Number Eight

Right Back Where We Started

Dallas Texas, September 1st, 1963

I land on the ground with an awfully painful thunk. 

Diego lands, on his feet might I add, next to me. "Is Time Travel meant to hurt that much?" I question with a wince. 

He looks down at me cocking a brow before the sound of a woman screaming sounds off in the distance.

 "Help! Someone help me!"

Diego immediately bolts and I lean back on the ground looking at the blue glow for a minute.

Well, this definitely wasn't the plan.

Sighing, I stand up and turn the corner in time to witness Diego's hero complex in action. He throws a knife at a dude robbing a lady before punching him and giving her bag back.

The sound of a male voice has him turning toward a tv screen in a shop window. I follow his gaze to a JFK speech which once again has me sighing.

"Excuse me," I say turning to the lady, she looks me up and down taking note of the cut in my leg from where I fell, "yes?"

"I'm so sorry but the calendar at home broke and I was wondering if you could tell me the date?" The lady looks skeptical, "how did your calendar brake, it's paper?"

"The dog ate it," Diego adds, "he's a real pain in the a-"

"Apple, a real pain in the apple."

Her gaze cuts from me to Diego then back to me again. Finally, she says, "it's September 1st."

"And the year..." I prompt.

"'63."

I offer her a polite smile, "thank you very much, you're very kind."

She gives a smile you only give people you want to fuck off before walking in the opposite direction faster than needed.

"We're not meant to be here," I sigh turning to Diego. 

"Yeah," he says, "thanks for pointing out the obvious."

We look around for a few moments before the sound of a police whistle snaps us out of the thought. 

"HEY!" Two old timey police are running toward us. 

"The bitch ratted us out," I conclude. 

"For what?" Diego questions.

"We probably sound fucked in the head."

Eyes wide, Diego turns to me. "You have to go."

"What?"

"Me I don't care about; I can fight them off but you..."

I cock a brow, "are you saying I'm weak?" Diego looks toward the cops before back to me. Handing me a knife he says, "take this and I'll catch up."

A slight wave of panic makes its way up my spine, "you promise?"

"Yes, I promise."

I run.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm not sure how long I'm waiting before I realize Diego's not coming back.

You shouldn't have left Number Two.

Rain starts coming down as I make my way down main street. Up ahead there's a group of white teenage boys throwing beer bottles at blacks only hairdresser.

The confidence it would take to run that place.

When they see me walking by, one of them whistles. "Oi, girl." With a sigh I turn around, "yes?" One of them, a brunette with blue eyes flashes a smile at me, "what are you doing alone at this time of night?"

"We were taking a walk," a female voice pops up behind me. I turn around to see a slim woman with raven hair and pale skin smiling at me, "isn't that right, Diane?"

I look at her and she cocks a brow as if to say go with it or you're fucked. "Yes," I say turning back to the boys, "we were taking a stroll."

They look at each other skeptically but they seem to get the hint. "Okay ladies," the brunette bows, "enjoy your evening."

Raven hair places her hand on my back before we start to walk off. "Are you okay?" She questions. I turn to her nodding, "I guess it depends on what you define 'okay'."

She lets out a laugh, "I'm Rose."

"Ivy."

Rose eyes me for a moment, up and down before looking as though she's decided something. "Tell me, Ivy, do you have anywhere to go?"

"Of course, I-"

She cocks a brow. 

"No," I sigh, "I don't."

"Okay," she says, "next question, how well can you dance?"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3 months later...

"Ivy!" Rose calls, "you're on in 3 minutes."

I sit in front of my dressing room mirror getting ready for my set. After Rose found me, she offered me a place to stay and a job as a dancer. Desperate as I was, I said yes.

Plus, once I found out Diego was put in an asylum which led me to a dead-end. Luther works here though so it made me more comfortable.

I look at my reflection, taking in how much I've changed the past few months. My now brunette locks are longer now, my blue eyes brighter, freckles more apparent.

I wear a crimson red two piece and matching sparkles on my eyes because Rose said this is the outfit that gets us more tips.

That I'm the one who gets us more tips.

"Ivy, you're on."

I sigh before making my way down the hall and onto the stage. The male applause that erupts should make me feel confident, instead I feel sick that I'm doing this for them over myself, that I have to do this.

When the music starts, I place my hands on the pole before swaying my body down it slowly and bouncing back up.

More applause.

For the next 2 minutes I dance, and I sway as the applause and the cheers grow louder and louder.

At the end of my set, I pick up the tips thrown at me and blow a kiss before heading back down the hall. Rose stops me in my tracks, "you are legendary you know that?" She places a kiss on my cheek before rushing off and yelling at one of the other girls.

Once she's gone, I drop the facade of a smile and lock the door to my dressing room. I take note of the rose bouquet left on my makeup table before placing them on the couch behind me.

When I sit down again and look in the mirror, I can't help but glare. "You motherfu-"

"We need to talk," he says, "it's happening again." 

AUTHORS NOTE: Get ready for Ivy and Lila because the hell they're gonna rain down on Five (and Diego) is probably my highlight of writing this season.