Chapter Twenty-Three (i think)
'It was MINE- you had no right to take it!'
I heard Grace yell.
Wait.
But she had died...I was right there...right?
I opened my eyes and sat up.
'You weren't going to use it anyway!' Jensen roared back.
'It doesn't matter! Grace screamed, shaking and obviously trying not to Phase. 'It was mine!' She opposed Jensen with only a bed between them to stop them taking each other out.
'Grace?' I whispered.
Now I'm not the most over-emotional, mushy Rogue Demon Hunter, let alone person in the world. So when I jumped up and crushed Grace in a hug, she was more than a little freaked.
'Uh...it's nice to see you too Alex.' She mumbled, patting my back awkwardly.
I held her at arm's length. 'Grace, I'm so glad you're OK!'
'Um...I'm fine Alex. Did you have a nightmare or something?' She asked.
My smile fell. 'You...you don't remember?'
'Don't remember what?' Grace and Jensen asked simultaneously.
Dying?! I almost cried.
Almost.
'Uh...nothing.' I took a step back, almost tripping over my bed. 'W-what were you guys fighting over?' I stammered.
Grace faced Jensen again.
'Uh...' They chorused.
'We, uh, we don't remember.' Jensen admitted.
'Was...was it about pie?' Grace asked him, and I pretty much collapsed.
'No,' Jensen scoffed. 'Why would it be about pie?'
'Because pie is awesome!' Grace cried. 'Why WOULDN'T it be about pie?'
''Coz it's not!'
'It might've been!'
'Again?' I whispered, breathless.
***
I didn't believe in deja vu, coincidences and stuff. It just doesn't happen.
But that? That was...unnatural.
I sat beside Grace in the booth whilst her and Jensen poured over the menus.
'Do you think they'll serve the dinner special still kicking?' Jensen asked.
'What?' I looked up.
'Alex, are you feeling OK?' Grace asked.
'Huh? Grace...can't you remember what happened yesterday?' I asked.
'Yeah...' She said slowly, giving me a weird look. 'Yesterday we got off the plane and your bloodsucker drove us here.'
'No....' I said, looking away. 'LIke...have you ever felt like you're living in a repeat?'
'Like Deja vu?' Jensen asked.
'Yeah!' I said, too loudly.
But maybe Grace wouldn't die today. So much had changed already...
'Look, if it makes you feel better, I'll change my order to make it different. what did I order last time?' Grace asked. I knew she didn't believe me, but was doing this just to save me the stress.
'Uh...' I racked my brains. 'Bacon, eggs and toast.'
'OK fine.' She called the waitress over. 'Can I have-'
I zoned out, watching the little girl follow her mother into the restaurant, skipping along to sit at the long bench that also served as the front counter.
What felt like a second later the waitress was back, carrying their orders.
Having tiny lapses in time was normal, right?
'And the hot sauce for the- oh!' The woman was about 40 something, and managed to knock the bottle off her tray so it smashed on the floor. 'Crap. Sorry. Someone will be back to clean it up.'
And she left.
***
As we left the restaurant, I heard someone say, 'Dammit, I've lost my card.'
Walking down the street in the light sun, Grace asked, 'Do you reckon we could visit, you know, a touristy spot?'
'Are you sure that rope's secure?
I looked up to see the piano hanging over our heads.
'It'll be fine, just keep lowering it down.'
I shivered.
'What if it breaks?'
I made us move faster again- I had already seen Grace die once, and there was no way in Hell I was going to let it happen again.
'Hey, there's a cat.' Jensen said as I rubbed my face.
'I don't like cats.' Grace growled.
'Wonder why.' He muttered.
I sighed as we came up to a crossing, and the deja vu got uncomfortably stronger.
'You know, I seriously think we should just go back today. Stay in the motel for awhile?' I asked.
Grace stopped in the middle of the road and faced me. 'Why?' She asked.
'We're going to the Bermuda Triangle, aren't we?' Jensen asked, standing on the other side. 'It's the most touristy thing in this place.'
*The car*, a voice in my head whispered.
I heard the car turn badly around the corner, and as Grace opened her mouth I grabbed her arm and pulled her back, narrowly missing getting killed by the car.
'Whoa,' Grace laughed shakily at the sheer impossibility.
I didn't think it was funny.
'Wow, that was...wait. Your deja vu thing...did that car kill me?'
I nodded, pressing my lips together.
'Was it cool?' Grace beamed as Jensen slowly walked back to us.
'What?!' I cried.
'Was it cool, like in the movies?' She clarified.
I clenched my jaw, then said, 'You peed your pants.'
The smile slipped off her face. 'Well...well of course I did. Somebody gets hit by a car, you think they have full control over their bladder?' She crossed her arms.
I was still too upset to laugh.
'Alex, what happened after Grace got run over?' Jensen asked.
'I woke up, and it was Thursday morning again.' I said.
'Well you saved me- maybe I won't die again.' Grace beamed.
She was SO close.
