As I fall soundly asleep, the device goes to work, the very fabric of time around me distorting. I somehow remain asleep as everything around me warps and twists, my body and most of my mind reverting back to the state they were at eighteen years old. After sleeping for what would be 11 hours if I hadn't gone back, I'm woken up by the harsh droning of an alarm clock. I wake up quickly, a steak of dark red fluff in my face. I then blow the strand out and tap the snooze button on the alarm clock, looking around my room. Wood paneled walls, posters and other merch of the various bands I love, my old heavily worn and draw on denim vest hanging on a coat rack in the corner. I then yawn heavily and sit up, looking down. I'm taken aback slightly at first, expecting my usual dumpy belly to be there, then I realize. I had abs in high school! I pull my shirt up a little and gently run my fingers over them , the black nail polish and scrappy pen art on my hand making me smile warmly and nostalgically, remembering how artistic and expressive I was back-..... well, now currently in high school. I get up and get dressed, wearing a black tank top, grey cargo shorts that went down a little bit past my knees, socks i'm 90% sure have never been washed, and some older converse I also drew on. I then chuckle gently and slide the vest on, grabbing my etnies bag and tossing it over my shoulder, heading downstairs . Both of my parents work early, so instead of having to deal with them when I'm dead tired, I can get some peace in the morning. The same cereal I always have is sitting on the counter, so I grab the almost empty box of honey combs and pour them into a bowl, tossing the empty box in the trash after I pour it. I then sit down and eat it dry just like every day, then look over at the calendar. Today's date is apparently April 24th 2003, so I'm nearly done with my senior year. I sigh softly and walk out to my driveway, laughing a little, barely even able to contain my happiness as I see my old Honda Civic. I got it for $600 off a classified ad when I was 16, having saved the money since my 14th birthday. I get in and drive off to school, then turn the CD setting on the radio, some ska punk playing. The laughter continues as I turn it up a little louder, then say, "oh ska punk, may you someday return." After a little while longer, I arrive in the student parking lot, then get out, tossing my bag over one shoulder, walking into the school. I'm suddenly hit with a MASSIVE wave of nostalgia, seeing tons of people, posters, decorations, rooms, and just everything else I remember so fondly...... I smile to myself and walk to my homeroom, which is before 1st period history in the same room. I look around the room as I plop my bag down next to my seat, spotting some people I recognize, some people I'm friends with who probably feel horribly dejected from me not greeting them, which directly contradicts how social I usually am. I then look over to my right and see someone I strangely don't recognize in the slightest. He has this really cool looking medium length hair with the ends dyed neon green, turtle shell glasses, and an outfit that's absolutely adorable. His open flannel covers his pudgy torso, a Radiohead t-shirt, black jeans with the bottom rolled into a cuff, and some older converse shoes. I lean over to him a little and decide to introduce myself
"Hey! I don't know if we've met, but my name's Cooper! If you ever need a pen or paper or anything, just ask!"
I then smile warmly
"Also, I LOVE your shirt"
He looks over, giggling a little in a semi adorable way. He's actually sketching something
"Nice to meet you! My name's Ryan, and today is my.... second day? Yeah, second! And thanks, i'm a huge fan of yours too! And it's been a while since I've seen a vest with that much character!"
Cool! And wow he seems cute!
"Thank you so much! I've had it since I was like 13"
The first bell then rings promptly, class beginning. The teacher seems to go on forever, me never really having an interest in history. Ironic, considering the fact that I'm one of the first people on earth to travel back in time. I then tear a small piece of paper out of my notebook and write a note on it, passing it over to Ryan, smiling gently. I tap him on the shoulder and he takes the note, giggling and writing back, passing the note back
"So, what's your favorite song? Super important question"
I think for a second, tapping my pen on the desk, then I write and pass back
"The killing moon by Echo and the Bunnymen. How bout you?"
I pass it back over, then get it back a few seconds later
"Me too!!!!!"
YOU ARE READING
Simpler Times
Romance35 year old Cooper Herring seems to have it all. A huge apartment, secure high paying job as a corporate accountant, a private life, and no drama holding him down, but there's one thing he laments; The loss of his youth, and the one that got away.
