Wish We Could Turn Back Time m.c

Chapter 14

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Jasmine's POV
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After school one day in mid April, I took a long, hot, steamy shower. My day had been really stressful and the hot water really calmed me down. Things weren't going so well with my friends and I, we were all starting to drift apart and I didn't know why. I just hope it's not all awkward when Rachel and I go to this concert in July. We just don't seem as close lately.

As soon as I came out of the bathroom with my hair all wrapped up in a towel, I heard my phone vibrating on my bed. It was funny, because the only people that really call me are my mom and...

"Hello?" I answered just to prove it had to be too good to be true.

"JASMINE!!!" I yanked the thing away from my ear so Lacey didn't deafen me.

"LACEY!" I yelled back just as loud. I was so happy to hear from her! Maybe the advice I gave Al really worked. She just needed someone to. Heck up on her!

"Jaz, I know it's been awhile since we've talked and I can explain everything later, but I really need your help with something," she paused while she took a deep breath preparing for a long speech I supposed, "you know how you had to give your email address to enter the contest? Michael Clifford himself loved my drawing so much that he called and asked Open Arms Charity if he could have my email address to email me. He said my drawing meant something to him and he wants to meet the one who drew it in person! The only problem is, the concert in Sydney is sold out so he doesn't have any other tickets to give me. Do you have any ideas? Al won't help me."

"LACEY THIS IS AMAZING!" I screamed into the receiver.

"Whoa Jaz, chill," Lacey chuckled a little bit.

"Sorry. But you don't understand! Lacey, I didn't tell you this, but I bought a ticket RIGHT NEXT to the prize winning seats, just so I could come and meet you when you win!" I paused as I realized what is just said, then coughed. "So anyway, I have a ticket! Just no back stage pass."

"That's perfect Jasmine!" I could practically hear her smiling through the phone and knew I had done well. "Listen, there's something I haven't been telling you though. There's a reason Michael felt something when he looked at my picture. The boy is fetus Michael but the girl is me. When Michael was younger and lived here in Sydney he and I were best friends all through elementary and middle school and most of high school. That's why I wanted to win the contest and why I called the drawing "Wish We Could Turn Back Time," because I... Want to meet him again." The last part was almost a whisper, as if she was remembering Michael as we speak. And that was all fine and dandy, but Lacey is supposed to be in love with Al! I'm in love with Michael. And if Lacey has connections with him...

"Lacey that's amazing! You can have my ticket, take it. I'll send it to you in the mail, the concert isn't 'till October anyway. Oh there's so so many possibilities with this... YOU KNOW MICHAEL CLIFFORD!!!"

"Haha yeah I do know Michael Clifford," she laughed but she sounded a bit glum when she said it. "I used to always be me and him. Me, him and..."

"And?"

"And Charlotte White."
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Shelley's POV
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It felt so weird walking home from work at twelve thirty. I was going to have to find another afternoon job, and soon. I can't believe that diner fired me! I was their best employe! I guess you can't control when a company decides to downsize. They don't know I have three kids at home to take care of anyhow. I'm so thankful that Wendy, Darren, and Lacey aren't angry with me for not providing enough money all the time. I really do try hard, though.

That's why I wish Lacey would try more, I just don't understand the drop in grades! She used to be such a smart girl but for a couple years now her grades have been declining from perfect scores to low A's and then to B's and now she's getting a C in history. I just wish she'd show a little more effort because I know this is not her best, I've seen Herod better. It's a shame that Michael kid went off to college and then had to drop out to pursue his music career. He really did seem to be such a good influence on Lacey.

Sometimes, I feel as if it's partly my fault. I was so young when Lacey's father got me pregnant, young enough to say yes when the man asked me to marry him when I was only eighteen and he was twenty. Young enough to paint the townhouse we wasted our life savings on bright blue with a bright yellow door and red windows. No wonder other adults think I'm so immature. Since I had to drop out my senior year of high school to take care of the baby, I was never able to get my diploma and college was way out of the question. I've spent my whole life hopping between different restaurants and coffee shops and retail stores to earn money, always just making the payments by the skin on my teeth, which can't be an ideal upbringing for a young daughter. It could be possible that I'm a bad influence on Lacey. But that's exactly why I need to push her, so she won't end up like me: struggling to afford groceries every week and with your dick of a husband leaving you alone after he gets you pregnant with your third child together.

I was thinking about all of this on the long walk home from work. Of course the Daily Bean, the coffee shop where I worked from six to twelve thirty, was all the way across town and I can't afford public transportation for the life of me. That's why it was a sight for sore eyes when I actually saw someone I knew on the street.

"Charlotte White? Is that you?" I called to the tall, leggy girl with delicately curled black hair down to the middle of her back. She was just how I remembered her.

"Oh. Hey Ms. P," she said, ready to walk on by me.

"What're you doing Charlotte! Come give me a hug! I haven't seen you in forever," she gave me a small smile and let me pull her into a warm, motherly embrace. "What're you doing out of school in the middle of the day?"

"Oh, school's just around the corner, I'm just walking to get a Starbucks for lunch. I have about," she looked down at her pink and silver watch, "fifteen more minuets left before I have to head back for class."

"Oh yes, you're right, the school is right over there and I suppose it is lunch time. Well that's nice! So how's your mom, sweetie?"

"She's good. She still always talks about how she wishes she could cook like you," we both laughed at this.

"Well tell her I miss her. Oh, Lord, it really has been forever! How come you and Lacey don't see each other as much as you used to? You and her and Michael used to be like this," I crossed my index and middle finger.

"I don't know, sometimes things just happen and," she sighed and looked away from me for a moment, "friends grow apart."

"Well, just know that I still love you like my own daughter and I'm sure Lacey has a place in her heart for you too. Take care Charlotte!" I waved to her as we parted ways.

"Bye, Ms. P!" She let go of the school books she was carrying with one arm to wave as well, and a paper flew out of her hands. I caught it just before it blew into the street.

"Whoops! You dropped this, honey," I looked down at the paper. I didn't mean to, but it just sort of happened. I couldn't help but exclaim, "oh, Charlotte! This is a beautiful drawing!" It was a colored pencil sketch of a girl looking in through a window with a tear rolling down her cheek. It was beautiful and sad at the same time, and I loved it!

"Thanks. That really means a lot, Ms. P," she smiled.

"You're very welcome. And don't forget to tell your mother I said hi!" I continued on my way and thought, what a nice girl. It's a shame Lacey doesn't hang around her much anymore either.

When I finally arrived at my lemon yellow front door and turned the key to unlock it, something dawned on me. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but the little girl in the drawing had curly black hair, just like Charlotte.
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End of part 14.

Hmmm....

There were a couple things in there...

Song of the day: Island of Yours by Social Repose

Love y'all <3

-SJ