When and where (Fruk)

10

"Do you have everything?"

"Yes!"

"Did you double-check?"

"No! But I'm sure I have everything!"

"Well, see you in twenty-seven years..."

"See you in a minute..."

We continued to smile at each other, and I felt terrible about leaving him. However, I told him he couldn't stay in the city and needed to leave immediately, so I was glad that he was going to gather his things to leave soon.

I tapped my watch as I thought of the time and place, and the portal opened. "Goodbye, for now," he spoke. I smiled at him, giving him a thumbs-up, and began to walk through the portal. He looked sad, but I knew this would not be the last time I saw him. According to his eyes, we would be reunited again after a long time, but I would see him shortly. I could see his traces as the portal closed, and I felt excited.

There was no time to waste! I was going to be meeting a very special someone. Another portal opened up, and I smiled as I began to run toward it. There was a specific alleyway it should lead me to; that way, no one would see me come through it.

~London, June 1969 ~

As I went through the portal, I felt myself getting excited as I heard the music seeping through. I was so excited that my idiot self didn't bother checking if there was an odd step, and I felt horrified as I felt myself trip. I held myself to brace myself for the fall, but to my surprise, I didn't.

"I swear, you need to work on your walking skills..."

The portal closed behind me, and my heart skipped a beat upon hearing that familiar voice. I looked at him, and my heart nearly burst seeing how he looked. He was a hippie! A real-life one! Not just ones from the pictures but an authentic one from the time period.

His hair had grown longer, and he wore awfully brightly colored clothes. "How about we get you into something more modern," he laughed. He helped me stand up, and I still stared at him in awe. He wore denim bell bottoms with some white-colored boots. He had this brown long-sleeved shirt that exposed his chest. The shirt was tucked in and kept still with this white belt. He wore necklaces and rings, and I was so awe-struck to do or say anything.

He began messing up my hair, and I swatted his hand away.

"Please don't tell me you will make me wear what you are wearing," I laughed. He smiled at me and put an arm around me, pulling me out of the alleyway. "I won't, even if I wanted to force you to wear it," he laughed. "No, please," I laughed.

"Figured...however, I'm more eager to catch up with my troublesome friend who makes me so worried," he spoke. I separated from him and rolled my eyes. "Ugh! I should be more worried about you since you have to live through all of this nonsense," I spoke. Once we turned toward the street, I felt even more in awe.

It was the late sixties in London! The pop culture here was at the highest here, and I could see that the pictures would never be able to do it justice.

"Come on now, let's get you changed and get some food in your system. Are you leaving right away now that your device is fixed? Or will you stay a wonderful night with me?" Francis asked. I laughed at what he asked and shrugged. "We will see how I'm feeling if I'm entertained enough," I teased.

"Entertained? Ah, so you WILL be staying a night! I'd love to talk to you about some things either way," he laughed. I rolled my eyes at what he said and shook my head. "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, we will see about that," I spoke. He smiled at me and shook my head. "Let's go to my place; I have clothes for you..."

~
"You look great!"

"Yeah, something tells me that you picked these out beforehand... and I mean way before..."

"Ah, you know me so well!"

He finished fixing my shirt, and I looked at myself in the mirror. It wasn't bad; it was more of my style than anything. "What made you think I'd like wearing this?" I asked. He smiled at me and gave me a thumbs-up. "I just used your old clothes as a reference and went from there! You gave me punk vibes, so naturally, I got a bit excited," he smiled.

I looked like a stereotypical nineteen-sixties punk rocker, and I wasn't opposed to looking this way. "Alright, well, we should go," I spoke. He had taken me to his home, and it was nice seeing the evolution of his taste. "Huh? Where to?" He asked, following me.

"Hmm? You promised that you'd entertain me, and in return, I would stay. Was that not the deal?" I asked. My hand was on the doorknob, and I looked at him as I paused. I guess I was a bit eager to spend time with him during this time period. A smile began to appear across his lips, and he smiled brightly. "Of course! I'm right behind you!" He cheered. I nodded at him, and we both exited his home after that.

His home was a small apartment that was in the middle of London. I'm sure this was outrageously expensive. "What kind of job do you have to pay for all your stuff?" I asked. We had begun walking down the sidewalk, and he looked at me. "Oh, I'm sort of a scientist..."

"Scientist? What kind?"

"Biologist...I started some time ago to help me figure out what was wrong with me, but now I only teach it to students and haven't done the research," he spoke. He looked like he felt hopeless, but biology was a good profession to be in. "That's an amazing one! I'm sure you will figure it out in time," I spoke. I say that to him, but I feel bad seeing him that far in the future. I was worried if he would ever figure it out.

Maybe I could help him or something?

Yes! When I get home, I can find him and help him! I'm sure by then, he will be way more knowledgeable about biology, and we could figure it out.

"Hey! I have an idea!—"

Someone shoved me, and I turned back to who it was. "Excuse me," I spoke. The boy turned around, revealing someone around Alfred's age. He had a shag hairstyle, blonde hair, and a curl that stuck out. He didn't say anything, but once he looked at me, he looked shocked.

"Hmm? Aren't you going to say sorry?" I asked. The boy looked at Francis, then at me, and still didn't say anything. "Oh! My bad! Sorry!" He laughed. He looked at us up and down again and smiled this time.

"Sorry, I don't mean to stare...pardon me..." he spoke. He was a very soft-spoken person and seemed nice and awkward. The boy walked away from us, and all Francis and I could do was stare at each other, confused.

Weird...