Old Haunts

Chapter 2

Jesse's POV

I woke up to year the whistling if a kettle and the smell of my favourite tea: earl grey. Mike must have put the kettle on. It was then when I realized my head was killing me. I groaned and tried to sit up. This wasn't my dorm! Then I remember the machine, had I really worked? Where were Mike and Josie? "Don't try to get up" a familiar voice said from the area that the sweet smell was coming from, Dad? I was glad I had my glasses so I could see the man who offered me a cup of tea. A very familiar man, obviously younger than the way I was used to him. The machine did work after all, Mike wasn't making it all up. "I hope you like earl grey" he said "it's the only kind we've got" "It's great. Thanks" I said and sipped the drink. It reminded me of when I was young and me and dad would drink tea and watch Star Trek, my favourite show of all time. "How'd I get here?" I asked him and he seemed a bit guilty before answering "Truth be told I almost hit you with my car. You appeared out of nowhere right when I was pulling up. I brought you in here because I thought I had actually hit you" "That's very kind of you." I said.

I decided to act civil about the whole thing, pretend that it's all normal. "I'm Jesse, Jesse Bradly" I said, making up a name on the spot "Nice to meet you. I'm Lewis" he said and smiled, he always had the best smile, a fatherly smile. "Have you by any chance met a blonde man with glasses or a ginger woman?" I asked him "No, sorry" he said "Never mind" I said and stood up "Thanks for your hospitality but I must be going now" I said and he stood up too "Where is it exactly that you're going to?" He asked and I answered truthfully, remembering my dad's place of work was easy "Yogtowers" "Really!" He said "Uh, yeah. I'm...uh...applying for a job" I lied and he smiled "I work there" he said "Need a lift" "Yeah that'd be great, if you don't mind" I said and smiled. We got into his car and he started driving. We where off to Yogtowers. This was the weirdest day of my life by far.

Mike's POV

I had no idea where I was but It seemed familiar, like something from your childhood you can't quite remember. Initially I had jumped for joy when I realized my machine had worked, truth be told I wasn't actually sure that it would work properly. It didn't really because it had obviously placed me and the others in different places. I took a look around where I was and used my 'amazing' deductive skills to figure out I was in a short corridor, lined with doors that had red lights above them. I saw that all but one of the red lights was on and I decided to knock on the door. Big mistake.

Someone on the other side said "Come in" and I gingerly opened the door to reveal a man with blonde hair and glasses sitting in front of a few monitors. He didn't look up while saying "If you're here about the glitter bucket I swear I didn't do it" I could tell he was lying, I could always tell when Dad was lying. "Umm, no I'm not really here for that" I said and he turned to face me. At that moment I was glad I kept my hair short and was quite slim, otherwise we would look identical "Who are you?" He asked and stood up, we were exactly the same height "Hi, I'm looking for my friend, he said he'd be here" I lied quickly. He studied my face before breaking into a grin and pulling my hand into a handshake "You must be Kristian! Sjin's told me all about you" he said before letting to of my hand. It fell to my side and I nodded quickly, putting on a smile "Yeah, that's me" I said and he grinned again "Sjin's not in today, sorry. He's got the flu. But you're welcome to stay" "Thanks" I said and he kept on chatting and I kept on worrying in my head about Jesse and Josie. Where the hell are they?!

One of my questions was answered when the sound of a door swinging shut could be heard and a voice called out "The boss is in the building" my future dad smiled again and left for the hallway, I followed and saw a sight for sore eyes. Jesse was standing next to a brown haired man that resembled him, then it dawned on me. Lewis. "Who's this?" Duncan questioned as he looked Jesse over "This is why I called you last night" Lewis said with a sheepish grin and Duncan started to laugh "This is the guy you thought you'd run over!" "Yeah" Jesse said "I'm Jesse Bradly, it's nice to meet you" "Speaking of introductions" Duncan continued, he pulled me towards him and I stood stalk still "This is Sjin's cousin Kristian. You know, the one who's getting a job here" "Right of course" Lewis said and shook my hand just as Duncan had done "Sjin highly recommends you." I looked over at Jesse and gave him the 'Just act natural' look whilst he gave me the 'WTF is going on' look. I knew we shouldn't have come here.

Josie's POV

I was a bit scared when I woke up in a bed that wasn't mine, in a room that wasn't mine, and that Katie wasn't sleeping in the other bed. Then I realized. Had Mike's machine actually worked. I got out of the bed and pulled my long hair back into its usual high ponytail before clasping the door handle and opening up the door. "Hello?" I said when I heard snoring. The snoring that had kept me awake for years. Dad? The snoring suddenly stopped and grunting commenced before a thump and a small groan "Who dares disturb a dwarf while he's having his slumber" a sleepy voice said from the couch. I giggled and smiled before glancing over the edge of the couch to see a, middle aged, ginger man lying on his stomach and wearing a t-shirt, socks, and a pair of tan cargo pants. He slowly got to his feet and faced me. I had often looked at photos of dad when he was younger, mainly with Lewis, but this was the real deal. My father in his prime. "Hi" he said and smiled at me, he wasn't wearing glasses so he was also squinting "Hi" I said back and returned the smile "Might I query why I'm in your flat?" "Well I wasn't gonna let you sleep out in the hall was I" he said before moving over to the small kitchen and grabbing two glasses "The hall?" I said, confused "Yeah. You where passed out in the hall. Right outside my door. I was only being kind" "Well thank you." I said "I'm Josie Lane" I said my surname without thinking "Isn't that funny" he said and grinned as he filled the glasses with water "That's my name too" "What, Josie?" I joked and he laughed, I always like his laugh "No, no. My names Simon, Simon Lane" he said. I knew that this was the perfect time to come to. Da-Simon and I chatted for awhile and when he asked me where I'd go after I left I told him I didn't know, that I was looking for a job. He put his thinking face on. "There's a few spaces opening up where I work. Lewis might be able to fit you in" he said, finally "What, really?" I said, surprised "That'd be brilliant!" "I'll give you a lift then, shall I" he offered and I graciously accepted. This was the best day in the history of days, and that's saying something.