loping along through the cosmos

1: THEODORE'S FIRST DAY

Theodore Maximus Lockhart V went on his new routine of an early morning jog around the new village he was in.

It was around 6 in the morning when he decided to go back to the apartment unit he rented with his friend, Jeremiah Pax Blackburn, otherwise known as JP. Two blocks away from their apartment was a dark alleyway leading to a convenience store, where he and JP ate for dinner yesterday.

The morning breeze crept on his skin, causing him to feel colder than usual. He walked faster to get back to their apartment and still got to the bathroom before JP did.

At exactly 7 a.m, he and JP were already running towards their school gate. They were almost late for their first class because the bus on their way to school came a little late.

"See you later, dude!" JP yelled as he ran to the west side of the campus.

Theodore ran north and took the stairs to the second floor, where his first class was. Walking through the hallway with him was a woman wearing the university's uniform for faculty members. She was holding a binder and a pen as she walked past the other rooms. Theodore quickly looked up to check on the room numbers.

Room 217.

The room was three doors away from him, and it seemed like the professor was headed towards the same room as well.

Theodore decided to stop running and walk faster to arrive before his professor. Luckily, the professor did not notice him in a hurry, and he was able to take his seat in front of the room.

In his hurry, he did not notice the looks his blockmates were giving him.

The girls were ogling him. The boys were checking if they could recruit him to the circle of friends that they were planning to create.

Oblivious, Theodore placed his backpack on the floor and exhaled.

"Hey," someone from behind him said.

Automatically, he looked over his shoulder to check who said it. Then he saw Jenevieve Carmichael, his ex-girlfriend, smiling at him.

"The bus came late," he explained to her immediately, then grinned at her. "Let's sit next to each other in our next class."

Jenevieve nodded just as the professor came inside the room, a stern look on her face.

"Good morning, class," she said, walking towards the table in front. Placing her binder and pen down, Theodore Lockhart finally realized who was standing in front. "My name is Penelope Valentine, your Mathematics in the Modern World professor."

It has been weeks since he last talked to Lyra Jade and her family. After De Villiers' passing, Theodore never saw the Empyreans again. He tried calling Lionel Thompson for some news, but after he was informed that Lyra Jade's group won against the Queen, he never got any news from them again.

Besides the twins and Mr. Thompson, the rest of Lyra Jade's family were from the other universe - and that includes the parallel universe self of his Maths professor.

What are the odds? But if the Terrene Penelope Valentine is here, then would mean that the Terrene Lyra Jade Valentine was too? Theodore's mind went haywire just by thinking about it. What if I see her here? What would I do? Should I approach her? Or should I just let fate bring us together?

He shook his head.

"Mister, is there something wrong?" asked Penelope Valentine when she saw him.

The boy immediately sat straight and shook his head. "I just thought I saw a fly."

Penelope gave him a warning look before continuing her introduction to her subject.

After class, Jenevieve was quick to stand next to him, aware that the other girls were eyeing her friend.