Jovial Memories

Chapter 20

            The plan seemed to evolve perfectly in Mandy's mind. Oh, why hadn't it ever crossed her mind before? She supposed her depression would've kept it from appearing earlier, but ever since she had received the Time Precedent, she'd been filled with a new sense of hope, which had sparked this wonderful idea.
            Why not change some aspects of your life to make it this way? Jessie's words repeated in Mandy's head as she thought of it over and over. She technically had Jessie back in her life now. Her mother and father were still divorced, and her brother still not talking to the family, but she supposed that could not be changed.
            As for her friendships...
            If Dustin and Abby knew that Jessie was still alive in some form, perhaps they'd be willing to make amends and give second chances. Mandy knew she sure would. Her heart just raced thinking about the whole idea.
            What if she could convince Dustin to fly out to Vermont and Abby to meet and convene with them? Maybe then she could show them the Time Precedent, figure out a way to get them involved, for she knew it couldn't be impossible, and then their broken bonds would form even stronger ones.
            It was risky, not to mention that Mandy would be breaking the very rules she had agreed to when given the Time Precedent, but she believed her friends deserved the chance to see Jessie as much as she did. And, if she was lucky, a bit of her past would return for real...
            Still, Mandy remained a bit skeptical as she awoke for school on Friday morning. She had been up all night going over the plan in her head, desperately trying to figure out all the aspects of it. Would it work? She had no idea. But she supposed it was worth a try.
            As Mandy prepared for the day, she felt her excitement slowly being replaced with nervousness and fear. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. What if Dustin wouldn't pick up his phone? What if Abby wouldn't even listen to her? Would they think her insane?
            Roy and Iris rarely crossed her mind as she thought of these things, but when she did, she wondered if perhaps it would be best to discuss the issue with them. She supposed another person's advice would be helpful.
            Mandy stared off into the distance as she shoved cereal into her mouth. Meanwhile, her mother glanced at her with suspicion.
            "Something troubling you?" she wondered.
            The question was stupid. It seemed there was always something bothering Mandy.
            "Nothing," Mandy quickly replied, glancing back down at her cereal bowl. She watched soggy Cheerio's float in the milk, trying to keep her gaze from her mother.
            "Remember your father is picking you up from here at four o'clock today," her mother reminded her.
            Mandy nodded and left her bag near the door as she made her way outside. She said good-bye to her mother, her plan still in her mind. She trudged through the snow-covered streets, wondering when the snow would end. Spring was in a few months, though she supposed the snow wouldn't fully vanish until sometime in April. She sighed, knowing she still had a while to go.
            As Mandy climbed onto the bus, she caught Abby's glance, then turned away. It wasn't time to bring Abby into the plan first. Dustin would be her first call. Plus, she'd probably have a better chance speaking to him.
            Mandy bit her lip as she wondered whether or not she should even mention her plan to Roy and Iris. Would they believe it was a good idea like her? Or would they simply bash on it like everyone else seemed to do with Mandy?
            Arriving to school, Mandy's stomach seized in fear, and she slowly got off the bus and made her way up the slippery concrete steps of her high school. She glanced around for Roy and Iris as she entered but could not find them.
            Heading to her locker, she was exchanging books when Roy and Iris appeared behind her. She spun around, startled, her heart beating rapidly from the anxiety about the plan.
            "Hey, sorry to scare you," Iris said, smiling.
            Mandy shook her head. "No, uh, it's fine," she said, turning back to her locker and grabbing the last of the books. She turned back around and gulped, wanting to explain the plan, but the words would not come out.
            "Everything okay?" Roy wondered, sensing something was wrong.
            "Uh, can I talk to you guys," she began, only to be cut off by the bell.
            "Shoot, we've got to get to class!" Iris exclaimed. "What was it you were going to say?"
            "I-I'll tell you at lunch," Mandy stammered.
            Iris nodded, though Roy still seemed a bit suspicious. Mandy then headed to her classes, zoning out of each class. The clock seemed to pass by incredibly slow, minutes seeming like hours. Meanwhile, nervous thoughts stirred in her brain, exhausting her.
            She received a few lectures from teachers about paying attention in class, assuring them she would try her hardest, but she just couldn't focus on the task at hand. There was just so much more important things to think about.
            When the bell finally did ring for lunch, Mandy nervously grabbed her things and lunch bag and headed to the cafeteria, meeting up with Roy and Iris just as they sat down at the cafeteria table.
            She paused, wondering if they had even remembered what she'd said to them in the morning. Perhaps it would just be best to forget the whole thing and not mention it to them at all.
            "Hey, so what were you going to tell us?" Roy asked after a few minutes of small talk.
            "Oh," Mandy muttered, turning away.
            "Come on, spill," Iris urged.
            "It's not really juicy," Mandy replied, laughing nervously.
            "Well, what is it then?" Roy wondered.
            "Please, will you not tell this to anyone else?" Mandy asked.
            "Have we broken the first promise?" Iris reminded her.
            "I guess not," Mandy replied. "I-I have this plan, you see."
            "Plan?" Roy wondered.
            It was then Mandy relayed to them the details of her plan, how she'd try to get her ex-boyfriend to fly out from New York, how she'd try to get Abby to join her, and together, she'd tell them about the Time Precedent and Jessie.
            Mandy ended on this note: "I just wanted your opinion on the plan. If it seemed like it'd work or not."
            Iris shrugged. "Well, I don't know. I mean, we don't know these people or your past that well. But maybe..."
            "No," Roy replied instantly.
            Mandy turned to him, eyeing him with confusion. "Why not?" she asked.
            "Well, you weren't even supposed to let us know about your Time Precedent and now you want to tell it to people who've already betrayed you and hurt you. And how do you know your ex-boyfriend wants to fly out? Why do you even want to make a connection with him? He seems like a jerk. It all seems risky to me."
            Mandy was shocked and slightly hurt by Roy's words. Why was he so offended?
            "I didn't have to ask your opinion, you know," she snapped at him.
            "What's wrong with you, Roy?" Iris wondered.
            "I'm getting a napkin," he muttered, rising from the table and leaving Mandy and Iris alone. Mandy turned to Iris, waiting for her to speak.
            "I don't know what's up with him," Iris muttered. "Don't listen to him, Mandy. Maybe your plan will work, and if you have faith in it, then I believe it can be done. Good luck. I support whatever you do."
            "Thanks," Mandy replied, grinning.
            "Just be careful though. It does sound a bit risky," Iris explained, agreeing with Roy on one point.
            "I will," Mandy assured her. So then it was settled. She'd call Dustin tonight to make arrangements.

The rest of the school day passed quicker, and Mandy felt much better and able to participate in more of her classes. Roy's outburst still was on her mind though, and she wondered why he had made such a big deal. How did he even know anything about her relationships with Abby and Dustin? He'd been right, but...there was always room for change and second chance.
            As the bell rang, Mandy grabbed her things, hoping to see Roy and Iris, but it seemed they'd already left. She supposed she'd see them Monday. Perhaps her plan would already be in effect soon.
            She happily skipped down the steps to the bus, trying not to get her hopes up, but at the same time excited about the fact that the plan could succeed and she'd have a part of her old life again. Now all she needed was her brother back and perhaps some long-lost twin to get her parents back together.
            Mandy readied her things back at home and prepared for her father to pick her up. She hoped he wouldn't have too much planned. She really needed some time to talk to Dustin.
            Her father picked her up exactly at four o'clock and honked from the outside of her house. Mandy kissed her mother good-bye and met her father in the car. As soon as she entered, he asked the general questions of how her day had been, if she had a lot of homework, and how school had been going in general.
            Mandy was relieved to find he didn't have much planned and already had some dinner waiting at home. It seemed she could easily head to her room and call Dustin from there when the time came.
            Mandy ate quickly once she arrived and within an hour, she'd retreated into her room, claiming she was exhausted and just needed some time to relax. Her father agreed, and Mandy shut the door quickly, pulling out her phone.
            She had received Dustin's new number when he arrived to New York and had not deleted it, or any of her contacts, really. Abby's number was still on her phone, as well as Jessie's, even though calling Jessie would just result in a message explaining how the phone number was no longer in use. Mandy used to call Jessie's phone constantly after she died, just hoping her friend would pick up and answer.
            Mandy shook these grim thoughts away and nervously clenched her phone. Should she call Dustin? Maybe he was busy...it was a Friday night, after all. She shook her head and took a deep breath. With that deep breath came a small bit of courage, and she called him.
            The phone rang for a little bit, and Mandy was tempted to hang up and just call off the plan when Dustin's familiar voice answered.
            "Hello?"
            "Dustin?" Mandy asked.
            There was a pause. "Mandy, is that you? You still have my number?"
            Mandy felt a surge of anger. Obviously he didn't have her number anymore. Still, he had recognized her voice, and that had mattered.
            "Yeah, it's me," Mandy replied.
            "Look, I don't know why you're calling but I'm busy and..."
            "I wouldn't call unless it was important," Mandy snapped. She had gotten ahold of him and knew very well she probably wouldn't be able to get ahold of him again if she tried. "Please listen."
            "What?" he sighed, as if the very question exhausted him.
            "Can you fly out here to visit?" Mandy wondered.
            "What the hell, Mandy? I haven't spoken to you in years, probably. What's up?"
            "It's something to do with Jessie," Mandy began.
            "Oh, hell, don't get me involved," Dustin muttered. "She's dead, Mandy."
            "I know that," Mandy snapped a bit angrily, causing Dustin to fall silent. "Sorry," she muttered. "I know she's dead, but she...isn't. It's hard to explain. Look, if I can get you, and Abby, and me together for just twenty minutes, will you please just listen?"
            "Can't you just explain over the phone?" Dustin wondered.
            "It's important, Dustin. I'm serious. There's something new I discovered about Jessie, and I thought it would be fair for you and Abby to know. Please, I'm begging you. If you could just fly out here for a day, it would mean the world."
            Dustin sighed. "You sound a bit more coherent than usual."
            Mandy didn't reply.
            "Whatever this is, I guess it's important to you. I doubt it will do much for me though. I wasn't that close to Jessie," Dustin muttered.
            "So what you're saying is..."
            "I'll see what I can do," Dustin replied. "I'll ask my parents, but no promises. Maybe I can take a plane or I'll drive up or something, but this isn't a game, Mandy. You promise me you have something important to actually discuss? This isn't some lonely attempt to get everyone together again?"
            "No, it is important, I swear!" Mandy urged.
            "All right, fine. I'll...keep in touch," Dustin explained.
            "Great!" Mandy exclaimed, her heart pounding. Dustin did still care enough about her to try! Her heart swelled as she thought of him, her mind forgetting all the hurtful things he'd said only minutes later.
            After giving him her number, Mandy hung up the phone, excited. Maybe the plan would work after all.