𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐋 𝐈 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 | f. w

5

Erin didn't fully understand what had shifted, but after days of cryptic messages and heavy talks with Fred, she found herself wanting something simpler—something real. She wanted to see if there was a way to move forward with him that didn't always involve chasing down questions that had no answers.

So, when Fred suggested meeting up the following day, she took a deep breath and agreed. Maybe they didn't need to solve the puzzle right now. Maybe they could just... exist, together.

The next afternoon, Erin waited at a small coffee shop tucked into a quiet corner of Willowcrest, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater as she scanned the door. Fred had suggested they meet here, away from the conventions and excitement, just to have a moment to relax together.

When the door opened and he stepped in, her heart fluttered. Fred looked different somehow—dressed in casual clothes, his usual intensity softened by the faintest hint of a smile. He spotted her quickly, giving a small wave before making his way over.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice low and warm, like a familiar melody. "Thanks for meeting me."

"Of course," Erin replied, feeling her nerves settle just a little as she met his gaze. Up close, she could see a hint of something boyish in his smile, a side of him she hadn't quite seen before.

They ordered coffee, then found a table near the window, where light filtered through in soft streaks, illuminating Fred's red hair in a way that made him seem almost otherworldly. For a while, they just talked—about little things, the kind of questions she might ask any friend. He told her funny stories about places he'd been and people he'd met, his eyes lighting up as he talked about the time he and a friend had ended up at the wrong airport in Germany, scrambling to find a way back.

Erin found herself laughing more than she'd expected, the conversation easy and natural. And with each story, with every small gesture and glance, her doubts felt less pressing. For the first time, she was seeing Fred as simply... Fred. Not a mystery to solve or a past she didn't remember, but someone who was here, now.

"So, I've got to ask," Fred said after a pause, grinning as he leaned back in his chair. "Were you always the kind of fan who had all the merch and did the marathons and everything?"

She laughed, feeling a touch embarrassed. "Pretty much. I went through a phase in high school where I wore a Time-Turner necklace every day. My friends were convinced I actually thought it would work."

Fred raised his eyebrows, looking amused. "Please tell me you at least tried turning it once or twice."

"Of course!" Erin laughed, feeling a bit of warmth creep into her cheeks. "I mean, if it were real, who wouldn't want to turn back time once in a while?"

Fred's smile softened, a faraway look in his eyes for just a moment. "Yeah," he said quietly, almost to himself. "If only it were that simple."

She wanted to press him, to ask what he meant, but the weight of it felt wrong for the moment they were sharing. Instead, she steered the conversation back to lighter topics, asking him what he'd been reading lately, if he had any favorite movies, even what his favorite food was—something simple and completely ordinary.

They spent hours in that coffee shop, their cups empty by the end, laughter lingering in the air between them. She was so wrapped up in the ease of the moment, in the way he made her laugh and the way he listened, that she almost forgot about everything else. About the questions, the doubts, the impossibility of what they were trying to believe.

Finally, as they stepped outside, Erin found herself surprised at how much time had passed. The sky had shifted to a dusky blue, streetlights beginning to flicker on, casting a warm glow over the quiet streets.