STALKER

Chapter 52 - 13th July

Only a short one.

If you are thinking that was my huge blunder, the thing that has been haunting me all week, you would be wrong. Yes, it was one of the most embarrassing, awkward situations I've ever found myself in, but no that's not it. Chomping down on his fingers was meant to be playful, a reaction to him trying to shut me up. I was in a good mood, we were getting along well and in my defence, I didn't think it through and never imagined it would end up where it did, hotter than the Sahara. It was something I'd do to one of my brothers; I'd bite, they'd punch, we'd yell at each other and then mum would come in and slap both of us and send us to our rooms.

It may not be the worst thing I did that day but it was a close second. What I did next was possibly the worst case of overcompensating in recorded history, and I want to throttle myself for being such a dumbass. 

I blurted out " I time travel...that's my secret." and being the idiot that I am, and in a rush to get away from my last mistake I dived straight into the next one. Before he even had a chance to digest what I said, I grabbed Weirdo's hands and took him with me when I jumped.

My destination was a spur-of-the-moment decision, so I wasn't sure exactly where we would land.

A split second later we were no longer in my warm cosy room but outside and it was a bright sunny day. I looked around to get my bearings and then at Weirdo. I was still holding his hands and his wide, terror-filled eyes were staring helplessly back at me. His body was spasming, as mine had done the first few jumps. I knew what he was feeling, panic, disorientation and pain. The trembling is awful, it rattles every bone in your body and the sparks of electricity along each nerve takes your breath away. The only good thing about it is that it didn't last long. I could see him wincing as he struggled to stay standing.

"It's OK what you're feeling is normal for a first jump. Just breath, it 'll be over soon. Breath...that's it....big breathes. I right here and I'll take care of you...just breath."  I reassured him.   Weirdo started to collapse and I had to hold him up by his waist. I felt guilty, I should have at least given him a warning.  I held his face so that he looked directly at me and focused on breathing.  "Breath, Breath."  His eyes are normally amazingly clear,  were at that moment  a deeper more vivid colour, shimmering, probably from the electricity running through every neurone. After a few minutes, he was steady enough for me to turn so he could see where we were. His eyes darted around us and the scene before him. Bit by bit I could see he understood what he was seeing.  He pushed his curls off his face to scan the street properly, finally taking in that it was real.

We were under one of the big old wattle trees that line my street. Directly in front of us was my house. His eyes ran along the low brick fence and iron lacing, the old double gate and the wide path to the verandah steps and beyond. He looked  back at me in bewilderment, his body still spasming and his breathing ragged but steady.

I pulled him back a little further under the tree when I saw a motorbike parking outside my place. A big black bike with two large pannier bags stuffed with white satchel envelopes and small parcels. The rider in his high viz jacket and black helmet got off the bike,  pulled out a parcel from one of the bags and headed for my front door. I heard Weirdo gasp and the trembling doubled, I held him tighter by the waist.  I was sure his knees were turning to jelly.

The delivery guy knocked on the door and a few moments later...there I was. Wow...my gut did a summersault. This was a first for me too. I'd never jumped like this before, where I saw myself. I looked hyperactive even from this distance. I remember that day clearly how I was hanging out for that parcel like a druggy for his methadone.

I think I heard my voice at one point which was freaky, is that what I sound like? The next minute the scene was over and we went on with our day. Weirdo drove off and I remember ripping open that parcel and being furious at the idiot delivery man.

I turned Weirdo around to look at me. "Take a deep breath." I looked him in the eyes to make sure he understood what I said. All I got was a blank stare.

"Home."

We were back in my room and Weirdo turned away from me dropped to his knees and threw up.