Forlot: A Girl Who Needs Her Space - Book Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Three

Before my mother could see me, Karma grabbed me by the arms and pulled me away. I glanced at her and was on the verge of protesting, but thought better. I did not want to cause a scene. I did not want the people to stop what they were doing and gaze at me as if I were crazy. We promised the owner to not cause any disturbances, so I let Karma take me away.

I let out a whoosh of air through my nose as she tugged me in the girls' restroom. When we were inside, she let me go and checked the stalls to make sure that the two of us were alone. She returned to my side and said that the coast was clear.

"Good," I said. I dusted off my jumpsuit. "Now that we are alone..." I put my hands on my hips. "...what in the world was that for?!"

Karma raised a finger to her lips and shushed me. "We need to keep it down. We do not want anybody to hear us and think that something is up."

I took in a deep breath and lowered my voice. "You are right, Karma. If something awful happens to us now, it will surely affect our future." I groaned and pushed my glasses up. "Darn glasses. I swear that I will snap them in half."

She pointed at me. "Do that, and your mother will give you a nice spanking." She gripped my arms once again. "I do not want that for you."

I wriggled from her grasps. "What if I lied to my mom? What if I lied that I accidentally broke my glasses?"

Her eyelids lowered, and she shook her head. "No way. You would never lie to her. You are just not the type of person. Even if you had the choice, you are incapable."

"You saying that I am incapable of lying?"

"Duh. You would feel guilty if you lied to your mother."

I lowered my arms and pressed my back against a wall. "Oh, I hate when you are right." I giggled. "Maybe that is why we are friends. You set me straight."

"Best friends," she corrected. "And I am not the person to set you straight. You set me straight."

"In your dreams."

"I do not have dreams of you setting me straight."

"When have I ever set you straight?"

She played with her black ponytail. "Since the day that you and I met. You remember that day, do you not?"

"I remember it like that it was yesterday."

"It was years from now."

"Riiiiiight."

My best friend gazed at the stalls, and then back at me. She decided to use the stalls and disappeared into one of them. I pushed myself off the wall and began to rock back and forth on the heels of my shoes. I surveyed the bathroom and asked Karma if she wanted me to stay. I knew that she would say yes, but I just wanted to make sure. And she did. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my pants and smiled.

"Why did you pull me away from my mom?"

"I do not want us to alter the timeline."

"Says the girl who brought us to this time."

"I am serious. If she recognizes you during the present and makes the connection, then we are done for."

I walked to the row of sinks. "You worry too much. She will not suspect anything. She is too smart to believe in time travel."

"I do not know, Carmen, but I do think that we should play it safe."

"Since when have you wanted to play it safe?"

"Since when are you chatting with me while I am in the bathroom?"

"Sorry. I will stop talking."

I examined my face in the mirror and could not believe how filthy it was. I could not - and still cannot - believe that I was walking around with this dirty face. I huffed and decided to clean my face.

"Should have checked a mirror sooner," I mumbled.

I switched on the faucet and watched water coming out and hitting the sink until it disappeared into the drain. I cupped my hands together and put them underneath the sink. I held my breath and closed my eyes. I tossed the water on my face and smeared it all around. It was then that I realized that I forgot a paper towel.

"Dang it," I said. I felt for the faucet and turned it off.

"What is the matter, Carmen?" Karma asked.

"I splashed water on my face and forgot to get a towel."

"Why would you splash water on your face?"

"I was cleaning my face."

"Did you use soap?"

"Nope."

"I am coming right out. Just hang in there."

As soon as she said that, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"That was fast."

"What was fast?"

"You came out from the stall fast because you are next to me."

Silence filled the restroom. I waited for her reply, but it never came. I felt her hand releasing my shoulder.

"I just felt you remove your hand from my shoulder."

A few seconds later, Karma spoke.

"Carmen, I do not know how else to tell you this...but I am not next to you."

I rubbed my eyes and hesitated. "...what do you mean? You are next to me."

"I am not. I am still in the stall." I heard a door. "Now I am out of the stall and making my way over to you and the creepy guy."

"W-what creepy guy?"

"That creepy guy standing behind you. Do not worry. I will take care of him for you."

I was able to open my eyes - and gasped when I looked in the mirror.

A man who seemed to be in his twenties or thirties had been behind me this whole time. He was grinning with glee.

"Wanna have some fun?" he rasped.