Mind Blind Short Story: "PSA"

"PSA"

Featuring Nick Wiseman and Grayson Black

“Follow me, fresh meat!” Integrity’s predatory smile sent a chill up Nick’s spine.

Unlike Peace, who kept their identity hidden behind a darkened demi-visor, Integrity refused to wear a mask (which was, Nick thought, rather poetic given her facename). Her white hair was cropped short, and the blush lingering from her recent filming session was settling into the wrinkles of her dark tan skin. With seventeen years on UCRT, Integrity was the team’s senior member, and has thus taken it upon herself to forcibly remind the newcomers of their civic duty.

“You may be Justice and Fortitude to them,” she said, jerking her chin at a group of teenagers who were unconvincingly feigning disinterest as to why by three members of UCRT had shown up outside their high school on a Sunday. “But you’re two kids younger than my sons to me. If you want my respect, you’ll need to earn it.”

Nick grinned at her. “Of course, Mrs. Rivera. Whatever you say.”

Integrity smacked him on the back of the head. “Don’t play the charmer, Nicky,” she scolded. “I served over a decade with your father, and know all the Wiseman tricks.”

“What was that about?” Gray whispered as they followed Integrity into the high school.

“Mia’s a close friend of my folks,” Nick replied. “Heads up: if she starts cursing in Spanish, run.”

Bitterberry Prep School catered to a certain tax bracket, as evidenced by the polished marble pillars in its entrance way and a crimson tapestry reading “Go Berries!” that Nick swore was actual silk.

“Feeling homesick?” Nick asked Gray.

Gray cocked his head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“We’re at a fancy-pants boarding school with two-dozen Mercedes in the parking lot.” Nick gestured to their surroundings. “Figured you’d probably feel right at home in this kind of place.”

Gray’s lips quirked upwards. “It’s cute that you think this place is fancy.”

“Less chatter,” Integrity barked. “More making sure that you have your lines memorized.”

“Yes, ma’am!” said Nick and Gray simultaneously.

* * * *

Although most of the camera crew had filmed enough Public Service Announcements with UCRT to be blasé about their celebrity, there was usually at least one newbie when it came to these types of things. Nick spotted her right away by the nervous way she kept peaking up at him and Gray from beneath the brim of her ballcap. She was pretty, and Nick liked the way her red ponytail reflected the sunlight.

He leaned over the snack table, offering the woman his hand. “Nick Wiseman,” he said, pulling out his most potent smile. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Her bashful smile back didn’t quite give him butterflies in his gut, but he liked it well enough.

“I’m Angie,” she said.

“Justice!” called the director. “You’re on!”

Nick flashed Angie one more grin before walking (slowly, so that she could appreciate the view) over to his designated chair.

“Your topic is anti-bullying,” said the director. “You’ve already read the script?”

Nick nodded.

“Anti-Bullying PSA, Take 1!” the director called out.

Nick allowed his smile to fade. He gazed seriously into the camera lens.

“As UCRT’s Justice, there’s no cause greater to my heart than making sure that people are treated fairly,” he said. “That’s why, today, I’d like to talk to you about bullying.”

Memories of Button, their lower lip bruised and eyes teary, assaulted him. Nick’s fists clenched in his lap.

“Bullying is wrong,” he continued. “But what is bullying? It’s not just trapping someone in a locker or sticking their head in the toilet. Violence is never acceptable, but not all violence is physical.”

Let me see your phone.

It’s nothing, Nick. I swear. Just some kids from school being dumbasses per the usual.

It was almost funny how his sibling kept trying to lie when they knew Nick could read their mind.

“Cyberbullying is when you . . .” Nick trailed off.

I’m fine, Nick.

I’m not crying, Nick.

Stop worrying about me, Nick.

Leave me alone, Nick! I already told you that I’m FINE.

“Cyberbullying is when you act like a shitstain,” Nick spat out. “When you mistreat someone because you’re too insecure to accept that they’re smarter than your ameba-brained ass. It’s when you lash out at someone who’s different, pretending that your ‘words’ are harmless, and—”

“Cut!” hollered the director. “Cut, cut, cut!” He glared at Nick. “What the hell was that?”

Whoops.

“Sorry!” Nick tried to smile with his usual flippancy, but his face was stuck in a scowl. “I just . . .”

“Nick is deeply invested in Unity’s anti-bullying campaign,” Gray interrupted smoothly. “So much so, he sometimes gets carried away.”

Nick nodded, relieved. “Exactly.”

“Huzzah for you,” the director grumbled. “But don’t go off script. Justice, take five to cool down. Fortitude, you’re on.”

Gray’s cheeks went bloodless. “Now?”

“No, yesterday,” the director snapped. “You have the script memorized?”

Gray nodded jerkily.

“Then take a seat,” the director said. “Sexual Health PSA, Take 1!”

* * * *

“Are you okay?” Integrity asked.

Nick glanced up. He’d been contemplating his feet while leaning into the wall’s corner, trying not to reflect on why he’d become so emotional. Reflection wasn’t helpful—it only made him feel more powerless. And sometimes it made him angry, when God knows he couldn’t afford to feel that way.

Thankfully, Gray was screwing up his PSA almost as badly as had Nick, which gave Nick time to figure out how he was going to prevent a second outburst.

“I’m doing better than him.” Nick motioned towards Gray, who’s cheeks were now a flaming red as he tried to get through the sentence ‘Condoms are the responsible way to prevent unplanned pregnancies’ without stuttering.

Integrity chuckled. “I didn’t expect Fortitude to be so . . .”

“Buttoned-up?” Nick finished.

“Prim.”

They quietly observed as the director pled with Gray to stop looking away from the camera.

“Are you a superhero?” he shouted at Gray. “Or a sheltered nun? Repeat after me: ‘You can avoid STDs with these simple steps.’”

“About your PSA earlier,” Integrity said. “How is your sibling—”

Nick pushed himself off from the wall. “Angie!” he shouted, drawing her attention. “I don’t suppose I could get your digits? In case I need anyone to film my next mission.”

His wink was overexaggerated, but Angie didn’t seem to mind. She handed Nick a slip of paper on which she’d preemptively written down her cell number. Nick respected a girl that was prepared. 

“Fine,” Integrity sighed after Angie left. “I won’t ask.”

“Appreciated,” Nick replied.

“Justice!” The director’s voice sounded hoarse from shouting. “You and Fortitude are switching topics. He’s on anti-bullying, you’re on sex-ed. Just read from the script as we film.”

Gray shrugged apologetically as he and Nick switched seats.

“No problem at all,” Nick said. “I have the sex-ed script memorized from back when my dad did the PSA. Hard to forget listening to that talk in a classroom full of my friends. It’s still the same script, right?”

The director nodded. “Sexual Health PSA, Take 1!”

Nick smiled brightly into the camera. “Our bodies are amazing,” he recited. “And as we grow older, we oftentimes find ourselves developing new and confusing urges. I’m UCRT’s Justice, and I’m here today to talk to you about sex.”