Blue Monday|Transformers.

Chapter 1: Uptown Girl.

You've probably all had those kinds of dreams that are like usual life, except that a lot of things are not the same, and you seem to know the future in them. Well, this is because these other worlds where two things can happen spread out from our world like rainbows, and sort of flow into one another...Parallel universes, like traveling sideways rather than on a nature course. A different dimension. Sideways in time, rather than forward or back.

Brighton Falls, California, 1987.

Clara Theodora Grey, or Teddy as Charlie called her, and Charlie Watson had been friends for years, ever since they were both little and Clara and her parents moved into the house down the block from Charlie. The girls were close despite some of their varying interests and two-year age differences, though they always intersected on two things: mechanics and music. The former was what Charlie was more enthusiastic about than Clara, but it didn't change their friendship. "How did you even get in here?" the groggy and tired Charlie asked after shutting off her alarm. Clara was standing in the doorway to Charlie's bedroom as the said girl dragged herself from her bed, after putting on her headphones halfway and pressing play on her walkman. Both had work this summer, both worked together at a place they hated but it gave them money to save.

"Your soon-to-be stepdad let me in because you know we usually head to work together on our bikes," Clara replied sarcastically and Charlie rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, but we usually meet outside..." Charlie began to say but trailed off and let her hands fall to her side, realization crossing the older teen's face. "I know what you're going to ask, Teddy. The answer is no." She firmly refused, using the old nickname she'd dubbed Clara a few years back.

"Oh, come on, come on. We just need a replacement this one time." Clara begged her friend as she plopped down on her bed, they did just about everything together except DnD. That was the one thing Charlie couldn't bring herself to enjoy and it was one of the things Clara enjoyed the most. She liked and craved the escapism and creativity of it, especially after her dad left. It was a game a cousin of hers got her into it before he moved to England. "Just one game, Sarah gets back from vacation next week before the next one." She desperately tried to convince the brunette who had walked away to her bathroom to get ready.

"No! I already said no." Charlie's muffled voice exclaimed through the bathroom door.

"Dude, you can be whatever the hell you want in this game! It's fun, trust me!" Clara desperately begs her, it was just once, this weekend. Unless everyone canceled last minute, which had happened before.

"Teddy, no is my final decision." Charlie glared at her when she opened the door. Clara groaned in frustration and flopped onto her back. "Look, I love hanging out with you. All the time. We're getting extra since your mom is gone for work for like a week or something so my mom is keeping an eye on you, but I can't find it in my heart to find that game enjoyable." She told her, slapping a hand on Clara's shoulder comfortingly.

"Fine. Just make sure your walkie is on in case Daniel's older brother shows up and I need an escape." Clara sighed with a frown on her face. Daniel's creepy older brother who sometimes just showed up out of the blue. It always frustrated Daniel because it typically led to her, Sarah, and Maggie, the three girls of the group to the three boys of the group, leaving as soon as possible. They tried to host the game at other places, but no one quite had the space for it like Daniel did. He tried his best to keep the three girls out of the line of fire with his brother. "You know how much of a creep he is." She mumbled and Charlie hummed with a slight chuckle.

"Yeah, I know." Charlie nodded. "Now, go away so I can dressed. I'll see you outside for breakfast or something." She shooed Clara away and the dark-haired girl snorted but complied and headed for the bedroom door.