're here too? Sweet! What a fucking power team." Minny stepped from around Lennard, fist bumping Tom. He'd never been so grateful to see his best friend in his entire life.

Tom pulled gum from his pocket, offering Minny a piece. "Didn't know if you had any here, and I knew you'd be stressed."

Minny grinned, grabbing a piece of the mint gum Tom was offering. "Dude, I could kiss you right now."

Lennard put a hand on Minny's shoulders, his grip hard. "Don't make those jokes, Benny boy. It's inappropriate, considering you're devaluing the fight that actual gay people go through. Now, let's go inside so we can fill in our new... guests."

Lennard was reluctant. Not because he didn't like Tom and Kenzie, because while they acted stiff with each other, the three of them got along quite fine as children. It was the fact that Lennard had left Minny behind that had Kenzie and Tom angry at the twin.

The group filled the dining room, taking seats around the table. The presence of Kenzie and Tom had Polly grinning, as well as Minny. Both looked like they were truly happy, now that their friends had joined in. The only issue was that Kenzie and Tom were completely out of the loop, and this would take a lot of explaining.

Lennard took the head of the table, his girl companion beside him, refusing to sit in a chair. She stared at Kenzie, unflinchingly, and the purple-haired girl felt unnerved by the stare of the strange girl on all fours. She looked unnatural and more creature than girl. Tom didn't miss her presence, either, but said nothing.

Tanner and Gryphon joined them, but their presence wasn't as noticeable, as they didn't dare sit at the table. Both were outsiders in this group reunion, and both felt awkward even being there.

As Lennard filled them in, Polly gripped Kenzie's hand hard under the table. Hope filled her chest at having Kenzie beside her, fighting for the same battle she was currently fighting. More people on their team was better for all of them. It created an alliance that would be hard to beat, even for their father.

When Lennard finished, there was still so much unsaid. Kenzie had no idea about Tanner, about Polly's childhood, about what the real issues were. She knew the basics, knew the plan, but not the reasoning behind it. Tom didn't either, but Polly was more hesitant to talk to him about her past. She wasn't sure about Tom, and whether or not she trusted him. He was an ally, a friend of Minny, but he didn't have her best interest at heart, because he wasn't her bestfriend. He was Minny's.

And that mattered to her.

Considering how heavy the topic was, both Kenzie and Tom took it well. Kenzie was more angry, but that was to expected; this affected her far more than it affected Tom. If Minny, Lennard, and Tanner's father became governor, it wouldn't disrupt Tom's life at all. But he was there for his friends.

"So," Kenzie spit out the word, "what is our first plan of attack? I'm ready to rip him to shreds."

"Our father wants regulated gay camps. His obvious target audience is those who fear, hate, and misunderstand gays. We need to pull at heart strings. So our first plan of attack is to announce Tanner running, and then use Polly and Gryphon as people who have suffered from the camps, to come up and talk of their experiences."

Kenzie's head turned to Polly, shocked. "Camps... you were in one of those?"

Flashbacks filled Polly's head, swarming her with painful memories. The nightmares plagued her when she slept, but she tried her hardest to forget those memories when she was awake. The sudden trigger made her chest tighten, and her heart squeeze. And when she made eye contact with Tanner, she felt red hot anger in her veins.

"Yeah... I was. For years. It was abusive, painful, and I don't want to talk about it." While Polly's words sounded cold, she mostly didn't want to talk about it in front of the group, in front of Tanner. She couldn't care less about his feelings, but she cared about what he might have to say to save his face.

Kenzie tightened her grip on Polly's hands. "And this dick running for Governor, he did it to you?" Kenzie's words were angry, hard, clipped. She was raging inside, but could do nothing about it. She couldn't solve all of Polly's issues.

"Yeah. But I'm moving on. And we're talking about what we're going to do, not about what happened."

Minny sensed that she needed a topic change, and fast. "Alright. So, Tanner. Let's practice what you're going to say on television."

Tanner looked suddenly younger than he ever had before. He was nervous, unsure of himself in the space of the dining room. He didn't know what he was going to say, or how he was going to fight against his own father. He knew he was angry, and wanted to make a change, but he wasn't sure how he'd do when faced with his father.

Beside him, Gryphon patted his back. Comfortingly. "You've got this. I've never seen you hesitate. Remember who you were in the camp. Remember that confidence, and use it against your father."

Tanner was grateful for Gryphon's presence. When he closed his eyes, he could picture his father, and he could picture himself fighting against the man that raised him. He pictured his mother, dead, and he knew he needed to avenge her. To show her he wasn't just some rich boy who was just as evil as his father.

Tanner kept his eyes closed as he delivered what sounded like an opening statement. He pictured his mother there, watching, a smile on her face as she listened to her son with pride. Pride for who he'd become. Pride for what he was doing to make a change.

It wasn't too late for him, even Polly knew that. Just listening to the heart in his words told her that. He did care about changing, about making a difference. She knew that, but the pain in her heart refused to let her forget what he'd done to her.

When he finished, he had to step out of the room. He needed a pen and a piece of paper, and he needed to write everything down. Write what he wanted to say. Write what he needed to say. Write out everything until his speech was bullet proof.

Minny and Lennard let him go, without a word. Both brothers could sense what needed to be done, and despite living in separate households, both brothers knew that Tanner needed space, just but judging how his face looked before he left.

It was obvious he wanted to be alone, but no one noticed as Gryphon slipped out with him.

"So, we announce Tanner as running, and then what happens? We run a campaign? They make speeches? How does one run for governor?" Kenzie's words weren't accusing; they were from her own confusion for how the system worked.

"We'll fill out the paperwork to get him on the ballot, and then we'll run a campaign. Yeah, they'll have to make speeches, and they'll debate with each other. I think Tanner can be ready in time, though. In fact, I know he will be. Tanner is the type of person who commits to his role." Minny bit his tongue. He felt he knew Tanner a little better than Lennard, who had left, but he didn't add anything. Always the timid brother.

Kenzie looked at Polly. "And what does Polly need to do? What should I do?"

Lennard stood from his seat at the head of the table slowly. He looked almost regal in that position, with his posture perfect and his stare unwavering. He was years ahead of his time, but living on the streets and working your way up from nothing to everything can do that to a person. It did it to him.

"Polly knows what she must do. She needs to work on her public speaking, however. And you, you will be her support. She trusts you far more than she trusts any of us. Well, except for maybe Benny boy." He added that last part after a glare from his twin.

Polly squeezed Kenzie's hand from under the table. Hidden, but not hiding. "I know I do, and I will. Trust me, we're not letting him win. And I won't be the one to bring us down." She wanted to add her worries for Tanner, however. About whether or not he was ready for such a position. And whether or not he could really go against his father.

It didn't matter, though. It wasn't up to her to make those decisions about Tanner. He was the only one who could make them win. It was all up to him, now.

* * *

Happy Saturday friends!

I hope you enjoyed seeing Kenzie and Tom again! (i know i did...)

It's almost the end of the semester. Thank god. i'm dying here. 

Only 2 more weeks of classes. woohoo

okie dokie. i love you all. xoxo