Strings and Schemes

Chapter 14

"Liam - " starts Louis, shyly.

I cut him off, "nuh-uh, not today. It's Independence Day. And we're going to be treating it as such."

Louis laughs,  a knowing look in his eyes, "Alright, boss." There's no way anyone could rain on my parade today; for today feels like the first of a new beginning that felt so far out of reach and so unfamiliar to me that I'd never thought I'd experience it.

A few hours later, we're dressed in our best founding fathers outfits - Raina style. Corset tops, ripped jeans, leather jackets, and a nod to my original captors -  a fake moustache for me and a monocle for Louis. Louis opts out of the crop top and opts for a crocheted shirt that covers basically nothing. Just enough so we don't get kicked out of places for not wearing clothes. We made a fake uber black out of empty cardboard boxes and vow to only move from location to location in our "uber".

"Now we're ready for Raina's Independence Day!" Louis smiles, kissing my cheek dramatically.  I admire the hard work we've put into the day, blowing a kiss goodbye to my apartment as we lock the door and head for the elevator.

"BYE, LOVE YOU APARTMENT." I giggle, Louis waves bye too.

"OK, so we'll start on the opposite side of the bridge from our usual, and work our way there, we must have a drink at every place and we must do a task to assert your independence of my choosing!" Louis says.

I burst into laughter as the elevator doors close, "Okay, but nothing illegal or that could actually get me in serious trouble with the whole world."

Louis shakes his head, "Ah-ah-ah," he tuts, shaking his finger in front of my face.  "Everything you do could get you into trouble with the world, it's the whole point of Independence Day. You think we didn't come to blows over your captors Independence Day all those years ago? We're recreating the whole thing."

"When we get to the den there's a surprise waiting for you, you'll love it." He says confidently.

The first stop of the night is a random pub where we order giant glasses of shitty house wine, downing them as fast as we order them.

"Alright, Lou - whats the damage?" I ask. Curious of his plan.

"You have to get the entire pubs attention, stand on this table, and toast to all the brave pigeons out there." Louis says. Where does he think of these things?

"You -" I pause to laugh, "Can't," more laughter ensues, "POSSIBLY, be serious."

"Serious as a heart attack luv, OH, and I'm posting it to my stories." Lou confirms. Vital to Independence Day is the public display of independence.

"Fuck it,  in the name of Independence Day," I say, clinking my almost empty wine on his, wrapping my arm around his, we gulp down our vinegar flavoured wine before I gather the confidence.

I clammer up on top of the table, "AHEM-" I start, but the pub is too loud. I clear my throat, "excuse me," nobody moves. "I SAID - EXCUSE ME!"

The whole bar stops and looks at me, Lou giving me a thumbs up from behind his phone that's recording in 4K; a wicked evil grin on his face.

"I'd like to toast," I say, people looking confused, "TO ALL THE BRAVE PIGEONS OUT THERE!"

Everyone roars in excitement, clapping and clinking their glasses, "TO THE PIGEONS!"

I cheers my glass towards the camera  pointing my direction, throwing it a wink and blowing a kiss. Before hopping off the table and sitting down. Louis grins at me, "So she does break the rules, in public, at 6pm on a Sunday no less. I'm impressed Ms. Addams."